Itinerary
- Day 1
Tirana
You'll arrive in Tirana this evening and settle into your hotel. After checking in, there's a welcome dinner with the group to kick things off. Once you've eaten, the rest of the night is yours to explore at your own pace. Skanderbeg Square looks beautiful lit up after dark, or you could grab a coffee at one of the local cafés. If you're not too tired, the Blloku district has plenty of bars and restaurants with a younger crowd.
- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome dinner served with fellow travellers)
Optional Activities
- Explore Skanderbeg Square
- Visit cafés around Skanderbeg Square
- Experience Blloku district nightlife
Landmarks Skanderbeg Square Blloku District 
- Day 2
Tirana to Budva
Start with a guided walking tour through Tirana's colored buildings and lively streets. Later, you'll head north to Fisht where lunch features seasonal produce straight from local farms. By evening you're in Budva on the coast. Wander through the cobbled Old Town and catch the sunset over the Adriatic from there. It's a nice way to get your first real look at the water after the city.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Farm-to-table lunch with seasonal local produce)
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Tirana with local guide
- Lunch at a local farm
Landmarks Budva Old Town 
- Day 3
Budva to Kotor
This morning a local guide takes you through Budva's Old Town, showing you the medieval streets and quiet courtyards tucked between old buildings. Then you travel to Kotor, another coastal town with UNESCO status. A guide meets you to help you get oriented, walking through the narrow lanes and shadier squares. You'll see the Romanesque Cathedral of Saint Tryphon with mountains rising up dramatically behind it.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Budva with local guide
- Walking tour of Kotor with local guide
Optional Activities
- Kotor cable car experience: from €28
Landmarks Budva Old Town Kotor Old Town Cathedral of Saint Tryphon - Day 4
Virpazar - Lake Skadar - Shkodër
Head to Virpazar and board a boat for a calm journey across Lake Skadar, one of Europe's biggest freshwater lakes. Watch for waterbirds and take in the mix of mountains and wetland. Later you'll reach Shkodër to visit Rozafa Castle, which has views across the whole area. After that, walk along Kole Idromeno boulevard where Venetian mosques and churches sit alongside each other.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Boat trip on Lake Skadar
- Entrance to Rozafa Castle
Landmarks Lake Skadar Rozafa Castle Kole Idromeno Boulevard - Day 5
Shkodër to Prizren
You'll leave early with breakfast packed. The Komani Lake ferry is dramatic, cutting through emerald water and gorges that feel like fjords. Along the way there's local coffee and cornel cherry raki to try. Once you reach Prizren, your Trip Leader helps you explore the layers of history here, from Ottoman mosques to Orthodox churches. Climb to the fortress for views across the city.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Packed breakfast)
Included Activities
- Boat trip on Koman Lake
- Walking tour of Prizren with Trip Leader
Landmarks Koman Lake Prizren Old Town Prizren Fortress - Day 6
Prizren
Today Prizren is yours to wander on your own terms. Check out the bazaar for trinkets and snacks, or sit by the river with coffee. The cobbled streets have Ottoman and Byzantine buildings scattered throughout. If you want something more active, there's an optional hike up to Prizren Fortress through the hills for sweeping views of red roofs and the Sharr Mountains.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Hike to Prizren Fortress with local guide: prices available locally
Landmarks Prizren Bazaar Prizren Fortress Sharr Mountains - Day 7
Prizren to Ohrid
You'll travel toward Skopje along the Prishtina highway. Once there, a guided tour takes you through the Bazaar with its narrow streets, spice stalls, and fresh bread smells. Cross the 15th-century Stone Bridge and see places like the Mother Teresa Memorial House or Daut Pasha Hamam. In the afternoon head toward Ohrid. Dinner here features local trout or vegetarian options.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Local Ohrid trout dinner or vegetarian alternative)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Skopje Bazar
- A local Ohrid trout dinner
Landmarks Skopje Bazaar Stone Bridge Mother Teresa Memorial House Daut Pasha Hamam 
