Intrepid Travel - Essential Southern Balkans
- Head to seldom-visited Gjirokaster in Albania and get your caffeine fix with a taste of the local Turkish coffee made ‘on the stone’ with a local guide.
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- Veranstalter: Intrepid Travel
- Angebotsnummer: 272385
- Reise Land: Kroatien
- Teilnehmerzahl: min. 1 max. 16
- ab € 1.070
- zur Buchungsanfrage
Why we love it
- Head to seldom-visited Gjirokaster in Albania and get your caffeine fix with a taste of the local Turkish coffee made ‘on the stone’ with a local guide.
- Walk the walls of the Old City of medieval Dubrovnik and spot the film locations that have been used in worldwide blockbusters (if you loved Game of Thrones, this place might look a little familiar).
- Explore the Albanian Riviera, which gives any coastline a run for its money, and float in the sparkling waters of Dhermi Beach. Then, kick back in stunning Corfu – one of Greece’s famed islands. Explore the rocky landscapes, take part in some water sports or just relax on one of the island’s beaches.
- Descend into one of the world’s most peculiar contemporary art museums in Tirana – housed in an underground bunker built for the Albanian political elite.
- Discover the walled cities of Kotor and Stari Bar, teeming with history from a bygone era. With a local leader who knows all the hotspots and heaps of free time to explore on your own, you’re bound to find all the best bits!
- By travelling on this trip, you’ll directly support our Intrepid Foundation partner, Amurtel, who provide a safe space for refugee women and children in Greece. Donations help them provide antenatal and postnatal care programs run by qualified midwives.
- Head to seldom-visited Gjirokaster in Albania and get your caffeine fix with a taste of the local Turkish coffee made ‘on the stone’ with a local guide.
- Walk the walls of the Old City of medieval Dubrovnik and spot the film locations that have been used in worldwide blockbusters (if you loved Game of Thrones, this place might look a little familiar).
- Explore the Albanian Riviera, which gives any coastline a run for its money, and float in the sparkling waters of Dhermi Beach. Then, kick back in stunning Corfu – one of Greece’s famed islands. Explore the rocky landscapes, take part in some water sports or just relax on one of the island’s beaches.
- Descend into one of the world’s most peculiar contemporary art museums in Tirana – housed in an underground bunker built for the Albanian political elite.
- Discover the walled cities of Kotor and Stari Bar, teeming with history from a bygone era. With a local leader who knows all the hotspots and heaps of free time to explore on your own, you’re bound to find all the best bits!
- By travelling on this trip, you’ll directly support our Intrepid Foundation partner, Amurtel, who provide a safe space for refugee women and children in Greece. Donations help them provide antenatal and postnatal care programs run by qualified midwives.
On this nine-day journey, say hello to the Southern Balkans. Steeped in medieval history, overflowing with colourful towns and blessed with a spectacular, glistening coastline, this area of the world has so much to see and so much to do. From Dubrovnik, you’ll head to bucket list location Corfu – a Greek island where battle zones, beaches, bunkers and bars are all rolled together. Discover Stari Bar and its epicurean delights, explore the political history of Albania’s capital Tirana, lay beachside on the Albanian Riviera and try the local coffee in Gjirokaster. Is this a whirlwind adventure or a slice of paradise?
Highlights
Itinerary:
Day 1: Dubrovnik
Bok! Welcome to Dubrovnik. Your adventure begins in sun-kissed Croatia with a welcome meeting at 6 pm today. If you arrive early, maybe head to the walled Old City through the Pile Gate drawbridge and explore the confines of this beautiful medieval-like town. The best way to explore Dubrovnik is on foot, so walk the walls of the Old City and take your time. There’s a bar on the wall to grab a drink and admire the view too. In town, there are plenty of cool eateries to grab a quick lunch of fresh seafood or take a leisurely afternoon to people-watch. If a swim is on the cards, maybe head outside the walls to a cove and dive into the azure waters of the Adriatic Sea that surround you – Suluci or Banje Beach are great for a dip.
