What To Expect
Day 1: Italy / Skopje
Departure for Skopje. Transfer to the hotel. If, due to the flight schedule, passengers arrive at the hotel after 9:00 p.m., a cold dinner will be served in their room.
Day 2: Skopje / Mavrovo / Ohrid
After breakfast, visit to the Matka Canyon, located west of Skopje’s city center. The lake is an artificial reservoir created by the Treska River, surrounded by steep rocky cliffs and caves. Afterwards, continue to Mavrovo National Park, the largest national park in North Macedonia, located in the western part of the country near the borders with Albania and Kosovo. It is famous for its wild mountains, lush forests, crystal-clear lakes, and traditional Macedonian villages. Visit the Monastery of St. Jovan Bigorski. Arrival in Ohrid. Dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Ohrid (Excursion to Sveti Naum
Boat trip on Lake Ohrid. Afterwards, walk to the Church of Kaneo and continue the visit of the city on foot. In the afternoon, excursion to the Monastery of Sveti Naum, founded in the 10th century by the monk Saint Naum. This gem of Orthodox architecture and spirituality is famous for its frescoes, serenity, and natural springs. Inside, the church preserves 16th–17th century frescoes depicting biblical scenes and portraits of saints. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Ohrid / Berat / Tirana
Departure for Albania. Arrival in Berat, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and also known as “the city of a thousand windows.” The city is divided into an “upper town,” dating back to the 13th century and rich in Byzantine churches, and a “lower town,” adorned with ancient buildings and mosques. Its famous “museum quarters” include the Castle, Mangalem, and Gorica. Even today, more than a thousand families live within its citadel. Among its many sites of interest are the Castle, early Christian churches, the Cathedral of Saint Mary, and several mosques from the 14th to 16th centuries. After the visit, continue to the capital Tirana and enjoy a short city tour.
Day 5: Tirana / Shkoder / Lake Skadar / Virpazar
After breakfast, departure for Shkoder, located on the shores of the lake of the same name. Visit to Rozafa Castle, one of the largest fortresses in the Western Balkans. Then, crossing the border into Montenegro, enjoy a short boat trip on Lake Skadar, from where you can also see Montenegro’s “Alcatraz,” an abandoned island-prison. Dinner and overnight in Virpazar.
Day 6: Virpazar / Cetinje / Njegusi / Kotor / Virpazar
Departure for Cetinje, the former royal capital of Montenegro, where the royal palace will be visited. Continue to the village of Njegusi, where you will taste the famous local smoked ham. In the afternoon, proceed to one of the highlights of the journey: the Bay of Kotor, a true natural wonder recently “overrun” by large cruise ships. It is one of the most spectacular landscapes in the Balkans, often described as the southernmost fjord in Europe (though technically it is a submerged valley rather than a glacial fjord). Surrounded by towering mountains plunging into the sea, the bay combines wild nature, medieval towns, and Venetian fortresses, and has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979. Enjoy a boat tour of the bay to the island of Our Lady of the Rocks, followed by a visit to the city of Kotor, including the Cathedral of St. Tryphon. Return to Virpazar for dinner and overnight.
Day 7: Virpazar / Peja
After breakfast, drive through the stunning Moraca Canyon, a perfect spot for breathtaking photos, and continue toward the border with Kosovo, arriving in Peja.
Day 8: Peja / Pristina / Skopje
After breakfast, visit the Patriarchate of Pec, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This Serbian Orthodox medieval monastery, dating back to the 13th century, is renowned for its well-preserved frescoes. The complex includes four churches connected to one another and surrounded by defensive walls. Continue to Pristina, the “youngest capital in Europe,” where the average age of residents is under 30! Afterwards, cross the border into North Macedonia and arrive in Skopje. Enjoy a pleasant walking tour of the city, including the old town with the Kale Fortress, the Church of St. Spas, and the Grand Bazaar, as well as the modern part with the Fountain of Alexander and the Memorial House of Mother Teresa. In the evening, farewell dinner with live music at a local restaurant. Overnight in Skopje…contine
