BEST OF MONTENEGRO AND ALBANIA

On your tour in Montenegro, the gems of the Bay of Kotor and its surroundings are a must. You will enjoy the Unesco town of Kotor, the baroque Perast, not to leave out Budva with its famous riviera and a splash of nature in the Lovčen National Park. And to make it a more interesting and diverse trip, we’ve added the neighboring country to this route. Discover the unknown, the country that was closed to foreigners for much of the 20th century, Albania has long been the enigma of Mediterranean Europe. And yes, it has cultural cities and breathtaking mountain scenery, crumbling castles, a bustling capital, and dreamy beaches to rival any in the Mediterranean.  Whether you are coming as an individual traveler and are looking for a tailor-made private tour or as a group, these two countries will not leave you disappointed.

DAY 1: DUBROVNIK – TREBINJE
Arrival at Dubrovnik airport and transfer to the neighboring city Trebinje. Overnight in Trebinje.

DAY 2: TREBINJE – PERAST – KOTOR
After breakfast, a short trip across the border will start your tour in Montenegro. Upon entering Montenegro, you will arrive directly in the Bay of Kotor where you will make your first stop in Perast, one of the most beautiful baroque towns in Montenegro. As a former seafaring center, it still shines with marvelous buildings, beautiful churches, and a romantic promenade.

However, the main attractions of Perast, and also the most famous postcard motif of the Bay of Kotor, the island of Our Lady of the Rocks with the church, can be visited by boat. But inside the old town, along the narrow streets, you will find some 16 different churches, a very high number for such a small town.

Later continue to Unesco’s Kotor, a real magnet for Montenegro’s tourists and yachtsmen. Full of ancient history and jaw-dropping scenery, Kotor is one of Montenegro’s top tourist attractions and holiday destinations. Apart from the many sights, such as the Cathedral of St. Tryphon in the old town (built in 1166), the highlight is the fortification, built during the Venetian period. The scenery is incredible up there, but the view will be enjoyed by those who climb more than 1000 stairs. Overnight in the bay of Kotor.

DAY 3: KOTOR – LOVČEN – CETINJE – BUDVA 
Breakfast. The route today will show you the beauty of the Lovčen National Park, which lies at the junction of two climatic zones, mediterranean and continental, which has conditioned the development of a rich living world with numerous endemic species.

From there, you visit the nearby town of Cetinje, located in the Cetinje countryside at the base of Lovcen Mountain. The Monastery of Cetinje stands out there. The monastery was built in 1701 and although the Turks destroyed it several times, the people rebuilt it. It houses the relics of St. Petar of Cetinje, one of the illustrious patrons of Montenegrin history. The Cetinje monastery represents the spiritual and political seat of the Montenegrin people.

At the end of the day, Budva awaits you. Once a small, quiet seaside town, today Budva is a metropolis of Montenegrin tourism during the summer. Budva seems to have a double life: one in the old town and one in the new part of the city. Bordered by high walls and decorated with predominantly Venetian architecture, the old town holds historical and cultural treasures – a Roman necropolis and an altar, ancient pylons, a pre-Christian basilica, and many churches. Overnight in Budva.

DAY 4: BUDVA – SHKODER – TIRANA
Breakfast and departure to Tirana, joining Albania to your tour in Montenegro. Before reaching the capital Tirana, we will stop in the city of Shkoder. Shkoder is the most historic town in Albania. The oldest castle wall of Shkodër dates back to the first millennium BC. The Roman historian Livy cited the city as the capital of the Illyrian King Gentius, who surrendered to the Romans in 168 BC.

Subsequently, the city was held by the Byzantines, Bulgarians, Serbs, and Turks, again by the Illyrians and by the Serbian Balša family, who sold it to Venice in 1396. In the 15th century, it was a stronghold of the Albanian national hero Skanderbeg. Afternoon arrival in Tirana and overnight.

How about a custom-made

tour in Montenegro and Albania?

DAY 5: TIRANA
Today you will visit the capital of Albania. Tirana was founded in the early 17th century by a Turkish general, Barkinzade Süleyman Paşa, who is said to have built a mosque, a bathhouse, and a bakery to attract locals. The centerpiece is Skanderbeg Square, with a large statue of Skanderbeg, the Albanian national hero.

On your visit, you will also see the Et`hem Bey Mosque, built in 1793, the Bunk’art2 museum, the Opera House (National Opera and Ballet Theatre), the Town Hall, and several government buildings. In the afternoon you will have free time to stroll around the city and enjoy local cuisine in one of the traditional restaurants. Overnight in Tirana.

DAY 6: TIRANA – DURRES – VLORE – TIRANA
After breakfast, we will drive to Durres, the ancient Greco-Roman port city of Dyrrachium. We will visit the Amphitheatre (2nd century AD) and the Archaeological Museum and continue with a visit to the old town and later continue to the ancient Greek settlement of Apollonia – (founded in 588 BC). After the visit to Apollonia, we head to Vlore which is the second seaport of Albania.

It was strategically important during Roman times and during the 11th and 12th-century wars between Normans and Byzantines. On 28 November 1912, Ismail Qemal proclaimed Albanian independence there. The town is surrounded by olive groves in the hills and is situated just inland from its port, which is connected by a pipeline to the oil fields and refinery at Cërrik. Vlorë has a fishing and canning industry, a distillery, and an olive oil refinery. Afternoon return to Tirana and overnight.

DAY 7: TIRANA – BERAT – TIRANA
For the last day of your tour in Montenegro and Albania, you will visit the city of Berat. Berat, known as the “City of a Thousand Windows” and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is an ancient Illyrian settlement founded in the 4th and 5th centuries BC on the territory of the Illyrian tribe of Desarettes. The three main quarters of the old town are Mangalemi, Gorica, and Kala, where the castle itself is located.

The Kalaja of Berat is the largest castle in Albania. Unlike other fortifications in the region that have been hollowed out over time, Berat Castle is almost intact. Within its walls, you will find a vast complex of stone streets, Byzantine houses, and churches mixed with ruins from various periods. Berat is known for the Ottoman houses that cascade down both sides of its gentle river valley. Before heading back, we visit a local winery for wine tasting. Afternoon return to Tirana and overnight.

DAY 8: TIRANA
Breakfast and transfer to the airport. End of your journey.