Western Balkan Explorer Tour “Blue Route”
Western Balkan Explorer Tour “Blue Route”
Western Balkan Explorer Tour “Blue Route”
7 Days Starting and ending in Tirana, Albania
Visiting: Lezhë District, Kruje, Ulcinj, Tirana, Perast, Budva, Kotor, Mostar, Dubrovnik, Blagaj, Sarajevo, Tito's Bunker - ARK D-0, Žabljak, Gjakova, Berane, Has, Kukës, Rubik, Podgorica, Shkodër
Tour operator:
Tour code:
630932
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 16
Age range:
18-
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians, Gluten Free
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Private Available:
Request A Private Tour
Tour Overview
Mention the Balkans to anyone and it can conjure up a plethora of images - flashpoint of the First World War, the atrocities of the recent civil war, Tito’s and Hoxha’s Communist dictatorships. Look beyond these clichéd stereotypes on our one week trip through three Western Balkan countries – Albania, Montenegro, Croatia Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo. Explore the crossroads of Europe’s East and West mosaic to cultures inherited in millenniums starting from Illyrians (Albanians), Romans, Byzantines, Slavic, and Ottoman inheritance, in fascinating historical cities, as well as some of the best landscapes in Europe. Western Balkan Explorer trip is a unique experience for those people who want to discover, enjoy and learn better those small different countries in language, religion and history, but very similar in habits, traditions, and hospitality.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Tirane - Kruje - Lezha – Ulcinj. (161 Km, 3H 15 Min)
Location: Lezhë District, Kruje, Ulcinj, Tirana
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Overnight in Ulcinj. (Overnight in a Hotel (Vila e Balshajve or similar).
Meals Included: Breakfast
Start the day exploring Albania’s capital. We will visit Skanderbeg Square, dedicated to Albania’s national hero, the Mosque of Ethem Bey, one of the oldest buildings in Tirana, and the Archaeological Museum among other sites.
We then head to Kruja, one of Albania’s most important towns due to the part it played in resistance against the Ottomans. Visit the Skanderbeg Museum and castle as well as the old bazaar. Today lunch will be included and the opportunity to eat some traditional food in Kruja.
Later we will continue to Lezha in the north west of the country where we visit the mausoleum of Skanderbeg and the castle before heading to Ulcinj.
Then continue to Ulcinj. Ulcinj is part of the "south coast" region of Montenegro and is a popular tourist destination. Although still undiscovered by many travelers from larger countries, repeat tourists and an increasing amount of first time visitors make Ulcinj a hot spot for vacationers. Visit to the the Castle of Ulcinj, its old town is a very well preserved castle-looking community that is left over from medieval times. The old town sits atop a mountain overlooking the shore and is a tourist attraction on its own.
Overnight in Ulcinj. (Overnight in a Hotel (Vila e Balshajve or similar).
Day 2 : Budva (Unesco) - Kotor - Perast (99 Km, 1H 55 Min)
Location: Perast, Budva, Kotor
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Overnight in a Hotel (Vila Perast, or similar).
Meals Included: Breakfast
After breakfast continue to Budva. Sightseeing in Budva city. Visit in the Old City, Sveti Trojica Church, Stanjevici Monastery,etc.
Then, we will continue to Kotor. Visit the former palace of King Nikola, now Montenegro’s National Museum. Then continue to Perast. Perast is one of the most beautiful little places in Boka Bay, located just a few kilometres from Kotor. It looks like a piece of Venice that has floated down the Adriatic. This tiny town boasts 16 churches and 17 formerly grand palazzos. (Visit to Lady of the Rocks is one of the two islets off the coast of Perast in Bay. This tiny, artificial island features a 17th-century Roman Catholic church with art & a museum. Also we visit St. George, as Ostrvo Sveti Đorđe is one of the two islets off the coast of Perast in Bay of Kotor, it is a natural island. A small action took place during the Siege of Cattaro on 14 October 1813 when the French held island was captured by a British and Sicilian naval force.)
Overnight in a Hotel (Vila Perast, or similar).
Day 3 : Dubrovnik (Unesco) - Blagaj - Mostar (Unesco) (230 Km, 3H 55 Min)
Location: Mostar, Dubrovnik, Blagaj
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Overnight at hotel Amicus, or similar.