Accommodation: 1 x Hostel
Optional Activities:
Day 2: Dubrovnik / Kotor / Stari Bar
This morning, hit the road to Kotor in Montenegro. Spend some free time exploring this terracotta-lined medieval town, maybe walking up Kampana Tower to see the surrounding turquoise waters and limestone cliffs or finding one of the many churches dotted around this relatively small town. Continue to Stari Bar – the old town of Bar. Stepping inside the walls, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time. Spend the night like a medieval ruler and maybe try the area’s typical drink – beer or wine with pomegranate juice – before exploring the surroundings. Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: 1 x Hotel
Optional Activities:
Day 3: Tirana
This morning after breakfast, you’ll drive across the border into Albania to your next stop in Tirana. When you arrive, take a leader-led orientation walk around the city to get your bearings. Visit Bunk’Art – a history and contemporary art museum. Head through a long, dark tunnel in the hillside that leads you to the entrance, on the side of an active Albanian military base. From here, you’ll descend into 3000 square metres of underground space, originally meant as a bunker in the 1970s for Albania’s political elite. Now, it houses different exhibitions of Albanian modern history and contemporary art pieces. This afternoon, you’ll have time to explore this eclectic city at your own pace – maybe head out to the Block for drinks and swap stories with your fellow travellers. Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: 1 x Hotel
Day 4: Tirana
Wake up without an alarm today – you’ve got the day free to explore however you wish. Maybe go where the locals go and explore the colourful street markets, spend some time wandering the city discovering its traditional cuisine or even jump on public transport to Kruja. A town with medieval charm, the ancient Albanian city is just 32 km out of Tirana. Tonight, you might like to gather your newfound travel buds and head to the Blloku neighbourhood – a hotspot for pre-dinner drinks. Then, why not treat yourself to dinner at Tirana Castle – a Byzantine time castle transformed into a trendy outdoor shopping area with plenty of restaurant options to take your fancy. Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: 1 x Hotel
Optional Activities:
Day 5: Tirana / Dhermi Beach
After breakfast today, set your sights on the coast and head for Dhermi Beach – a stunning stretch of Albania’s coastline. You’ll have time to laze on the golden beaches and swim in the shimmering waters of the Adriatic. Spend some time at one of the beachside bars with your group – a night of good food and good company is definitely on the cards. Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: 1 x Hostel
Day 6: Dhermi Beach
Wake up on the calming shores of Dhermi Beach. After breakfast, your day is as clear as the blue waters of the surrounding seas. There’s a range of optional activities that might take your fancy – from hiking, sea kayaking and a boat excursion to the Karaburun Peninsula, you’ve got loads to choose from! Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: 1 x Hostel
Optional Activities:
Day 7: Blue Eye Spring / Gjirokaster
Leave the sparkling Adriatic shores behind and take private transport to Gjirokaster today, stopping at Blue Eye Spring. This feat of nature has to be seen to be believed – a kaleidoscope of blues and greens, a natural river spring sits at a depth of more than 50 m. Take the time to explore the surrounding parks and take in the different vantage points of the spring – this is a gorgeous spot for a photo op! Head to Gjirokaster – a well-preserved Ottoman town in Albania’s south. Visit one of the traditional tower houses with a local guide who has all the insights and taste the traditional coffee ’on the stone’, roasted on the fire right in front of you! If you’re lucky, you might even get your fortune read! You’ll spend the night here, so explore the quaint cobblestoned streets and maybe find some speca me glize (stuffed peppers) for dinner. Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: 1 x Hotel
Included Activities:
Optional Activities:
Day 8: Corfu
Today you’ll head south to Saranda – a coastal resort town near the Albania and Greece border. From here, take a hydrofoil ferry to Corfu – an island off Greece’s northwest coast in the Ionian Sea. Corfu is known for its mountainous landscapes that extend to the shores and its cultural heritage, spent under rule from Venetian, French and British influences. Your group leader will take you on an orientation walk near where you’re staying, so you can find all the best spots and get your bearings for later. Tonight is all yours – maybe round up your group and head out for sunset drinks at one of the local restaurants.
