Balkans Best Croatia, Montenegro, Albania and Northern Greece in 20 Days

A 20-day journey from Croatia to Greece, rich in coastlines, heritage and flavors, ending in Thessaloniki.

Tour Highlights

Four Countries, One Seamless Journey: From Croatia’s fairy-tale towns and island sunsets to Montenegro’s fjord bays, Albania’s castles and Riviera and Greece’s mythic peaks, no backtracking, just pure discovery.

Icons & Hidden Gems: UNESCO cities, island-hopping, and legendary sites like Plitvice, Dubrovnik, Meteora and Mt. Olympus, balanced with artisan villages, mountain passes and secret beaches.

A New “Wow” Every Day: Fjords, waterfalls, turquoise lakes, Riviera coves, alpine valleys and dramatic gorges, woven together with private transfers, expert guides and local flavors from markets to farm kitchens.

Itinerary

Day 1: Zagreb Welcome & Old-Town Stroll

Activities

  1. Settle in & meet your driver
  2. Upper Town lanes, squares & café culture
  3. Evening welcome walk
    Description: Touch down in Zagreb and ease into Central Europe’s rhythm. A relaxed orientation through the Upper/Lower Town reveals red roofs, Habsburg façades and lively cafés, just enough to shake off travel and set the tone.

Accommodation in Zagreb Option 1 (Can be change upon request)

Activities

  1. Wooden boardwalks over turquoise pools
  2. Viewpoints of cascading travertine falls
  3. Lakeside pause for photos & picnic snacks
    Description: Trade city streets for emerald water and misty spray. Meander the famous circuits, crossing mirror-still lakes linked by lacy waterfalls, Plitvice’s dreamscape from start to finish.

Accommodation in Plitvice Option 1 (Can be change upon request)

Activities

  1. Old-Port promenade & pastel lanes
  2. St. Euphemia hilltop viewpoint
  3. Sunset by the lighthouse rocks
    Description: Curve west to Rovinj, a romantic peninsula of bell towers and cobbles. Browse ateliers, follow the scent of truffles and olive oil and watch boats bob under a rose-gold sky.

Accommodation in Rovinj Option 1 (Can be change upon request)

Activities

  1. Krka National Park’s Skradinski Buk
  2. Diocletian’s Palace lanes & cellars
  3. Riva seaside promenade
    Description: Waterfall walk, then Dalmatian flair. Arrive in Split where everyday life hums inside a 1,700-year-old Roman palace, shops, cafés, courtyards, all stitched into ancient stone.

Accommodation in Split (Can be change upon request)

Activities

  1. Fortress views over Pakleni isles
  2. Old Town piazza & harbor time
  3. Swim at a nearby cove
    Description: A quick ferry hops you to lavender-scented Hvar. Climb for sweeping views, wander marble streets, then slip into clear water before a mellow island evening.

Accommodation in Hvar Option 1 (Can be change upon request)

 Activities

  1. National Park salt-lake loop
  2. Boat to St. Mary islet monastery
  3. Pine-forest cycling or lakeside swim
    Description: Mljet is serenity, a green hush of pines and glassy lagoons. Circle the lakes, ferry to the tiny monastery island and let the island’s quiet reset you.

Accommodation in Mljet Option 1 (Can be change upon request)

Activities

  1. Old Town walk (fountains, palaces, cloisters)
  2. City walls or cable car panorama
  3. Gelato & lantern-lit lanes at dusk
    Description: The “Pearl of the Adriatic” dazzles: limestone streets, terracotta roofs and sea-blue edges. Trace history on the ramparts, then dine within ancient walls.

Accommodation in Dubrovnik Option 1 (Can be change upon request)

Activities

  1. HercegNovi waterfront stretch
  2. Perast boat to Our Lady of the Rocks
  3. Kotor Old Town & cathedral
    Description: Cross into Montenegro and loop the fjord-like bay. A chapel on an islet, baroque façades and Kotor’s stone maze under mountains that tumble to the sea.

Accommodation in Kotor Option 1 (Can be change upon request)

Activities

  1. Scenic ascent toward Lovćen views
  2. Cetinje royal-era heritage pause
  3. Budva Old Town & seaside walk

Description: From switchback panoramas to royal Montenegro in compact Cetinje, then down to Budva’s walled center and breezy beaches, history and Riviera in one sweep.

Accommodation in Budva Option 1 (Can be change upon request)

Activities

  1. Podgorica city stop (bridges/old quarter)
  2. Border crossing to Albania
  3. Shkodra lakeside vibes & Rozafa views
    Description: Sample Montenegro’s capital on the move, then roll into Albania. Shkodra greets you with lake light, bicycles and a storied fortress crowning the plains.

