The Balkans Real Food Adventure

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Description

Summary

Starts
Dubrovnik
Duration
9 days
Languages
English
Difficulty
Easy
Minimum age
15 years

Description

Embark on a captivating multi-day tour through the heart of the Balkans, where history, culture, and natural beauty intertwine. Begin your adventure in the enchanting city of Dubrovnik, Croatia, and journey through the picturesque landscapes of Montenegro, Kosovo, and North Macedonia. Discover ancient fortresses, vibrant bazaars, and spiritual monasteries. Savor local culinary delights, from smoke-dried hams to organic olive oils and exquisite wines. Immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of cultures and traditions, from the bustling streets of Prizren to the serene shores of Lake Ohrid. With guided tours, optional excursions, and free time to explore, this tour offers a perfect blend of adventure and relaxation. Experience the warmth of local hospitality and create unforgettable memories on this extraordinary Balkan journey.

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Included

4 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 2 dinners

vegetarian, vegan, halal, kosher, meat

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All group trips are accompanied by one of our group leader or local representative. The aim of the group leader or local representative 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 group leader or local representative however, due to the seasonality of travel, rare situations may arise where your group leader or local representative is new to a particular region or training other group leader or local representative.

Your group leader or local representative 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 aim to support local guides who have specialised knowledge of the regions we visit. If you are interested in delving deeper into the local culture at a specific site or location then your group leader or local representative can recommend a local guide service in most of the main destinations of your trip.

EUROPEAN LEADERS:

Intrepid 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.

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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Lustica - Olive oil farm visit

Njegusi - Smokehouse visit & tasting

Shkoder - Rozafa Fortress visit

Prizren - Leader-led city tour

Pristina - Serbian barbecue lunch

Pristina - Gracanica Monastery visit

Debar - St Jovan Bigorski Monastery visit

Kuratica - Home-cooked dinner

Prespa - Agriturismo visit & tasting

Prespa - Home-cooking demonstration

Dihovo - Home-cooked lunch

Dihovo - Beekeeper farm visit

Tikves - Wine tasting

Stobi - Stobi archaeological site

Skopje - Leader-led walking tour with traditional sweets

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Private Vehicle

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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.

Hotel (8 nights)

hotel: 8 night(s);

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Destinations

District of Prizren
The aerial view of Dubrovnik, a city in southern Croatia fronting the Adriatic Sea, Europe.Dubrovnik
Aerial view of Samuel's Fortress and Plaosnik at Ohrid in North Macedonia.Ohrid
Panoramic view of Skopje town with Vodno hill in the background.Skopje
Tivat - town in MontenegroTivat
Bitola - town in North MacedoniaBitola
Kotor -  in MontenegroKotor

Map

Attractions

Photo of The Ancient Theatre among the Roman ruins of Heraclea Lyncestis in Bitola, Republic of Macedonia.Heraclea Lyncestis
Стоби, Vodovrati, Municipality of Gradsko, Vardar Region, North MacedoniaWinery „Stobi“
Сајла „Његуши“
Tikvesh Winery, Kavadarci, Minicipality of Kavadarci, Vardar Region, North MacedoniaTikveš Winery
LušticaLuštica
Bigorski Monastery St John the Baptist, Rostushe, Municipality of Mavrovo and Rostusha, Polog Region, North MacedoniaBigorski Monastery St John the Baptist
Ethno Museum

Daily Itinerary

Day 1

Day 1 – Day 1: Dubrovnik

  • Dubrovnik - Arrival day
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  • Fort Royal
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Welcome to the enchanting city of Dubrovnik, a stunning stone town enveloped by ancient fortifications. Despite its turbulent past, the restored Old Town exudes charm and character, with the Adriatic Sea providing a picturesque backdrop. Begin your journey with a welcome meeting in the evening. If you arrive early, take a leisurely stroll within the city walls. After the meeting, enjoy a delightful dinner with your fellow travelers, perhaps sampling the region's renowned charcuterie.

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Day 2

Day 2 – Day 2: Njegusi to Kotor

  • Kotor
  • Tivat
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  • Kotor Fortress
  • Lighthouse
  • Lipa Cave
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After breakfast, journey into Montenegro to the town of Njegusi, celebrated for its smoke-dried hams and cheeses. Visit a traditional smokehouse for a tasting session. Continue to the village of Tici to explore an olive farm, learning about organic olive oil production. Later, in Kotor, enjoy free time to wander the town's winding streets or climb the hills to the ruined fortification walls. Consider dining at a local wine bar for a relaxed evening.

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Day 3

Day 3 – Day 3: Rozafa Fortress to Prizren

  • District of Prizren
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Bid farewell to Montenegro and head towards Kosovo, stopping first at Albania's Rozafa Fortress, a significant historical site. In the afternoon, arrive in Prizren, Kosovo's second-largest city, known for its cultural diversity. Spend the rest of the day exploring the city's vibrant streets, characterized by orange rooftops and impressive religious architecture. For dinner, seek out local culinary delights with the help of your guide.

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Day 4

Day 4 – Day 4: Prizren to Ohrid

  • Ohrid
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  • Vevčani Springs
  • Popova Šapka
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Begin with a guided tour of Prizren, exploring the bustling bazaar. Continue to Pristina, Kosovo's capital, for a city center tour and a special Kosovo-Serb barbecue experience. Visit the Gracanica Monastery before departing Kosovo for North Macedonia. Stop at the spiritual St Jovan Bigorski Monastery en route to Ohrid, where you'll spend the night.

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Day 5

Day 5 – Day 5: Explore Ohrid

  • Ohrid
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  • Vevčani Springs
  • Kitino Fort
  • Ethno Museum
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Discover the historic town of Ohrid, known as the 'Macedonian Jerusalem' for its numerous churches. Explore the Old Bazaar or join an optional excursion to Ohrid Lake and the Sveti Naum Monastery. Visit Tzar Samoil's Fortress and the Sveti Jovana Kaneo Church. In the evening, head to the village of Kuratica for a home-cooked meal and a taste of homemade rakija.

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Day 6

Day 6 – Day 6: Ohrid to Bitola

  • Bitola
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  • Heraclea Lyncestis
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Start your day with a traditional breakfast at Ohrid's green market. Travel to Lake Prespa, visiting a local apple farm to sample fresh produce. In Dolno Dupeni, enjoy a cooking demonstration and lunch in a local home. Continue to Bitola, where you can relax in cafes or explore the Old Bazaar.

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Day 7

Day 7 – Day 7: Dihovo and Bitola

  • Bitola
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  • Heraclea Lyncestis
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Visit the village of Dihovo, nestled at the base of Mt Pelister. Learn about beekeeping and enjoy honey tasting. Savor a home-cooked meal made from organic ingredients. Return to Bitola in the afternoon, where you can opt for a guided tour of the ancient site of Heraclea Lyncestis.

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Day 8

Day 8 – Day 8: Stobi to Skopje

  • Skopje
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  • Winery „Stobi“
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Begin with a visit to the Stobi archaeological site, then proceed to the Tikves wine district for wine tasting paired with local cheeses and meats. Arrive in Skopje in the late afternoon for a guided city tour, sampling traditional sweets. Conclude with a farewell dinner in the bohemian district of Debar Maalo.

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Day 9

Day 9 – Day 9: Departure from Skopje

  • Skopje - Departure day
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Today marks the end of your journey. Feel free to depart at your convenience. If you wish to extend your stay in Skopje or explore nearby attractions like Matka Canyon, consult your booking agent for arrangements.

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