Skip to content
Rated 97% Excellent
Call us
hero
Albania16 daysMax 12 travellersSolo-friendlyGuaranteed departures

Albania, Kosovo and Macedonia – Hidden Europe

A 16-day overland journey through communist-era Albania, Kosovo's Ottoman towns, North Macedonia's lake city, and the Albanian Riviera.

View dates & prices

As Featured In

The TelegraphCulture TripThe TimesLonely PlanetThe GuardianIndependentNational GeographicThe TelegraphCulture TripThe TimesLonely PlanetThe GuardianIndependentNational Geographic
About this journey

What to expect on this trip

Tucked away in a little visited corner of Europe lie Albania, Kosovo and North Macedonia, three charming and delightful countries that few people know much about. For years Albania was a closed society, ruled by the iron fist of Communism, but since the end of the Cold War it has been showing curious travellers its many charms, while as Europe’s newest state, Kosovo is best known for its terrible war that it suffered in the last years of the 20th century – not the best image for outsiders to have of it. The location of these countries between some of Europe’s most important empires has left them well endowed with a wealth of attractions from the Greek, Roman and Ottoman eras. The region is home to a wealth of old Ottoman architecture which sits side by side with elaborately decorated Orthodox churches and from more recent times the civic buildings of Communist Yugoslavia, as well as impressive Roman ruins and well-preserved historic towns. This part of Europe is also blessed with incredible scenery with imposing mountains, pristine lakes and traditional villages tucked away in pretty valleys. But as with many countries it is the people who leave perhaps the most lasting impression – having come through recent strife there is an overwhelming sense of optimism about the people that cannot fail to raise your spirits.

tour1
tour2
The journey

Albania, Kosovo and Macedonia – Hidden Europe

What makes this trip special

Drawn from the full tour dossier — the standout days, encounters and views our specialists keep coming back to.

Your route
map

The highlights

  • Kruja Castle and Shkoder's Rozafa Fortress

    Visit Kruja's Skanderbeg Museum and Ottoman bazaar, then continue to Shkoder — one of the Balkans' oldest cities — exploring its old bazaar, cathedral, mosque, and Rozafa Castle with views over city, lake, and mountains.

  • Koman Lake Boat Trip to Valbona

    Take the legendary 2-hour boat trip on Lake Komani, described by the Bradt Guide as one of the world's great boat journeys, winding through narrow mountain passes and clear glacial water. Continue to the remote Valbona Valley in the "Accursed Mountains."

  • Decan Monastery and Gjakova Bazaar, Kosovo

    Cross into Kosovo and visit the UNESCO medieval Decan Monastery with its remarkable preserved frescoes. Continue to Gjakova, a pretty Ottoman town with a restored old bazaar, clock tower, and Dervish tekkes.

  • Prizren — Kosovo's Ottoman Jewel

    Explore Prizren, Kosovo's most beautiful town with its superbly preserved Ottoman-era buildings, mosques, and old houses spilling down the slopes of the Sharri Mountains to the river Bistrica.

  • Gadime Cave and Skopje, North Macedonia

    Visit the Gadime Cave, discovered in 1966 with its crystallised stalagmite formations. Cross into North Macedonia and explore Skopje, including the ancient Kale Fortress, the Sveti Spas monastery, and the large and colourful Ottoman bazaar.

  • Ohrid — UNESCO Town and Lake

    Explore the UNESCO-listed town of Ohrid with its Orthodox Cathedral, 11th-century Church of St Sofia, and Roman amphitheatre. Take a full leisure day to enjoy the town and one of Europe's oldest and deepest lakes.

Trip highlights for Albania, Kosovo and Macedonia – Hidden Europe

Full itinerary · 16 days

Prefer a PDF? Get the printable dossier
Dates & prices

Choose your departure

Reserve your place with a £350 per-person deposit; the balance is due 70 days before departure. Prefer your own space? A single room is available on every departure.

Our departures are guaranteed to run. We never cancel a confirmed tour.

  • Departure
    1 Oct 2026 → 16 Oct 2026
    Sold out
    From
    £2,995 pp
    Single supp. +£465
    Closed
  • Departure
    29 Apr 2027 → 14 May 2027
    Guaranteed
    From
    £2,995 pp
    Single supp. +£465
    Book now
  • Departure
    2 Sept 2027 → 17 Sept 2027
    Guaranteed
    From
    £2,995 pp
    Single supp. +£465
    Book now
  • Departure
    4 May 2028 → 19 May 2028
    Guaranteed
    From
    £2,995 pp
    Single supp. +£465
    Book now
  • Departure
    7 Sept 2028 → 22 Sept 2028
    Guaranteed
    From
    £2,995 pp
    Single supp. +£465
    Book now

Can’t find the right fit?

Every one of our Albania journeys can be rebuilt around your dates, pace and interests — or we’ll design something entirely new.

Tailor my trip
What's included

What your tour price covers

Included in the price

  • Arrival and departure transfers
  • Overland transport throughout with professional driver
  • All accommodation
  • Services of English-speaking guide / tour leader
  • Meals as listed
  • Entrance fees for sites listed as part of the itinerary

Budget separately for

  • International flights (, contact , us, for expert advice and a quote)
  • Any airport taxes
  • Travel Insurance
  • Visa – when required
  • Drinks
  • Items of personal nature
  • Tips (Discretionary)
Before you go

Essential information

Shared across all tours that visit this destination. Read alongside your individual tour dossier for trip-specific details.

Foreign Office travel advice

We constantly monitor official travel advice, including the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) Albania Travel Advice, and will always advise clients of any warnings before departure. At the time of writing, there are no specific warnings against travel to the parts of Albania that we visit on our tours.

