Duration: 7 Days
Time travel on this 7-day escorted tour of the beautiful Balkans from Tirana to Dubrovnik and discover how the past stands still and the future is in full play. From the seemingly unchanged villages and natural landscapes to the languid lakes and legendary seascapes of Albania and Croatia, you’ll find the vibrant life of artisans, ancient architecture, and fortresses that hold the secrets of wars past, and freedom won. Capture the beauty of the Balkans on the pink-paved streets and markets mixed with the Byzantine and Venetian architecture of Kotor, Montenegro; the legends of sea stories in Perast; and the massive fortress walls of Dubrovnik. A gem of a vacation in the Balkans that’s worth its weight in gold.
Traveller Notes
We’ve packed everything you need for the perfect vacation—from hand-selected hotels and dining to the friendly expertise of Globus Tour Directors and Local Guides (with headsets to hear every word), to seamless transportation between destinations and VIP access to the world’s most iconic sites!
Welcome to Tirana! At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome dinner at your hotel. (D)
Art Covers Rock
TIRANA Guided walking tour of the city features a visit to the Bunk'Art (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
ART & ARCHITECTURE The architecture of this city has aspects of all periods of time. From the Tirana mosaic (Ancient Roman) to the Clock Tower (Kulla e Sahatit), a symbol of ottoman architecture, Italian buildings, and the style of construction during the dictatorship tell a vibrant story of this city. Visit the site of Bunk'Art. Once serving as the fallout shelter of communist dictator Enver Hoxha, this sprawling stone bunker is now a history museum and contemporary art gallery.
A Shore Thing
VIRPAZAR Guided boat trip on Skadar Lake. (B,D) 137 mi / 220 km
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
NATURAL WONDERS Skadar lake is the largest lake in the Balkans, surrounded by karst mountains and rocky shores. When it formed millions of years ago it was just a bay off the Adriatic. However, with erosion and changes to the landscape, the former bay transformed into a lake which offers a variety of wildlife and different habitats.
Former Capitals & Coastal Towns
CETINJE Guided tour of the town includes visit to King Nicola's Museum. Free time for lunch.
KOTOR Guided visit of the old town.
BUDVA Dinner at local restaurant (B,D) 106mi / 170 km
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
HISTORIC SPOT Kotor is a beautiful, walled medieval city of twisting, pink-paved streets, markets, and architecture reflecting Byzantine to Venetian influences. One of the squares contains the Cathedral of Saint Tryphon, a monument of Roman culture and one of the most recognizable symbols of the city.
Jewel of the Mediterranean
PERAST Visit "Our Lady of the Rocks" Church perched on a man-made tiny Island on the way to Kotor city for a guided walking tour that includes all the famous sights of this little town. Free time for lunch. (B) 71 mi / 115km
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
LEGEND & FAITH The legend has it that on a summery evening in July 1452, two fishermen discovered an image of the Virgin Mary on the sea- cliff. They brought it home with them but the following morning it was gone and appeared back on the same sea- cliff. The same thing happened over and over so they understood this as a Virgin's wish to stay there forever so they build a church. A small island was then made by people from Perast who were throwing rocks and stones around the cliff.
A King's Landing
DUBROVNIK Walking tour with a Local Guide.
KONAVLE Walking tour and farewell dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D) 37 mi / 60 km
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
ART & ARCHITECTURE It isn't hard to see why the city of Dubrovnik is known as the "Pearl of the Adriatic." The old town surrounded by its remarkable city walls is protected by UNESCO. Over the centuries this breathtaking city has been an inspiration to many artists. Game of Thrones fans may recognize this formidable setting and the Rector's Palace as a film location for the epic TV series.
Safe travels until we meet again! Your holiday ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
