The three Authentic Balkans: Albania, Kosovo & North Macedonia

INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT.

Arrival at Mother Teresa airport in Tirana, capital of Albania.

Installation at the hotel.

The morning is reserved for the visit of a center which takes care of the training of Roma children from a sensitive district of Tirana. The afternoon will be devoted to visiting the city and the monuments of the capital. Since 2000, the city of Tirana, by the initiative of the mayor, has changed its image to become a city with bright colors.

Overnight at hotel, in Tirana

Departure towards the city of Shkodra. Meeting with an Italian association which helps local populations to integrate into social life. Then we will visit the city of Shkodra, a city renowned for its rich history since the Illyrians time. Visit of the city and several monuments, including a 19th century photo library. The city of Shkodra is the emblem of the religious harmony that reigns in Albania.

Overnight in Shkodra.

Depart for Kosovo. Crossing Lake Koman by ferry. Formalities and arrival in Peje, religious center of the Serbian Orthodox Church which has some 100,000 souls. Tour town .

Overnight in Peje.

Visit of the monasteries of Peja and Decan, which are located in Serbian enclaves. In the afternoon we will visit the characteristic city of Prizren, with a rich past and at the heart of the turbulent history of the War of Independence.

Overnight in Prizren.

Morning devoted to the visit of the city center of Pristina, the small capital of Kosovo, young and dynamic. Among the monuments to visit are: the statue of the national hero Skanderbeg, the large hammam dating from 1470, the imperial mosque built on the initiative of Sultan Mehmet Fatiha and the clock tower.

In the afternoon, departure towards the Macedonian capital, Skopje.

Visit of the city which is recovered from an earthquake in 1963, that had severely destroyed it.

Capital of the Serbian Empire for a while, it became Ottoman in 1392 until 1912 when it rejoined Serbia, then Yugoslavia. Its population is predominantly Muslim.

Overnight in Skopje.

Continuation of the visit of Skopje with a stroll in the old bazaar, where all kinds of businesses have been operating for more than 1000 years. It is the largest bazaar in the Balkans after Istanbul.

Our path will continue towards Tetovo. Visit of the old town and its 15th century painted mosque. The monument owes its name to the countless painted panels that cover the facades. More than 30,000 eggs were needed to make the painting of this one-of-a-kind religious building. There were several mosques of this type formerly in the region, that of Tetovo is the last that remains.

Then departure to the city of Ohrid to visit it the next day.

Overnight in Ohrid

Morning visit to the city of Ohrid in Macedonia. Renowned for the rich and ancient history, the city and the lake that bears the name of the city are classified as World Heritage.

A key stop on a visit to Ohrid is the Saint Sophia Cathedral, especially renowned for its priceless medieval frescoes, protected for several centuries by a coating affixed by the Ottomans and rediscovered almost intact in the 20th century. Its acoustics are also exceptional and, since its restoration, it regularly hosts concerts. The church regained its archdiocese in 1967, withdrawn two hundred years earlier.

Overnight in Ohrid

In the south of Ohrid lake, just before the Albanian border, you can reach the Monastery of Saint Naum, listed as a World Heritage Site which offers very beautiful frescoes and a beautiful panorama of the lake. The one and a half hour trip will give us the opportunity to contemplate this lake, which is also the deepest in Europe (290 m) and one of the oldest in the world. After visiting the monastery, we will set off for the village of Tushemisht, on the shores of Ohrid lake, on the Albanian side.

This shared lake is classified as a World Heritage Site for the richness of flora and fauna, and also being one of the oldest and deepest lakes in the world. During the time of the communist regime, Tushemisht served as an example of the prosperity of the Albanian communist village, so it served as the setting for the filming of some of the greatest films of our country.

In the afternoon we reach the town of Korça. Renowned for its historical attachment to the Francophonie. Its fiercely disputed strategic position developed a culture of resistance (resistance to Ottoman Islamization, emergence of the communist movement, creation of Hoxha's Labor Party, then victory of the Democratic Party after 1990). City tour is also included and the evening will be reserved for discovering the rhythms of the traditional music of the region.

Dinner and night in Korça.

Departure for the village of Voskopoja, where you can admire the very beautiful frescoes of the Orthodox churches.

Our next stop will be the village of Rehove, neighboring Greece. Welcome from the residents and discovery of knowledges like (crafts, gastronomy) and life in this orthodox village.

Night at the inhabitant family

Early departure towards the flowery town of Përmet, then we will cross a road of great beauty, between forests and mountains. Once we are in the small town, we will have the opportunity to see more closely the production of candied fruits, wine and brandy. During this agritourism stop, you will interact with the women who manage a cooperative.

We will continue towards the South West of Albania, for the city of Gjirokastër. Known as the city of stone, it is listed as a World Heritage Site. The well-known Albanian writer, several times a candidate for the Nobel Prize in Literature, Ismail Kadare, a native of this city, has dedicated several novels to his city.

We will visit the fortified castle, the ethnographic museum and the typical Ottoman-style quarters of the 18th and 19th centuries.

Overnight in Gjirokastër.

Road to the archaeological site of Butrint.

The archaeological site of Butrint, listed as World Heritage, is part of the national park with the same name. This magnificent park is listed in the 1001 wonders of the world.

Then you will discover the typical village of the Albanian riviera, such as the old village of Qeparo, which stands along the wonderful Albanian riviera like an eagle's nest. You will discover a stone-built village where it seems as if time has stopped. Along the way, several stops are planned to admire the scenery and taste local products (honey, aromatic herbal teas and other seasonal fruits) sold at stalls along the way.

Overnight at  guesthouse in Qeparo.

Our next stop is the archaeological site of Apollonia, in the region of Fier. Founded in the 4th century BC. JC by Greek colonists from Corinth, Apollonia was an important city during Roman times. Having undergone numerous restorations and improvements, this archaeological site was like Butrint in the south of the country, a large-scale city during Antiquity. The Roman Emperor Octavian Augustus studied in this place.

Continue the road towards Berat in the center of the country. Berat is known as the city of "one thousand and one windows", classified as world heritage. The city of Berat is the witness par excellence of the harmony between religions in Albania. There are several mosques and churches there, and Berat is also a pilgrimage site for Bektashism, a branch of Islam. The painter Onufri, a 16th century master, known for using the red color in his paints, was a model for several generations. A museum is dedicated to him.

Morning dedicated to the last visits of Berat then return to the capital.

Overnight in Tirana.

Transfer to the airport.

End of the trip.