From CAD 3,250
Guarantee
Small Group
Light
Rating
(13 reviews)
Experience Overview
Treat your palate to the culinary highlights of the Balkans on this nine-day foodie adventure. Dine on homemade meals and share stories with your hosts in North Macedonia, meet the makers behind famous Njegusi smoked hams in Montenegro and sample the charcuterie of Croatia. Take guided walks in Prizren and Skopje, exploring the cities where Balkan cuisine comes to life, and have ample free time to discover local markets and bazaars. With an expert local guide providing all the restaurant recommendations you could ask for, your Balkans adventure will not leave you hungry!
Highlights
- Experience an authentic taste of the Balkans and a look at local life when you dine in family homes in Ohrid, Lake Prespa and Dihovo.
- Take in a cooking demonstration in the village of Dolno Dupeni, then get a fresh taste of homemade North Macedonian cuisine.
- See behind the scenes of local produce when you visit a centuries-old smokehouse, an olive mill, an apple farm and meet a local beekeeper for a honey tasting.
- Explore the stunning landscapes and charming cities of the region, discovering the legendary Rozafa Fortress and going on guided tours of Prizren and Skopje.
- Try the most iconic foods of Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro and Kosovo, including smoked and barbecued meats, cheese, honey, apples and locally produced wine.
- By travelling on this trip, you’ll directly support our Intrepid Foundation partner, Humana Zagreb. Donations help provide job opportunities and education programs in sustainable fashion and textiles for people with disabilities.
Trip Details
Product Code: 3184
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Moderate
Transport: Private Vehicle
Guide Language: English
Supplier Code: ZKZM
Starts: Dubrovnik, Croatia
Finishes: Skopje, Croatia
Duration: 9 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical rating:
Light
Includes
Meals: Breakfasts (4), Lunch (5), Dinner (2)Accommodation: Hotel (8 nights)
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD 3250 (CAD 361 /day)
Itinerary
Dobro Dosli! Welcome to Dubrovnik, a beautiful stone town surrounded entirely by fortifications. Although it experienced devastation in the early 1990s, the restored Old Town remains as charming as ever. With the sparkling water of the Adriatic in the background, Dubrovnik is picturesque, full of character and easily covered on foot. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6.30 pm today, but if you happen to arrive early, why not take a walk inside the city walls? After your important meeting, you could head out for a dinner to get to know your fellow travellers. Croatian cuisine varies between regions, but an unwavering favourite is the charcuterie. Traditionally created with pork, charcuterie involves using a lot of specially prepared meats, all of which showcase flavours specific to their preservation process. If the option’s there, why not give it a try?
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
After breakfast, cross into Montenegro and visit the town of Njegusi, known around the country for its famous smoke-dried hams and cheeses. Stop at a smokehouse, where your leader will explain their production process, dating back for centuries, and will also take you for a tasting of their famous Njegusi smoked hams, cheeses and grape brandy. After, visit an olive farm in the village of Tici, located in the Lustica Bay area near Kotor. Discover the art of olive pressing as your hosts share their second-generation organic olive oil production techniques. Wander through the beautiful olive groves before arriving at an ancient stone olive mill, where olives were once milled by hand. A guided tasting will give you an insight into what makes for good oil. Back in Kotor, with free time later in the day, consider getting lost in the town’s crooked walkways, or perhaps climbing the hills behind the city to experience Kotor’s ruined fortification walls. With a free night, maybe have an optional dinner at a Kotor wine bar.
Included Activities:
- Lustica - Olive oil farm visit
- Njegusi - Smokehouse visit & tasting
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Say goodbye to Montenegro and head to Kosovo. The first stop on the journey is Rozafa Fortress, Albania, one of the last strongholds of the allied Christian forces against invading Ottomans in the 15th century. In the afternoon, arrive in Prizren, the second largest city in Kosovo. This picturesque location remains the most culturally and ethnically diverse in all of Kosovo. The rest of the day is yours to explore Prizren at your own pace. The abundance of orange rooftops makes for an interesting sight, as do the impressive mosques and churches in the city. For dinner, perhaps ask your leader for some local restaurant suggestions.
Included Activities:
- Shkoder - Rozafa Fortress visit
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Start the day with a guided tour of Prizren. Pass by the sights, smells and sounds of the bazaar, with a whole range of specialties on offer, including stuffed peppers, which are a big hit. After visiting the bazaar, continue to Pristina, Kosovo’s capital and largest city. Your leader will take you on another guided tour, exploring the city centre. A special experience then awaits with a delicious Kosovo-Serb barbecue, prepared by the local hosts who serve sausages and other pork delicacies from their personal smokehouse. Take some time to explore the surrounding Gracanica settlement and monastery. The area serves as the home of one of the few dominantly Serbian populations in Kosovo. After, leave Kosovo behind and travel into North Macedonia. Your first stop will be the St Jovan Bigorski Monastery (St John the Baptist), which is widely renowned as the most spiritual monastery in North Macedonia. Then drive onward to Ohrid where you will spend the evening.
