Original
Explorer
Kosovo, Albania & Macedonia Explorer
15 days • 5
5
Excellent
74 reviews
15 days
Start
Tirana, Albania
Finish
Tirana, Albania
Trip Code
ZMSX
Min Age
15
Trip Size
1 - 12
Physical Rating
Meals
14 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 2 dinners
Transport
Public bus, Private vehicle, Boat, Taxi
Accommodation
Hotel (10 nights), Guesthouse (4 nights)
From £1,968(15 days)
Trip Informations
Why you’ll love this trip
Explore the remote northern reaches of Albania and take one of the world’s best boat trips with a cruise through the mountainous corridors of Lake Koman.
Experience daily life in the Valbona Valley with a stay at a local guesthouse. Clink glasses with the locals in the village and hike the rugged valley passes.
Sail across the blue waters of Lake Ohrid – one of Europe's oldest lakes. No wonder North Macedonia and Albania share this beautiful attraction!
Step back in time and learn about the infamous Battle of Kosovo on a daytrip to the Field of Blackbirds, before embracing the modern culture in Prishtina – Europe’s youngest capital.
Lose yourself in the Albanian capital of Tirana, full of revitalised urban energy, and join the locals for a coffee and some people-watching.
Is this trip right for you?
Weather in this part of Europe can be unpredictable. Summer temperatures can be extreme in many of the regions visited (over 40°C), which can be uncomfortable. It’s important to use sun protection, wear layers to combat the heat and drink plenty of water. On the other hand, the weather in the mountains can be cold and wet throughout the year. Please carefully consider the time of the year you wish to travel and your suitability to that season.
Hotels in Europe often don't have double beds, but rather two single beds that can be pushed together.
On this trip, you must pack as lightly as possible because you’ll be expected to carry your own bag, and although you won't be required to walk long distances with your luggage (max 30 minutes), we strongly recommend keeping the weight under 15 kg (33 lb). Most travellers carry their luggage in a backpack, although an overnight bag with a shoulder strap would suffice if you travel lightly. Smaller bags or backpacks with wheels are convenient although we recommend your bag has carry straps to accommodate the cobbled streets, uneven surfaces, stairs and steps you are likely to encounter while carrying your luggage. You'll also need a day pack/bag.
Itinerary
Travel through the valleys, towns and mountainscapes of Albania, Kosovo and North Macedonia
It’s hard to find a patch of Europe as secluded as this one – among the rugged mountains and green fields of Albania, Kosovo and North Macedonia, you’ll find shepherds, monasteries, lakes, valleys and Byzantine churches. Lacking in tourist crowds, it’s taken decades for the Balkans to wipe away memories of conflict and Communism, but (amazingly) they’ve emerged strong and smiling. From cool cafes in Skopje and the soft shores of Lake Ohrid to the mosques of picture-perfect Prizren, this 15-day adventure showcases Balkan beauty at its very best.
