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Highlights of Montenegro

8 days, Kotor to Tirana

Map of the route for Highlights of Montenegro
Day 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

When arranging your transportation, such as flights, please take into consideration the below time restrictions for joining and departing from your group. With these times, we have taken into account travel time to/from the airport in the given destination and required time for check-in or baggage collection/immigration.

Your flight must arrive by or before: Arrive at any time.
Your flight must depart no earlier than: 20:00 on Day 8

Itinerary

Day 1Kotor

Arrive at any time. After a welcome briefing, set off with your CEO on an evening walking tour of Kotor's old town. Get your bearings of the area on the way to an optional group dinner.

Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group

Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.

Kotor Old Town Orientation Walk
Kotor1h

Kotor is a fortified town on Montenegro’s Adriatic coast, in a bay near the limestone cliffs of Mt. Lovćen. Characterized by winding streets and squares, its medieval old town has several Romanesque churches, including Kotor Cathedral. It's also home to the Maritime Museum, which explores local seafaring history. Sveti Đorđe, one of 2 tiny islands off the ancient town of Perast, features a centuries-old church.

Accommodation

Below is an example of the hotel we may use in this city. For the actual hotel your specific departure will be using, please check your voucher.

Hotel Splendido Kotor (or similar)
Hotel

Day 2Kotor

Hop on a boat from Kotor's port area and set off on a scenic ride in the Bay of Kotor, seeing a number of small islands and historical sites before arriving to the town of Perast. Spend some time exploring and wandering Perast's old town before returning to Kotor around midday. The rest of the day is free for individual exploration or for optional activities like museum visits or sea kayaking.

Kotor Boat Tour
Kotor2h-2h30m

Set off from Kotor’s historic centre for a scenic boat ride past St. Mateus Church and the Temple of Our Lady to the artificial island known as Our Lady of the Rock. Afterwards, spend free time in Perast to admire the old town sights. Visit the 15th-century Our Lady of the Rock at your own pace Sightsee, dine, and shop in Perast’s historic center independently before returning to Kotor.

Free Time
Kotor Afternoon

Enjoy a free afternoon in Kotor to continue exploring.

3

Optional Activities - Day 2 HideShow

Kotor Maritime Museum
Kotor
4EUR per person

At the Maritime Museum, explore the history, culture and living artifacts that connect modern Kotor with its centuries-old naval traditions. Learn about the Boka Marines, a fraternity of sailors and navigators who helped shipbuilding flourish in the Balkans.

Sea Kayaking
Kotor
20EUR per person

Head out by sea kayak to fully appreciate this gorgeous area. Start just outside the Old Town walls and explore the coast. Stop at a beach bar for a break or a swim.

Kotor City Exploration
Kotor15m-30m
Free

Take some time to explore this picturesque town surrounded by a walled fortress built by the Republic of Venice. Kotor has a Mediterranean feel to it and the bay offers a stunning backdrop for photographs.

Accommodation

Hotel Splendido Kotor (or similar)
Hotel

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 3Kotor/Žabljak

Travel south from Kotor to the coastal seaport town of Budva. Visit the old town on a walk with your CEO then continue inland to visit the striking Ostrog Monasteray, perched high on a mountain cliff face, offering great views from the top. After lunch, drive towards Zabljak, a serene natural haven with diverse terrain and forest shade - our stop for the night.

Private Vehicle
Bogetići – Žabljak2h-2h30m110km

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Private Vehicle
Budva – Bogetići1h30m-2h107km

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Private Vehicle
Kotor – Budva45m23km

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Ostrog Monastery Visit
Bogetići30m

The 17th century Ostrog Monastery and pilgrimage site that was rebuilt in the 1920s and dedicated to Saint Basil of Ostrog. Strikingly located high up against the cliff face, you'll visit the Lower Ostrog Monastery, and admire the views of Montenegrian countryside, the mountains and the cliff Monastery.

Budva Old Town Walk
Budva1h-1h30m

Join your CEO for a walk in the old town of Budva: Stone walls built by the Venetians surround the narrow streets of the medieval old town (Stari Grad). This historic district is home to a seaside citadel and religious sites such as the Church of Santa Maria in Punta, established in the 9th century.

Accommodation

Enigma Hotel (or similar)
Hotel

Meals included:

Breakfast | Lunch

Day 4Žabljak/Kolašin

Head out after breakfast and drive to a hidden gem of natural beauty in Montenegro, Biogradska Gora National Park. Spend most of the day in the park, walking with the CEO around the lake and taking in the pristine forest and mountain scenery. After lunch in the park enjoy a bit of free time to rent a boat, a bike or a kayak to further explore the area. In the late afternoon, drive to the nearby town of Kolasin for the night, with an included dinner at our accommodation.

Private Vehicle
Žabljak – Nacionalni Park Biogradska Gora2h-2h30m100km

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Biogradska Gora National Park Visit
Nacionalni Park Biogradska Gora5h

Set off with the CEO on a walk around Biogradska Gora National Park: Walk around the Beiogradsko lake to discover this pearl of European natural heritage. Today almost the only European rainforest, was for a long time under the protection of rulers of these areas, and the National Park Biogradska Gora people say that not a single tree has been cut in it. Today, this natural reservation preserves dozens of plant and hundreds of animal species, which can only be found in this place in all of Europe. Biogradska Gora was proclaimed National Park in 1952.

Private Vehicle
Nacionalni Park Biogradska Gora – Kolašin45m-1h25km

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Accommodation

Hotel Serdar (or similar)
Hotel

Meals included:

Breakfast | Dinner

Day 5Kolašin/Podgorica

Get picked up at the hotel in the morning by 4x4 vehicles for an unforgettable adventure. Head off-road and explore Montenegro's incredibly beautiful back country while traversing rugged terrain through mountains and forest. After lunch, take a bus south to the capital city of Podgorica and set off on a a walking exploration of the old town, once a medieval stronghold. Enjoy an optional final dinner out with the group in the old town or near the hotel.

