BALKAN DISCOVERIES: CROATIA MONTENEGRO KOSOVO ALBANIA - (11 Nights)

BALKAN DISCOVERIES: CROATIA MONTENEGRO KOSOVO ALBANIA - (11 Nights)

Why Everyone Should Visit Albania At Least Once. Albania has amazing beaches.There are plenty of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Itinerary

Day 1: Dubrovnik Croatia

Pass By: Dubrovnik Cable Car, Petra Kresimira IV BB, Dubrovnik 20000 Croatia
Enjoy a day at leisure to explore Dubrovnik. Take the recently reopened cable car to or relax on the green island of Lokrum. In the evening, embark on a sunset cruise by private launch to the nearby fishing village of Cavtat, and savor a dinner of fresh local seafood

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight in Dubrovnik

Day 2: Dubrovnik- Kotor - Budva, Sanit Stephan-Durres

Pass By: Old Town, Dubrovnik Croatia
The Old Town is full of fantastic architecture and is probably the most well preserved medieval town to see during your travels. Though crowded, it’s truly breathtaking and a must visit. From the churches to narrow alleyways and everything in between, you won’t even have time to put away your camera.

Pass By: Kotor Old City, Stari grad, Kotor, Kotor Municipality 85330 Montenegro
You can stop and visit Kotor Bay in Montenegro, Budva , have lunch in Saint Stephan a gorgeous place to visit before heading Albanian Border .


No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight at Budva Montenegro

Day 3: Durres old city – Roman Amphitheater – Venetian Tower – Royal Vila – Fatih Mosque – Archaeological museum

Stop At: Durres Castle, Durres Albania
After meeting at Adriatik Hotel lobby, we will start our walking tour at the main square "Liria”. At the beginning of the tour, you will come across some fine specimens of the city's architecture dating back to the 1930's.

Visit the Roman Amphitheatre from the 2nd century AD. Built during the reign of Emperor Trajan, this is one of the biggest amphitheaters in the Balkans. On your way to the Archaeological Museum of Durres, you will come across the Byzantine Wall, an engineering masterpiece built during the reign of Emperor Anastasius.

Walk down the seaside promenade enjoying the fresh air and the view of the largest bay in Albania. The Byzantine Chapel is our next stop. An early Christian chapel built on the side of the Amphitheatre, the chapel's western alcove preserves a unique polychromatic mosaic representing old, Christian iconography.

Learn more about the city's and the country's history in the Durres Archaeological Museum. Then head to the Venetian Tower, where a flight of stairs will take you to the roof and give you some of the best views of this old city, there you can relax and have a coffee break.

Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Durres Amphitheatre, Rruga Kalase, Durres Albania
Visit the Roman Amphitheatre from the 2nd century AD. Built during the reign of Emperor Trajan, this is one of the biggest amphitheaters in the Balkans.
Duration: 40 minutes

Pass By: Fatih Mosque, Rruga Xhamia, Durres Albania
The Fatih Mosque (Albanian: Xhamia e Fatihut) is a Cultural Monument of Albania. It was built in 1502 and named after the Ottoman Turkish Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror ). Closed by the Communist authorities, it became a cultural monument in 1973.


Stop At: Durres Castle, Durres Albania
Learn more about the city's and the country's history of the Castle. Then head to the Venetian Tower, where a flight of stairs will take you to the roof and give you some of the best views of this old city, there you can relax and have a coffee break
Duration: 1 hour

Pass By: Royal Villa of Durres, Rruga Kont Urani, Durres Albania
Royal Villa of Durrës, also known as Zog's Villa of Durrës ) was the summer villa of King Zog in Durrës, Albania.It was used as the summer palace by the Albanian Royal family during the reign of the Monarchy and still remains a symbol of the Monarchy in the City.


