Tour price:
Group of 10 people: 1 490 EUR/pax
Group of 15 people: 1 340 EUR/pax
There are many-many small details which make a journey memorable, however there are also some major pillars which give the whole backbone of a trip, and one of the most important factor is the guiding. We can agree, we can find different types of guiding: for large 40-50 pax groups the task of the guide is mostly constrained to technical tasks, keeping the schedule of the group or telling some basic facts about the sites.
With small goups however, guiding will get a totally different meaning, here the group will transfrom into a big family where personal attention is visible in every minute of the trip. Your guide will be your housekeeper and your friend, he will lead you step by step in your exploration of new cultures, let it be mystical medival churches, nature or local cuisine and folklore.
– Accommodation in 3-4 star hotels with breakfast
– Airconditioned bus transfer from arrival until departure
– Meals (half board, dinner in local restaurants or in the hotels – according to the itin.)
– English speaking local expert guide
– All excursions and sightseeings according to the itinerary
– Entrance fee to the following sites:
– Holly Savior Church, St John Baptist Bigorski, Perivlepta Church, Samuel Fortress, Plaoshnik, Sv. Sofia, fortress in Berat, Decani Church, Patriarchy of Pec, Gracanica Church, Gadimlje Cave
– International flight tickets
– Meals not specified
– Personal expenses
– Tips
– Insurances
Day 01: Your home destination – Skopje
Arrival to Skopje, meet and greet at the airport, transfer to the hotel, free time, walk in downtown.
In the evening orientation dinner in a local restaurant, where you will get to know your local guide, who is an expert of the region and will be with you for the following 8 days to give you a truly memorable experience. Overnight in Skopje.
Day 02: Skopje – Struga – Ohrid
Sightseeing of Skopje (Kale, Old Bazar, Holly Savior Church, The Stone Bridge (Symbol of Skopje) crossing the river Vardar to the main square with many monuments amongst other monument of Alexander The Great, Mother Theresa’s birth house. )
Short break, lunch.
Afternoon we depart to Ohrid along the western part of Macedonia driving towards the National Park Mavrovo. We proceed driving along the river Radika through the Canyon of Radika which is the most beautiful canyon of Macedonia. We visit the Monastery of St. John The Baptist Bigorski. Monastery of 11th-19th cent. With 21 monks living in it. It represents a center of Macedonian Renaissance and even now has a real smell of monastic life. We proceed to the famous city of Struga, then continue our trip to Ohrid which is on only 14km from Struga. We do the check in the hotel in Ohrid where we have diner and overnight.
Day 03: Ohrid
Sightseeing of Ohrid
Ohrid is all UNESCO. The city, the lake and the mountain Galicica.
We come with our bus to the upper gate of the old city of Ohrid and from there we start with our walking tour through the marvels of the city. We encounter here 5th cent. BC. Ancient Romans, Early Byzantines, many medieval churches with its beautiful frescoes etc. ( Perivlepta church, Antic Theater, Samuel Fortress where we have the best possible view, Plaoshnic, Policonhal Basilica with its 4-5th cent. Baptistery, St. Clément’s church, Sv. Jovan Kaneo (symbol of the city)
Lunch break
Afternoon we visit the monastery of Sv. Naum, that together with the 9th cent. St. Pantelejmon on Plaosnik has being considered the first Slavic University. Dinner and overnight in Hotel.
Day 04: Ohrid – Berat – Tirana
Departure to Albania.
Here we drive all along the famous Ancient Roman Road called “ Via Egnatia” that is entering in Albania as well. We drive to visit the city of Berat. On the way to Berat we see the beautiful scenery of the Skumbin Valey.
Lunch in Berat and drive to Tirana.
Tirana has many palaces in Italian style built during occupation of Mussolini. Sightseeing in Tirana. Dinner and overnight in the Hotel.
Day 05: Tirana – Kruja – Budva
Departure to Kruja
Kruja is the seat of national Albanian hero that have fought Turks in 15th cent. It has marvelous scenery It’s up in the mountains not too far from Tirana. Kruja is small city but very interesting. Nobody coming in Albania would miss to see its small stone paved artisans street.
We continue to Shkoder which is up north near the border of Montenegro. Later we depart to the border- crossing with Montenegro.
Then we drive along the lake on the other Montenegrin part of the lake to the village called Virpazar. We take the boat trip of 1 hour on the lake to the island of deserted prison.
Here on this boat we will be served with a local snack (some kind of a local doughnuts)or some backed pastry and slices of local white cheese with wine. The ride is marvelous by itself.
When finished with all we drive to the Hotel in Budva check in, dinner and overnight.
Day 06: Budva – Cetinje – Kotor – Budva
From Budva we drive to Cetinje for a day trip through Rocky Montenegro
Up the mountains and on to the first photo stop and then proceeding to Cetinje (The spiritual and
culture center of Montenegro). Visiting Cetinje and the rustical village of” Njegushi “.
After lunch we drive down the 26 serpentines to the city of Kotor. We stop en route where they say is maybe the best photo stop in Europe.
Proceeding down to the beautiful city of Kotor.
We arrive in front of the old city of Kotor and with the assistance of the local guide we do the sightseeing within the city walls for 1,5 hours. Later we give 1.5- 2 hours free time. Drive back to Budva for dinner and overnight.
Day 07: Budva – Prizren – Pec
From Budva we enter in Kosovo.
Sightseeing of Prizren ( Gazi Mehmed Pasha Amam (16th cent. Turkish bath), Halveti Teke (The dervish temple), 17th cent. Sinan Pasha Mosque, Sedrvan square, Serbian Orthodox Church St. George, Cathedral of “ Holly Mother Mary of Continuous Succors “, Oriental bridge).
After lunch we vivit the Monastery of Decani and the Patriarchy of Pec. Drive to the hotel for the check in, dinner and overnight.
Day 08: Pec – Prishtina – Skopje
Departure to Prishtina, sighseeing of Prishtina Panoramic by bus with possibility to stop and walk on the main street for 20 min. Driving along the Bill Clinton Boulevard we enter partially in some parts of the old city and see it and see the Library with its typical 20th cent architecture, sport center, Mother Theresa Cathedral, monument to Skanderbeg, Ibrahim Rugova etc.
After lunch we drive to Gracanica, 14th century Serbian Monastery. Continue to Skopje. In case the flight is that day later at night we drive to the Airport of Skopje.
If flight is next day, overnight in Skopje.
