Day 1 | Skopje (Macedonia)

Upon arrival, we will embark on an initial acquaintance tour of the city that beautifully narrates the life story of the national hero of Northern Macedonia, Alexander the Great. From here, we will visit the Matka Canyon Nature Reserve. This reserve stretches over about 50 square kilometers and includes a cave with stalactites, abundant species of animals and plants. We will take a walking tour and then a boat ride on Lake Matka in the heart of the reserve. Overnight stay and dinner in Skopje.

Day 2 | Skopje and its Surroundings (Macedonia)

Today we will embark on deeper tours of the city: we will visit the city fortress from which a special view of the entire ancient city below is seen, continue to the Church of the Holy Savior and be impressed by the impressive monument dedicated to the revered national figure, Alexander the Great, and the fountain adorning the monument. We will cross the Ottoman bridge built over the Vardar River and conclude in the city center.

Day 3 | Skopje (Macedonia) - Mavrovo Nature Reserve - Ohrid

This morning we will leave the beautiful city of Skopje where we have spent time until now and head on a beautiful route near the border with Albania on our way to the important historical city of Ohrid. During our journey southward, we will visit the Mavrovo Nature Reserve and enter the fascinating mountainous terrain for visits to picturesque villages, meet the Albanian residents who constitute a significant percentage of the country's population, have some laughs with the locals along the way, and by evening we will reach the fascinating city of Ohrid where we will spend the next few nights.

Day 4 | Ohrid (Macedonia) - Sv. Naum Church - Drin River

This morning we will set out to explore the surroundings of the beautiful city of Ohrid and hear its fascinating story, the city that was one of the most important cities in the Bulgarian Empire: Today our important stop will be on the Drin River, with our arrival at the northern lake shores, we will take a short walk to the source of one of the most important and impressive rivers in the Balkans, the Drin River. We will pass through the various stalls selling their colorful merchandise to anyone who asks and board one of the boats for a magical cruise on the calm river amidst the weeping willow trees that adorn the riverbanks. After the cruise, we will stop for lunch at a lovely local restaurant where we will get to know a little about the fascinating Macedonian folklore and continue to the Sv. Naum Church, one of the important churches in the history of the Balkans, the interesting church that was built during the 9th century was almost completely destroyed, but was rebuilt during the 14th century. We will be impressed by the wall paintings adorning its walls and approach the peacocks enjoying the pleasure grounds around the church, the peacock in the Christian perception symbolizes longevity and eternal life.

Day 5 | Ohrid (Macedonia) - Berat (Albania) - Tirana

This morning we will leave the beautiful Macedonia and head west across the border between the two Balkan countries and set out on a journey to Berat, the 'City of a Thousand Windows', a nickname that has stuck to it for preserving in a spectacular manner the traditional Albanian architectural style. We will overlook the city from the fortress and visit the Mary Church, which has been turned into a museum of Christian art. We will descend to the lower city and visit the ethnographic museum and Tekke (the prayer place of the Bektashis) whose doors are adorned with a stone engraving of two Magen Davids. Is it here that Shabtai Zvi is buried? We will continue to the Osum River which crosses the city, where hundreds of houses have been built on its descending terraces, all of their windows facing the front. After completing our tour of Berat, we will stay in the wonderful town for overnight stay and dinner.

Day 6 | Berat (Albania) – Kruja (Albania) – Tirana (Albania)

This morning we bid farewell to beautiful Berat, a place we will surely miss, and continue our journey northward to the city of Kruja. Here, we'll learn the fascinating story of the national hero Skanderbeg, who waged wars against the Ottoman invaders for decades in the 15th century. We'll ascend to the city's fortress and explore the historical and ethnographic museums, then wander through the "Turkish Bazaar," a testament to centuries of Ottoman rule. The Turkish Bazaar is one of the charming markets you must visit, rich in unique Balkan artworks at reasonable prices. Perhaps we'll purchase a wall rug for the living room before heading south to Tirana, where we'll embark on an introductory tour if time allows and welcome the Queen's Sabbath.

Day 7 | Tirana

We'll spend the day in the Albanian capital, strolling through several sites on a planned walking route. We'll gather to witness a special Albanian folklore performance.

Day 8 | Tirana (Albania) – Shkoder (Albania) – Podgorica (Montenegro)

This morning we'll continue to explore Tirana (some tours will be combined with Sabbath walks from the hotel area). Tirana, the capital of the Albanian Republic founded in 1614, became known as the capital in 1920. We'll explore its impressive city center, see the "Et'hem Bey" Mosque built in 1794, the clock tower from 1830, and the statue of the Albanian national hero Skanderbeg, who successfully fought the Ottoman conquerors and gained worldwide fame in Albania. From here, we'll proceed to Shkodra, on the shore of Lake Shkodra. The city, once the capital of the ancient Illyrian kingdom, became a key stronghold in the Middle Ages for the Venetians, who built a great fortress here, known as "Rozafa Fortress." We'll ascend to the fortress, which offers a magnificent view of Lake Shkodra and the confluence of the Buna and Drin rivers. After the tours, we'll cross the Albanian/Montenegrin border near the capital city of Podgorica and head to Kolašin for the night's stay.

Day 9 | Biogradska Gora National Park – Jeep Tour Day (Montenegro)

This morning, we'll board off-road vehicles and ascend to the beautiful Biogradska Gora National Park. We'll embark on a hike through the unique nature reserve of Biogradska Gora, abundant with magnificent landscapes, abundant waters, and the magical beauty of the Balkans' gem. By noon, we'll reach Lake Biograd and set out on a short walk around the lake, amidst green trees and stunning reflections. After the lake hike, we'll return to Kolašin for the night.

Day 10 | Towards the Adriatic Coast – Durmitor National Park – Budva (Montenegro)

This morning, we'll head westward through one of Europe's deepest canyons to the enchanting Durmitor National Park. Upon arrival at the reserve, we'll proceed to the stunning Black Lake, an Alpine lake where we'll embark on a moderately challenging hike amidst breathtaking mountains, towering peaks, and snowy landscapes. From here, we'll continue along a stunning route through the high mountains we've been exploring in recent days, the stunning lakes of the Albanian border, the Adriatic Sea shores, and the Bay of Kotor. By mid-afternoon, we'll reach the small and beautiful town of Cetinje, where we'll admire government buildings from different periods. Then we'll continue our stay along the Adriatic coast in Budva.

Day 11 | Budva – Bay of Kotor (Montenegro)

Today, we'll explore the enchanting Bay of Kotor, stopping at several magnificent viewpoints to gaze upon the breathtaking fjord landscapes. The Bay of Kotor was chosen by the Lonely Planet website as one of the top ten favorite destinations in the world for 2016. As part of our acquaintance with the magnificent fjord, we'll embark on a walking tour of the ancient town of Kotor, marveling at its stunning alleys and its Venetian story, before returning to our hotel in Budva.

Day 12 | Budva – Podgorica 

This morning, we'll have time to wander around the beautiful town of Budva, exploring its colorful streets and getting to know the seafront and the wall surrounding the entire old town.