Discover the amazing culture of these two countries on this 10 day tour

Itinerary:

DAY 1 ARRIVAL AIRPORT RINAS – TIRANA

Flight to Tirana. Arrival at Rinas airport and welcome by the Montenegrin guide at the airport and transfer to the hotel in Tirana. Dinner and overnight in Tirana.

DURRES ROMAN AMPHITHEATRE
DAY 2 ALBANIAN HISTORY- COMMUNIST TIME
Breakfast, check out. City tour of Tirana with local guide, visit Skanderbeg square, Ethem Beya Mosque and National Museum. After the sightseeing, we have a meeting with a Professor at the University of Tirana. In a panel presentation they will present to you the history of Albania – “Communist time”. After the information-rich encounter you have the opportunity to eat at one of the best restaurants in Tirana, the Albanian cuisine specialties. After lunch we drive to Durres – tourist center on the Albanian coast. Some free time in the afternoon during which you can have a swimming break on the fine and long sandy beach of Albania. Dinner and Overnight in Durres.

APOLLONIA
DAY 3 MULTI CULTURAL ALBANIAN EAST – CHRISTIANITY – ANCIENT TIME
Breakfast. Durres – City tour by bus and survey after further drive to Berat. The city of a thousand windows – the Most Famous Scene Photo Albania. Here we visit the inhabited citadel ruins of 20 churches, the Cathedral of St. Mary with murals of the Albanian painter Onufri from the 16th century and the Onufri Museum, the churches of the Holy Trinity and St. Mary of Vllaherna. At the restaurant Toni you discover more delicacies from Albania. After lunch we drive to Apollonia – one of the most important archaeological sites in Albania. The city was named after the Greek god Apollo. You will see some of the most beautiful remains of the Ancient times in Albania. After the sightseeing, return to Durres. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

DAY 4 ECONOMY AND CULTURE OF ALBANIA
After breakfast we drive to Tirana. We find out more about the economy and standard of living in Albania. Trade, retail shops and factories play an important role in the economy of Albania. We have an organized visit of a shoe factory. After the visit, we meet with the Deputy of the Ministry of Economic Affairs of the Albanian government. Lunch at the hotel. Free time. Folklore Dinner at a restaurant. Overnight in Tirana

DAY 5 MONTENEGRIN ORIENT
Today we leave Albania and go to Montenegro. We arrive in Ulcinj. The southernmost city on the Montenegrin coast, with the longest beach of the Eastern Adriatic coast – the 12 km long “Great beach” and the river island Ada Bojana. We make a short visit from Gossen beach so you can get a glimpse of the length of the fine Uhrsand beach. We then drive to the river island Ada Bojana nature oasis at the end of the coast. Right on the river Bojana local fishermen have opened small restaurants and serve daily the finest seafood specialties. We have lunch at one of these restaurants. After lunch we visit the old town of Ulcinj – one of the oldest cities in the Adriatic. We then visit the ethnographic museum of Ulcinj. After Ulcinj we drive to Budva the centre of Montenegrin tourism. Dinner and overnight in Budva.

KOTOR OLD TOWN
DAY 6 BOKA KOTORSKA – THE ONLY FJORD IN THE MEDITERRANEAN
Today we can have a nice boat trip through the unique Bay of Kotor. Together with the old town of the same name is a cultural UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is followed by a tour of the Old Town of Kotor which is surrounded by picturesque Venetian walls. After that, you’ll have some free time for a break, for a walk through the city on your own or a coffee break in the little cafes in the main market. Along the seafront are the old captain’s palaces, churches and monuments lakes that were once dedicated to the rich sailors of the bay. We also visit the island Lady of the Rocks – the only artificial island in the Adriatic Sea on the retreat of the same church with its rich treasury. We board a ship and have lunch – specialties from the Mediterranean kitchen. We also organize a short stop for swimming. The cruise ends in Tivat, where today is one of the most luxurious marinas. We have a walk in the port and have a coffee break. From Tivat we go by bus to Budva. Dinner and overnight in Budva.

BUDVA OLD TOWN WALL
DAY 7 HISTORY OF MONTENEGRO
The history of Montenegro is something to which the Montenegrins are proud of. We visit the old city of Montenegro – Cetinje – the 450 years old capital city. In Cetinje, we will visit the Palace Museum of King Nikola I. In this museum you get an insight into the history of Montenegro and the conditions in which this small nation has its own culture, religion and tradition. Cetinje is not only a historical but also a cultural center of Montenegro. In the town, there is music, painting and film academy Montenegro. Through art and culture, we give you an insight into the development of the country. If obligations allow, we will also make a personal encounter with the Mayor of Cetinje, and will discuss the have a general discussion about the Economy of Cetinje and Montenegro. After this encounter, we have a coffee break in the main market of Cetinje. Later we drive to the Lovcen mountains. We will visit the most imposing monument of culture of Montenegro – the mausoleum of Peter II Petrovic Njego which is 1496 meters above sea level. After seeing the Mausoleum we go to the village Njegusi – the Most Famous village of Montenegro where the local forms of cheese and prosciutto are produced. Here we have lunch – potato roast, ham and cheese, with inland specialties such as lamb honey wine. After lunch we drive along the old serpentine road to Kotor, then to Budva. At 900 m above sea level we have a photo stop from where you can see from the air the Bay of Kotor. This is an unforgettable and breathtaking. Upon arrival in Budva, you have some free time. We walk from the hotel along the promenade to one of the top fish restaurants in Budva. Good food, nice live music at Evergreen style promises a pleasant evening. Overnight at hotel in Budva.

SKUTARIE LAKE
DAY 8 THE LARGEST LAKE IN THE BALKANS
We have some time in the morning for a swim, and then we head to Podgorica – Montenegro’s Capital City. On our way to Podgorica we take a break in the National Park Skadar Lake – the largest lake on the Balkan Peninsula, 2/3 of which is located on the Montenegrin and 1/3 on the Albanian side. In Virpazar we take a boat trip to a beach where one of the finest restaurants is located on the lake. Lunch with fresh seafood specialties – marinated, smoked and fried carp. After lunch, boat ride to Virpazar and then ride the bus to Podgorica. In the afternoon we have a meeting with the IRFCG (Investment and Development Fund of Montenegro) in the main building of the institution .Dinner and overnight in Podgorica.

BEACHES AND MONTENEGRO
DAY 9 THE BLACK MOUNTAINS AND TOURISM DEVELOPMENT
Today we get to learn why Montenegro is called the land of the Black Mountains. Along the journey we see the river Moraca a rapid mountain river crossing numerous ravines, the end of the Skadar lake. The imposing Moraca Canyon is a place in Montenegro, that will leave you breathless, here we will have a photo stop. We have a visit to a 13th century Monastery. Inside the church you will see one of the most beautiful frescoes in this area. After the tour we continue to Kolasin. Lunch in a rustic local Restaurant. On this day we will again be shown how rich and varied the Montenegrin cuisine is. After lunch we will have a meeting with a deputy from the Montenegrin National Tourist Office (NTO) Mr. Emil Kukalj. Here we will discuss tourism as a main economic activity of Montenegro and tourist developments in the north of the country. After the meeting we continue to the National Park Biogradska Gora. A walk around the lake and the beautiful landscape is the highlight of the day. Return to Podgorica. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

DAY 10 DEPARTURE DATE
After breakfast and some free tie, transfer to the airport.