Kolašin 4x4 Off-Road Excursion
Kolašin4h

Be immersed in Montenegro's landscapes on a 4x4 excursion into the back-country. Head off-road in 4x4 vehicles to traverse the mountains, rivers and forests while exploring some of the most spectacular scenery in the country. Stop at various viewpoints along the way for photos before returning to Kolašin around midday.

Private Vehicle
Kolašin – Podgorica1h30m60km

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Podgorica Old Town Orientation Walk
Podgorica1h

The Old Town of Podgorica was a medieval stronghold. Near Ribnica and the bridge lies the old fortress built by the Turks in the 15th century, originally named Stari Grad, which Marko Miljanov wrote about in his book ” The Examples of Humanity and Bravery”. Although much of the structure has succumbed to time, the ruins offer a poignant reminder of Podgorica’s medieval heritage and the city’s strategic importance throughout the centuries.Throughout history and various upheavals, the fortress has borne many names, such as Ribnica, Birziminijum, Nemanja’s city, and Podgorica fortress. Visitors to Stari Grad can explore the ruins and imagine the fortress in its heyday. Today, it offers a unique backdrop for cultural events and a serene spot for visitors to reflect on the layers of history that define Podgorica.

Accommodation

Hotel Kerber (or similar)
Hotel

Meals included:

Breakfast | Lunch

Day 6Podgorica/Shkodër

Depart Podgorica and cross into Albania, reaching the beautiful natural scenery of Theth National Park. Explore the area with your CEO, walking through meadows full of wildflowers surrounded by mountain peaks, and marvel at the 25m high Grunasi Waterfall, cascading from a limestone cliff. In the afternoon continue to the city of Shkodër and check into the hotel, with the rest of the evening free to relax.

Private Vehicle
Podgorica – Theth3h92km

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Theth National Park Visit
Theth2h

Visit Theth National Park with your CEO. Situated at the end of a winding mountain road, Theth is home to just a few houses surrounded by looming mountain peaks and meadows full of wildflowers. Just 45 minutes from Theth village is the beautiful Grunasi Waterfall, a huge 25-meter-high cascade that falls from a dramatic limestone cliff. It’s a 45-minute walk each way that crosses rocky paths and follows along the mountain river before heading up into the woods. As you go, discover wonderful views out across the mountain peaks—this is nature at its finest!

Private Vehicle
Theth – Shkodër2h77km

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Accommodation

Hotel Treva (or similar)
Hotel

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 7Shkodër

Set off this morning on a guided walking tour of Shkodër to see some of the main sights and to learn a bit about the city's history. Starting from the Ottoman-era Mesi bridge, walk to the old town and take in the panoramic views from Rozafa castle. Shkodër's cultural heritage is on full display through its historic architecture and monuments. The rest of the day is free to explore, visit museums or relax at a cafe or at the hotel.

Free Time
Shkodër

Sett off and explore Shkodër on your own this afternoon

Guided Walking Tour of Shkodër
Shkodër1h-1h30m

Take a guided walking tour of the old town of Shkodër. Start with the Rozafa castle and then the Mesi bridge, then go into the old town to explore. The viewpoint from Rozafa castle gives you plenty of photos opportunities, with stunning views of Albania’s "Accursed Mountains". The city’s rich cultural heritage can be seen through its traditional architecture, monuments, and museums which tell stories from different eras of Albanian history. From ancient Illyrian settlements to Ottoman occupations and Italian rule during World War II – each period has left its mark on the cityscape of Shkodër for visitors to explore today.

2

Optional Activities - Day 7 HideShow

Site of Memory and Memorial Museum
Shkodër

This museum commemorates the victims of the communist regime in Shkodër; A visit starts with some general information about communism persecution in Shkodër, with a permanent exhibition of objects and documents of the time and ends in the original pre-trial holdings cells where prisoners were kept and tortured until their initial trial appearance. The museum's mission is to create a collective memory of recent past, to educate the new generation who should become aware of the past mistakes and never repeat them again.

Venice Art Mask Factory
Shkodër
3EUR per person

The Venice Art Mask Factory mask show features the most extensive and unique collection of Venetian luxury baroque hand crafted masks in paper mache and ceramic.

Accommodation

Hotel Treva (or similar)
Hotel

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 8Shkodër/Tirana

Travel south from Shkodër this morning and stop in the small mountain town of Kruje. Explore the city on foot learn a bit about its fascinating history and significance since Roman times. After time for lunch, continue driving south to the city of Tirana, Albania's capital, where the tour ends on arrival at approximately 5pm.

Please do not book onward travel from Tirana before 8pm.

Private Vehicle
Shkodër – Krujë2h85km

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Kruje Entrance Fees
Krujë1h30m

Set off on a walking tour of Kruje with your CEO. Krujë is more than just a small mountain village in Albania – it holds historical importance for various reasons. Back in the day, around the Roman era, the area was home to the so-called Albani. This ancient Balkan tribe turned the area into one of the more important cities of that time. Later, during the Middle Ages, it became the first capital of the Albanian state. However, the village is best known as the hometown of national hero Skanderbeg, a military commander who fought off Ottoman forces for 25 whole years before his death in 1468. Check the Old Bazaar and the Castle of Kruja.

Private Vehicle
Krujë – Tirana1h40km

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Meals included:

Breakfast

Highlights of Montenegro

| 8 days - Kotor to Tirana - from $1499 USD