Montenegro, Albania & North Macedonia

Wild Mountains, Lakes and Beaches

Price

1,895 EUR

Duration

9 Days

Level

easy

Date

July 21, 2023

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Overview Itinerary Details What’s Included Get Inspired

9 days

1,895 EUR / 655 KWD / 7,975 AED / 8,205 SAR

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Overview

Although the Balkan Peninsula often appears to be homogeneous, it is full of diversity and hidden gems that await to be discovered by any adventurous traveler. In this trip, we combined three countries: Montenegro, Albania and North Macedonia, offering you the opportunity to explore within a few days each one’s unique natural beauty and cultural background through a series of fun activities.

The itinerary starts in Montenegro, where you will spend most of the time in the iconic Bay of Kotor, which resembles a fjord dotted with coastal churches and fortified towns. You will then continue to Albania, known over the centuries for its mighty warriors raised in the wilderness of its mountain ranges. The country boasts a friendly coastal line, but the focus of this adventure is its mountains, where most of the country’s history has been written. Your trip will end in North Macedonia: a landlocked Balkan Country, full of mountains, lakes and ancient towns with Ottoman and European architecture. Skopje, the capital, is known for its sprawling old bazaar quarter and historic buildings, while the city of Ohrid, perched by its namesake lake, has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Trip Highlights:
Get ready to...

Visit three Balkan countries within a week.
Hike to the famous Blue Eye spring in the Theth National Park.
Explore the towns of Kotor, Perast, Porto Montenegro, and Budva in Montenegro), Shkoder, Durres, Kruje and Tirana (in Albania), and Ohrid and Skopje (in North Macedonia).
Enjoy a kayaking adventure in Lake Ohrid: a UNESCO natural and cultural heritage site.
Swim in the crystal clear waters of the Adriatic Sea in Dobre Vode and Durres.
Hike to the Lako Signoj peak in the Galicica National Park.

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Activities: canyoning, cultural interactions, cultural sightseeing, hiking/trekking, nature watching, rafting/kayaking, swimming

Itinerary Details

Day 1 (21st July 2023): Arrival in Tivat, Montenegro (D)

Upon your arrival at the Tivat International Airport, you will be welcomed by a Rahhalah representative, and will be transferred to Budva (approx. 30-minute drive). Enjoy the rest of the day exploring the city at your own pace before the group re-assembles in the evening for a briefing session and a welcome dinner.

Accommodation: 4-star hotel in Budva

Day 2 (22nd July 2023): Exploring Montenegro: Kotor, Perast and Porto Montenegro (B)

After breakfast, you will head to Kotor: a fortified, medieval town with picturesque streets, charming cafes and restaurants, and an imposing church. Then, you will head to Perast: one of the best preserved towns in the entire Adriatic coast and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There, you will visit with a boat Our Lady of the Rocks: an artificial islet off the shores of the city (duration of the ride approx. 2 hours), and, then, you will enjoy a few hours in the old town, exploring, shopping, relaxing, and taking in the ambience of past eras.

In the afternoon, you will head towards Tivat to visit Porto Montenegro: one of the most prestigious marinas in the Adriatic Sea, initially made for super yachts and billionaires. Today, Porto Montenegro is a major tourist attraction, not only for wealthy tourists but for everyone who wishes to enjoy the benefits of an excellent infrastructure, combined with a beautiful and peaceful ambience.

At the end of the day, you will drive back to Budva.

Accommodation: 4-star hotel in Budva

Day 3 (23rd July 2023): Swimming in Dobre Vode beach – Transfer to Albania – Exploring Shkoder (B, L)

After breakfast, you will drive towards Shkoder in Albanian (approx. a 2-hour drive). Before leaving Montenegro, though, you will stop at the Sveti Stefan island viewpoint, one of the best viewpoints with panoramic vistas of the island, and at Dobre Vode: a small beach in Montenegro where you can enjoy 2 hours of swimming, sunbathing, relaxation, and water paddling/SUP.

Once you cross the Albanian borders, you will stop for lunch next to the beautiful Drim River and, afterwards, you will explore Shkoder through a guided tour.

Shkoder is one of the oldest cities in the Balkans: a medieval town with a rich history which, throughout the centuries, has retained its metropolitan status thanks to its strategic position close to the trade routes of the land and the sea. You will visit the Rozafa fortress, the Mother Theresa square, the Cathedral, and other landmarks of the city.

Accommodation: 4-star hotel in Shkoder.

Day 4 (24th July 2023): Hiking in the Theth National Park (B, L)

After an early breakfast, you will head to the village of Theth in the Prokletije Mountain (approx. a 2-3-hour drive). The ride is an adventure by itself, as the road is very narrow; the distance is only around 85km, but it takes more than 2 hours to reach the final destination.
Once at the Theth National park (part of the Accursed Mountains that spread over Albania, Montenegro and Serbia/Kosovo), you will hike to the beautiful spring called Blue Eye, famous for its cold waters. On the way, you will also enjoy a picnic lunch in nature.

In the afternoon, you will return to Shkoder.