Included Activities:
- Prizren - Leader-led city tour
- Pristina - Serbian barbecue lunch
- Pristina - Gracanica Monastery visit
- Debar - St Jovan Bigorski Monastery visit
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Ohrid is Europe’s oldest lake and, as one of the oldest human settlements in the world, it’s got a wealth of historic sites and religious monuments to discover. The town is said to have once been home to 365 churches, one for each day of the year, earning it the nickname ‘the Macedonian Jerusalem’. Today is free for you to explore the town’s streets and churches, maybe picking up a bargain or two in the vibrant Old Bazaar. Alternatively, consider joining your leader for an optional day trip to Ohrid Lake and the mystical Sveti Naum Monastery – one of the most important places of pilgrimage in North Macedonia. Take in the ancient Tzar Samoil’s Fortress, which stands on the top of Ohrid Hill and looks across the town, along with a 2000-year-old Roman theatre that was uncovered near its upper gate. The Sveti Jovana Kaneo church, which sits on a rocky outcrop overlooking the lake, is one of the most popular in North Macedonia. This evening, head to Kuratica – a village on the outskirts of Ohrid. Here, you’ll experience local hospitality and enjoy a home-cooked meal. Your host also brews his own rakija, which you’re welcome to sample for a quick warm up of your insides!
Included Activities:
- Kuratica - Home-cooked dinner
Optional Activities:
- Ohrid - St Naum Monastery & Trpejca (80 EUR)
- Ohrid - City tour and cruise - Minimum 2 passengers (50 EUR)
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
After leaving your accommodation in Ohrid, head down to the green market for a traditional breakfast. You might like to try the best burek in town or enjoy a gjomleze pie (a traditional dish made from an old Ohrid recipe). Drive onward to Lake Prespa, a beautiful area that’s popular with Macedonian holidaymakers. Here, you’ll visit a local apple farm and have the chance to taste some of the fresh produce yourself. Then, head to the little village of Dolno Dupeni on Lake Prespa, where you will be invited into a local home for a cooking demonstration and some lunch. Continue to Bitola and relax in one of the city’s many cafes or explore the stalls of the Old Bazaar.
Included Activities:
- Prespa - Agriturismo visit & tasting
- Prespa - Home-cooking demonstration
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Today you’ll visit Dihovo – a small village sitting in the foothills of Mt Pelister. A local beekeeper will teach you about the honeybee and you’ll get hands-on with an open beehive demonstration. After, enjoy a tasting of honey extracted straight from the comb before having a home-cooked meal in a traditional villa. All the ingredients are organic and come from the family’s private gardens. Return to Bitola in the afternoon. Perhaps choose to take a guided tour of the ancient town and archaeological site of Heraclea Lyncestis, located on the outskirts of Bitola. Heraclea was founded by Philip II of Macedonia in the fourth century BC after he had conquered the surrounding region of Lyncestis. The city was named in honour of the mythological hero Heracles, whom Philip considered his ancestor.
Included Activities:
- Dihovo - Home-cooked lunch
- Dihovo - Beekeeper farm visit
Optional Activities:
- Bitola - Heraclea Lyncestis (25 EUR)
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Start the day with a trip out to the Stobi archaeological site for a short walk. Stobi, once known as Paeonia, was conquered by the ancient kingdom of Macedon and became the capital of the Roman province of Macedonia Salutaris. Continue to Tikves wine district – the production of grapes is prominent in North Macedonia, thanks to an abundance of sunshine and rich, rocky soil. Today’s adventure offers a taste of local varieties at two of the country’s finest wineries. Enjoy a pairing of delicious local cheeses and cured meats next to these wines this afternoon. Arrive in Skopje in the late afternoon and take a guided walking tour of the centre city, tasting traditional Macedonian sweets along the way. Head out with your fellow travellers for a final dinner in Debar Maalo, the bohemian heart of Skopje. Your leader will ensure all your favourite dishes are ordered for one last celebration.
Included Activities:
- Tikves - Wine tasting
- Stobi - Stobi archaeological site
- Skopje - Leader-led walking tour with traditional sweets
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
With no activities planned for today, you are free to leave the accommodation at any time. That doesn’t mean your adventure has to end! If you wish to spend more time in Skopje or want to explore the fascinating Matka Canyon, just speak to your booking agent.
