Macedonia – Albania – Kosovo

Arrival at Skopje’s Airport. After formalities departure to Skopje. We take a sightseeing tour of the city, including the Kale Fortress, the Church of the Holy Saviour with its iconostasis and fine example of traditional walnut woodcarving, the Old Bazaar and the Stone Bridge. We drive to the slopes of the Vodno Mountain where we visit the Monastery of St. Panteleimon with its 12th century iconostasis and frescoes ranking among the highest achievements of Byzantine art. Late in the afternoon, accommodation, free time, dinner overnight at hotel.

Skopje : is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Macedonia with about a third of the total population. It is the country’s political, cultural, economic, and academic centre. It was known in the Roman period under the name Scupi. The territory of Skopje has been inhabited since at least 4000 BC; remains of Neolithic settlements have been found within the old Kale Fortress that overlooks the modern city centre. On the eve of the 1st century AD, the settlement was seized by the Romans and became a military camp. When the Roman Empire was divided into eastern and western halves in 395 AD, Scupi came under Byzantine rule from Constantinople.

After the breakfast will leave Skopje to start our visits of Stobi ruins & after a short brake on the way to Ohrid we will proceed to pay a visit of Heraclea ruins with local guide. Short stay in Bitola & city sightseeing of the most important objects. In the afternoon arrival at Ohrid. Accommodation, free time, dinner overnight.

Today we will have a full day at the lakeside resort of Ohrid, a UNESCO World Heritage listed site. Thanks to the work of St. Clement and St. Naum, the famous ‘Ohrid Literary School’ was founded here and thus the first pan-Slavic University in Europe. The sightseeing tour includes the Church of St. Sofia from the 11th century, with its magnificent Byzantine fresco paintings the pre-eminent mediaeval monument in Macedonia, and then St. Clement Church with its icon of The Annunciation. Accommodation at hotel. In the afternoon, a short drive takes us to St. Naum Monastery, built on the shores of Lake Ohrid in 900 A.D. and dedicated to the Slavic missionary and educator St. Naum of Ohrid. We return to the hotel for dinner & an overnight stay. Free time.

Ohrid is a city on the eastern shore of Lake Ohrid in the Republic of Macedonia. It has about 42,000 inhabitants, making it the seventh largest city in the country. The city is the seat of Ohrid Municipality. Ohrid is notable for having once had 365 churches, one for each day of the year and has been referred to as a “Jerusalem”. The city is rich in picturesque houses and monuments, and tourism is predominant. It is located southwest of Skopje, west of Resen and Bitola, close to the border with Albania. In 1979 and in 1980, Ohrid and Lake Ohrid were accepted as a Cultural and Natural World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. In fact, Ohrid is one of only 28 sites that are part of UNESCO’s World Heritage that are both Cultural and Natural sites.

This morning we will leave Macedonia & after border formalities we will proceed to Berat, our to days destination. On the way a short brake & city sightseeing of Elbasan, a typical city of Middle Albania. Arrival in Berat, accommodation & free time for lunch. In the afternoon visit of most important objects of Berat.

Berat – It situated round 80 km far from Tirana. It is known as the “City of one thousand windows” and is declared a Museum City”. Berat, overshadowed to the east by Tomorri Mountain 2415 m, and is an ancient Illyrian settlement founded in the 4th & 5th centuries B.C. on the territory of the Illyrian tribe of Desarettes. The town is composed of 3 parts; Gorica, situated on the far side of the river; Mangalem, situated on the fortress side of the river and the Residential quarter within the fortress known as KALAJA. The old part of the city has some religious buildings like mosque and Byzantine churches. The old name of the city was Antipatrea.
Dinner & overnight at Tomorri hotel.

