26-Nights Classic Balkan Adventure: Trebinje to Pristina - Classic

26 nights from: $4,959

Classic Balkan Adventure: Trebinje to Pristina
Set off on the ultimate 27-day adventure through the Balkans, where every turn brings a new story to uncover. Think rugged mountains and rolling farmland, walled cities brimming with history, and sparkling bays along the Adriatic. Wander through colourful Soviet-era streets, hike breathtaking trails, and step inside the legendary Castle of Ali Pasha — straight out of The Count of Monte Cristo. With a perfect blend of history, culture, and jaw-dropping landscapes, this month-long journey might just make you want to call the Balkans home.

Highlights
See the spectacular Kravica and Kocuša Waterfalls, Be immersed in Bosnia and Herzegovina's history in Mostar and Sarajevo, Take in Montenegro’s breathtaking national parks and Albania’s stunning coastline, Step through history from Podgorica’s medieval stronghold to the legendary Prizren Fortress, Immerse yourself in Montenegro’s rugged mountains and experience life at a traditional shepherd outpost in Albania, Set sail on a scenic boat tour across the breathtaking waters of Lake Ohrid

Accomodation
It is important to note that accommodation in Europe tend to be quite different to other areas of the world you may have travelled in. Buildings and rooms are generally old and may not have been renovated or maintained to the highest standard. Downtown hotels in Europe were not built to be hotels but rich owners houses, which have been changed into hotels. Therefore unusual room sizes are common as large rooms have been partitioned in the past, resulting in rather "thin" walls. Reception areas, rooms and bathrooms tend to be very small as they were often added into an existing room, and may have a hand nozzle rather than a conventional shower head. On this trip you can expect to stay in small family-run hotels (with the exception of the start and finish hotels, which are often larger city hotels), which will vary a little in standard and facilities: some may not have elevators, air-conditioning or English-speaking staff, but most importantly all are locally-run, with some traditional character, and in excellent central locations to give you maximum time for exploring the sights. You can expect to find clean, safe, simple accommodation in convenient locations. Note that most accommodation in Europe does not have air conditioning units in rooms. Air conditioning is not routinely installed in European homes and workplaces. However, nearly all hotels will provide a standing or desk fan for your room on hot nights. If you do not already have one in your room, please ask your CEO to organize one for you with reception.

Group Leader
This G Adventures group trip is accompanied by one of our group leaders. The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. They will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the countries visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects.

Group Size Notes
Max 16, avg 12.

Meals Included
26 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 3 dinners

What's Included
Your Welcome Moment: Meet Your CEO and Group
Your Foodie Moment: Trebinje Market Tour, Trebinje
Your Foodie Moment: Cheese Making Farm and Lunch, Trebinje
Your Foodie Moment: Apiary Visit, Trebinje
Your Foodie Moment: Three-Course Wine Pairing Dinner, Citluk
Your Foodie Moment: Sarajevo Food Tour, Sarajevo
Your Local Living Moment: Hike to a Shepherd Outpost with Lunch, Tragjas
Your Foodie Moment: Gjirokastër Winery Visit and Light Dinner, Gjirokastër
Your Foodie Moment: Regional Cooking Demonstration and Light Lunch, Ohrid.
Orientation walk in Trebinje. Visit the town of Stolac and the necropolis tombstones. See Kravica and Kocuša Waterfalls. Dinner and wine pairing at a winery in Citluk. Visit the Pocitelj Ottoman stone town. Hike to the Blagaj Fortress. Visit the Dervish Monastery. Guided walking tour of Mostar. Turkish House coffee experience in Mostar. Sarajevo Cable Car and Bobsled Track. Kotor orientation walk. Boat tour from Kotor to Perast. Budva Old Town walk. Visit Ostrog Monastery. Full-day excursion to Biogradska Gora National Park. Kolašin 4x4 Off-Road Excursion. Orientaion walk of Podgorica. Theth National Park visit. Walking tour of Shkoder. Walking tour of Kruje. Evening orientaion walk of Tirana. Tour of the Durrës archaeological site. Orientation walk of Vlorë. Visit Himare. Entrance to the Ali Pasha Castle. Visit Butrint National Archaeological Park. Walking tour of Gjirokastër. Walking tour of Berat. Boat cruise on Lake Ohrid. Ohrid orientation walk. Visit Bitola and walk along the Sirok Sokak. Winery tasting with light lunch. Skopje walking tour. Prizren orientation walk. Prizren Fortress sunset walk. Pristina walking tour. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities.

The capital and modern city of Skopje has everything that any other capital city can offer—fabulous churches, mosques, excellent museums, galleries, shopping, concerts, theater, opera, ballet and even casinos—but all on a smaller scale. And one of its greatest highlights is the biggest and oldest Turkish bazaar in Europe, originally rivaling the one in old Baghdad.Free Skopje Travel
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Skopje sits on the banks of the Vardar River, and much of its modernity is the result of an earthquake that leveled large sections of the city in 1963—the clock in the railway station has been preserved, forever stopped at 5:17 am, the moment when the quake struck. Fortunately for visitors, much of the old town survived. Cross the 11 arches of the Stone Bridge, built by the Turks in the 1400s, and you will find cultural and historical monuments that span centuries. Especially notable are the 15th-century Daud Pasha Turkish Baths, the largest in the region. But don't plan on getting your feet wet—today, the City Art Gallery occupies the premises. For a nice overview of the city, climb to the Kale Fortress, a ruined castle. Then visit the nearby Church of Sveti Spas (note the beautiful iconostasis). In the Mosque of Mustafa Pasha, look for the cracked dome caused by an earthquake.

A day trip can also be made to man-made Lake Matka, where you'll find a fantastic 22-mi/35-km canyon with a cliff-side footpath and numerous old churches surrounding the lake. There is also swimming, hiking, canoeing, climbing, cave exploring and great seafood restaurants there. Ohrid or Stobi, a colorful ancient town on the road to Greece, are also good day trips from Skopje. 120 mi/195 km northeast of Ohrid.