- Day 8
Ohrid
This morning you'll walk through Ohrid's cobbled streets with a local guide, stopping at churches and monuments along the way. The Icon Gallery shows off Orthodox masterpieces, and you'll see St. Bogorodica Perivlepta Church with its intricate details. After lunch, head down to the water for a boat cruise across Ohrid Lake where you can see terracotta rooftops, ancient churches dotting the shoreline, and tree-lined shores passing by.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Ohrid with local guide
- Visit Icon Gallery
- Visit St. Bogorodica Perivlepta Church
- Boat trip on Ohrid Lake
Landmarks St. Bogorodica Perivlepta Church Icon Gallery Ohrid Lake - Day 9
Ohrid to Berat
You'll leave the lake area and head toward rolling hills. Stop at Hani i Qerosit, a historic place that now offers local food and hospitality. There's a sip-and-paint session before lunch if you're interested. After eating fresh seasonal food, continue to Berat, the UNESCO 'City of a Thousand Windows.' A local guide shows you the fortress and colorful Onufri Museum. Finish with coffee and homemade desserts in a traditional Berati home.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Fresh, seasonal lunch at Hani i Qerosit)
Included Activities
- Sip-and-paint outdoor experience
- Walking tour of Berat with coffee and dessert
- Entrance to Museum National Onufri Berat
Landmarks Hani i Qerosit Berat Old Town Berat Fortress Museum National Onufri Berat 
- Day 10
Berat
Berat is yours to explore however you like today. Walk the cobbled streets, check out small shops, try local restaurants or hunt for handmade souvenirs. If you want more excitement, there are optional activities depending on the season. January through June offers whitewater rafting in Osumi Gorge. July to October there's canyon hiking and swimming. You could also do wine tasting or an e-bike tour through the city.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Whitewater rafting (including lunch): from €70 (January–June only)
- Canyon hike and swim: from €45 (July–October only)
- Wine tasting in Berat: from €25
- E-bike tour: from €60
Landmarks Berat Old Town Osumi Gorge - Day 11
Berat to Gjirokastra - Ksamil
Head south to Gjirokastra with a local guide. The UNESCO-listed Stone City has limestone streets, slate-roofed houses and busy bazaars to wander through. Climb up to Gjirokastra Castle for valley views. Then join a hands-on cooking class where you'll learn to make traditional Albanian dishes. Later, travel to Ksamil along the coast, watching the Ionian Sea come into view as the landscape opens up.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch following traditional Albanian cooking class)
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Gjirokastra with local guide
- Entrance to Gjirokastra Castle
- Traditional Albanian cooking class
Landmarks Gjirokastra Old Town Gjirokastra Castle Ksamil 
- Day 12
Ksamil - Saranda
Spend the day on the Ionian coast however you'd like. Relax on beaches, stroll the Ksamil promenades or stay at your hotel. For something different, explore the ancient ruins at Butrint or boat out to turquoise coves and smaller beaches. Late in the afternoon head to Lekuresi Castle in Saranda. Sit there with a sweet drink while the sun drops behind the hills and turns the sea gold.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Entrance to Butrint National Park: from €15
- Scenic boat tour around Albania's secluded beaches: from €57 (June–mid September only)
Landmarks Ksamil Butrint National Park Kakome Beach Qefali Beach Krorez Beach Lekuresi Castle - Day 13
Saranda to Vlora - Tirana
After breakfast you'll head back up the coast one last time. Mountains are on one side and sparkling water on the other. Stop at Porto Palermo Castle to stretch and look at the bay. You'll pass through Vlora on the way back to Tirana. End your Albanian trip with a relaxed meal of local favorites, paired with Albanian wine or raki.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Relaxed meal of local favourites with Albanian wine or raki)
Included Activities
- Entrance to Porto Palermo Castle
Landmarks Porto Palermo Castle Vlora - Day 14
Tirana
Enjoy a final coffee in Tirana and walk the city streets one more time. Take in the local pulse, grab a quirky souvenir or two, and start thinking about where you'll go next. Albania has a way of leaving people wanting to come back.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks Skanderbeg Square
