Day 1 | Tirana (Albania) - Kruje

Upon our arrival in the Albanian capital, we ascend to the town of Kruje, one of the ancient and important cities in Albania, the city of the legendary leader Skanderbeg, whose tale of bravery and resilience we will learn during the tour in Kruje. After the tour of the museum bearing his name, we stroll in the Turkish bazaar, climbing to the fortress where Skanderbeg fought, offering a magnificent view. Accommodation and dinner in Kruje.

Day 2 | Kruje - Ferry to Përzhazë - Albanian Alps - Valley and Bovilla (Albania)

This morning we board the bus and head to the ferry departing towards the town of Përzhazë, a two-hour cruise on lakes created by the hydroelectric system built in recent years with significant economic investment by the Chinese government for the benefit of the Albanian people to produce hydroelectric power. The cruise will allow us to witness the locals using the river to travel from Kosovo towards the shores of the Albanian sea and the capital city Tirana. The scenery accompanying us during the cruise will be combined with high cliffs and isolated village houses. We will travel to the village of Ermen Kory, a poor and small village with a glorious history from the days of Enver Hoxha's rule, the controversial leader of Albania in the second half of the twentieth century, where we will hear the story and get to know the village serving as a sort of regional center for the area while wandering the village and the main street where the local market is located. From here, we will continue and ascend to the peaks of the Albanian Alps towards the picturesque town of Bovilla, located at the entrance to the nature reserve bearing the name of the town. Upon arrival, we will embark on a walking tour of the Morik Valley, a wild and mesmerizing area of relatively untouched nature, the beautiful nature reserve located near the crystal-clear Vlora River, with small villages scattered within it and agricultural areas reminiscent of a scene taken from over a century ago. During the day trip in the nature reserve, which will include several easy walking tours in the forest area and walks along the flowing river, we will have accommodation and dinner in the rural village of Bovilla.

Day 3 | Halfway to Kosovo - Jakova - Prizren (Kosovo) - Skopje (Macedonia)

This morning we set out east towards the Albania-Kosovo border. After crossing the border and the procedure accompanied by interest, we will depart to the old Kosovar city of Prizren, an ancient city mentioned in the writings of the Byzantine Empire and the First Bulgarian Kingdom and in the past was considered part of the Ottoman Empire. During the tour of the city known as the "Jerusalem of Serbia" and therefore surrounded by a fierce struggle 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 allows. From here, we will continue by road to Macedonia and arrive at the Macedonian capital - Skopje. Upon arrival in the city, we will embark on a tour of Skopje, a city that underwent many renovations in recent years: during 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 statue, stroll through the old bazaar of the city, and hear the story of the great earthquake experienced by the city in the sixties. To end the day, we will visit the Holocaust Museum of Macedonia located in the heart of the city and hear the painful story of the Jewish community.

Day 4 | Skopje - Cruise on Matka Canyon - Vevcani Springs Village - Lake Ohrid

This morning we will continue our tour of Skopje (sites we didn't manage to visit on the previous tour day) and from here, we will visit one of the beautiful canyons in the Balkans, Matka Canyon. The meaning of the name Matka is womb and is part of a wonderful nature reserve. During the tour of the canyon, we will overlook the large dam built in the 1940s and fed by a reservoir located in the heart of the impressive canyon. We will also have time to take a boat trip on the hidden lake, and those interested can climb the narrow path to the impressive cave full of stalactites. From here, we will leave the Skopje area and continue to tour the picturesque village of Vevcani, abundant with springs and water wells. Towards the Sabbath, 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. Accommodation and dinner by Lake Ohrid.

Day 5 | Ohrid

On Saturday, we will rest a bit 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 adorned Saint Clement Church adorned with various decorations, and descend to the main street of the city filled with various interesting shops, restaurants, and cafes until we reach the Church of Hagia Sophia, one of the symbols of the city of Ohrid. After returning to the hotel and arranging for a few more rounds, we will go out on Saturday evening (together with the religious travelers) for an evening tour of the old city. Accommodation and dinner in Ohrid.

Day 6 | Lake Ohrid - Boat Trip to the Church of St. Naum - Crossing into Albania - Berat (Albania)

In the morning, we'll explore the Macedonian side of Lake Ohrid, its stunning beauty unfolding before us. Along the way, we'll stop for scenic viewpoints and short walks to charming villages where traditional crafts still thrive. In the southern corner, we'll visit the Holy Church of St. Naum, where springs flow into the clear waters of the lake. Our journey here will include a spectacular boat trip on traditional rowboats. Afternoon will see us crossing into Albania, where we'll encounter the unique bunkers shaped like round hats, locally known as "mushrooms," relics from the era of Enver Hoxha (the 1970s). These bunkers symbolize Albania's fear of Tito's influence (the President of Yugoslavia). Continuing southwest, we'll head towards Berat, the city of a thousand windows. Overnight in Berat.

Day 7 | Berat (Albania) - Tirana

Berat, known as the City of a Thousand Windows due to its red-roofed houses adorned with numerous windows. Along the ridge above the river channel stands a fortress from the 14th century, guarding small Orthodox churches. Below the fortress lies the ancient Muslim quarter of Mangalem. A stone bridge with seven arches leads to Gorica, the Christian quarter. The town features an interesting blend of mosques, churches, and a smaller madrasa, where students of Muslim schools used to gather, such as the mystical Dervishes, for their unique rituals. While strolling through the picturesque alleys, we'll seek out the tomb of Sabbatai Zevi, the false Messiah, according to Gershom Scholem buried in Berat. If time allows, we'll make a short stop in the city of Elbasan, established in 450 AD. Elbasan lies midway between Podgorica and Durres and gained significance in 1974 when the Chinese built a large steel plant there ("The Party's Steel"). 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 invading barbarians. In 1466, Sultan Mehmed II rebuilt the walls and renamed the city Elbasan, meaning "the fortress" in Turkish. After the tour, we'll head towards Tirana. Overnight in Tirana.

Day 8 | Tirana 

Tirana has been the capital of Albania since 1920; it's a compact and quite sympathetic city for tours, both by car and on foot. Located roughly halfway between Rome and Istanbul, its architecture is influenced by both, as well as by Soviet architecture. We'll embark on a tour to get acquainted with the city, seeing Skanderbeg Square, the Clock Tower, Et'hem Bey Mosque, the Pyramid Building, 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), honored with the title "Righteous Among the Nations." We'll stroll as much as time permits, dine for dinner, and enjoy a local folklore show.