Meals Included: Breakfast
After breakfast we will continue to Dubrovnik. City tour Dubrovnik : UNESCO protected pearl of the Adriatic and its Cathedral, Rector’s Palace, Fransican Monastery (included Old Pharmacy), Clock Tower, Orlando’s Columns, Sponze Plaza, Dubrovnik City. Then proceed to Mostar. On the way we will proceed to visit Pocitelj.
Depart to Blagaj : Visit of the most popular Tekje in Bosnia - Lunch on Buna River Spring. Proceed to Mostar, city tour : Visit Mehmet Koski Pasha Mosque, Karadjoz Bey Mosque, walk through the old town and old bridge, listed as UNESCO heritage site. Overnight at hotel Amicus, or similar.
Day 4 : Tito’S Bunker - Sarajevo (155 Km, 2H 30 Min)
Location: Sarajevo, Tito's Bunker - ARK D-0
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Overnight at a hotel Alem, or similar.
Meals Included: Breakfast
After breakfast we transfer to Tito's bunker, which is a Cold War era nuclear bunker and military command center located near the town of Konjic in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Built to protect Yugoslav President Josip Broz Tito and up to 350 members of his inner circle in the event of an atomic conflict. Then continue to Sarajevo. Proceed for tour to visit Vrelo Bosne – spring of river Bosnia, Tunnel Museum – the only means of going in and out during the siege of Sarajevo in last war - Walking tour of old town Bascarsija, Latin Bridge, place where the Austro Hungarian Archduke was assassinated, what triggered the 1st World War; Brusa Bezistan – covered market place; Gazi Husref Bey's Mosque- built in 1530 year during the Ottoman era – and Gazi Husref Bey Medrese; Morica Han built in 1551 ; Vijecnica – town hall for the Austro-Hungarian era.
Overnight at a hotel Alem, or similar.
Day 5 : Zabljak National Park Durmitor (Unesco) (167 Km, 3H 50 Min)
Location: Žabljak
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Overnight in Durmitor/Zabljak in Hotel Zlatni Bor, or similar.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Then continue to Zabljak. The Park is located in a wide mountain region in the northwestern part of Montenegro, surrounded by rivers Piva and Tara and there are 23 mountain tops over 2300 meters of altitude. Park is 39000 acres large and includes 82 kilometers of canyon of the Tara with altitude of 1600 meters above river level. There are 17 glacier lakes in the Park and the highest top in Montenegro is Bobotov kuk (2522 m). Since 1980 Park and canyon of Tara have been under protection of UNESCO. In 1977 the canyon was proclaimed a world ecological reserve.
Overnight in Durmitor/Zabljak in Hotel Zlatni Bor, or similar.
Day 6 : Berane - Gjakove (233 Km, 3H 50 Min)
Location: Gjakova, Berane
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Overnight in Hotel Carshia e Jupave, or similar.
Meals Included: Breakfast
After breakfast, we will continue to Berane. Berane is one of the largest towns of northeastern Montenegro and a former administrative centre of the Ivangrad District. It is a seat of one of many multi-ethnic and multi-religious municipalities in Montenegro. The town is located on the Lim river, being part of Sandžak region.
Then we then head to Gjakova which lies on the banks of the River Erenik. Visit its main sites including the old bazaar and clock tower, church, ethnographic museum.$ Overnight in Hotel Carshia e Jupave, or similar.
Day 7 : Krume - Kukes - Rubik - Tirane (205 Km, 3H 10 Min)
Location: Tirana, Has, Kukës, Rubik
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Overnight in Tirana.
Meals Included: Breakfast
After breakfast, continue the tour by enjoying the wonderful panorama of Black Drini River Valley and Firza Lake to arrive in Kukes. This city became famous and later was a Nobel Candidate city for the hospitality shown for about 1 million refugees from the Kosovo War in 1999. Then continue to Rubik via Has and Kukes in Drini River valley and the Rruga e Kombit Hiwayay. Visit in Info Kulla Rubik, where you will be introduced to the history of Mirdita which is the most authentic region in Albania, because it was never fully occupied fully in the last two millenniums by the various invaders starting from Hellenic, Roman, Byzantines, and the Ottomans. Introduction to Kanuni i Maleve, or known as “The Illyrian Code, Or Code of Lek Dukagjini”, where a similar one is found in Hittite civilization dating back 3500 year ago. Visit to the Shelbuemi Church of Rubik (dated in 1162), built over an ancient Illyrian Temple/Castle over the hill
ock in the strategic control of Fani River Valley.
