Itinerary
- Day 1
Dubrovnik
You'll arrive in Dubrovnik, a medieval walled town on the Adriatic coast. If your flight gets in early, there's time to walk through the charming stone streets and check out the fortifications before the group meets at 6:30 pm. After meeting your group leader and fellow travelers, the evening is yours to explore. Croatian cuisine features traditional cured meats and local dishes, so finding a restaurant in the Old Town is a great way to start the trip.
Optional Activities
- Walk inside the city walls of Dubrovnik
- Dinner at a local restaurant
Landmarks/POIs Dubrovnik City Walls - Day 2
Kotor
Following breakfast, you'll head to an olive farm in Tici near Kotor. A local producer walks you through second-generation organic olive oil production and you'll wander through the groves before reaching an ancient stone mill. The tasting pairs oils with local ham, cheese, and grape brandy. Back in Kotor, you can spend the afternoon walking through winding streets, climbing to see old fortification walls, or relaxing at a wine bar before dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to olive farm in Tici (Lustica Bay)
- Guided olive oil tasting with local ham, cheese, and grape brandy
Optional Activities
- Walk through Kotor's crooked walkways
- Climb hills to see Kotor's ruined fortification walls
- Dinner at a local wine bar
Landmarks/POIs Kotor Old Town Kotor Fortification Walls Lustica Bay - Day 3
Kotor to Prizren
You'll leave Montenegro and head into Kosovo, stopping first at Rozafa Fortress in Albania, a 15th century stronghold where Christian forces held against Ottoman invaders. From there, continue to Prizren, Kosovo's second-largest city and culturally diverse hub. The afternoon and evening are open, so you'll wander through the orange-roofed streets, visit mosques and churches, and ask your leader where locals eat dinner.
Included Activities
- Visit to Rozafa Fortress, Albania
Optional Activities
- Explore Prizren's Old Town
- Visit mosques and churches in Prizren
- Dinner at a local restaurant
Landmarks/POIs Rozafa Fortress Prizren Old Town - Day 4
Prizren to Ohrid
The day starts with a guided tour of Prizren's bazaar, taking in the sights, smells, and local food like stuffed peppers. You'll then travel to Pristina for a city centre tour of Kosovo's capital. A local barbecue lunch features sausages and pork from a family smokehouse. Later, you'll visit Gracanica settlement and its monastery, then cross into North Macedonia to see St Jovan Bigorski Monastery before reaching Ohrid for the night.
- Meals
- Lunch (Kosovo-Serb barbecue with sausages and pork delicacies from local smokehouse)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Prizren bazaar
- Guided tour of Pristina city centre
- Kosovo-Serb barbecue lunch
- Visit to Gracanica settlement and monastery
- Visit to St Jovan Bigorski Monastery
Landmarks/POIs Prizren Bazaar Pristina City Centre Gracanica Monastery St Jovan Bigorski Monastery - Day 5
Ohrid
Ohrid sits on Europe's oldest lake and was once called the Macedonian Jerusalem for its 365 churches. The day is free, so you can browse the Old Bazaar for bargains or join an optional trip to see Sveti Naum Monastery, Tzar Samoil's Fortress, a 2000-year-old Roman theatre, and Sveti Jovana Kaneo church. This evening, you'll head to Kuratica village for a home-cooked meal and homemade rakija with local hosts.
- Meals
- Dinner (Home-cooked meal in Kuratica village with homemade rakija)
Included Activities
- Home-cooked dinner and rakija tasting in Kuratica village
Optional Activities
- Browse Old Bazaar
- Optional daytrip to Ohrid Lake and Sveti Naum Monastery (EUR80)
- Visit Tzar Samoil's Fortress
- View 2000-year-old Roman theatre
- Visit Sveti Jovana Kaneo church
Landmarks/POIs Ohrid Old Town Ohrid Lake Sveti Naum Monastery Tzar Samoil's Fortress Roman Theatre of Ohrid Sveti Jovana Kaneo Church - Day 6
Ohrid to Bitola
Breakfast comes from the green market where you'll try local specialties like burek or gjomleze pie. You'll drive to Lake Prespa, a popular holiday spot, to visit a local apple farm and taste fresh produce. In Dolno Dupeni village, watch a cooking demonstration and have lunch in someone's home. Later, head to Bitola and spend the afternoon in cafes or browsing the Old Bazaar stalls.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Traditional breakfast at green market featuring local specialties like burek or gjomleze pie), Lunch (Home-cooked meal in Dolno Dupeni village)
Included Activities
- Traditional breakfast at green market
- Visit to local apple farm on Lake Prespa
- Home cooking demonstration and lunch in Dolno Dupeni
Optional Activities
- Explore Bitola's Old Bazaar
- Relax in Bitola's cafes
Landmarks/POIs Ohrid Green Market Lake Prespa Bitola Old Bazaar - Day 7
Bitola
You'll travel to Dihovo in the foothills of Mt Pelister to meet a local beekeeper who teaches you about honeybees and shows an open hive. Taste honey fresh from the comb and eat a home-cooked meal in a traditional villa using organic ingredients from the family's gardens. After returning to Bitola in the afternoon, you can optionally explore Heraclea Lyncestis, an ancient site founded by Philip II of Macedonia in the 4th century BC.
- Meals
- Lunch (Home-cooked meal in traditional villa with organic ingredients from family's private gardens)
Included Activities
- Beekeeper farm visit with open beehive demonstration
- Honey tasting
- Home-cooked lunch in traditional villa
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Heraclea Lyncestis archaeological site (EUR25)
Landmarks/POIs Mt Pelister Heraclea Lyncestis - Day 8
Bitola to Skopje
Start with a short walk at the Stobi archaeological site, then head to the Tikves wine district known for grape production. You'll taste local wines at two of the country's best wineries, paired with cheeses and cured meats. Arriving in Skopje in the late afternoon, your group takes a walking tour of the city centre and samples traditional Macedonian sweets. The trip ends with a final celebration dinner in Debar Maalo, Skopje's bohemian quarter, where your leader makes sure your favorite dishes are ordered.
- Meals
- Lunch (Local cheeses and cured meats pairing with Tikves wine varieties), Dinner (Final celebration dinner in Debar Maalo, Skopje's bohemian heart)
Included Activities
- Walk at Stobi archaeological site
- Wine tasting at two Tikves wine district wineries
- Cheese and cured meats pairing with wines
- Guided walking tour of Skopje city centre with traditional sweets tasting
- Final celebration dinner in Debar Maalo
Landmarks/POIs Stobi Archaeological Site Tikves Wine District Skopje City Centre Debar Maalo - Day 9
Skopje
No activities are scheduled for today, so you're free to leave whenever you want. You can explore Skopje further or venture to Matka Canyon if you'd like. If you're interested in extending your stay or doing more, speak with your booking agent about adding extra time to your trip.
Optional Activities
- Explore Skopje
- Visit Matka Canyon (contact booking agent for arrangements)
Landmarks/POIs Matka Canyon
