Balkans and the Heart of Albania

Welcome to Zagreb! Transfer to your hotel.


If you begin your trip in Zagreb, our guide will arrive in the city on Wednesday at approximately 3:00 p.m. You will have free time until the guide arrives.


3:00 p.m. - To join the city tour, please come to the hotel reception.
4:00 p.m. - City tour of Zagreb with a local guide. We will explore the highlights of the Croatian capital, including its two hills, the old quarter, the upper city, and the newer neighborhoods. The tour will last about two hours. Afterward, you will have free time to explore on your own. Dinner is included.


Note: The schedules in this itinerary are indicative. The guide may adjust the timings based on the situation or season to enhance the quality of the tour.

Total distance covered: 415 km.


Scenery: Mountains, ancient castles.


Note: Please bring your passport as we will cross into Bosnia. Occasionally, this journey may experience delays due to traffic or border procedures.


07:30 a.m. - Departure from Zagreb. We’ll travel through hilly and forested areas in central Croatia on our way to Bosnia.
09:30 a.m. - Border crossing procedures entering Bosnia (delays are possible). We’ll journey through regions marked by the remnants of war and ethnic conflict that took place in Bosnia during the 1990s.


11:30 a.m. - Banja Luka. Time to explore the capital of the autonomous entity of Republika Srpska and the second-largest city in Bosnia, after Sarajevo. Highlights include its boulevards, gardens, fortress, and Orthodox cathedral.


01:30 p.m. - Departure from Banja Luka. We’ll continue through densely wooded regions.

03:00 p.m. - Jajce. Arrival in what is perhaps the most beautiful town in Bosnia, known for its cultural mix, mosque, fortress, and impressive waterfall (admission included). Enjoy time for a walk and lunch.


04:30 p.m. - Departure from Jajce. We’ll continue our journey to the capital of Bosnia.
07:45 p.m. - Sarajevo. We’ll have time to explore the historic center, where you can stroll through the charming Bazaar, an old Ottoman market famous for its architecture, oriental atmosphere, and traditional shops. Dinner will be included.

Total distance: 280 km

Scenery: Spectacular landscapes with mountains, rivers, waterfalls, lakes, and picturesque villages. Arrival in Dubrovnik features stunning coastal views.

Note: Please bring your passport, as we will be crossing into Croatia.In the morning, we’ll enjoy a guided sightseeing tour of Sarajevo, a captivating city known as the “Jerusalem of Europe” for its coexistence of multiple religions. Mosques, churches, and synagogues showcase its rich diversity. We’ll explore the old town’s strong Ottoman influence, highlighted by a magnificent 500-year-old mosque and a beautiful fountain.

11:15 a.m. – Sarajevo. Departure. We travel through breathtaking mountain and valley landscapes.

01:45 p.m. – Mostar. Free time to stroll and have lunch in this charming city, with its enchanting historic center and iconic stone bridge that unites and separates the Orthodox, Muslim, and Catholic communities.

4:30 p.m. – Mostar. Departure. We continue our journey across the rocky and mountainous landscapes of the historic region of Herzegovina toward Croatia.

7:30 p.m. – Dubrovnik/Cavtat. Arrival. Dinner included.

Note: Depending on the date, accommodation may be in Dubrovnik or in Cavtat, a coastal town nearby.

09:00 a.m. - We’ll enjoy a panoramic tour of Dubrovnik with a local guide in the morning. We will undoubtedly be in one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, perched on a cliff, surrounded by walls and kissed by the Adriatic Sea. Its intact historic center is a jewel of world architectural heritage. We’ll have the opportunity to enjoy a stunning view of the city from a scenic viewpoint along the road. The tour includes tickets to the Franciscan Monastery, home to the oldest pharmacy in Europe, and the Assumption Cathedral. We’ll also take a boat trip to Lokrum, a small island just 15 minutes away that is home to the ruins of an eleventh-century Benedictine monastery, a popular setting for the series Game of Thrones. Afterward, you’ll have free time to explore at your leisure before returning to the hotel in the late afternoon. Dinner will be included.


Note: On some occasions, accommodation may be in Cavtat, a coastal town near Dubrovnik. From November to March, there is no boat service to Lokrum, so we will not visit the island during these months.