Accommodation: 1 x Hotel
Optional Activities:
Day 9: Corfu
With no planned activities and no accommodation for tonight, you’re free to leave anytime. If shorelines and souvlakis are still on the cards, you don’t have to leave just yet! If you’d like to stay longer, just speak to your booking agent. Meals: Breakfast
Day 1: Dubrovnik
Bok! Welcome to Dubrovnik. Your adventure begins in sun-kissed Croatia with a welcome meeting at 6 pm today. If you arrive early, maybe head to the walled Old City through the Pile Gate drawbridge and explore the confines of this beautiful medieval-like town. The best way to explore Dubrovnik is on foot, so walk the walls of the Old City and take your time. There’s a bar on the wall to grab a drink and admire the view too. In town, there are plenty of cool eateries to grab a quick lunch of fresh seafood or take a leisurely afternoon to people-watch. If a swim is on the cards, maybe head outside the walls to a cove and dive into the azure waters of the Adriatic Sea that surround you – Suluci or Banje Beach are great for a dip.
Accommodation: 1 x Hostel
Optional Activities:
- Dubrovnik - Three Islands Boat Cruise - 300HRK
- Dubrovnik - Discover Game of Thrones Filming Locations Urban Adventure - 99EUR
- Dubrovnik - Lokrum Island Boat Trip - 27EUR
- Dubrovnik - Mt Srd Cable Car - 27EUR
- Dubrovnik - War Photography Museum - 10EUR
- Dubrovnik - Mt Srd Museum of Croatian War of Independence - 4EUR
- Dubrovnik - Sunset Sailing - 64EUR
Day 2: Dubrovnik / Kotor / Stari Bar
This morning, hit the road to Kotor in Montenegro. Spend some free time exploring this terracotta-lined medieval town, maybe walking up Kampana Tower to see the surrounding turquoise waters and limestone cliffs or finding one of the many churches dotted around this relatively small town. Continue to Stari Bar – the old town of Bar. Stepping inside the walls, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time. Spend the night like a medieval ruler and maybe try the area’s typical drink – beer or wine with pomegranate juice – before exploring the surroundings. Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: 1 x Hotel
Optional Activities:
- St Tryphon’s Cathedral - Free -
- Kotor - Fortress - 3EUR
- Kotor - Maritime Museum - 5EUR
Day 3: Tirana
This morning after breakfast, you’ll drive across the border into Albania to your next stop in Tirana. When you arrive, take a leader-led orientation walk around the city to get your bearings. Visit Bunk’Art – a history and contemporary art museum. Head through a long, dark tunnel in the hillside that leads you to the entrance, on the side of an active Albanian military base. From here, you’ll descend into 3000 square metres of underground space, originally meant as a bunker in the 1970s for Albania’s political elite. Now, it houses different exhibitions of Albanian modern history and contemporary art pieces. This afternoon, you’ll have time to explore this eclectic city at your own pace – maybe head out to the Block for drinks and swap stories with your fellow travellers. Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: 1 x Hotel
Day 4: Tirana
Wake up without an alarm today – you’ve got the day free to explore however you wish. Maybe go where the locals go and explore the colourful street markets, spend some time wandering the city discovering its traditional cuisine or even jump on public transport to Kruja. A town with medieval charm, the ancient Albanian city is just 32 km out of Tirana. Tonight, you might like to gather your newfound travel buds and head to the Blloku neighbourhood – a hotspot for pre-dinner drinks. Then, why not treat yourself to dinner at Tirana Castle – a Byzantine time castle transformed into a trendy outdoor shopping area with plenty of restaurant options to take your fancy. Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: 1 x Hotel
Optional Activities:
- Tirana - National Art Gallery - 200ALL
