ALBANIA & MONTENEGRO – TWO COUNTRIES, ONE JOURNEY

Arrive at Tirana International Airport “Mother Teresa”, where you will be warmly greeted by your local guide or tour leader. Transfer to your hotel in Tirana (approx. 18 km, 40 minutes) for check-in and a moment to refresh after your journey. Depending on your arrival time, enjoy a panoramic tour of Tirana, Albania’s vibrant capital, where modern life meets rich history. See key landmarks and soak in the city’s unique charm. If time allows, take a leisurely walking tour through the streets of Tirana, exploring its lively squares, colorful architecture, and bustling neighborhoods. In the evening, savor a welcome dinner at a traditional Albanian restaurant, sampling authentic local flavors and getting your first taste of Albania’s culinary delights. Overnight: Tirana

Begin your day with a ride on cable train to Dajti Mountain, an elevated plain lying at an elevation of 1050m above the sea level. The ride is spectacular and lasts 15min each way; we will explore the Enver Hoxha path or as the locals used to call it the Promenade (a short and easy walking); on the arriva l in Tirana we stop at Tirana New Bazaar and will start there our Tirana city tour including the bazaar, City Walls (Kalaja Tiranes), and Skanderbeg Square; Our break we will have at the commercial alley inside the city walls where we will have a session of Olive Oil Tasting, an unforgettable experience where we will get to know details on Extra Virgin Olive Oil (how to taste, how to buy and how to store properly before the Extra Vi rgin Olive Oil loses its special quality! Enjoy a walk through the famous Blloku Quarter and on the main Boulevard (the main high street where once young people used to meet and got acquainted with their love friend – the evening parade) Free time followed by a dinner at a restaurant with a typical kitchen of modern Tirana (mix of Italian and Albanian way of cooking). Overnight in Tirana

All aboard! After breakfast we’ll drive towards Berat (driving time: 1hrs & 45min – via Dumreja region) Visit Berat Old Town – UNESCO Site (walk in the castle quarter); Visit Onufri Museum of Icons; Bus transfer to the lower town and continue with exploration of the lower town (Mangalemi and Gorica Quarters – both UNESCO sites): – Walk through the alleys of Mangalemi quarter; – Visit King’s Mosque (UNESCO – Mangalemi Quarter) and Halveti Tekke (UNESCO, Mangalemi Quarter and Suffi Order); – Walk on the other side of the river and enjoy the panaromic view of 1000 Windows; Short lunch break / Free time in Berat Bus Transfer to Vlora; on arrival continue with a visit of old town in Vlora (short walking tour) Dinner at a local fish restaurant in Town Overnight in Vlora

In the morning there is a short walk at Lungo Mare then after that continue for a visit to Zvernec Island with its 13th-century Orthodox Monastery. The Island lies in the Lagoon of Narta; Lagoon of Narta and Zvernec Island (national park) The lagoon lies within the boundaries of the Vjosa -Narta Protected Landscape and has been recognized as an important Bird and Plant Area of international importance. Among the birds wintering in this lagoon are flamingos and dalmatian pelican. A wooden foo tbridge connects mainland to the Zvërnec Island – a perfect place for photos and selfies! Apollonia the sleeping beauty! After this morning experience the route brings us to Apollonia, an antique city and today a famous archeologic site. The Apollonia excavations reveal the urbanistic repertoire of antiquity and this sleeping beauty demands a pronounced archaeological interest. The bridging function that the Mediterranean foothills of the Balkans had is revealed later in the Byzantine church of “Shën Meri” in Apollonia, whose Apulian-Romanesque capitals enter into an attractive and unusual symbiosis with the Byzantine building tradition. Monastery of Ardenica Drive through the Mediterranean landscapes of central Albania to Ardenica, where the monastery church of Ardenica is located on one of the alluvial hills between the mountains and the Adriatic Sea; our next immersion in the post-Byzantine mentality, filled with a persistent spirit, when viewing the atmospheric frescoes and the iconostasis, which again reveal the historicizing clinging to Byzantine models and show how rigid the Christian landscapes in the Ottoman Empire were. During the communist time this orthodox monastery, was used for a while as a guest house offering rooms to the western tourists.

In the morning start with walking tour of Durres (ancient name Dyrrachium), the oldest city in the eastern Adriatic, lying at the northern end of Durres Bay. Enjoy a guided tour of the ancient city of Durres including the ruins of the Amphitheater and the city walls. After a short walk in the waterfront promenade continue with the journey to Kruja, the national holy place of Albanians. We will explore the medieval town of Kruja and take in the highlights of the medieval Albania: Kruja Ottoman Bazaar and the Fortress with its Skanderbeg Museum and its famous ethnographic museum of Kruja. Free time followed by dinner in Kruja. Overnight in Kruja

An early start today , we will travel to Montenegro. After the border we head to Virpazar to experience there the magnificient Lake of Shkodra. The surface elevation is 6m above the sea level, and it is the largest lake in the Balkans. Lake Skadar is one of the largest bird reserves in Europe, having 270 bird species, among which are some of the last pelicans in Europe, and thus popular with birders. The lake also contains habitats of seagulls and herons. After around an hour drive we reach the small harbour of Virpazar lying in the north -eastern corner of Skadar Lake. Here we start our boat tour on the national park of Skadar Lake. The lake is national park and a Ramsar site. During our boat tour we will see the famous island of Grmožur, (the island of snakes, known also as the Montenegrin Alcatraz) and we will experience a fantastic nature. On board the boat we will taste local specialties. The next stop on our journey to Budva is a halt at the side of the road to enjoy the splendid view of St. Stephan Island. On arrival in Budva after a short break in our hotel we will continue with walking tour in the tiny but very beautiful old town of Budva. Activities of the day: 1. Boat Tour at Skadar Lake, National Park (1hr); 2. Local specialties and soft drinks / wine on board the boat (Optional); 3. Budva Old Town. Free time followed by a dinner at a fish restaurant in the old town of Budva. Overnight in Budva

(100km, 3hrs) MNE – Kotor Old Town, Ham & Cheese Tasting at Njegoš Village, Cetinje We begin today with walking tour of Old Town Kotor, an enchanting medieval city, perched on the deepest natural fjord-like bay in the Mediterranean. Then free time at disposal to explore further the town within the old walls. Short before noon we continue our day with a bus ride to Njegoš Village (via Kotor Serpentine); Krstac Pass (940meters above the sea level) is the starting point of historic road of Kotor Serpentine. Here many hikers start the epic hiking on the Ladder of Kotor. The pass is part of the region known as Lovcen Mount ( a mountain and national park ). It is believed that Montenegro got its name after the dense forests that covered Mount Lovcen and the surrounding area. The forests were so dark that the viewers got the impression of a “black” mountain. Lovćen stands on the border between two completely different natural areas, the sea and the mainland, and so it is under the influence of both climates. In Njegos Village we will have a ham and cheese tasting session After this special experience a short transfer on board our bus and we arrive in Cetinje, the former capital of Montenegro. The small mountainous town is a treasure of Montenegrin cultural and historical heritage. It scents with the architecture from 18th and 19th century that comes from rich greenery of this small city. During King Nikola’s reign many embassies were built that give it today’s specific looks. After visiting Cetinje, we head back to Budva. Activities of the day: 1. Kotor Old Town tour 2. Ham and Cheese tasting – Njegos Village 3. Visit Cetinje Dinner at a restaurant in the waterfront area. Overnight in Budva.

Breakfast and check out of the hotel Free time until your departure Transfer to the Airport (70km, 1hr & 10min) End of Service