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Albania16 daysMax 12 travellersSolo-friendly

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.

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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.

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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.

  • Departure
    3 Sept 202618 Sept 2026
    Guaranteed
    From
    £2,995 pp
    Single supp. +£465
    Contact for availability
  • Departure
    1 Oct 202616 Oct 2026
    Sold out
    From
    £2,995 pp
    Single supp. +£465
    Closed
  • Departure
    29 Apr 202714 May 2027
    Guaranteed
    From
    £2,995 pp
    Single supp. +£465
    Book now
  • Departure
    2 Sept 202717 Sept 2027
    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.

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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

Independently verified reviews from travellers who joined Albania, Kosovo and Macedonia – Hidden Europe. Rated 4.9 Excellent on AITO by 250+ reviewers.

Albania was stunningly beautiful, Kosovo was fascinating and safe and Ohrid in North Macedonia and Albania was truly breathtaking.
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Linda Bell, Australia

Both guides - main tour and Montenegro extension were very good, as was the driver. Excellent company to book with. Complex tour delivered as per itinerary with professional and pleasant local representatives.
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Adam Choonara, 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.
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Janece Krahenbuhl, USA

I saw a lot and it was a very interresting tour, as usual, from this company.
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Eric Firkins, UK

We had two guides, Ardit for the just the first day and Dritan for the rest of the week. Both were incredibly knowledgeable, with excellent command of English so they could convey not only their knowledge but also their enthusiasm
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Lesley Lavene, UK

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!
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Kitty Corrigan, UK

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).
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Traveller from Australia

The tour had the right balance of activities and down time.
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Catherine Challies, 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.
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Margaret Dawson, USA

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.
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Mark Brand, UK

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.

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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 — there's no compulsory single supplement on our small-group tours. You get your own room at no extra cost. About 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 3 September 2026; 29 April 2027; 2 September 2027. See the "Choose your departure" table further up the page for the full schedule and per-departure pricing.

  • 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.

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