Detailed Daily Itinerary
(This can change but don’t worry, I will make sure you’ll have the best fun!)
DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN BUDVA
Arrival on the Balkans, more concrete, to Montenegro. A country blessed with beautiful sea, mountains, and forests. Upon arrival at Podgorica airport, meet and greet with your throughout guide and driver and then transfer to our hotel in Budva. Arrival in Budva, accommodation, free time at leisure until time for the welcome dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight in Budva.
EXTRA: Airport pick-ups can be arranged from per car (1-3 pax) from Tivat and Croatia and also from Podgorica. You can also DIY. Shuttle from Tivat Airport to Herceg Novi €9pp one way.
DAY 2: BUDVA
Today we’ll have the day for Budva exploration. We’ll enjoy visiting the beautiful beaches and the old town, which is a beautiful coastal settlement with architecture influenced and erected by the Venetian republic in the post-medieval and renaissance period. This place is paved with marbled streets and is surrounded by Venetian walls rising from the clear waters below. At its seaward end, the Citadela offers striking views, a restaurant, and a library full of rare tomes and maps.
After the sightseeing, we’ll have lunch in a local restaurant and then enjoy free time in the city to ourselves, to do as we see fit. In the evening, dinner and overnight in our hotel.
DAY 3: BUDVA – KOTOR – BUDVA
After breakfast we drive to the amazing town of Kotor, a UNESCO protected old town laying in the magnificent Kotor Bay. Upon arrival, we’ll start with sightseeing with our storyteller and throughout guide. After the tour, lunch in a local restaurant. Then we’ll head to the famous isle called “Our Lady of the Rocks” to enjoy a boat ride that will take us there.
After the tour, we get back on the mainland and return back to Budva. Free time in Budva until time for dinner. Dinner and overnight in our hotel.
DAY 4: BUDVA – SKADAR LAKE – SHKODRA – KRUJA – TIRANA
After breakfast today we continue our adventure south, towards Albania. But first, we’ll stop at Skadar Lake to take a boat ride in the Skadar Lake National Park. This lake is the largest one in southern Europe and is home of many marine and bird species.
After the tour, we cross the border with Albania and stop for a visit and lunch by the Buna river in the northern town of Shkodra. On our tour there, we’ll enjoy a stroll on the pedestrian zone in the central area and hear about the story of this place. Afterwards, we continue our way south again towards the historic town of Kruje. Upon arrival we’ll meet our local storyteller and start a walking tour to visit the Kruje castle, a stronghold of the Albanian hero Skanderbeg, an Albanian national hero that fought and repelled the Ottoman armies right from this place. Continuing even more south, to the capital of Albania, Tirana.
Upon arrival, we accommodate in our hotel, have dinner and overnight.
DAY 5: TIRANA, ALBANIA
Today is all about Tirana. After breakfast we’ll meet our local guide that will tell us all the stories of this city.
First, we’ll have a walking tour of the central area and see the main city square with the impressive museum building of the National History Museum, the Ethem Bay Mosque and other significant structures. We’ll also visit the “House of Leaves” Museum of Sercret Surveillance and Bunk’art 2 Museum where we’ll learn about the communist era times in Albania. During the tour we’ll sit and enjoy lunch in one of the great local restaurants.
After the city exploration we’ll enjoy free time in Tirana, at leisure or for shopping. In the evening, dinner in local restaurant and overnight in our hotel.
DAY 6: TIRANA - OHRID – ST. NAUM – OHRID
Today, our adventure continues towards the hearth of the Balkans, Macedonia. This millennia old country holds many stories and legends that wait to be heard.
Half an hour after crossing the border we arrive in Ohrid, one of the oldest settlements in Europe, also known as ”Jerusalem of the Balkans” (because it once had 365 churches, one for each day) or “The pearl of the Balkan” (because of it’s beauty). Upon arrival we’ll be guided by our throughout storyteller for a sightseeing tour of the old town. During the tour we’ll stroll through the cobbled narrow streets while enjoying the unique architecture of the houses. There we’ll enter and explore the Plaosnik Archeological complex and St. Sofia cathedral. One of the spots that we’ll reach and enjoy very much too is the plateau of St. Kaneo church from where we’ll gaze at one of the most beautiful panoramas ever. After the tour we’ll have lunch in a local restaurant by the lake and then enjoy a boat ride.
Continue on our road going by Ohrid Lake (UNESCO), towards the monastery of St. Naum. Upon arrival we’ll have a tour of the monastery complex and we’ll enter and visit the monastery as well. On the monastery terrace a beautiful view awaits us again.
After the visit we transfer back to Ohrid, accommodation in our hotel, dinner and overnight.
DAY 7: OHRID – TETOVO – MATKA CANYON – SKOPJE
After breakfast we head towards the capital of Macedonia, Skopje. On the way we’ll firstly stop at St. Jovan Bigorski Monastery, a beautiful fortress like monastery holding one of the most beautiful wood carved iconostas. Then, we continue to the city of Tetovo to visit the masterpiece of oriental Ottoman art, the colored mosque. After the visit we head towards the protected natural reserve of Matka Canyon, home of hundreds of butterfly species and a place of great natural beauty. There we’ll enjoy a sightseeing of the canyon and boat ride to Vrelo Cave and lunch in a local restaurant by the lake afterwards.
