Description
Balkans Uncovered: Albania, Kosovo & North Macedonia (15 Days / 14 Nights)
Journey through the heart of the Western Balkans — from Albania’s dramatic valleys and historic towns to Kosovo’s spiritual landmarks and North Macedonia’s serene lakes. Explore UNESCO sites, Ottoman bazaars, glacial rivers, highland villages, monasteries, and canyons. A rich cultural experience crafted the AAIFLY way.
Tour Overview
| Duration |
15 Days / 14 Nights |
| Countries Covered |
Albania • Kosovo • North Macedonia |
| Main Destinations |
Tirana • Shkodër • Valbonë • Peja • Prizren • Prishtina (Day Trip) • Skopje • Matka Canyon • Ohrid • Tirana
|
| Ideal For |
Culture Lovers, Slow Travelers, Nature Explorers, History Enthusiasts, Adventure Seekers |
| Travel Type |
Multi-country Balkan Circuit – Nature, Culture, Alpine Valleys & UNESCO Heritage |
| Best Time to Visit |
April to October (Best) • December–February (for winter landscapes) |
| Accommodation |
City Hotels (Tirana, Shkodër, Peja, Prizren, Skopje) • Alpine Guesthouses (Valbonë) • Local Guesthouses (Ohrid)
|
| Key Experiences Included |
Lake Koman Private Boat • Valbonë Village Walk & Tea House • Dečani Monastery (UNESCO) • Rugova Valley Guided Hike & Village Lunch • Gjakova Tekke & Mosque • Prizren Kalaja Fortress • Kosovo Polje & Sultan Murat Site • Gračanica Monastery (UNESCO) • Bear Sanctuary Visit • Skopje Orientation • Matka Canyon Boat Ride • Lake Ohrid Cruise
|
| Internal Transport |
Private Transfers • Local Buses (as per itinerary) • Scenic Boat Rides • Border Crossings by Road
|
| Meals Included |
Daily Breakfast • 2 Dinners in Valbonë • 1 Local Village Lunch (Rugova)
|
| Support |
Expert Local Guides • On-ground Assistance • Cultural Specialists |
Day wise travel itinerary
Stay: Hotel, Tirana
Mire se vini! Meet in Tirana and check in. Time permitting, explore on your own—colorful boulevards, Ottoman echoes, and lively cafés.
Top options (own cost): Sky Tower view, National History Museum, National Art Gallery, Bunk’Art, Dajti Mountain cable car.
Stay: Hotel, Shkodër | Meals: Breakfast
Morning leader-led walk: Skanderbeg Square, National History Museum mosaic, Palace of Culture, Et’hem Bey Mosque (exterior).
Afternoon local bus to Shkodër. Stroll the Pjaca, see Ebu Beker Mosque.
Option (own cost): Sunset at Rozafa Castle with sweeping countryside views.
Stay: Family Guesthouse, Valbonë | Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Early transfer to Lake Koman. Board a private boat through Albania’s most dramatic gorge—emerald waters, limestone cliffs, swim stop. Disembark at Fierza and continue to Valbonë. Home-cooked dinner at the guesthouse.
Included: Lake Koman private boat ride.
Stay: Family Guesthouse, Valbonë | Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Slow travel in the Alps: meadows, farmsteads, tea houses, and warm conversations over raki. Light hiking or village time, as conditions allow.
Included: Village walk & local tea house visit.
Stay: Hotel, Peja | Meals: Breakfast
Cross into Kosovo. Visit Dečani Monastery (UNESCO)—masterful frescoes and serene grounds. In Peja, explore the restored Old Bazaar and Bajrakli Mosque.
Included: Dečani Monastery visit.
Stay: Hotel, Peja | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Drive deep into Rugova Valley (National Park). Guided hike amid alpine pastures, wildflowers, and ringing cowbells beneath Mt. Hjala. Enjoy a home-cooked village lunch, then return to Peja.
Included: Rugova guided hike + family lunch.
Stay: Hotel, Prizren | Meals: Breakfast
Stop in Gjakova: Halveti Tekke (Sufi lodge) and Hadumi Mosque—with a chance to meet the imam for local insights (when available). Continue to Prizren; orientation walk by the Bistrica River—mosques, bridges, and historic churches.
Included: Halveti Tekke & Hadumi Mosque visits.
Stay: Hotel, Prizren | Meals: Breakfast
Climb to Kalaja Fortress for the city’s best panorama via the “hidden” 43 steps, then enjoy a free day.
Ideas (own cost): House of the Albanian League of Prizren, Sinan Pasha Mosque, Church of Our Lady of Ljeviš, winery visit in Rahovec.
Stay: Hotel, Prizren | Meals: Breakfast
Visit Kosovo Polje memorial and the Tomb of Sultan Murat. Explore Prishtina highlights and the UNESCO-listed Gračanica Monastery. Finish at the woodland Bear Sanctuary, home for rescued bears.
Included: Kosovo Polje & Sultan Murat site, Gračanica Monastery, Bear Sanctuary.
Options (own cost): Ethnographic Museum, Sultan Fatih Mosque, Kosovo Museum.
Stay: Hotel, Skopje | Meals: Breakfast
Arrive Skopje; orientation past Byzantine domes, Ottoman baths, and neoclassical facades. Free time for museums or the Old Bazaar.
Options (own cost): Holocaust Memorial Centre, Daut Pasha Hammam, Archaeological Museum, cable car to Mount Vodno.
Stay: Hotel, Skopje | Meals: Breakfast
Excursion to Matka Canyon—monasteries, butterflies, karst caves. Boat ride included or choose scenic ridge trails. Return to Skopje for free time: Carsija lanes, Vardar riverfront, dinner in Debar Maalo.
Included: Matka Canyon visit & boat ride.
Stay: Guesthouse, Ohrid | Meals: Breakfast
Local bus to Ohrid, Europe’s oldest lake and a UNESCO-listed cultural jewel. Orientation through cobbles and lakeside promenades; browse the Old Bazaar.
Stay: Guesthouse, Ohrid | Meals: Breakfast
Morning boat cruise on Lake Ohrid. Free time for Ohrid’s icons: cliff-top Sveti Jovan Kaneo, Tsar Samoil’s Fortress, the Roman theatre, or serene Sveti Naum Monastery by peacock-dotted gardens.
Included: Lake Ohrid boat cruise.
Options (own cost): Robev Family House National Museum, church entries.
Stay: Hotel, Tirana | Meals: Breakfast
Cross back into Albania. Free afternoon: Dajti cable car views, café-hopping in Blloku, or a side trip to Kruja and the Skanderbeg Museum (own cost). Celebrate the journey with a final Albanian dinner.
Meals: —
Check out and transfer to the airport. Faleminderit & gëzuar—until next time!
Important Notes
Payment Policy
- 50% advance payment required at the time of booking.
- Remaining balance must be paid 15 days prior to departure.
Cancellation Policy
- 30+ days before departure: 25% of the package cost.
- 15–29 days before departure: 50% of the package cost.
- Less than 15 days: 100% of the package cost.
- No refund for unused services or last-minute cancellations.