Pass By: Durres Archaeological Museum, Rruga Taulantia, Durres Albania
The Durrës Archaeological Museum (Albanian: Muzeu Arkeologjik‎) in Durrës, Albania, established in 1951, is the largest archaeological museum in the country. The museum is located near the beach and north of the museum are the 6th-century Byzantine walls, constructed after the Visigoth invasion of 481.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at Adriatik Hotel

Day 4: Kruja city- Old Bazaar – Skanderbeg’s Museum – Holy Mountain

Stop At: Kruja's Shop, Albanopolis St, Kruje 1501 Albania
Leave Durres in morning by traveling to Kruja. Walking tour to the narrow streets of the medieval well preserved Old Bazaar, which has a wonderful selection of authentic antiques and souvenirs were you can buy traditional Albanian costumes, books, musical instruments, and different items from the communist days
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Kruja Castle, Near Tirana, Kruje 1501 Albania
Then we will Skanderbeg’s museum, which contains objects dating back to Skanderbeg’s time. There nearby you can visit the Holy Mountain of Sari Salltik and have some holy water from their fountain, up in the mountain
Duration: 2 hours

Pass By: Ethnographic Museum of Kruja, Fortress of Kruja, Kruje 1501 Albania
Museum houses one of the best ethnographic museums in the country. Set in an original 19th-century Ottoman house that belonged to the affluent Toptani family, the museum shows the level of luxury and self-sufficiency the household maintained by producing its own food, drink, leather and weapons.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at Adriatik Hotel

Day 5: Tirana city – Clock Tower – Et’hem Bey Mosque – Blloku area –Petrala Castle –BunKart- Museum -Pazari i Ri

Stop At: Petrela Castle, Rruga Durishtit, Petrele 1034 Albania
Petrelë Castle: The Castle, the prominent wooden structure is a restaurant, is perched on a rocky

hill, above the village with the same name.
Duration: 40 minutes

Stop At: BunkArt 2, Rruga Abdi Toptani, Tirana Albania
BunKart is an underground bunker that was constructed for Tirana's communist-era politicians and military top brass in case of nuclear war.
Duration: 40 minutes

Pass By: Et`hem Bey Mosque, Sheshi Skenderbej, Tirana Albania
Et’hem Bey Mosque this historic religious structure is one of the oldest in the nation and somehow

managed to escape destruction when an atheist movement took hold in Albania during the 1960s.

Pass By: Clock Tower, Sheshi Skenderbej next to Et`hem Bey Mosque, Tirana Albania
Clock Tower of Tirana, built by the Ottoman Turks and originally had a bell from Venice that

marked the time every hour.

Pass By: Tanners' Bridge, Bulevardi Jean D'Arc, Tirana Albania
Tanners’ Bridge is a newly restored, elegant Ottoman stone footbridge, with colourful Soviet style

housing serving as a backdrop

Pass By: Pazari i Ri, Shenasi Dishnica, Tirana 1001 Albania
The New Bazaar hosts some contemporary painted buildings, but it respects tradition, and is giving

back to the city the beauty and authenticity.

Pass By: Blloku, Tirana Albania
Blloku: Take the lunch break in Blloku where you can find the best restaurants, trendy bars, pubs,

and cafes in Albania

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at Adriatik Hotel 5 star

Day 6: Old town of Berat – Onufri Ethnographic Museum – Gorica Bridge – Red Mosque – Mangalemi Neighborhood -

Stop At: Berat Castle, Rruga Mihal Komnena, Berat 5001 Albania
The tour starts at 8:30 am from Adriatik Hotel and it will take approximately 2 hours to reach Berat city. Once we get to the city, we will visit Berat Castle, which dates back to 4th century BC. There, you will learn a little history of Berat. The castle is one of the biggest inhabited castles and has many Byzantine churches, as well as some mosques built during the Ottoman era, which began in 1417.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: National Ethnographic Museum Berat, Lagja 13 Shtatori Mangalem, Berat Albania
Our walk in the castle will take us to Onufri Museum, which is set up inside the cathedral of Saint Mary, renovated in the 18th century. Besides the beautifully carved iconostasis, you can also admire the icons of the renowned Albanian painter Onufri.
Duration: 30 minutes

Pass By: Gorica Bridge, Berat 5001 Albania
Our next stop is in the old quarters of Mangalem and Gorica that connect with each other by the Gorica Bridge over the Osumi River The bridge was built in XVIII century. It was originally made of wood, and in 1780, during the ruling of Ahmet Kurt Pasha, it was rebuilt with stones. The Bridge of Gorica had a complete reconstruction during the years 1920-1930.

