This adventure tour of the Western Balkans offers a diversified itinerary through North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Albania. The itinerary will provide the most unique, outdoor experiences that this region offers! You will experience a centuries old lifestyle, local organic foods, crystal clear lakes; soft adventures activities and peace, while accommodated in the rural areas, learning about diverse ethnical folklore through interaction with locals. At the same time, many activities are included. Activities vary from hikes in different national parks, cooking lessons on some regional trademark dishes, learning about local crafts, getting around the hives and beekeeping as well as pulling the nets with proper fishermen. By avoiding the crowds, you will discover the real Balkans and have an unforgettable holiday for lifelong memories!
Level of difficulty
- Easy to medium
Activities filled program; active vacation.
Budget
- Affordable
Best for what
- Rural experience
- Food tasting
- Hiking
Best for who
Retired travellers
Group of friends
Families
Highlights
- Tasting local food and knowing local lifestyle of Western Balkans communities
- Exploring UNESCO heritage and national parks
- Sightseeing of beautiful places and monuments
- Fly Fishing along the tear of Europe – Tara river
- Boat rides and bird watching on Skadar Lake
- Exploring Ohrid region.
Day by day program
Day 1 - Tour of Skopje
Routing: Airport – Skopje
Short: Transfer from the airport to the hotel in Skopje for check in. After checking in, a guided tour of the center of Skopje and the Old bazaar. In the evening, visit to the Chateau Sopot winery for welcoming dinner with tasting of Macedonian wine.
Host: Hotel
Meals: D
Day 2 - Through Balkans
Routing: Skopje – Kosovo – Montenegro
Short: After breakfast, we check out and depart towards Kosovo. We will visit the Gadima cave and UNESCO site – 14th century Orthodox monastery Gracanica. We will continue to the traditional restaurant for a lunch with famous local Kosovo food. Drive and arrival to the north of Montenegro and accommodation in a rural household on the slopes of Bjelasica mountain.
Host: Rural household
Meals: B/L/D
Day 3 - Nature Paradise
Routing: Bjelasica
Short: Your guide will take you to enjoy untouched nature of Bjelasica mountain and its glacial lakes and at the same time you will admire great sights of Prokletije and Komovi mountains positioned around.
Host: Rural household
Meals: B/L/D
Day 4 - Fly Fishing
Routing: Bjelasica – Tara River – Skadar Lake
Short: After breakfast, we are leaving accommodation and heading to the zone of Tara river canyon – the deepest canyon in Europe. We will do fly-fishing lessons with our licensed instructor who fights against illegal fishing. He will teach you fishing technique and tell you about fauna of the river Tara, known as a Tear of Europe because of its clear drinkable water. In the afternoon, we will have a lunch in the rural household, made of local products.
Ride to Skadar Lake National Park where we will be accommodated in a local guesthouse.
Host: Local guesthouse
Meals: B/L/D
Day 5 - Cetinje & Lovcen Experience
Routing: Skadar Lake – Lovcen – Cetinje
Short: Drive via the spectacular curvy road of Lovcen National Park and visit to the Old Royal Capital Cetinje. Visit to the Honey farm where you will learn about the honey making techniques and taste some homemade liqueurs followed by a traditional Montenegrin lunch.
Host: Local guesthouse
Meals: B/L/D
Day 6 - Boat Riding on Skadar Lake
Routing: Skadar Lake – Albania
Short: We will enjoy a 3-hour boat ride on the largest lake in the Balkans, enjoying its flora, rich bird life and amazing sights. Traditional lunch will be served in a local winery, located in one of the villages around the lake, with the famous red wine and liqueurs tasting.
In the afternoon, we will continue to Albania towards Lepushe village
Host: The stone house or group houses
Meals: B/L/D
Day 7 - Local Lifestyle
Routing: Lepushe – Vermosh
Short: In the morning, the group will visit the old mills, still in use by locals. After a light trekking we will reach the katuns – places where shepherds live during the summer. Our host will serve home made product for lunch and share some local shepherds’ legends with us.
In the afternoon, we will go to the Vermosh region for sightseeing. Evening will be reserved for a team building – prepare the dinner together with the hostess-lady, owner of the household.
Host: The stone house or group houses
Meals: B/L/D
Day 8 - Castles and Villages
Routing: Shkodra – Fishta village – Lezha Dumrea lake region
Short: Ride to the south with a short visit to Shkodra and Rozafa Castle for great panorama views of the city. Continue to the Fishta village and local farm with lunch served of local ingredients.
In the afternoon, visit to Lezha and Skanderbeg Memorial, and transfer to Belsh within the area of Dumrea that is famous for its 84 karst lakes.
Host: Accommodation in Seferan
Meals: B/L/D
Day 9 - Lagoon Experience
Routing: Serefen – Karavasta
Short: Early morning trip for a unique nets pulling experience with local fishermen in the Lagoon of Karavasta. BBQ based on fish and seafood.
Host: Accommodation in Seferan
Meals: B/L/D
Day 10 - Ohrid and Galichica
Routing: Serefen – North Macedonia
Short: After breakfast, transfer to North Macedonia. Arrival to Ohrid where the local guide will take us for a tour. After lunch made of traditional fish from Ohrid Lake, transfer to the heart of National Park Galichica in the village of Elshani.
Host: Local guesthouse
Meals: B/L/D
Day 11 - Hiking at Konjsko
Routing: Elshani – Konjsko
Short: Medium intensity hiking tour in the area characterised with amazing nature and spectacular views over Ohrid Lake.
Home hosted lunch with traditional food made by the locals in the traditional way, with guests taking part at the cookies making classes.
Host: Local guesthouse
Meals: B/L/D
Day 12 - Traditional Food with Hikes
Routing: Elshani – Galichica – Dihovo
Short: Visit of the famous monastery of Saint Naum, and further drive through the National Park Galichica, up to 1400 m altitude. Stop at Brajcino village for lunch and a short hike.
Accommodation in Dihovo village, a member of the Slow Food International movement.
Traditional dinner with crafted wine and beer tasting.
Host: Accommodation in Dihovo village
Meals: B/L/D
Day 13 - Honey Making
Routing: Dihovo – Skopje
Short: Hiking in the National park Pelister (for 2 h). Lunch with traditional food, at host’s house. Visit to an apiary in Dihovo village, getting to see how the organic honey is produced. Transfer to Skopje, free time with a farewell dinner in a traditional restaurant in Skopje.
Host: Hotel in Skopje
Meals: B/L/D
Day 14 - Bye, Bye, until The Next Time
Routing: Skopje – Airport
Short: After breakfast, transfer to the International Airport Skopje and departure.
Host: /
Meals: B
Cancellation policy
Maps and directions
ECO
RURAL
ADVENTURE
Environment protection
- Educating guests on how to make their trip eco friendly.
- Motivating guests to bring their bottles for multiple use and reusable shopping bags.
- By travelling with us our guests will ensure ongoing economic benefits, alternative employment and income opportunities for local people and businesses.
- This itinerary includes travel through small communities and a visit to local producers.
- Valorisation of rural areas and local farmers, beekeepers and family wine producers.
- All our guides are local.
- All service providers are encouraged to promote the Reduce, Recycle, and Reuse principles of waste management.