After breakfast we will pay a visit to Archaeological site of Apollonia. Archaeological site of Apolonia is situated 12 km far from Fier, near the village of Pojan. Apolonia was founded near 588 B.C. from a Corinthian & Corcyra community. In Roman times, Apolonia was a large properous city near the mouth of Vjosa River. A number of important objects & parts of Roman city center are opened to the public. In the ancient city of Apolonia, there is an ancient mosaic with particular values for the visitor , which shows the Achilles image. Unfortunately, some of the statues & other portable objects were removed before 1946 & sent to other countries. The museum of Apolonia is situated on the site of the 13th century Monastery. In the courtyard of the monastery, there is a Byzantine style church of the 14th century. Here, tourists can see a number of objects.

On the way to Durres a short stay to Fier. Free time for lunch. In the afternoon we will visit Durres.

Durres – One of Albania’s oldest cities, the country’s main sea port, the second largest industrial center after Tirana. Durres lies on a small peninsula on the coast of the Adriatic sea. The city was colonized by the Greeks in 627 B.C. It was named Epidamnos, which later became Dyrrachium. From the Venetian Tower at the harbor the Medieval Town Wall leads to the amphitheater (capacity 15,000 spectators) dating back to the 2nd century AD. and containing an early Christian Crypt with a rare wall mosaic. Between the 1st and 3rd centuries Durres was an important port and trading center on the Via Egnatia trading route between Rome and Byzantium (Istanbul. Today the city is well known for the nearby beach resort of Durres Plazh, its wonderful sand and warm sea water.

Free time to explore the city on their own. Late in the afternoon accommodation at Adriatik hotel, Dinner overnight.

Today we will visit two main cities of Albania from historical point of view, Kruja, the capital of medieval period & Tirana, the capital of present Albania.

Kruja – The historic town of Kruja is located 30 km far from Tirana, 45 Km from Durres & 20 minutes by car from the international Airport of Rinas.The town of Kruja rises 560 meters above sea level, on the slopes of Sari -Salltiku Mountain. It provides to the visitors the great view of majestic landscape and a rich collection of historical and cultural objects. The most important is the castle of Kruja, which was built during the 5th and 6th centuries and has an elliptical shape with a total area of 2.25 hectares. The surrounding walls are reinforced by nine towers, which served as an observation and signaling post during times of war with Otoman Empire. Within the walls of the castle there can still be found the remains of a few houses.

Free time for Lunch. In the afternoon departure to visit Tirana.

Tirana – The capital of Albania from 1920 enjoys a beautiful setting between the ranges of Dajti Mountain from one side and the coastal plains on the other one. Tirana is 110 m above sea level. It is relatively a new city in respect with old cities of Albania , dating from 1st century BC. The average annual temperatures are in July 24°C and in January 7°C. Tirana’s city superficies is 31 km 2. Tirana is the main political, economical & cultural center of Albania.

Accommodation at Sheraton hotel, Dinner overnight. Time at leisure for personal adventure.

After breakfast departure to Prishtina, the capital of Kosovo. We will travel among the valleys of Northern part of Albania. After border formalities we will pay a visit to the first city of Kosovo, Prizren.

Prizren is s city of great tourist interest. Visit of Sinan Pasha Mosque, Gazi Mehmet Pasha Hammam, the ruins of St.Petka-church and Notre Dame of Ljeviska, Museum of the league of Prizren. Free time for lunch. In the afternoon via the türbe of Sultan Murat to Prishtina where we will visit the Monastery of Gracanica & will have dinner and overnight at Prishtina hotel.

Today we have full day to Prishtina.

Prishtina, is the capital and largest city of Kosovo. Preliminary results of the 2011 census put the population of Pristina at 200,000.The city has a majority Albanian population, alongside other smaller communities including Bosniaks, Roma and others. It is the administrative, educational, and cultural centre of Kosovo.The city is home to the University of Prishtina and is served by the Prishtina International Airport. Full day to Prishtina. Visit of Scanderbeg monument, National theatre, National Library, Museum of Kosovo & Gallery of arts. Free time for lunch. Afternoon free time to explore the city on their own. Tonight the dinner will be served in a local private restaurant, overnight at hotel.

After breakfast free time. Assisted by our guide departure to airport, end of the services.