Distance traveled: 295 km
Scenery: Stunning views along the Adriatic coast. The Bay of Kotor offers some of the most beautiful landscapes in Europe. Picturesque villages along the route. Later, Albania reveals a more rural character with its own strong identity.

Note: Keep your passport close to you. We will cross the borders into Montenegro and Albania.

7:30 a.m. – Dubrovnik. Departure. Early morning drive toward Montenegro. Border formalities (sometimes lengthy). We take a ferry across the stunning Bay of Kotor.

10:30 a.m. – Kotor. Arrival (time may vary depending on border procedures). Free time to stroll in this beautiful walled city with strong Venetian influence, set in a magnificent natural setting.

12:00 p.m. – Departure from Kotor. We continue along the scenic coastal route.

1:00 p.m. – Budva. A beautiful walled enclave surrounding the medieval city. Time to walk along its sandy beaches, take photos, and enjoy lunch.

2:30 p.m. – Departure from Budva. We continue along the coast toward Albania. Arrival at the border and border formalities (which may be lengthy). Time at the border for coffee and currency exchange. We then continue on smaller roads before reaching Albania’s capital.

8:00 p.m. – Tirana. Arrival. Dinner and accommodation.

Note: The road linking Montenegro with Tirana has very heavy traffic, especially during the tourist season, which can sometimes cause significant delays.

From the vibrant energy of Tirana, we travel to the stone and light embrace of Berat, the city of a thousand windows. But first, we’ll stop in Elbasan and Belsh. Elbasan was a key stop on the ancient Via Egnatia, the Roman route that connected Durres with Constantinople. Today, Elbasan blends Ottoman ruins with a modern atmosphere. Belsh, located in the center of the country in the Elbasan region, is famous for its unique lake landscape. It is part of the Dumre plateau, home to more than 80 natural lakes formed by karst processes. This area is ideal for ecotourism and relaxation in a peaceful rural setting.

Arrival in Berat. Panoramic tour included with a local guide. Ottoman houses clinging to the hillside, the silent fortress, and narrow streets full of history invite us to begin the journey with an open soul. You’ll also have the opportunity to visit a local home and enjoy coffee and sweets with a local family. Free time. Traditional dinner included to savor the Albanian heart.

After breakfast, our route takes us to the breathtaking Osum canyon, where water carves impossible landscapes and nature breathes with force. Here we’ll enjoy a light walk, and those who wish may experience the adventure of rafting. We then continue to Gjirokastra, the “stone city” and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where time seems to stand still. Dinner included at the hotel.

The day begins with the mystical beauty of the Blue Eye, a spring that seems to hide a piece of sky within the earth. We continue to the Butrint National Park, where ancient myths and Greco-Roman ruins blend with nature. We’ll visit the archaeological site with a guide and take a gentle walk through the natural park, discovering birds, wetlands, and green tranquility. After the visit, before continuing the route, we’ll make a short technical stop in Butrint to rest. On the way, we’ll make a brief stop at the Brataj Bridge, an Ottoman jewel over the Shushicë River, perfect for photos and a last pause on the route. Arrival in Vlorë, where the Adriatic and the Ionian meet in an endless embrace. Free walk at sunset and an evening to dine to the slow rhythm of the sea. Dinner included.

The day begins with a visit to the archaeological site of Apollonia, surrounded by columns and silence, ruins and olive trees. We then continue to Durrës, a lively Mediterranean city with its Roman amphitheater and bustling streets. Lunch included to savor the coastal flavors. Our last stop is the serene Preza Fortress, where the views bid a gentle farewell to the Albanian landscape. Return to Tirana with hearts full of light, stone, and water. Arrival in Tirana at the end of the afternoon. Accommodation.

After breakfast, we´ll transfer you to the airport and the journey will come to an end, leaving you with wonderful, lasting memories.

Note: Remember that hotels check-out time is usually at 10.00 hrs. In most cases, you can leave your luggage at the hotel reception at check-out time, so you can enjoy the city and pick it up at the time you require that same day. If you need more time to use your room, please consider booking an additional night at the end of your tour.