Drive back to Tirana for our final night. Overnight in Tirana.
Day 8 : Kolasin National Park - Podgorica.
Location: Podgorica
After Breakfast departure to Kolasin National park. Walking by the lake in Kolasin. Lunch break. Afterwards, we will transfer to Podgorica, Montenegro's capital. We will visit the Old Town and show you the most important historical monuments and buildings in town: Doganjska Mosque from the 15th century, Skaline (“the stairs”) is probably one of the most historic and picturesque sites of Podgorica. It is a place perfectly described as peaceful, quiet and in the middle of the city, Republic Square, St.George church form 11th of century, Millenium Bridge, Russian Bridge, Vladimir Vysotsky Monument, Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ (Orthodox Church), Roman Square, King Nikola's Castle from 19th century and Clock Tower (Sahat Kula) from 17th century.
Overnight at Hotel Marienplatz Podgorica 3*, or similar. (B)
Day 9 : Shkoder Lake - Tirane.
Location: Shkodër
After breakfast, we will continue to Shkoder. A nice landscape with highland (Albanian Alps on north) are a full contrast. City tour of Shkodra, Old Bazaar, Centrum, Cathedral and Mosque. Visit the Castle of Rozafa and the museum inside it and we enjoy wonderful views of mountains, Shkodra’s lake, Drini, Buna and Kir rivers with the valleys around from the top of Rozafa castle, and “Ura e Mesit'' over Kir River. Drive back to Tirana for our final night.
Overnight at Starlight Hotel 4* or similar.
Day 10 : Departure
Location: Tirana
After breakfast, Airport transfer. End of services.
What's Included
- Accommodation at 3* hotels on double occupancy in good locations of respective cities/places. For children 2 - 11 year old ,sharing a room with 2 adults.
Transportation: Air Conditioned modern van/minibus/bus and other transportation listed in itinerary.
Breakfast: Daily breakfast. All others meals not listed are at your expense.
Guide: English speaking tour leader/manager.
What's Not Included
- Travel insurance, visa fees (if applicable)
- Any charges for additional itinerary are not listed in itinerary
- A mandatory service fee for tour guide/bus driver (min. 5-7 Euro /day per person).
- Audio guide equipment 7 EUR / person / day
- Excess baggage charges from Airlines
- Personal expenses such as room service, telephone, laundry service charges
- Losses or additional expenses: The Company will accept no responsibilities for losses or additional expenses due to accidents.
- Lunch and Dinner charges (if applicable)
- Local guide can be provided for every destination/city (at an extra charge), prior confirmation required
- Everything not mentioned in “Inclusions”
Know Before You Go
- Wheelchair Accessible
- Stroller Or Pram Accessible
- Animals Or Pets Allowed
- Public Transportation Nearby
- Infants Must Sit On Laps
Check out our Q&As
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Do I need Travel insurance?
We do not offer insurance packages but we highly recommend travel protection, it’s important to protect your trip investment and loved ones. We will offer you the best option for your vacation.
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Do you book group travel ?
Yes, we book group travel all the time! We specialize in helping groups of all sizes plan their dream trips. From family reunions to corporate retreats, we can take care of all the details so you can relax and enjoy your time away.
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How do I set up the consultation with the Albania Explorer agent ?
To set up a consultation with Albania Explorer's travel expert, you can contact us directly via phone or email us at contact@albaniaexplorer.com. You can even reach us on Whatsapp at +355 68 399 9480 . local operation working hours during week monday to friday : 08.00-18.00 , saturday 09.00-14.00 , Sunday - off.
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Will you available while I am on my vacation?
Yes, we will be available to answer any questions or address any concerns that you may have. You can get in touch with us anytime. We are committed to providing the best possible service and helping our clients create memorable vacations that they will always remember.
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Low Deposit
Albania Explorer requires a minimum deposit of 10% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 30 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of albania explorer charges.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.
At 15 days before tour starts: Forfeit 70% of booking price.
At 7 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.