Accommodation in Shkodra Option 1 (Can be change upon request)

Activities

  1. Theth Church & alpine hamlet walk
  2. Kulla e Ngujimit (lock-in tower)
  3. Grunas Waterfall or Blue Eye of Theth trail
    Description: Climb from lowland fields to high meadows and stone houses. Theth is raw and beautiful, spring-fed pools, slate roofs and trails that wander into silence.

Accommodation in Theth Option 1 (Can be change upon request)

Activities

  1. Skanderbeg Square & New Bazaar
  2. Bunk’Art or Pyramid area (optional)
  3. Blloku cafés & dinner

Description: Descend to the capital’s creative buzz, murals, markets and revived quarters. Modern Tirana pairs espresso energy with warm hospitality.

Accommodation in Tirana Option 1 (Can be change upon request)

Activities

  1. Durres amphitheater & seaside stroll
  2. Berat Castle & Onufri icons
  3. Mangalem & Gorica quarters bridge walk
    Description: Coast-touching Durres gives you Roman heft, Berat brings whitewashed tiers and a lived-in hilltop citadel, timeless Albania in a single glance.

Accommodation in Berat Option 1 (Can be change upon request)

Activities

  1. Vlora seaside & independence landmarks
  2. Llogara Pass panoramic stop
  3. Afternoon swim on the Riviera
    Description: Where Adriatic meets Ionian, pine-scented curves lift you to skywide views, then drop to luminous coves and stone villages along the Riviera.

Accommodation in Himara Option 1 (Can be change upon request)

Activities

  1. Borsh plain beach & castle viewpoint
  2. Qeparo old-village lanes
  3. Ksamil island swim & Saranda promenade
    Description: Olive groves, pebbled bays and slow-time villages unfold southward, end with Ksamil’s bright blues and a sunset arc across Saranda’s bay.

Accommodation in Saranda Option 1 (Can be change upon request)

Activities

  1. Blue Eye (Syri i Kalter) emerald spring
  2. Gjirokastra Castle panoramas
  3. Old Bazaar crafts & Ottoman houses
    Description: Watch turquoise water well from the earth, then climb into slate-roofed UNESCO streets. History lingers in courtyards, woodwork and the fortress skyline.

Accommodation in Gjirokastra Option 1 (Can be change upon request)

Activities

  1. Border crossing at Kakavía
  2. Stone-arched bridges & villages (e.g., Monodendri)
  3. Vikos Gorge lookout
    Description: Epirus greets you with cool air and stone craft, arched spans over green rivers, quiet lanes and one of Europe’s most dramatic gorge vistas.

Accommodation in Ioannina Option 1 (Can be change upon request)

Activities

  1. Meteora monastery viewpoints & photos
  2. Litochoro pause beneath Mt. Olympus
  3. Thessaloniki evening seafront
    Description: Sandstone spires crowned by monasteries, then a nod to the gods at Olympus’s green base. Roll into Thessaloniki for mezze and a seaside glow.

Accommodation in Thessaloniki Option 1 (Can be change upon request)

Activities

  1. Kassandra peninsula coastal drive
  2. Lagoon swim at Port Glarokavos
  3. Ladadika taverna night back in the city
    Description: Pine-fringed shores, calm turquoise waters and a carefree beach window. Return to Thessaloniki for a final Greek feast and music.

Accommodation in Thessaloniki Option 1 (Can be change upon request)

Activities

  1. White Tower & waterfront stroll (optional)
  2. Markets & Byzantine corners
  3. Private transfer to airport
    Description: A gentle finale, souvenirs, last coffees and sea air, before smooth departures from northern Greece’s cultural capital.

Map of Tour

What's Included

  • Accommodation in boutique hotels and authentic guesthouses, chosen for comfort and local character

  • Daily breakfasts and selected traditional lunches and dinners are included

  • Private eco-friendly vehicles throughout the journey

  • Expert Tour Guide: English-speaking, present throughout the trip

  • Entrance Fees & Tickets: All museums, castles, monasteries and national parks listed in the program

  • Airport transfer
  • 24/7 in-country support

What's Excluded

  • International flights (into Zagreb, out of Thessaloniki)

  • Travel insurance (highly recommended)

  • Meals & drinks not specified

  • Optional activities

  • Personal expenses

  • Tips & gratuities for driver, guides and hotel staff (at your discretion)

