12-Day Adriatic & Balkans Escorted Tour: Albania, Montenegro, Croatia & Slovenia

DAY 1 | Monday – Depart for Albania

Begin your Balkan adventure as you depart for Albania. Relax on your flight and prepare for 12 days of stunning landscapes, historic cities, and cultural treasures.

DAY 2 | Tuesday – Arrive in Tirana

Arrive in Tirana, Albania’s vibrant capital and cultural hub. Transfer to your hotel and enjoy the afternoon at leisure. Your day concludes with an orientation meeting at 6 PM and dinner at your hotel.

Overnight: Tirana | Meals: Dinner

DAY 3 | Wednesday – Tirana City Tour & Optional Kruje

Discover Tirana on a guided city tour:

• Skanderbeg Square, heart of the city with the equestrian statue of Albania’s national hero

• Et’hem Bey Mosque, symbol of religious revival

• Palace of Culture, built during the Soviet era

• Bunk’Art 2 Museum, an ex-nuclear bunker turned museum

Optional afternoon: Kruje Tour – explore the historic bazaar, Ethnographic Museum, and enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.

Optional: Kruje Tour & Dinner
Overnight: Tirana | Meals: Breakfast

DAY 4 | Thursday – Shkodra, Wine Tasting & Podgorica

Travel to Shkodra, one of Albania’s oldest cities on Shkodra Lake. Visit the ruins of Rozafa Castle, steeped in myth and history.

Cross into Montenegro, visiting Plantaze Vineyards for a wine tasting of the local Vranac wine. Continue to Podgorica, the Montenegrin capital, for a panoramic city tour and dinner.

Overnight: Podgorica | Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 5 | Friday – Skadar Lake & Moraca Monastery

Explore Skadar Lake, a serene Balkan gem. Enjoy free time for lunch, then visit the Moraca Monastery, Montenegro’s largest medieval Orthodox monument, built in 1252. Return to Podgorica and relax for the evening.

Overnight: Podgorica | Meals: Breakfast

DAY 6 | Saturday – Cetinje & Bay of Kotor en Route to Dubrovnik

Travel to Cetinje, Montenegro’s cultural capital, to visit King Nikola Museum. Descend to the Bay of Kotor, a fjord-like masterpiece, and explore Kotor’s UNESCO-listed Old Town.

Continue to Dubrovnik, the Adriatic’s “Pearl,” and enjoy dinner at your hotel.

Overnight: Dubrovnik | Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 7 | Sunday – Walking Tour of Dubrovnik & Optional Traditional Croatian Dinner

Discover Dubrovnik Old Town on foot:

• Sponza Palace, preserved in original form

• City Bell Tower & Orlando Column

• Dominican Monastery & Franciscan Monastery, home to one of Europe’s oldest functioning pharmacies

Optional: Traditional Croatian Dinner at a homestead near Dubrovnik, featuring local cheese, Dalmatian prosciutto, and wine paired with live music.

Overnight: Dubrovnik | Meals: Breakfast

DAY 8 | Monday – Ston Saltworks & Split Walking Tour

Travel along the Dalmatian coast, stopping at Ston to see its historic saltworks (14th century). Continue to Split, where you’ll tour the Old Town and Diocletian’s Palace, the largest and best-preserved Roman palace on the Adriatic.

Optional: Croatian Dinner at Epetium, a three-course meal with live Dalmatian music in Stobrec, just outside Split.

Overnight: Split | Meals: Breakfast

DAY 9 | Tuesday – Plitvice Lakes National Park

Journey to Plitvice Lakes National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore its 16 cascading lakes, thundering waterfalls, and lush primeval forest. Dinner and overnight in Plitvice.
Note: Comfortable walking shoes recommended.

Overnight: Plitvice Lakes | Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 10 | Wednesday – Travel to Zagreb & Ljubljana

Travel inland to Zagreb, Croatia’s capital. Stroll downtown and explore the Upper Town:

• Kaptol Square

• Zagreb Cathedral with soaring twin spires

• St. Mark’s Square, Jesuit Church of St. Catherine, and Ban Jelacic Square

Continue to Ljubljana, Slovenia, for late afternoon check-in and leisure.

Overnight: Ljubljana | Meals: Breakfast

DAY 11 | Thursday – Ljubljana City Tour & Resort Town of Bled

Tour Ljubljana with a local guide:

• Open-air market

• City Hall

• Robba Fountain

• Three Bridges

• Parliament

Travel to Bled, explore the lakeside town, and ascend Bled Castle, an 11th-century fortress with panoramic views. Stop in Radovljica for a walking tour and free time before dinner. Return to Ljubljana for overnight.

Overnight: Ljubljana | Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 12 | Friday – Depart Slovenia

Transfer to the airport for your departure flight, concluding a remarkable journey through the Adriatic and Balkans.

Meals: Breakfast

Tour Highlights

• Discover Bunk’Art 2 Museum in Tirana

• Visit Moraca Monastery, Montenegro’s largest Orthodox monument

• Explore King Nikola Museum in Cetinje

• Marvel at the Bay of Kotor fjord

• Walk Dubrovnik Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

• Tour Diocletian’s Palace in Split

• Wander Plitvice Lakes National Park, a network of 16 terraced lakes

• Stroll Zagreb’s Upper Town and cathedral

• Explore Ljubljana Old Town with Baroque and Art Nouveau architecture

• Relax in Alpine Bled, set amidst the Julian Alps

Package Includes

• Flights: New York ↔ Tirana, Ljubljana ↔ New York (other departure cities available)

• 10 nights accommodation in 4-5 star hotels

• 15 meals: 10 breakfasts, 5 dinners

• Air-conditioned motor coach, guided sightseeing, entrance fees

• Services of English-speaking Tour Manager & local guides

• Hotel porterage, taxes, and service charges

• Wireless earphones for enhanced touring

• Optional transfers available for land-only bookings or alternative flight dates