10-Day Albania and Montenegro Heritage Tour with 4 UNESCO Sites

• Arrive in Albania and transfer to your hotel in Tirana.

• In the afternoon, enjoy a panoramic tour of Tirana.

• Overnight in Tirana.

After breakfast, we will visit the National Historical Museum in Tirana before starting our journey south through the Albanian countryside. We then visit the lovely Ardenica Monastery, a precious relic dating to the 13th century, when religion was dominant in the country, and where the national hero, Skanderbeg, married in 1451. The ancient site of Apollonia is a classical site that dates to 588 BC. Set amongst rolling hills with lovely views in all directions, it is a wonderful merge of history and nature. Overnight in Vlora.

• After breakfast, we will start a picturesque journey that takes us along the beautiful Albanian Riviera and high across the Llogara Pass.

• We will have time for lunch near the sea at Himarë before continuing to the well-preserved Ali Pasha Castle at Porto Palermo and then reaching Saranda.

• Overnight in Saranda.

• After breakfast, we will drive to the wonderful classical site of Butrint, whose extensive remains lie hidden in the woods. After our guided tour, we will enjoy lunch (included) at a picturesque beach-side location in Ksamil.

• After lunch, a wonderful drive with ever-changing scenery takes us over the hills to the UNESCO town of Gjirokastra, with an en-route stop at the famous "Blue Eye," an exquisitely colourful pool and source of fresh water. We will visit the 8th-century castle and one of the traditional houses, which is now a fascinating small museum.

• Overnight in Gjirokastra.

• After breakfast, we travel from one historic city to another. Berat, known as "The City of one thousand windows" because of its remarkable collection of fine traditional Ottoman-style houses of great architectural importance that climb up the hillside, bears witness to the coexistence of various religious and cultural communities through the centuries. It features a castle, most of which was built in the 13th century, and a lovely old town.

• Overnight in Berat.

• After breakfast, we start our journey north to Shkodra, travelling via Durres. En route, we take the opportunity to stop and enjoy a traditional lunch in the village of Fishte. This "slow food" restaurant, a hidden gem in the countryside, is situated on a farm and serves organic food.

• We then continue to Shkodra, the centre of Roman Catholicism in Albania and a town with long historical roots. It is the only mentioned capital of the Illyrian Kingdom in the 3rd century BC.

• We will visit the colourful pedestrian area, with its Italian influences, and the Catholic cathedral.

• Overnight in Shkodra.

• After breakfast, we cross into Montenegro. Our first stop is Ulcinj, a town where 90% of the inhabitants are Albanian, where we will visit the fortress and the Archaeological Museum.

• Continuing to Budva, we pass through the pretty town of Petrovac, visit the old town, and see the famous island of Sveti Stefan. Budva, rich in historical monuments and home to a wonderful old town, offers a treasure chest of cultural heritage.

• Overnight in Budva.

• Our day begins with a visit to the old town of Kotor, a picturesque UNESCO-listed town overflowing with history. We will also visit Perast, described by the Lonely Planet guide as "looking like a chunk of Venice that has floated down the Adriatic and anchored itself onto the bay," a tiny town that boasts 16 churches and 17 grand palazzos.

• We will visit the picturesque Lady of the Rock church and the ethnic village of Njegusi, where you can enjoy one of the best views over the whole of Kotor Bay and perhaps try the region's well-known smoked ham and local cheese.

• Our final visit is Cetinje, a cultural and historical Montenegro gem, where we will see the Royal Palace of King Nikola II and the Monastery of St. Petar.

• Overnight in Kotor.

• After breakfast, we return to Albania and visit Kruja, the centre of Albanian resistance against the Ottomans, where the national hero, Skanderbeg, continuously defeated and resisted the Ottomans for 25 years.

• We will visit the castle, which has fantastic views, and the excellent Skanderbeg Museum. There will be free time to wander through the Ottoman-style bazaar, situated along the atmospheric cobbled streets that lead to the castle.

• Overnight in Kruja.

• After breakfast, we will transfer to the airport.

• End of our services.