  • Visa fees (if applicable, depending on nationality)

Tour info

  • Tour Name: Balkans Best Croatia, Montenegro, Albania and Northern Greece in 20 Days
  • Duration: 20 days / 19 nights
  • Start Location: Zagreb, Croatia (ZAG Airport)

  • End Location: Thessaloniki, Greece (SKG Airport)

  • Group Size: Small group (suggested 8–16 travelers) or private on request

  • Tour Type: Guided / Cultural Immersion

  • Accommodation:

    • Boutique hotels

Best Season: May– October

  • Transportation:

    • Private air-conditioned vehicles

  • Meals Included:

    • Daily breakfast

    • Selected lunches and dinners (see Inclusions)

Countries Visited: Croatia · Montenegro · Albania · Greece

Why is this tour unique?

  • Four Countries, One Flow: A clean, coast-to-mountain arc from Zagreb to Thessaloniki, no awkward backtracking, just continuous discovery.
  • Signature Icons & Local Life: UNESCO cities, islands and bays balanced with village lanes, markets and artisan corners.
  • Scenic Variety, Every Day: Fjords, waterfalls, lakes, Riviera coves, alpine valleys and mythic peaks in a single, coherent route.

Who is this tour for?

  • Curious travelers who want breadth, culture, nature, coast without sacrificing comfort.
  • Photographers & food lovers seeking daily “wow” vistas and regional flavors.
  • Flexible-paced explorers happy with lively one-night hops and a relaxed two-night finale.

Places You Will Visit

Croatia: Zagreb (Old Town), Plitvice Lakes NP, Rovinj (Istria), Krka NP, Split (Diocletian’s Palace), Hvar Island, Mljet NP, Dubrovnik (Old Town & walls).

Montenegro: Herceg Novi, Perast (Our Lady of the Rocks), Kotor (Old Town), Lovćen NP, Cetinje (Royal heritage), Budva (Old Town & beaches), Podgorica.

Albania: Shkodra (Rozafa Castle), Theth (Albanian Alps), Tirana (Skanderbeg Square, Blloku), Durres (Amphitheater), Berat (Castle, Mangalem & Gorica quarters), Vlora (Independence landmarks), Llogara Pass, Himara, Dhermi, Borsh, Qeparo, Saranda, Ksamil, Blue Eye Spring, Gjirokastra (Castle & Bazaar).

Secure Payment Options

Book now pay when you want , use Klarna to get monthly low payments starting from 70 euro per month

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Frequently asked questions

What type of accommodations are used?
Comfortable 3*and 4* boutique hotels and quality lodges. In unique destinations (e.g., Theth or rural villages), charming guesthouses are included for authenticity.
For fixed groups, modern ecological minibuses or buses depending on group size. In tailor-made versions, depending on the number of travelers, you may switch between comfortable cars, minivans, or minibuses.
For fixed group departures (starting May 2026), the group size ranges from 8–30 travelers. We can handle up to 60 people, but we prefer smaller groups for a more private and immersive experience.
For fixed groups with set dates – no, the itinerary is fixed. For tailor-made versions – yes, we can make changes before and even during the trip, adapting to your pace and interests.
If you cancel, 50% of your deposit is refundable. For a full refund, we strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance.
It’s a private, customized version of the itinerary. We co-create your trip with you, adapting accommodations, pacing, activities and comfort level. You’ll also receive 24/7 local support and more flexibility during the journey.
Yes, daily breakfast plus one carefully selected meal per day (either lunch or dinner, depending on the program).
Yes, all entry fees for museums, monuments, national parks and activities listed in the itinerary are included.
We handle all logistics. You only need to carry a valid passport with you.
Yes, but we recommend reaching out to us first if traveling with small children. In many cases, a smaller group size or tailor-made version of this tour may be a better option.
You will travel with a professional lead guide throughout the journey, and in many destinations you’ll also meet local certified guides, experts and hosts who bring authentic insights to each stop.
The main guiding language is English. Other languages (Spanish, French, Italian, German, etc.) can be arranged for tailor-made versions.
Light to moderate: walking tours, castle visits, short hikes and some optional activities. We can adapt if you prefer lighter pacing.
Yes, it is perfect for couples, families and groups of friends. For small children or elderly travelers, we recommend considering a tailor-made version.
For fixed group departures – no, these are pre-arranged. For tailor-made versions – yes, we can adapt hotels, pacing, and even select a driver-guide in your preferred language.
Yes, travel insurance is strongly recommended for medical coverage and to secure a full refund in case of cancellation.

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