Western Balkan Explorer Tour “Blue Route”

Pickup from Tirana International Airport and transfer to the city. Leisure day. Overnight at Albanopolis Hotel 4* or similar. 

After breakfast we will depart to Ulcinj in Montenegro. We will have a short break and visit Lezha. In the ancient period it was called Lis. Visit the historical mausoleum of our Albanian National hero “Skenderbeg”. Then proceed to Ulcinj. Ulcinj is part of the "south coast" region of Montenegro and is a popular tourist destination. Although still undiscovered by many travelers from larger countries, repeat tourists and an increasing amount of first time visitors make Ulcinj a hot spot for vacationers. Visit to the the Castle of Ulcinj, its old town is a very well preserved castle-looking community that is left over from medieval times. The old town sits atop a mountain overlooking the shore and is a tourist attraction on its own. Overnight in Bar. Hotel Agape 4*.  (B)

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After breakfast continue to Kotor. Walking tour in old Town Kotor. In the Montenegro sealine, Kotor is one of the most wonderful coasts, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Between 1420 and 1797 Kotor was under the rule of the Republic of Venice and the Venetian influence on the architecture is strong. Enjoy a walking tour of the town including the Clock Tower (Kulla e Sahatit), the 12th Century Cathedral of St Tripun and Church, founded in the roman époque of St Luc and the 17th Century Prince’s Palace. Then continue to Perast. Perast is one of the most beautiful little places in Boka Bay, located just a few kilometers from Kotor. It looks like a piece of Venice that has floated down the Adriatic. This tiny town boasts 16 churches and 17 formerly grand palazzos. (Visit to Lady of the Rocks is one of the two islets off the coast of Perast in Bay. This tiny, artificial island features a 17th-century Roman Catholic church with art & a museum. Also we visit St. George, as Ostrvo Sveti Đorđe is one of the two islets off the coast of Perast in Bay of Kotor, it is a natural island. A small action took place during the Siege of Cattaro on 14 October 1813 when the French held island was captured by a British and Sicilian naval force.) Lunch break. In the afternoon, we will continue to Budva. Sightseeing in Budva city. Visit in the Old City, Sveti Trojica Church, Stanjevici Monastery,etc. Overnight in Hotel Garni 3*, or similar. (B)

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After breakfast we will continue to Dubrovnik. City tour Dubrovnik : UNESCO protected pearl of the Adriatic and its Cathedral, Rector’s Palace, Fransican Monastery (included Old Pharmacy), Clock Tower, Orlando’s Columns, Sponze Plaza, Dubrovnik City. In the afternoon, we will proceed to Medjugore. Overnight at Hotel Marconi 4*, or similar. (B) 

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After breakfast we will continue to visit Pocitelj then Blagaj. Visit to the most popular Tekje in Bosnia. Lunch break on Buna River Spring. Then we proceed to Mostar. Check In then we will have a city tour: Visit Mehmet Koski Pasha Mosque, Karadjoz Bey Mosque, walk through the old town and old bridge, listed as UNESCO heritage site. Overnight at Hotel Mostar 3*, or similar. (B) 

After breakfast we transfer to Tito's bunker, which is a Cold War era nuclear bunker and military command center located near the town of Konjic in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Built to protect Yugoslav President Josip Broz Tito and up to 350 members of his inner circle in the event of an atomic conflict. Then continue to Sarajevo. Proceed for tour to visit Vrelo Bosne – spring of river Bosnia, Walking tour of old town Bascarsija, Latin Bridge, place where the Austro Hungarian Archduke was assassinated, what triggered the 1st World War; Brusa Bezistan – covered market place; Gazi Husref Bey's Mosque- built in 1530 year during the Ottoman era – and Gazi Husref Bey Medrese; Morica Han built in 1551 ; Vijecnica – town hall for the Austro-Hungarian era. Overnight in Sarajevo. Overnight at Hotel ​Bristol ​4*, or similar. (B)

After Breakfast we will depart for Montenegro where we will have a break stop at the Foca Drina river side. We will transfer to Durmitor National Park. This breathtaking national park was formed by glaciers and is traversed by rivers and underground streams. Along the Tara river canyon, which has the deepest gorges in Europe, the dense pine forests are interspersed with clear lakes and harbor a wide range of endemic flora. We will visit Black Lake. (Black Lake is the best known, and at the same time largest of 18 glacial lakes in The Durmitor National Park. More than 3 km long, the walking path around the lake is the most popular for hiking and recreation.) Overnight in Zabljak at Hotel Pavlovic 3*, or similar. (B)

After Breakfast departure to Kolasin National park. First stop will be a visit to the Djurdjevica Tara Bridge. (172 meters above the Tara River, this bridge at the time he finished, was the biggest vehicular concrete arch bridge in Europe. The bridge on Tara has always been a great inspiration to many artists, and its magnificent beauty is admired even by renowned architects and engineers. Walking by the lake in Kolasin. Lunch break in Kolasin. Afterwards, we will transfer to Podgorica, Montenegro's capital. We will visit the Old Town and show you the most important historical monuments and buildings in town: Doganjska Mosque from the 15th century, Skaline (“the stairs”) is probably one of the most historic and picturesque sites of Podgorica. It is a place perfectly described as peaceful, quiet and in the middle of the city, Republic Square, St.George church form 11th of century, Millenium Bridge, Russian Bridge, Vladimir Vysotsky Monument, Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ (Orthodox Church), Roman Square, King Nikola's Castle from 19th century and Clock Tower (Sahat Kula) from 17th century. Overnight at Hotel Marienplatz Podgorica 3*, or similar. (B) 

After breakfast, we will continue to Shkoder. A nice landscape with highland (Albanian Alps on north) are a full contrast. City tour of Shkodra, Old Bazaar, Centrum, Cathedral and Mosque. Visit the Castle of Rozafa and we enjoy wonderful views of mountains, Shkodra’s lake, Drini, Buna and Kir rivers with the valleys around from the top of Rozafa castle, and “Ura e Mesit'' over Kir River. 

Drive back to Tirana for our final night. Overnight at Albanopolis Hotel 4* or similar. 

After breakfast, Airport transfer. End of services.