Tirana

Overview

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Itinerary

• Our tour leader will come and pick you up at your hotel in Tirana

• Berat, known as the town of 1001 windows part of UNESCO world heritage. Walking through the narrowed stone streets offers a fantastic view of the medieval old houses, with windows that seem to stand on top of each other. The cityu2019s life began in the 6th-5th century B.C. as an Illyrian settlement. Later, in the 3rd century B.C., it was turned into a castle city known as Antipatrea. Uniquely today, residents still live inside of the castle walls

• . Berat has it all; a beautiful medieval castle, ancient churches and mosques, a lively lower town consisting of grand old houses draped on steep hillsides, an old stone bridge, great museums and remains from the communist era in Albania.

• . Berat is also known as the birthplace of Onufri, the famous painter of churches all-over the Balkans, distinguished for creating a specific reddish colour still difficult to imitate.

• After we will drive towards Ohrid, one of the most seductive destinations in N. Macedonia, indicated as one of the oldest human settlements in all of Europe. Ohrid city and Ohrid Lake are part of UNESCO World Heritage since 1980. Ohrid Lake and its surroundings where inhabited by the Illyrian Tribe of Enkeleys. The Lake was named by the Romans as u201cLyhnidasu201d (the Light Lake). Our tour continues to the city of Ohrid (UNESCO world heritage) an important center of Orthodoxy. We will continue our tour and visit the famous view point of church of St. John, the church of St. Nicolas and the mosque Halveti Hayati Tekke. Ohrid became an important centre for the Orthodox believers during the Byzantine Empire and is famous for its 365 Orthodox churches, said to have one church for each day of the year. During the Ottoman Empire the city grew on the hills and surrounding areas by the lake.

• Our first destination for today will be Matka Canyon near Skopje. It is impressive how this beautiful nature paradise is located so close to the bustling capital. Besides the fun boat trip through the canyon, Matka has much more to offer, such as caves, medieval castles, spectacular hiking routes and the option to go swimming in the turquoise waters.

• From Matka we will drive towards the capital of N. Macedonia, Skopje. The city has European, Ottoman and even Asian influences. The Stone Bridge connects the new part to the old part of the city. Impossible to miss in Skopje is the Alexander the Great Statue in the center. Another bridge that stands out is the Art Bridge that leads to the Archaeological Museum. The bridge is lined with flamboyant street lanterns and statues of Macedonian artists and musicians.

• We will wander through the Old Bazaar of Skopje, the biggest one in the Balkans, that combines the modern way of living with centuries of history.

• After the city tour, we will cross border towards Kosovo.

• Prizren is considered as the cultural capital of Kosovo, mixing its rich history, incredible nature, religious tolerance and gastronomic delights. Prizren has played an important role in the region as an Illyrian settlement and a crossroad for the Byzantine and Ottoman empires, contributing to the unique architecture of the city. The river flows through the heart of the old town and under the many bridges that crisscross the city. If you are looking to experience a lively international experience you should visit Prizren during August when the medieval city becomes home to one of the most famous short film festivals in the world named Dokufest. The best way to explore the town is by wandering through the streets passing by elegant medieval houses that fight for your attention. Filigree artisanal techniques for precious metals are Prizrenu2019s joy and pride

• If you have to choose just one mosque to visit then visit the Sinan Pasha Mosque, rich in arabesque colour and pattern

• The view from the fortress on the hill above the town offers a great panorama of this astonishing town.

• After the city tour, we will drive towards Tirana. This marks the end of this amazing experience through history and culture.

Good to know

• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

• Tips are not a must in Albania or the Balkans, however, our recommendation is to tip the tour leader/driver as an international practice to tip good service.

• Please note that prices are calculated on double/twin/triple/quadruple room occupancy in 3 stars hotel accommodation.

• Single room occupancy is possible on 35 Euros extra charge per night per person, in 3 stars hotel accommodation.

Cancellation Policy

All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.

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