Montenegro & Albania: Balkans Adventure

Dobro Dosli! Welcome to Dubrovnik, Croatia! While some travellers will have just disembarked our Croatia: Gay Dalmatia Cruise, others will have just arrived. Around 11AM we’ll gather for a short welcome meeting before boarding our 5-hour private transfer to the walled city of Kotor, Montenegro. The UNESCO-listed city was built by the Romans and later improved by Venetians. After meandering the old town free to relax at the hotel or explore this Adriatic city before our official Welcome Dinner.

Good morning, Gentlemen! We have a big day ahead of us. After a hearty breakfast, we’re off to Lovcen National Park. Enroute we’ll drive the famous serpentines road—25km/15.5mi of snaking road up the mountainside. At the national park’s gate we’ll continue on foot, slowly climbing to the Mausoleum of Njegus, aka Montenegro’s most important ruler. We’ll take a few minutes here to enjoy the spectacular vantage of Kotor Bay and its surrounding villages. We’ll catch our ride down, descending through quaint villages, stopping to taste local cheese and ham before arriving at the government-protected Skadar Lake. To best enjoy this reserve, we’ll cruise the bay aboard a private boat, stopping for an occasional dip in the crystal clear waters. Our day ends back in Kotor where a fantastic local dinner awaits.
Ascent: 410m/1350ft
Descent: 410m/1350ft
Distance: 8.8km/5.5mi
Approximate hiking time: 3h, 30m

Another early morning awaits as we bid the Adriatic adieu and enjoy a scenic drive to the northern highlands. It’s in this hilly landscape we’ll find Tara, one of Europe’s deepest canyons. The natural wonder stretches 82km/51mi between the Bosnian, Herzegovinian and Montenegrin border. After unpacking at our simple log cabins we’ll sit down for a local included lunch. With our appetites sated we’ll gear up for an exhilarating white water rafting adventure—no experience necessary. Together we’ll battle the canyon’s waves and conquer her plentiful rapids. We’ll conclude the day with a delicious Montenegrin dinner at our accommodation.

After rippin’ and ridin’ our way through Tara, you may be thankful for today’s relatively calm itinerary. Aboard our private transfer we’ll navigate the beautiful albeit tricky terrain towards the village of Zabljak, often using man-made, WWII tunnels to bypass hills and mountains. Along the way we’ll stop in villages untouched by time, touring ‘Katune’ (small houses) and tasting local, regional cheese. Our local guide will also point out bakeries for a quick grab-and-go lunch. Upon arrival we’ll enjoy a rewarding hike around the Black Lake in Durmitor National Park, as well as stopping at lookout points and famous sites before arriving in our magnificently minimalist hotel. A local dinner awaits us this evening.
Ascent: Minimal
Descent: Minimal
Distance: 3.5km/2.2mi
Approximate hiking time: 1hr, 30m

Another day, another gorgeous national park! Today we explore Biodradsko Jezero, famous for its glistening glacial lake. What’s unique about the lake is its ability to literally double in size, depending on the weather. After a short stroll and a few inevitable group photos, you’ll have some free time for a refreshing swim (weather permitting). Afterwards we continue driving towards Kolasin with a quick lunch enroute. Enjoy a free evening indulging in our resort and spa’s many affordable treatments, or join the group for an optional dinner.

After breakfast we head off towards Albania. On today’s full-day journey expect plenty of winding roads with beautiful views of the Albanian Alps. Our first stop with be the Albania border, and you can expect border formalities to take about an hour or so, depending on how busy it is. After crossing the border we’ll make a stop to enjoy the beautiful Bashkimi canyon & waterfall. Later we’ll make a quick stop for an optional lunch, then take in the spectacular views of the winding Leqet e Hotit mountain pass, which at 750m/2,460ft may truly take your breath away. Late this afternoon we’ll arrive at our hotel nestled in the Albanian Alps. Take some time to enjoy the hotel’s pool and the incredible mountain views, or if time allows, a quick walk to stretch out the legs. Please note today’s itinerary may change depending on road closures and border formalities. 

Lace up your hiking boots and prepare for our most taxing (but extremely rewarding!) hike on tour. After packing up our private transfer, we’ll drive east to Valbona Valley. It’s here we’ll grab our day packs and embark on our stunning adventure. You’ll be mesmerized by the sweeping views, towering mountains, and the fairy tale Rrogam river. We’ll enjoy an unforgettable picnic lunch from an ideal lookout point. After a full day of hiking, we’ll likely roll up to our accommodation tonight on the later side, which is why we’ve prearranged an easy included dinner.
Ascent: 1000m/3280ft
Descent: 1000m/3280ft
Distance: 15km/9.3mi
Approximate hiking time: 8+ hr

This morning we’ll enjoy an early breakfast before making the exciting journey to Tirana, Albania’s up-and-coming capital. But first we’ll drive to Fierza where we’ll catch a ferry to Koman. The boat ride can take three hours as it navigates through the narrow waters in between mountains and hills. From Koman we’ll continue by shuttle to Tirana, a city that only shook the dust of communism off in 1991. Tonight we’ll enjoy our final Farewell Dinner at a delicious Albanian restaurant.

As the final day of our tour, there are no activities planned. Please check with your local guide to find out when to meet your included airport transfer. Safe travels, and thank you for joining our gay Albania & Montenegro tour!