EXOTIC ESCAPES

Montenegro and Albania, Mountain to Sea

Two countries, six bases, one driver-guide, and a boat on almost every other day.

11 Days / 10 NightsŽabljak, Kotor, Tirana, Vlorë

FROM$1,950per person

The trip

Two countries, six bases, one driver-guide, and a boat on almost every other day.

This is the long version of the western Balkans, and the pacing is the point: never more than two nights in one place, never more than two hours in the car. Skadar Lake first, the largest in the Balkans and one of Europe's great bird sanctuaries, by boat to a fishing village that has not changed. Then north to Zabljak, the highest town in the Balkans, for the Black Lake and the Tara canyon, the second deepest in the world. A stone ethno village where you can learn to cook kacamak. Kotor Bay. Then over the border to Tirana, up the Dajti cable car, and down the coast to Vlore for a six-hour cruise along the Karaburun peninsula, into the Haxhi Ali cave and the blue caves beyond it. Albania is a majority-Muslim country, so from Tirana onward halal is simply how the kitchens work.

Half this trip is in a country where halal is not a request but the default. That changes the texture of every meal.

Day by day

Every day, already considered.

Prayer, dining, and where you rest, planned into each day, so you are never caught out.

01
DESTINATION
Arrival in Montenegro
Met at Podgorica airport by your driver and guide, then an afternoon walking tour of the capital and dinner at a local restaurant.
02
DESTINATION
Four hours on the water
Down to Virpazar for a boat tour to Karuc, a fishing village on the lake shore, through a bird sanctuary that holds more than 280 species. Priganice and juice aboard.
03
DESTINATION
The highest town in the Balkans
Two hours north on a scenic road into Durmitor National Park, then the Devil's Lake and the Fish Lake in the afternoon, and dinner at a local family farm.
04
DESTINATION
Black Lake and the Tara canyon
A two and a half hour walk around the Black Lake, Montenegro's largest glacial lake, then the Djurdjevica Tara bridge over the second deepest canyon in the world, and a herbal hydrolate workshop back at the hotel.
05
DESTINATION
A place reachable only by boat
Through Mala Crna Gora, Montenegro's most beautiful village, then a boat along Piva Lake to a place called Silence. Overnight in traditional stone houses at Ethno Village Montenegro, with a lesson in cooking kacamak.
06
DESTINATION
The bay, and the serpentines
Over Njegusi and down the 25 serpentines with the whole of Kotor Bay opening below, to a resort on the water. An afternoon of rest, then Kotor or Tivat in the evening.
07
DESTINATION
Down the coast into Albania
The Adriatic coast road with stops at the Sveti Stefan peninsula and lunch at Shkodra, then across the border to a hotel in the centre of Tirana.
08
DESTINATION
Dajti Mountain
A thirteen-minute cable car to 1,613m above the city, lunch at the top, then the afternoon by Tirana Lake in the Botanical Garden and the city forest.
09
DESTINATION
To the Ionian Riviera
South to Vlore with a stop at the Zvernec peninsula and its monastery, then a scenic drive along the Riviera and an evening walk on the Vlore front.
10
DESTINATION
Six hours along the national park
A full-day cruise along the Karaburun National Park to Grama Bay: the Haxhi Ali cave, Dafina Bay and its cave, Englishman Bay, the Blue Cave and Sazan island.
11
DESTINATION
Homeward
Breakfast, then the drive back to Tirana airport for onward flights.