Essential Southern Balkans

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Description

Summary

Starts
Dubrovnik
Duration
9 days
Languages
English
Minimum age
18 years

Description

Embark on an unforgettable multi-day tour through the captivating landscapes and rich cultural heritage of the Adriatic and Ionian regions. Starting in the historic city of Dubrovnik, this journey takes you through the medieval charm of Montenegro's Kotor, the vibrant streets of Albania's Tirana, and the serene beauty of Himare. Experience the thrill of a coastal speed boat tour, explore the well-preserved Ottoman town of Gjirokaster, and relax on the stunning Greek island of Corfu. With a perfect blend of guided activities and free time, this tour offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the diverse cultures and breathtaking scenery of this enchanting part of the world. Enjoy comfortable accommodations, delicious local cuisine, and the camaraderie of fellow travelers as you create lasting memories on this extraordinary adventure.

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Included

6 breakfasts

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All Intrepid group trips in Europe are accompanied by one of our local European group leaders. ’Local’ in this context means a leader who is European or lives in Europe. The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Intrepid endeavours to provide the services of an experienced leader however, due to the seasonality of travel, rare situations may arise where your leader is new to a particular region or training other group leaders. Your leader takes care of logistics, will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects.

At Intrepid we also aim to support local guides in the individual cities or locations we travel to. If you are interested in delving deeper into the local culture at a specific site or location then your leader can recommend an optional local guide service in most of the main destinations of your trip.

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The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.

Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.

We've sourced our accommodation very carefully and picked the best possible hotels in line with the Intrepid 18-35 style of travel. Our first accommodation choice is always as close to the main attraction of the destination as possible, however, sometimes we are not in the right centre of action, which means you may need to hop on a public transport to get to the city centre. Please note that service and accommodation in Europe may be different to the standards you are used to. Your accommodation will not always have private en suite facilities or air-conditioning. European hotels generally don't provide kettles or fridges and in particular destinations, rooms may be rather small.

OCCASIONAL ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION:

The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline. On rare occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our usual accommodation. A similar standard of accommodation will be used in these instances.

ROOMING ALLOCATION:

Accommodation on this trip is on a twin/multi-share basis. We pair up solo travellers with other travellers of the same gender as per the gender marker on each of their passports. Please note there may be times where facilities will be shared rather than ensuite and rare occasions when you share a room with passengers travelling on different Intrepid trips than your own.

SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT:

Please note that on our 18-35 trips in Europe we do not provide a single room supplement option.

CHECK-IN TIME:

Throughout the trip we request that our hotels prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination.

PRE/POST TRIP ACCOMMODATION:

If you've purchased pre-trip or post-trip accommodation (if available), you may be required to change rooms from your trip accommodation for these extra nights.

Hotel (4 nights), Guesthouse (3 nights), Hostel (1 night)

hotel: 4 night(s), hostel: 1 night(s), guesthouse: 3 night(s);

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Tirana - Bunk'Art Bunker Exhibition Visit

Himare - Local Boat Tour

Gjirokaster - Zekate Tower House

Gjirokaster - Local Guide

Gjirokaster - Turkish Coffee 'on the Stone'

Gjirokaster - Gjirokaster Fortress

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TRANSPORT IN EUROPE:

Half the fun of travel is the travelling itself, that's why we like to travel the local way – whether that means mingling with commuters on a local train, watching the scenery roll by from the window of a long distance bus, arriving on a high speed train in the city centre of your next destination, or navigating each city's public transport system. In Europe, you are guaranteed to travel by genuine local public transport wherever possible, which puts you right in the centre of the action.

LONG TRAVEL DAYS:

As we cover lots of ground on this trip, expect some long travel days on local trains and buses. This is an opportunity to mix with the locals and enjoy the scenery out the window. Travel schedules are known to change with little notice. Not all transport may have air conditioning.

Private vehicle , Ferry , Bus

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Destinations

Stari Bar
The aerial view of Dubrovnik, a city in southern Croatia fronting the Adriatic Sea, Europe.Dubrovnik
Drymades
Tirana County - region in AlbaniaTirana
Photo of aerial spring cityscape of capital of Corfu island, Greece.Corfu
Photo of aerial view of Ulcinj, famous resort town in Montenegro.Ulcinj
Sarandë - town in AlbaniaSarandë
Photo of aerial view of historical protected town of Gjirocaster , Southern Albania.Gjirokastra
Kotor -  in MontenegroKotor

