Day 1: Tirana (Albania) - Kruja

Arrive to Tirana, the capital of Albania. Upon our arrival in the Albanian capital, we ascend to the town of Kruja, one of the ancient and important cities in Albania, the city of the legendary leader Skanderbeg, whose story of bravery and steadfastness we will learn during the tour of Kruja. After the tour of the museum named after the leader, we wander through the Turkish bazaar, climbing to the fortress where Skanderbeg fought, offering a magnificent view. Overnight and dinner in Kruja.

Day 2: Kruja - Ferry to Përzhazja - Albanian Alps - Valbona Valley (Albania)

This morning we board the bus and head to the ferry departing for the town of Përzhazja, a two-hour journey on lakes created by the hydropower system built in recent years with significant economic investment by the Chinese government for the benefit of the Albanian people to produce hydroelectricity. The ferry ride will allow us to see the locals using the river to travel from Kosovo towards the beaches of Albania and the capital city of Tirana. The landscape during the ferry ride will be combined with high cliffs and isolated village houses. We continue our journey to the town of Irmë Kurë, a poor and small town with a glorious history from the days of the Enver Hoxha regime, the dictator who ruled Albania in the second half of the 20th century. We will hear the story and get to know the town, serving as a kind of center for the area's farmers, while wandering through the town and the main street where the local market is located. From here, we continue and climb to the heights of the Albanian Alps towards the picturesque town of Valbona, located at the entrance to the Valbona Nature Reserve. Upon arrival, we go on a walking tour of the Morik Valley, a wild and fascinating area of relatively untouched nature, the beautiful nature reserve is located near the crystal-clear Valbona River, and within it are scattered small villages and agricultural areas that look like a scene taken from over a century ago. During the day of the tour in the nature reserve, several light walking tours will be included in the forest area and walks along the flowing river. Overnight and rural dinner in Valbona.

Day 3: Cross to Kosovo - Gjakova - Prizren (Kosovo) - Skopje (Macedonia)

This morning we set out on a journey eastward towards the Albania-Kosovo border. After crossing the border and the procedure accompanied by interest, we will arrive at the old Kosovo city of Prizren, the ancient city mentioned in the writings of the Byzantine Empire and the first Bulgarian kingdom and in the past considered part of the Ottoman Empire. As part of the tour in the city, which is considered the "Jerusalem of Serbia" and therefore has been the subject of intense conflict between Albania and Serbia in recent years, we will get to know the architectural elements from the rich history. We will stroll through the city streets and ancient alleys, get to know the ancient bridge near the Grand Mosque, and more if time permits. From here, we continue our journey to Macedonia and reach the Macedonian capital - Skopje. Upon arrival in the city, we go on a tour of Skopje, a city that has undergone many renovations in recent years: as part of the tour, we will get to know the culture and folklore of Macedonia. We will hear the stories of the great empires that left their mark on the city. We will see the impressive fortress of Skopje, be impressed by the new gate of the city dedicated to Alexander the Great, riding on the horse statue in the famous square, stroll through the old bazaar of the city, and hear the story of the great earthquake that the city experienced in the sixties. At the end of the day, we will visit the Museum of the Holocaust of the Jews of Macedonia, located in the heart of the city, and hear the painful story of the Jewish community.

Day 4: Skopje - Boat trip at Matka Canyon - Village of Vodno and Vranje - Lake Ohrid

This morning we continue to explore the city of Skopje (sites we did not visit on the previous tour), and from here, we go on a visit to one of the beautiful canyons in the Balkans, Matka Canyon. The meaning of the name Matka is "womb" and it is part of a wonderful nature reserve. As part of the tour of the canyon, we will admire the large dam built in the 1940s, which emerges from a reservoir located in the heart of the impressive canyon. We will also have time for a boat trip on the hidden lake, and those interested can hike on a narrow path to the impressive cave. From here, we will leave the Skopje area and continue to tour the picturesque village of Vodno, abundant in springs and water wells. Towards Shabbat, we will arrive at Lake Ohrid, where on the shore of the lake, we will spend the weekend at a hotel located on the edge of the lake. Overnight and dinner by Lake Ohrid.

Day 5: Saturday - Ohrid

On Saturday, we will take a little rest and go on walking tours around the beautiful city of Ohrid, the city that served in the past as the capital of the Bulgarian/Macedonian kingdom. At the beginning of our tour, we will ascend to the fortress of Tsar Samuil, continue to the Church of St. Clement adorned with a variety of magnificent decorations, and descend to the main street of the city, full of interesting shops, restaurants, and cafes until we reach the Church of Saint Sophia, the wise church, one of the symbols of the city of Ohrid. After returning to the hotel and organizing for additional visits, we will go out on Saturday evening (along with the religious travelers) for an evening tour of the old city. Overnight and dinner in Ohrid.

Day 6: Lake Ohrid - Boat Ride to St. Naum Monastery - Crossing to Albania - Berat (Albania)

In the morning, we'll explore the Macedonian side of Lake Ohrid, with its stunning beauty. Along the way, we'll stop for panoramic views and short walks to charming spots and small, forgotten villages where traditional crafts still thrive. In the southern corner, we'll visit the Holy Springs near St. Naum Monastery, where the clear springs feed the lake. Our tour here will include a magnificent boat ride through the area's stunning scenery using traditional rowboats. In the afternoon, we'll cross the border into Albania. During the crossing, we'll see the unique bunkers, shaped like rounded domes, known as "mushrooms" from the era of Enver Hoxha (the 1970s). These bunkers symbolize Albania's leaders' fear of Tito (President of Yugoslavia). Continuing southwest, we'll head towards Berat, the city of a thousand windows. Overnight stay in Berat.

Day 7: Berat (Albania) - Tirana

Berat, known as the "City of a Thousand Windows," owes its name to the red-roofed houses with numerous windows. Along the ridge above the river channel stands a fortress from the 14th century, protecting small Orthodox churches. Below the fortress, lies the old Muslim quarter of Mangalem. A stone bridge with seven arches leads to Gorica, the Christian quarter. The city offers an interesting mix of mosques, churches, and a smaller synagogue, where students from Muslim classes used to come, such as the mystical Dervishes, to perform their unique ceremonies. While wandering the picturesque streets, we'll search for the grave of Sabbatai Zevi, the false Messiah, who, according to tradition, is buried in Berat. If time allows, we'll make a short stop in Elbasan, founded in 450 AD. Elbasan, located halfway between Pogradec and Durres, gained significance in 1974 when the Chinese built a large steel factory there (the "Steel of the Party"). Founded by the Romans in the first century AD, Elbasan boasts strong stone walls with 26 watchtowers added in the fourth century to protect it from barbarian invaders. In 1466, Sultan Mehmed II rebuilt the walls and changed the city's name to Elbasan, meaning "fortress" in Turkish. After the tour, we'll head towards Tirana. Overnight stay in Tirana.

Day 8: Tirana

Tirana has been the capital of Albania since 1920. It is a compact and fairly sympathetic city for tours, both by car and on foot. Tirana is located roughly halfway between Rome and Istanbul, and its architecture is influenced by both, as well as by Soviet Union architecture. We'll go on a city tour to get to know the city. We'll see Skanderbeg Square, the Clock Tower, Et'hem Bey Mosque, the Pyramid, the Opera House, and more. During the tour, we'll have a special meeting with representatives of families who protected Jews during World War II (if possible) and were awarded the title "Righteous Among the Nations." We'll stroll as much as time allows, dine for dinner, enjoy a local folklore show. According to the departure time, transfer to the airport for the return flight back.