- Tirana - National History Museum - 700ALL
- Tirana - Sky Tower - 400ALL
Day 5: Tirana / Dhermi Beach
After breakfast today, set your sights on the coast and head for Dhermi Beach – a stunning stretch of Albania’s coastline. You’ll have time to laze on the golden beaches and swim in the shimmering waters of the Adriatic. Spend some time at one of the beachside bars with your group – a night of good food and good company is definitely on the cards. Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: 1 x Hostel
Day 6: Dhermi Beach
Wake up on the calming shores of Dhermi Beach. After breakfast, your day is as clear as the blue waters of the surrounding seas. There’s a range of optional activities that might take your fancy – from hiking, sea kayaking and a boat excursion to the Karaburun Peninsula, you’ve got loads to choose from! Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: 1 x Hostel
Optional Activities:
- Dhermi Beach - Pirate Cave Boat Transfer - 8EUR
- Dhermi Beach - Pirate Cave, Pigeon’s Bay, Gjipe Bay (includes boat trip, guide & picnic lunch) - 99EUR
- Llogara National Park - Day Trip (including transport, guide & lunch) - 86EUR
Day 7: Blue Eye Spring / Gjirokaster
Leave the sparkling Adriatic shores behind and take private transport to Gjirokaster today, stopping at Blue Eye Spring. This feat of nature has to be seen to be believed – a kaleidoscope of blues and greens, a natural river spring sits at a depth of more than 50 m. Take the time to explore the surrounding parks and take in the different vantage points of the spring – this is a gorgeous spot for a photo op! Head to Gjirokaster – a well-preserved Ottoman town in Albania’s south. Visit one of the traditional tower houses with a local guide who has all the insights and taste the traditional coffee ’on the stone’, roasted on the fire right in front of you! If you’re lucky, you might even get your fortune read! You’ll spend the night here, so explore the quaint cobblestoned streets and maybe find some speca me glize (stuffed peppers) for dinner. Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: 1 x Hotel
Included Activities:
- Gjirokaster - Zekate Tower House
- Gjirokaster - Local Guide
- Gjirokaster - Blue Eye Spring
- Gjirokaster - Turkish Coffee 'on the Stone'
- Gjirokaster - Gjirokaster Fortress
Optional Activities:
- Gjirokaster - Ismail Kadare’s House - 200ALL
- Gjirokaster - Ethnographic Museum - 200ALL
Day 8: Corfu
Today you’ll head south to Saranda – a coastal resort town near the Albania and Greece border. From here, take a hydrofoil ferry to Corfu – an island off Greece’s northwest coast in the Ionian Sea. Corfu is known for its mountainous landscapes that extend to the shores and its cultural heritage, spent under rule from Venetian, French and British influences. Your group leader will take you on an orientation walk near where you’re staying, so you can find all the best spots and get your bearings for later. Tonight is all yours – maybe round up your group and head out for sunset drinks at one of the local restaurants.
Accommodation: 1 x Hotel
Optional Activities:
- Corfu - Palaiopoli Archaeological Site - 4EUR
- Corfu - Mon Repos Summer Palace - 4EUR
- Corfu - Archaeological Museum - 6EUR
- Corfu - Corfu Fortifications - 5EUR
Day 9: Corfu
With no planned activities and no accommodation for tonight, you’re free to leave anytime. If shorelines and souvlakis are still on the cards, you don’t have to leave just yet! If you’d like to stay longer, just speak to your booking agent. Meals: Breakfast
Included Activities
- Tirana - Bunk'Art Bunker Exhibition Visit
- Gjirokaster - Zekate Tower House
- Gjirokaster - Local Guide
- Gjirokaster - Blue Eye Spring
- Gjirokaster - Turkish Coffee 'on the Stone'
- Gjirokaster - Gjirokaster Fortress
- 1. A single supplement is not available on this trip.
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