Transfer to Skopje. Upon arrival we’ll enjoy a walking tour of the city with our throughout storyteller. Here, we’ll visit the second biggest open air bazaars, then we’ll cross over River Vardar via the symbol of the city, the Stone Bridge, down to the main city square with the imposing statue of Alexander the Great. The tour continues down to the Museum of Skopje, passing the Macedonia street and the mother Theresa Memorial House. Accommodation in our hotel in Skopje, dinner and overnight in our hotel.
DAY 8: SKOPJE – PRISTINA – PRIZREN – SKOPJE
In the morning, after breakfast, we head to the youngest country in Europe, Kosovo. There we’ll first visit the capital city of Pristina. Walking tour in the central area, through the pedestrian zone to enjoy the everyday dynamic of this vibrant city. Continue our tour to the city of Prizren to the west. Upon arrival we’ll first have lunch in a local restaurant. Then, we’ll enjoy a walking tour in the old part of the city with its beautiful ottoman architecture and slow pace atmosphere. In the late afternoon we head back to Skopje for dinner in local restaurant and overnight in our hotel.
DAY 9: SKOPJE – BELGRADE
Our adventure continues north towards Serbia. After a five-hour drive, with on the road stops for refreshments, we arrive in the Serbian metropolis and capital city, Belgrade. Upon arrival we’ll enjoy lunch in a nice local restaurant. Afterwards, we’ll meet our local storyteller to take us on a walking tour in the cities most important sites and learn about this place that never sleeps. During the tour we’ll visit the Nikola Tesla Museum to learn about this most appreciated scientist and the Kalemegdan Fortress, overlooking the city. After the tour accommodation in our hotel, dinner and overnight
DAY 10: BELGRADE, SERBIA
Today we’ll have a full day at leisure in the city. Our driver will be of service to take us to the center. On the agreed time we meet with the bus again and head to our local restaurant for lunch. Continue with free time at leisure afterwards. In the evening, dinner in local restaurant in Skadarlija bohemian quarters and then overnight in our hotel.
DAY 11: BELGRADE – KUSTENDORF – VISEGRAD – SARAJEVO
In the morning, after breakfast, we head towards yet another beautiful Balkan country, Bosnia & Herzegovina. On our way we’ll first make a stop at the one of a kind, village of Kustendorf (Drven Grad or Mecavnik) in Mokra Gora National park, laying between Serbia and Bosnia. Sightseeing tour of the village and then enjoy lunch in the Village tavern. This unique village was erected by the famous film director Emir Kusturica in a local traditional style. After the visit, we cross the border and go down to yet another significant town called Visegrad, laying on River Neretva. Here we’ll hear the story about the Nobel prize awarded writer, Ivo Andric and visit the famous bridge.
Continue to Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia afterwards.
Upon arrival, we accommodate in our hotel, have dinner and overnight.
DAY 12: SARAJEVO, BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA
An enjoyable day in the Bosnian capital. In the morning we’ll meet with our local storyteller who will tell us the story of this city full of history. We’ll enjoy our walk in the old bazaar (Bascarsija) and visit the Latin Bridge, a witness of the assassination of the Archduke Franz Ferdinat of Austria which ultimately led to the start of WWI. Lunch in a local tavern and then free time at leisure until time for dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight in our hotel in Sarajevo.
DAY 13: SARAJEVO – KONJIC – MOSTAR – BLAGAJ
After breakfast, we continue our journey south-west. First we’ll visit a small town named Koniic, laying on river Neretva. The town is nestled in a heavily wooded and beautiful area and has old ottoman architecture which makes it very sympatric and unique. Some coffee break there will be great.
Continuing our way, we get to the famous Mostar. There we’ll meet with our local storyteller to learn about this magic place. We’ll cross over the old bridge which is UNESCO world heritage and stroll through the tight cobbled streets. In the old town we’ll enjoy lunch in a local restaurant.
Then, we continue to a nearby town of Blagaj where we’ll accommodate in our hotel.
The place has beautiful atmosphere, laying by river Buna that is coming out from a cave.
Dinner and overnight in our hotel.
DAY 14: BLAGAJ – POCITELJ – HERCEG NOVI – BUDVA
In the morning today, we head back to our starting point, the city of Budva. But first, we’ll visit two beautiful places that cannot be missed. On the way we’ll first stop for sightseeing of the village of Pocitelj. A picturesque place of ottoman style where we’ll make our break.
Then we enter Montenegro and stop in the old town of Herceg Novi where we’ll enjoy a walking tour to learn about the stories of the place and marvel at the beautiful architecture of this coastal town.
After the tour we sit for lunch in a local restaurant.
Continue to Budva driving through the whole Kotor Bay. Arrival, accommodation in our hotel. When the time comes, we’ll enjoy a farewell dinner in a local restaurant. In the evening overnight in our hotel.
DAY 15: BUDVA
Our last day on the Balkans. We gather our impressions and hope to come back again sometime.
Transfer to airport and departure.