South Balkans Tour – Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia and Albania

Departure 25 MAY – 05 JUNE 2016

Day 1 : Belgrade – Studenica

Morning visit to the Kalemegdan Fortress and the Museum of History of Yugoslavia – Tito s Tomb. Drive along highway to Batocina and further to Kraljevo and tour of Zica Monastery /13th century/. Drive on along the “Kings Road” to Studenica Monastery complex. Accommodation in monastic dormitory situated in intact nature, “monastic dinner”. Overnight.

Day 2 : Novi Pazar – Mileseva Monastery

After breakfast tour of Studenica Monastery complex. Drive along the picturesque Ibar River Gorge to Novi Pazar and tour of the Saint Peter and Paul Church, the oldest Christian church in the Balkans. Visit to the Djurdjevi Stupovi Monastery – Pillars of St George – UNESCO Heritage site. Drive on to Sopocani Monastery, UNESCO Heritage site and tour of Saint Trinity Church housing wonderful frescoes that are considered the peak of Medieval paintings. Visit to the Ras Museum in Novi Pazar. Drive along gorgeous scenery to Prijepolje and accommodation in Mileseva Monastery Dormitory. Traditional or monastic dinner, overnight.

Day 3 : Mileševa Monastery – Durmitor National Park – Ostrog Monastery

After breakfast tour of Mileseva Monastery, housing wonderful paintings among which is the world-known fresco of the White Angel. Drive to along gorgeous scenery of northern Montenegro to Durmitor National Park – UNESCO site. Brake for short walk along the gorgeous Black Lake shore. Drive on via Niksic to Ostrog Monastery and tour of Ostrog Monastery – one of the most frequented spiritual places in the Balkans. Accommodation in chalets of luxurious traditional settlement close to the Ostrog Monastery. Traditional dinner and overnight.

Day 4 : Podgorica – Skhoder

After breakfast departure for beautiful northern Albania. Drive via Podgorica, the capital of Montenegro to Skhoder and tour of the Rozafa Castle. Drive to the ancient Mesi Bridge, built about 1770 along the ancient trading road connecting Shkodra and Constantinople. Hotel accommodation, dinner, overnight.

Day 5 : Prizren

After breakfast drive along the brand new highway through wonderful scenery of northern Albania via Kukes to Prizren -Kosovo and Metohija. Hotel accommodation in Prizren. Walk along the old quarter of Prizren – the most beautiful town in Kosovo and Metohija and tour to the Church of the Holy Virgin of Ljevis and the fountain – sadrvan. Traditional dinner, overnight.

Day 6 : Visoki Decani Monastery – Pec Patriarchate – Skopje

After early breakfast drive to Visoki Decani Monastery, the most majestic Medieval Serbian Monastery. Sightseeing. Drive on to Pec and tour of the Pec Patriarchate Medieval complex. Drive to Skopje with break for invigorating walk along the fragrant meadows of Sharr Mountain and the National Park. Traditional lunch. Upon arrival to Skopje hotel accommodation. Tour of the Stone Bridge and the Saint Savior Church and the Old Bazaar with the Kursumli Han of Oriental architecture. Overnight.

Day 7 : Mavrovo National Park – Galicnik Village – Saint Jovan Bigorski Monastery – Mavrovo Lake

After breakfast drive along the gorgeous western part of Macedonia to Mavrovo National Park. Drive along the magnificent scenery to Galichnik village – UNESCO Heritage and walk along its narrow cobbled streets and well preserved traditional architecture, including an amphitheater in the village square. Short brake for refreshment. Drive on to Saint John Bigorski Monastery /11th century/ which is considered one of the most beautiful monasteries in the Balkans and sightseeing. Drive back to Mavrovo lake and hotel accommodation. Traditional dinner, overnight.

Day 8 : Full day in Ohrid – Vevčani village

After breakfast drive to Ohrid – UNESCO town-museum and hotel accommodation. Half day sightseeing of Ohrid – Saint Sophia Church, Church of the Holy Virgin Peribleptos, Saint Panteleimon Church, Saint Jovan Kaneo Church, Icon Gallery, Ohrid Fortress…Afternoon free at leisure. Evening drive to Vevcani village, famous for its wonderful Vevcani springs and well preserved tradition. Traditional dinner, accompanied with folklore performance. Overnight.

Day 9 :  Elbasan – Berat

After breakfast drive to Saint Naum Monastery and sightseeing. Drive via the Cafasan border crossing to Albania and Elbasan Fortress to Berat” – the city of one-thousand windows”, an UNESCO Heritage site. Introductory tour of Berat. Hotel accommodation, dinner, overnight.

Day 10 : Berat

Full-day in Berat. Saint Trinity Church, Citadel, Old Bazaar, Onufri Museum, Icon Gallery. Dinner, overnight.

Day 11 : Durres – Kruja – Tirana

After breakfast departure to Duress. Tour of the Roman Amphitheater and the Roman Baths. Drive on to Kruje and tour of the Citadel and the Skenderbeg Museum. Drive to Tirana, the capital of Albania and hotel accommodation. Tour of the Tirana main square with the Old mosque of Ethem Bey and the Clock Tower. Dinner, overnight.

Day 12 : Tirana – departure

After breakfast free time until transfer to Tirana Airport and departure flight. End of program.

PRICE :  2085 EUR Min. 6 participants; 1885 EUR Min. 12 participants; 1785 EUR Min. 20 participants

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT 340 EUR

Included : luxurious coach/van transportation, 2 overnight in Monastery Dormitories of Studenica and Mileseva /quality of 3 stars hotel/ and 7 overnights in 3-4 stars hotels /Shkoder, Prizren, Skopje, Ohrid, Berat and Tirana/ and 1 overnight in luxurious mountain chalet with H/B services – breakfast and dinner; entrance fee for all sights included in the program : Onufri Museum, Skenderbeg Museum;  local guidance in tourist centers; 24 hrs PANACOMP logistics and professional guidance

Note : visits to all mentioned monasteries and churches are on the program free of charge, but donation and buying candles or souvenirs would be appreciated