Balkan Tour - Croatia, Montenegro, Albania & FYR Macedonia (2)

9 days/8 nights Tour starting and ending in Dubrovnik
A spectacular 9 day tour offering the best Croatia, Montenegro, Albania and Macedonia have to give. This is the best possibility to visit the sites of Croatia, Montenegro, Albania and Macedonia with a visit to the cities of Dubrovnik, Budva, Shkodra, Tirana, Berat, Ohrid, Skopje, Kolasin, Cetinje and Kotor.

Day 1: Dubrovnik – Arrival
Upon arrival at Dubrovnik Airport, transfer to the hotel.
Dinner and overnight in Dubrovnik.

Day 2: Dubrovnik - Budva / Montenegro - Shkodra / Albania – Tirana
Morning sightseeing tour of Dubrovnik, included in the UNESCO’s List of World Cultural Heritage. You will visit the Franciscan Monastery with Europe’s third oldest pharmacy, the Rector’s Palace and the Cathedral. Departure for Tirana; we drive inland via Budva, crossing the Albanian border at Shkodra, once the capital of the Illyrian Kingdom (3rd century B.C.).
Dinner and overnight in Tirana.

Day 3: Tirana – Kruja – Durres
Morning sightseeing tour of Tirana, the capital of Albania, including Skender Bey Square, the Mosque of Ethem Bey and a visit to the National Museum representing the flow of Albanian history and housing the findings from archeological sites across the country. After Tirana travel to Kruja medieval town. Visit the remaining of the castle and the Ethnographic museum. Free time in the traditional bazaar. In the afternoon travel to Durres.
Dinner and overnight in Durres.

Day 4: Durres – Berat – Ohrid
Morning transfer to Berat, one of the oldest towns in Albania and Unesco protected. Visit the castle of the town located on top of a hill and “Onufri” museum dedicated to one of the most famous Albanian painters of the 16th century. Walk in Gorica bridge and in Mangalem and Gorica neighborhoods. Afternoon departure for Ohrid, driving via Elbasan and crossing the Macedonian border at Cafasan.
Dinner and overnight in Ohrid.

Day 5: Ohrid
Full day in the lakeside resort of Ohrid, classified as UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage site. Through the activity of St. Clement and St. Naum of Ohrid, the first pan-Slavic University in Europe, the famous “Ohrid Literary School” was founded here. Morning sightseeing tour includes the church of St. Sofia (11th century), the most eminent mediaeval monument in Macedonia with magnificent Byzantine fresco paintings and St. Clement Church with its icon of Annunciation. In the afternoon a short drive to visit St. Naum Monastery built on the shores of Ohrid Lake in 900 A.D. and dedicated to the Slavic missionary and educator St. Naum of Ohrid. Return to hotel.
Dinner and overnight in Ohrid.

Day 6: Ohrid – Skopje
Morning departure for Skopje. Sightseeing tour of Skopje, including the Kale Fortress, the Church of the Holy Savior with its iconostas, one of the finest samples of traditional walnut woodcarving, Old Bazaar and Stone Bridge. We drive to the slopes of the Vodno Mountain where we visit the Monastery of St. Panteleimon with its 12th century iconostas and frescoes ranking among the highest achievements of Byzantine art of this period.
Dinner and overnight in Skopje.

Day 7: Skopje - Kolašin / Montenegro
Morning departure for Kolašin, driving via Peć and Berane and along the impressive Morača River Canyon. Afternoon arrival at Kolašin, spreading on the left bank of the river Tara, situated at the altitude of 954m. The whole area is surrounded by the thick pine forest of the Bjelasica Mountain and is a popular skiing and air spa resort. Dinner and overnight in Kolašin.

Day 8: Kolašin - Cetinje - Kotor – Dubrovnik
Morning departure for Cetinje where we visit King Nikola Museum, once the residence of the Montenegrin King Nikola I Petrović. Continuation to Budva and Kotor, classified as UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage,where we visit its Romanesque Cathedral dedicated to St. Triphun, the city’s patron saint. We continue to Dubrovnik driving along the picturesque Bay of Kotor.
Dinner and overnight in Dubrovnik.

Day 9: Dubrovnik - Departure
Breakfast followed by departure transfer to Dubrovnik Airport.