Hiking distance: 7.6 km (round trip).
Hiking duration: around 2-3 hours.

Accommodation: 4-star hotel in Shkoder

Day 5 (25th July 2023): Swimming in Durres – Kruje – Tirana (B)

After breakfast, you will head to Tirana: the capital city of Albania. On the way, you will visit Durres: a small beach town with long sandy beaches, where you will enjoy a few hours of swimming and sunbathing.

Then, you will stop at Kruje, a medieval town near Tirana, to visit the old fortress and beautiful cobbled streets where you can find many local traditional crafts.

You will reach Tirana late in the afternoon, so that you can relax or explore the city at your own pace.

Accommodation: 4-star hotel in Tirana

Day 6 (26th July 2023): Exploring Tirana – Transfer to North Macedonia – Ohrid walking tour (B)

After breakfast, you will explore Tirana’ – the main square, the old mosque, the opera house, the Bunker museum, etc.- and, if time allows, you may take the cable car as well (optional, cost not included).

Then, you will head to North Macedonia and Ohrid (approx. a 3-hour drive), stopping briefly on the way at St. Naum or Struga.

In the afternoon, you will explore the old town of Ohrid, including some of its most famous landmarks like King Samuel’s Fortress, the Amphitheater, and the Church of St. Sofia.

Accommodation: 4-star hotel in Ohrid.

Day 7 (27th July 2023): Kayaking in Lake Ohrid: a UNESCO natural and cultural heritage site – Dinner with a local family (B, D)

After breakfast, you will go for a refreshing kayaking adventure at the east coast of Lake Ohrid, starting from Peshtani and finishing at the village of Trpejca (around 2 hrs; 7 km; with boat support), enjoying on the way the beautiful landscape of the lake which has been recognized as a UNESCO Natural and Cultural Heritage Site.

For dinner, you will head out to the outskirts of Ohrid, in the village of Kuratica, where you will be hosted by a local family to enjoy a home-cooked dinner.

Accommodation: 4-star hotel in Ohrid

Day 8 (28th July 2023): Hiking to Lako Signoj peak – Transfer to Skopje – Exploring Skopje (B, L, D)

After breakfast, you will head to the nearby Galicica National Park, which is perched between Lake Ohrid and Lake Prespa. There, you will go on an easy morning hike to the summit of Lakoj Signoj (2000m asl), enjoying beautiful views of the two lakes. The trail starts at the small Chapel of St Gorgi (St George) and passes by some caves and trenches which were probably man-made and used during WW1, before reaching the top. Once back at the starting point, you will take the car to drive to Skopje, the capital city of the country.

Hiking distance: 6.6 km
Hiking duration: around 3-4 hours.
Elevation: +400m ascending / - 400 descending.

Upon arrival at Skopje, and after a brief rest, you will go on a walking sightseeing tour around the city’s center, passing by the most famous landmarks as well as the bustling old bazaar, ending in Debar Maalo, the bohemian heart of Skopje, where you will enjoy a farewell dinner.

Accommodation: 4-star hotel in Skopje.

Day 9 (29th July 2023): Departure from Skopje (B)

After breakfast, and depending on your departure details, you will be transferred to the Skopje International Airport for your flight back home.

Notes

This cost is based on Double Occupancy. Single Supplement amounts 350 EUR per person.
The cost is based on a group of min 4 people. Rahhalah reserves the right to change the price if the trip runs with fewer participants.
All services stipulated above are subject to availability at the time of booking/reservation. All prices are subject to change.
All accommodation is subject to change to a similar one depending on availability.

The Price Includes:

8 nights‘ accommodation in 4-star hotels as described in the itinerary.
Meals as described in the itinerary (B=breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner).
English-speaking escort guides assisting during the whole trip.
Border permission for crossing between Montenegro-Albania-North Macedonia.
Hiking in the Theth National Park.
Hiking in the Galicica national park.
Kayaking activity in Ohrid Lake.
All transfers as described in the itinerary.
All activities and sightseeing tours as described in the itinerary.

The Price Excludes:

International flights.
Visa fees.
Travel Insurance.
Single Supplement.
Meals not mentioned above.
Beverages.
Tips and gratuities.
Personal expenses.
PCR test and quarantine expenses, if needed.

Important: The itinerary and schedule are subject to change due to weather, road challenges or operating conditions. At any moment, the guide has the RIGHT to change the program for the safety and convenience of the travelers.

Also, the trip's price does not cover expenses that may occur due to conditions beyond Rahhalah's control (force majeure). Such cases include but are not limited to extreme weather conditions, flight cancellations or delays, and natural phenomena (earthquakes, volcano eruptions, hurricanes, etc.). We, the Rahhalah team, both in our HQ and on the ground, will do our best to assist you with alternative arrangements (like new accommodation and/or transportation arrangements, revised itinerary and activities etc.), but ALL NEW COSTS incurred because of force majeure are to be covered by the traveler.

We strongly recommend that, before your departure, you purchase travel insurance that covers trip cancellation costs, loss of baggage or personal items, medical emergencies, and other unexpected circumstances that cannot be controlled by Rahhalah or any traveler.