Map

Attractions

Corfu Aquarium, Δήμος Κέρκυρας, Corfu Regional Unit, Ioanian Islands, Peloponnese, Western Greece and the Ionian, GreeceCorfu Aquarium
Photo of Kruje Castle and its fortress with the walls and mountains in the background, Albania.Castle of Kruja
Kuzum Baba, Vlorë, Vlora, Vlorë County, Southern Albania, AlbaniaKuzum Baba
Castle of Gjirokastra, Gjirokastër, Gjirokastra, Gjirokastër County, Southern Albania, AlbaniaCastle of Gjirokastra
Photo of blue eye lake with waterfall in the Albanian Alps, Albania.Blue Eye
Dhërmiu Beach, Himarë, Bashkia Himarë, Vlorë County, Southern Albania, AlbaniaDhërmiu Beach
Porat Dubrovnik, Grad Dubrovnik, Dubrovnik-Neretva County, CroatiaPorat Dubrovnik
Preza Castle, Prezë, Bashkia Vorë, Tirana County, Central Albania, AlbaniaPreza Castle
BUNK'ART, Dajt, Tirana Municipally, Tirana County, Central Albania, AlbaniaBunk’Art

Daily Itinerary

Day 1

Day 1 – Day 1: Dubrovnik

  • Dubrovnik - Arrival day
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  • Koločep
  • Pasjača
  • Vrata od Buže
  • Bellevue Beach
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Welcome to the enchanting city of Dubrovnik, where your journey begins with a warm greeting at 6 pm. If you arrive early, take the opportunity to explore the historic Old City, accessible through the iconic Pile Gate. Stroll along the ancient city walls, enjoy a refreshing drink at a wall-side bar, or indulge in local seafood delicacies. For a refreshing swim, venture to the nearby Suluci or Banje Beach and immerse yourself in the crystal-clear waters of the Adriatic Sea.

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Day 2

Day 2 – Day 2: Kotor to Ulcinj

  • Dubrovnik
  • Kotor
  • Stari Bar
  • Ulcinj
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Embark on a scenic drive to the medieval town of Kotor in Montenegro. Spend your morning exploring this charming town, perhaps climbing the Kampana Tower for breathtaking views. Continue your journey to Ulcinj, a vibrant town on the Adriatic Coast known for its stunning beaches and lively nightlife. Wander through the cobblestone streets of the Old Town and visit the historic Ulcinj Castle. As the day winds down, enjoy a picturesque sunset on the beach.

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Day 3

Day 3 – Day 3: Tirana

  • Tirana
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  • Bunk’Art
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Cross the border into Albania and arrive in Tirana, where a guided orientation walk will introduce you to the city's vibrant atmosphere. Visit Bunk'Art, a unique museum that blends history and contemporary art within a former bunker. Spend your afternoon exploring Tirana at your leisure, perhaps visiting the trendy Block area for drinks and mingling with fellow travelers.

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Day 4

Day 4 – Day 4: Free Day in Tirana

  • Tirana
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  • Castle of Kruja
  • Tirana Park
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Enjoy a leisurely day in Tirana, with the freedom to explore at your own pace. Visit the colorful street markets, savor traditional Albanian cuisine, or take a short trip to the ancient city of Kruja. In the evening, consider dining at Tirana Castle, where you can enjoy a meal in a historical setting transformed into a modern shopping and dining area.

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Day 5

Day 5 – Day 5: Himare

  • Tirana
  • Drymades
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  • Himara Castle
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Travel to the picturesque town of Himare, nestled between the Ionian Sea and the Ceraunian Mountains. Spend your day exploring the Old Town, perched on a rocky hill with stunning sea views. Discover the ancient ruins of Himare Castle, and later, relax at a local café or unwind on one of the secluded beach coves.

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Day 6

Day 6 – Day 6: Coastal Adventure

  • Drymades
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  • Pulëbardha Beach
  • Gjipe Beach
  • Palasa Beach
  • Krorëza Beach
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Embark on an exhilarating speed boat tour along the Albanian coast, visiting stunning natural attractions like Pigeon's Cave, Crystal Bay, Gjipe Beach, and Pirate's Cave. Enjoy refreshing swims in the crystal-clear waters and explore the hidden gems of the coastline. In the afternoon, relax and savor a meal at a local restaurant with breathtaking sea views.

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Day 7

Day 7 – Day 7: Gjirokaster

  • Gjirokastra
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  • Butrint National Park
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Journey to the well-preserved Ottoman town of Gjirokaster, where you'll explore a traditional tower house with a knowledgeable local guide. Experience the unique tradition of coffee roasted on the stone, and perhaps have your fortune read. Spend the night in this charming town, and indulge in a delicious dinner of speca me glize (stuffed peppers).

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Day 8

Day 8 – Day 8: Saranda to Corfu

  • Corfu
  • Sarandë
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  • Corfu Aquarium
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Travel to the coastal town of Saranda, where you'll board a hydrofoil ferry to the Greek island of Corfu. Known for its stunning landscapes and rich cultural heritage, Corfu offers a perfect blend of natural beauty and historical charm. Enjoy an orientation walk with your group leader to discover the best spots on the island. The evening is yours to explore, perhaps enjoying sunset drinks at a local restaurant.

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Day 9

Day 9 – Day 9: Departure from Corfu

  • Corfu - Departure day
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With no scheduled activities today, you have the freedom to depart at your convenience. If you're not ready to leave the idyllic shores of Corfu, consider extending your stay to further explore the island's beauty and savor more of its delicious cuisine.

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