Please contact us if you have any specific concerns or would like to understand what measures are in place to ensure your trip remains safe and trouble-free.

For additional official guidance, travellers may also refer to:

Please note this information applies primarily to British citizens — nationals of other countries should check the current position with their respective government travel authority.

Voices from the road

What travellers say about us

Reviews from ninety-plus small-group adventures worldwide, written by the people who took them.

“We had a fantastic group of people who watched out for each and were considerate . This is what made the trip . I had booked an overnight hotel at Heathrow and two Americans hadn't .By then the choices were limited so I had them in my room . Three "" strangers "" in one large bed . That is how well we got on! |What I would suggest as very practical improvements is on the first day in Tirana we are taken to a mobile provider to get Sims for at least Albania but hopefully also the other countries . I had two cellphones and on both of them the European roaming package didn't work |Secondly , advice and help on changing money - about how much and the warning that these currencies are hard to change back.”
Read full review

Traveller from New Zealand

“Both our leader Ardi and the driver Ardian were superb. Although Ardian the driver spoke little English, he was always helpful and friendly, and a fantastic driver. We always felt safe and secure. Ardi our leader was simply wonderful - so knowledgeable about every aspect of Albania, about which he is passionate. He looked after us so well and had a good sense of humour. Nothing was too much trouble and he was aware of the individual interests within the group. I recommend him for a pay rise! ”
Read full review

Kitty Corrigan, UK

“Our guide, Glendi, was totally amazing! Only young, but an incredible and very broad knowledge of all Albanian history. A thoroughly lovely guy too; fun to be with and extremely helpful. He really went above and beyond our expectations and we were sorry to say goodbye. A great choice of accommodation throughout - and our stay on the farm high up in the mountians was a real highlight, what an adorable family! Exellent value - we saw and learnt way more than we'd expected. A totally exceptional trip; we saw as much of Albania's many highlights and extremely varied terrain as possible. Excellent value for money - way better than expected Honestly, this trip was exceptional - mainly down to our incredibly knowledgeable, helpful, accommodating, and truly lovely guide. Glendi, made the trip so memeorable. And the country was so much more varied, beautiful, historic, interesting, vibrant and welcoming that we'd expected. We returned after a brief visit 25 years ago to see how the country had recoivered from its harrwoing past - and we were amazed! It's a wonderful country - ignore the beaches, explore!!”
Read full review

Jackie Horsewood, uk

“London to Albania by train and ferry ws great. Hotel quality/service better than I was expecting! Trip delivered as advertised and my objectives were met. ”
Read full review

Margaret Dawson, USA

“Albania was stunningly beautiful, Kosovo was fascinating and safe and Ohrid in North Macedonia and Albania was truly breathtaking.”
Read full review

Linda Bell, Australia

“Our guide Ardi was absolutely wonderful. He was extremely knowledgeable about the countries and sites we visited. He was extremely accommodating taking us places we wanted to go after the scheduled activities were over (e.g. the Prizren fortress). ”
Read full review

Traveller from Australia

“I saw a lot and it was a very interresting tour, as usual, from this company.”
Read full review

Eric Firkins, UK

“Ardi was a great guide and very knowledgeable. we thoroughly enjoyed his company, his knowledge, his enthusiasm and his stories. Perhaps on the more domestic side he was a little weaker but overall a great guy.”
Read full review

Mark Brand, UK

“This trip and previous ones have been really good and I like your policy of 12 max persons.”
Read full review

Roy Dryland, UK

“Ani was an EXCELLENT tour guide. Very knowledgeable and compassionate. He was energetic and flexible. I appreciated the way he took personal interest and care of those on the tour who had special needs. ”
Read full review

Janece Krahenbuhl, USA

Want to customise this tour?

Make Albania, Kosovo and Macedonia – Hidden Europe your own — adjust the route, dates, pace or who travels, or start from a blank page with a specialist. We'll bring the details of this trip straight into your enquiry.

Customise this tour
Ready when you are

Start planning your Albania adventure

Join a small-group departure, or let our Albania specialists craft a private journey shaped around your dates and interests.

Common questions

Things travellers usually ask

  • How many travellers will be in my group?

    Maximum 12 travellers — that's the cap on every Undiscovered Destinations small-group tour. Small enough to eat in a local family home; large enough to share the wonder with other like-minded travellers.

  • Can I travel solo?

    Yes, solo travellers are welcome on every small-group tour. A private single room is offered on every trip, with the single-room supplement listed alongside the departure price. If you’d rather share, you can opt for a twin room with another solo traveller of the same gender. Around 60% of UD travellers come solo, so you’ll be in good company.

  • How fit do I need to be?

    Fitness requirements vary by itinerary, from gentle to demanding. The day-by-day tour dossier sets out walking distances, terrain and any altitude so you know what to expect. If you have specific concerns, speak to our team before booking — they can talk you through a typical day.

  • When are the next departures?

    The next available departures are 29 April 2027; 2 September 2027; 4 May 2028. See the "Choose your departure" table further up the page for the full schedule and per-departure pricing.

  • Will my departure definitely run?

    Yes. Departures marked Guaranteed on this page run whether one traveller books or twelve. We never cancel a confirmed tour for lack of numbers, so you can book flights and time off around it with confidence.

  • What's included in the tour price?

    Included items vary by tour — see the full list above. On this trip, expect: Arrival and departure transfers; Overland transport throughout with professional driver; All accommodation; and more. International flights and travel insurance are not included.

  • Where exactly does this trip go?

    This tour visits Albania, Kosovo and Macedonia. Each destination has its own page with practical information, climate, and the attractions our specialists recommend — linked from the itinerary above.

Trusted partners & accreditations