Inclusions
Meals
14 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 2 dinners
Transport
Public bus, Private vehicle, Boat, Taxi
Accommodation
Hotel (10 nights), Guesthouse (4 nights)
Included activities
Lake Koman - Private boat ride
Valbona Valley - Village Tour
Valbona Valley - Tea House
Dečani Monastery - UNESCO World Heritage Site
Rugova Valley - Hike including Lunch
Gjakova - Sufi Tekke of the Halveti Order
Gjakova - Hadumi Mosque
Prizren - Kalaja Fortress Visit
Kosovo Polje - Field of the Battle of Blackbirds & Tomb of Sultan Murat
Prishtina - Day Trip
Gracanica - Gracanica Monastery
Prishtina - Bear Sanctuary
Skopje - Matka Canyon visit and Boat Ride
Ohrid - Lake Ohrid Boat Cruise
Optional activities
Tirana - Sky Tower - ALL400
Tirana - National History Museum - ALL700
Tirana - National Art Gallery - ALL200
Tirana - Bunk'Art Gallery - ALL500
Tirana - Dajti Mountain Cable Car - ALL1000
Shkoder - Rozafa Castle - ALL400
Prizren - House of the Albanian League of Prizren - EUR1
Prizren - Church of Our Lady of Ljevis - EUR3
Prizren - Church of the Holy Saviour - EUR2
Prizren - Sinan Pasha Mosque - Free
Prizren - Halveti’s Tekke - Free
Prishtina - Ethnographic Museum - Free
Prishtina - Sultan Fatih Mosque - Free
Prishtina - Kosovo Museum - EUR2
Skopje - Mount Vodno Cable Car to Millennium Cross - MKD120
Skopje - Kale Fortress - Free
Skopje - Holocaust Memorial Centre - MKD300
Skopje - Daut Pasha Hammam - MKD60
Skopje - City Museum - Free
Skopje - Archaeological Museum - MKD300
Matka Canyon - Boat Ride - MKD400
Ohrid - Robev Family House National Museum - MKD150
Ohrid - St Jovan Church - MKD150
Kruja - Day Trip - ALL900
Kruja - Skanderbeg Museum - ALL500
Dates and availability
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Important notes
1. A single supplement is bookable for this trip, excluding Days 3&4. Availability is limited due to small property we use. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
Reviews (79)
5 stars
75
4 stars
4
Rosemary
Jun 01, 2025
Amazing trip which exceeded my expectations. It was my first trip with intrepid and I will definitely be doing more. I particularly loved visiting countries which weren’t as touristy and off the beaten track but still had beautiful sights and were full of culture and history. Would recommend to anyone wanting to visit this part of the world. Daniel our tour leader had so much knowledge and passion about the places we visited and was so helpful in giving recommendations of places to see, restaurants and foods to try.
Elena
Jun 01, 2025
I absolutely loved this trip to Albania, Kosovo and North Macedonia. There were so many highlights… the beautiful mountains and lakes, the amazing food, the fascinating cities, and the warm and friendly people. Our trip leader Daniel was fabulous and made the trip even more special.
Ann
Jun 01, 2025
All aspects of this trip were fabulous- spectacular natural environment & activities. I loved our interaction with the locals. And Daniel - our guide was exceptional & created terrific, fun group experience. Accommodation & included meals great . Just sign up😊 Ann, Australia
Linda
May 28, 2025
We highly recommend this trip! Albania, Kosovo and North Macedonia are countries with an incredible recent history, glorious scenery, warm and friendly local people and delicious food. We had a great group of 12 and our leader Flutra was up there with the best!
Stephen
May 24, 2025
Excellent tour covering three Balkan countries and led by our superb leader Artedi. A variety of city and countryside experiences plus a fair amount of free time. I would thoroughly recommend this trip.
Helen
May 24, 2025
This 2 week explorer trip to the Western Balkans was EPIC. I regard myself as a traveller not a tourist and therefore I engaged with the different countries, cultures and recent history. The latter resonated throughout Albania and Kosovo.
Vasanthi
May 23, 2025
A trip through less visited countries of the Balkans , not rushed and with plenty of time to explore and learn about this fascinating and historically important area.
Gemma
May 18, 2025
Fantastic trip visiting three amazing countries. Highlights for me were all the boat trips, our time in Ohrid, Prizren and visiting the bear sanctuary. The scenery is beautiful and we had a brilliant guide in Art. Definitely recommend this trip.
Stephen
May 17, 2025
I found this trip gave a good insight into this area of the Balkans. Our guide's, Artedi, enthusiasm for and knowledge of this area greatly enhanced the experience. I certainly would this trip recommend.
Frances
May 17, 2025
A very well organised trip showing the highlights of these three countries. Arted was extremely knowledgeable and the small group size made for an excellent trip with like minded travellers. Boat trip and wine tasting were highlights.
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