Pass By: The King Mosque, Rruga Kurt Pasha, Berat Albania
The King Mosque also known as the Sultan's Mosqueor Sultan Bayezid Mosque is a mosque and a Cultural Monument of Albania.It was built in the 15th century by the Ottoman sultan Bayezid II.

Stop At: Cobo Winery, Ura Vajgurore 1001 Albania
On the way back to the hotel, we will stop for tasting Albanian wine in the charming Çobo Winery. The tour will include an oversight of the wine making process and detailed explanations that paint a glowing picture of the family's history and the origins of their wines.(Optional)

Read more about BERAT- DAILY TOUR 2019 - Albania - https://www.viator.com/tours/Albania/DAILY-TOUR-BERAT/d4471-119183P1?mcid=56757
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at Adriatik Hotel 5 star

Day 7: Rozafa Castle – Shkordra Lake – Agro tourism farmhouse – Italian Pedestrian – St. Stephen's Cathedral – Ebu Beker Mosque

Stop At: Rozafa Castle, Rozafa, Shkoder Albania
Visiting Rozafa castle we will not only experience the supremacy the Illyrians would have feel over their enemies standing in such an imposing Castle, but will also admire breathtaking views 360 degrees.
Duration: 1 hour

Pass By: Marubi National Museum of Photography, Rruga "Kole Idromeno" Nr. 32, Shkoder 4001 Albania
Marubi Virtual Museum went live today with around forty thousand pictures. Created by the Italian photograph Pietro Marubi, the Marubi archives are considered one of the most important photographic heritages in the Balkans. The oldest photos date back to 1858.

Pass By: Venice Art Mask Factory, Rruga Inxh Gjovalin Gjadri Shkodër, Albania, Shkoder 4002 Albania
The mask exhibit at the Venice Art Mask Factory contains the most diverse and exquisite collection of Venetian masks.

Stop At: St Stephen's Catholic Cathedral (Shkoder Cathedral), Rruga Marin Bicikemi / Rruga Justin Godard, Shkoder Albania
Visit of the Shkodra Cathedral also known as St Stephen’s Catholic Cathedral. The Roman Catholic cathedral is dedicated to Saint Stephen and was built in 7 April 1858 (the largest in the Balkans).
Duration: 20 minutes

Pass By: Ebu Bekr Mosque, Rruga Fushe Cele 1, Shkoder Albania
Known more commonly to locals as the Great Mosque, this impressive centrepiece to the city actually dates from the 18th century, but was fully renovated and refaced in 1995 with donations from Saudi Arabia

Pass By: Shkodra Lake, Shiroka, Shkoder Albania
Lake Shkodra lies on the border of Albania and Montenegro, and is the largest lake in Southern Europe

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at Adriatik Hotel 5 star

Day 8: Old town of Prizren–Stone Bridge-Sinan Pasha Mosque–Halveti Tekke- Museum of Albanian League -Handicrafts filigree Shops

Pass By: Sinan Pasha Mosque, Sheshi Shadervan, Prizren Kosovo
The Sinan Pasha Mosque is an Ottoman mosque in the city of Prizren, Kosovo. It was built in 1615 by Sofi Sinan Pasha, bey of Budim. The mosque overlooks the main street of Prizren and is a dominant feature in the town's skyline,


Pass By: Mehmet Pasha's Turkish bath, Prizren Kosovo
Gazi Mehmet Pasha's Mosque is one of the oldest monuments of Islamic art in Prizren. The inscription above the entrance states it was built in 1561. This mosque has a square base and numerous windows, while the main veneration niche and the pulpit are made of marble

Pass By: The Halveti’s Tekke, Farketaret Prizren, Prizren 20000 Kosovo
The Tekke of the Halveti tarikat was established in 1605 by Sheikh Osman Baba Tekke in the neighborhood of Saraqhan. It is the main Tekke of Prizren.