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Tour Operator
Intrepid Travel
Intrepid Travel is a global adventure travel company, dedicated to providing sustainable, experience-rich travel opportunities. They’ve been the leader in ethical, small-group travel since 1989 - taking people around the world for more than 30 years. They’re the world’s largest travel B Corporation - dedicated to being the best travel company for the world. In 2002, they established The Intrepid Foundation so their travellers could make a lasting impact on the communities they had visited. Although Intrepid Travel absorbs all administrative costs of The Intrepid Foundation, they are separate legal entities, allowing The Intrepid Foundation to grow independently. Intrepid Travel is made up of a collection of tour operator brands and 28 destination management companies all united by one vision: To change the way we all see the world.
In Business Since 1989
Reviews
Michaela - Traveled, September 2023
This trip provided an insight into each country and their culture that would not have been possible without going on this tour. We were welcomed into peoples homes and could experience the passion and love they have for their foods/drink. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone wanting to visit these countries.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/16/2023
Nick - Traveled, September 2023
This trip is a must to experience Balkan food and drinks. The food is amazing and you will come back a little heavier!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/09/2023
Tadhg - Traveled, September 2023
The Balkans are wonderfully complex, it is perfect for a great travel experience. Food is great, drink plentiful, people delighted you travel this way. A dramatic mountain peak always watches over you. North Macedonia is an undiscovered jewel.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/09/2023
Kaye - Traveled, September 2023
This tour was amazing. The food was exceptional but more exceptional were the people who proudly shared their culture, homes, businesses with us. I felt privileged to meet them and through food learn about their countries. The history lessons learnt as we travelled were also enlightening and helped me to understand the political and cultural landscape of the Balkans. The accomodation was more than expected of an Original tour. Do this tour, not only for yourself but to support the hard working people whose hospitality and enthusiasm was so special. I can’t recommend this trip highly enough! Be prepared to be welcomed with rakija at most places, just take a deep breath and swallow!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/06/2023
Julie - Traveled, September 2023
An amazing trip. We experienced so much and felt like travellers not tourists. There was so much included on the tour, the transport is excellent and you certainly won't go hungry or thirsty! Our guide Alex was superb, knowledgeable and well connected. Our driver Frossie was a legend - you are in safe hands with Frossie. Great experience, would recommend it wholeheartedly.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/20/2023
Craig - Traveled, June 2023
Very good tour nice personal touch. Got to learn a lot about. Balkans and the food in this area.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/04/2023
Hayley - Traveled, May 2023
You will not go hungry on this trip! The volume and variety makes every meal an experience, and the way that the trip supports small operators, agro-tourism and slow food principles is commendable . Even with a focus on food, the itinerary is wonderfully varied. One of the highlights for me was the visit to the Gracanica Church in Kosovo. Alek is a fantastic tour leader of this less visited part of Europe. Highly recommended.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/27/2023
Ami - Traveled, May 2023
This trip was truly magical. Our leader, Alek, was great and showed us so much of Macedonian culture. The trip has everything you could want, some outdoor elements, history, and food! You will not go hungry on this trip and you will leave counting the days until your next dose of tavce gravce.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/19/2023
Saskia - Traveled, September 2022
A fun-filled trip with lots of amazing local food and drink experiences, beautiful old towns and great scenery. I particularly enjoyed being invited into people's homes and small businesses; people welcomed us like guests and I never felt I was just another tourist. We got to taste the local specialities in each place, and were treated to local or home-made rakija and wine everywhere. Some of my favorite experiences were going to an olive farm, going to an apiary and then the beekeeper's house for lunch, joining a celebration in a small village in Macedonia, and wine tasting at two micro-wineries.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/26/2022
ROY - Traveled, June 2024
Loved the farm to fork aspects coupled with the history. Alec our tour leader and Bouyan our driver were excellent.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/03/2024
Brianna - Traveled, May 2024
Get ready to walk, learn, and eat your way through the Balkans! Enjoy mouthwatering traditional dishes from charming restaurants and family kitchens while exploring rich history and beautiful mountainous areas. Every stop is a delicious adventure. Pack comfy shoes—there’s so much to explore and savor!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/09/2024
David - Traveled, May 2024
This trip was amazing! All of the activities were very informative and all the food was so delicious. Our tour guide made sure we were comfortable and having a good time. Definitely a lot of great memories were made :)
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/02/2024
Micah - Traveled, May 2024
This trip is a great whirlwind overview of the Balkans—the North Macedonia portion is the gem of the trip. Food-specific inclusions were fantastic, no one goes hungry, multiple-courses and portions are large and tasty.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/02/2024
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