13-Day Albania & Montenegro Discovery Tour

DAY 1 | Friday – Depart for Albania

Begin your Balkan adventure with a flight to vibrant Tirana, Albania’s colorful and energetic capital. Get ready to explore historic streets, contemporary art, and rich local culture.

DAY 2 | Saturday – Arrive in Tirana

Arrive in Tirana and transfer to your hotel. Enjoy a day at leisure to rest or explore nearby cafés and art installations. In the evening, meet your Tour Manager for an orientation session, followed by a welcome dinner.

Overnight: Tirana | Meals: Dinner

DAY 3 | Sunday – Explore Tirana & Cooking Class

Tour Tirana highlights:

• Et’hem Bey Mosque, a beautifully restored 18th-century landmark

• Palace of Culture, home to the National Library & National Theater

• Bunk’Art 2, a Cold War-era nuclear bunker turned museum

• Skanderbeg Square, featuring the statue of Albania’s national hero

Enjoy a hands-on Albanian cooking class, guided by a local chef. Learn traditional recipes and savor your creations at lunch.

Overnight: Tirana | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 4 | Monday – Travel to Sarande

Journey along Albania’s stunning coastline to Sarande, passing breathtaking views of the Ionian and Adriatic Seas. Stop in a charming coastal town along the way before reaching Sarande. Check into your hotel and enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.

Overnight: Sarande | Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 5 | Tuesday – Blue Eye & Butrint National Park

Visit the Blue Eye, a mesmerizing natural spring with crystal-clear sapphire waters. Afterward, explore Butrint National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Wander among ancient ruins: amphitheaters, Roman villas, basilicas, and Byzantine structures. Return to Sarande for the evening.

Overnight: Sarande | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 6 | Wednesday – Gjirokaster & Travel to Durres

Explore Gjirokaster, the UNESCO-listed City of Stone:

• Stroll cobbled streets lined with Ottoman-era homes and local shops

• Visit Gjirokaster Castle, perched above the valley, featuring medieval artifacts and historic prison exhibits

Travel onward to the coastal city of Durres. Tonight, enjoy traditional Albanian dinner with folklore dancing at your hotel.

Overnight: Durres | Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 7 | Thursday – Berat Castle, Local Lunch & Winery

Discover Berat Castle, perched above the city known as the City of a Thousand Windows. Explore ancient streets, historic churches, and Ottoman houses. Enjoy a locally hosted lunch inside the castle grounds. Continue to a family-run winery, where you’ll learn traditional Albanian winemaking and sample signature wines.

Overnight: Durres | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 8 | Friday – Farm Visit, Border to Montenegro, Olive Oil Tasting & Kotor

Visit a traditional Albanian farm to experience local life and enjoy farm-to-table lunch specialties. Cross the border to Montenegro and visit The House of Olives for an olive oil tasting. Continue to the dramatic coastal town of Kotor in the fjord-like Bay of Kotor.

Overnight: Kotor | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 9 | Saturday – Discover Kotor

Explore Kotor, a UNESCO World Heritage Site:

• St. Tryphon Cathedral, a 12th-century Romanesque masterpiece

• Old Square and Maritime Museum, featuring ship models and navigational tools

Afternoon at leisure to explore the town’s scenic streets and waterfront. Dinner at a local restaurant.

Overnight: Kotor | Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 10 | Sunday – Cetinje & King Nicola’s Museum

Drive along Montenegro’s stunning mountain roads to Cetinje, the former royal capital. Enjoy lunch at the country’s oldest restaurant, then tour King Nicola’s Museum to learn about Montenegro’s royal history and cultural heritage.

Overnight: Kotor | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 11 | Monday – Ostrog Monastery & Podgorica

Visit Ostrog Monastery, a breathtaking Orthodox site built into cliffs, dedicated to Saint Basil of Ostrog. Explore the lower church frescoes and the upper monastery with the saint’s tomb. Continue to Podgorica, Montenegro’s capital. Evening at leisure to discover local nightlife.

Overnight: Podgorica | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 12 | Tuesday – Marko Miljanov Museum & Ancient Doclea Ruins

Tour Medun to visit the Marko Miljanov Museum, showcasing the life of this historic warrior and writer. Explore the Ancient Doclea ruins, dating back to the 1st century AD, including Roman baths, forum, and Basilica mosaics. Return to Podgorica and enjoy a farewell dinner.

Overnight: Podgorica | Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 13 | Wednesday – Depart Montenegro

Transfer to the airport for your departure flight, concluding an unforgettable journey through Albania & Montenegro.

Meals: Breakfast

Tour Highlights

• Hands-on Albanian cooking class in Tirana

• Stunning natural spring: Blue Eye

• UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Gjirokaster, Butrint, Kotor

• Berat Castle and locally hosted lunch

• Farm and winery experiences, including olive oil tasting

• Spectacular Ostrog Monastery carved into cliffs

• Historical museums: King Nicola, Marko Miljanov

• Scenic drives along the Albanian and Montenegrin coastline

Package Includes

• Round-trip flights: New York–Tirana / Podgorica–New York (other departure cities available)

• 12 nights First Class accommodations: Tirana, Sarande, Durres, Kotor, Podgorica

• 26 meals: 12 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 8 dinners

• Transfers, guided sightseeing, entrance fees, and English-speaking Tour Manager

• Comfortable wireless earphones for enhanced touring

Not Included

• Optional excursions and gratuities