Pass By: Emin Pasa Camii (Emin Pasha Mosque), Adem JasharI Behind the Gazi Mehmet Pasha Bath, Prizren Kosovo
The Mosque characterized by the drawings it has. Built in 1831 by Mehmet Emini.

Pass By: Marash Park, Vatrat Shqiptare, Prizren Kosovo
Marash lies on the east side of Prizren. Its name comes from the Persian language which means “breeze place”.

Pass By: Albanian League of Prizren Museum [Muzeu Lidhja Shqiptare e Prizrenit], Rr. Sharri, Prizren Kosovo
The Albanian League of Prizren today is a museum, where on June 10, 1878 the Assembly of Prizren was gathered to discuss the program that would consolidate Albanian leaders to unite and protect the country against foreign threats. The museum is now home to photographs, documents, objects and clothing that date from the time of the Assembly.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at Adriatik Hotel 5 star

Day 9: Vlora – Waterfall – Narta Lagoon – St. Mary’s Monastery-Independence- Monument-Muradie Mosque-Ethnographic Museum

Stop At: Zvernec Monastery, Zvernec Island, Vlore Albania
Zvernec Monastery – is an old byzantine monastery dedicated to Virgin Mary and situated no more than 20 minutes away from the city center, in one of the small islands of Vlora coastline
Duration: 40 minutes

Pass By: Ethnographic Museum, Vlore, Ceno Sharra St, Vlore Albania
As the building which hosted the operations of the very first Albanian government, the Museum of Independence in Vlorë is strategically positioned in a location that testifies to its significance, near the port, with a beautiful view of the sea. This modest, two-story house is filled with the weight of history! Founded in 1936, this museum is considered to be the first one in Albania before the ’90s. This national museum offers the most comprehensive information regarding the most culminating events in the life of a country. It was in the famous balcony of this bright yellow, traditional house that Ismail Qemali raised the Albanian flag in 1912.

Stop At: Muradie Mosque, Vlore Albania
The Muradie Mosque (Albanian: Xhamia e Muradies) is a Cultural Monument of Albania, located in Vlorë. Initially, the now called "Muradie Mosque," was a Byzantine Church. The Byzantine architectural elements are evident with the Dome and its supporting polygon raised base, the arched windows, the classical triangular forms topping the side walls, and most importantly the brick work which is quite characteristic of the church buildings of the byzantine and renaissance period.
Duration: 15 minutes

Pass By: Independence Monument, Sheshi Pavaresia, Vlore Albania
The Monument of Independence is a monument in Vlorë, Albania, dedicated to the Albanian Declaration of Independence and worked by Albanian sculptors,

Stop At: The Castle of Himara, Himare 9425 Albania
We spend time visit Ali Pasha Castle in Himara, which was once one of the most important military bases during the cold war. We will take a coffee break at Kanina Castle and know more about the story of the Kanina castle which has a major historical importance, being once the fortress of Gjergj Arianiti, Prince of Kanina. In the 6th century BC it was rebuilt by Emperor Justinian and after a long period, in the 14th century, the castle represented the residence of the Principality of Vlore
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at Adriatik Hotel 5 star

Day 10: Koman Lake – Shala River – Boat Trip – Explore nature or Relaxing

Stop At: Komani Lake, Koman Albania
We will leave the hotel at 06:00 AM to continue our tour at Koman Lake, the most beautiful place of North Albania, we arrive there around 9:00 AM. From there we will take the boat to Shala River and the trip will last about 1 hour and a half. We will stop in Shala River, which is an amazing place right in the middle of Koman Lake. Boating between popular beauties that nature offers, the blue and cold-water color is characteristic of the Shala River, the rugged cliffs surrounding it and the green mountains make this place qualify as Albanian Thailand. On the way you will enjoy a spectacular scenery where the virgin nature meets the hazy water of the lake but we will also see an amazing cave which you will love and you can even swim on it. Once we arrive by boat, we will rest at the guest house. Free time to relax about 3-4 hours, walking in virgin nature, entertainment, volleyball, beach, lunch with bio products produced in the area. At 15:00 PM we will sail again with a boat to Koman Lake and get ready to return to Durres.
Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at Adriatik Hotel 5 star