Dubrovnik to Corfu in 9 Days: Coastal Balkans Tour through Montenegro & Albania
The Essential Southern Balkans tour is a 9-day small-group trip from Dubrovnik (Croatia) to Corfu (Greece), passing through Kotor and Ulcinj in Montenegro and spending four days in Albania across Tirana, Himare and Gjirokaster. It runs in English for travelers aged 18 to 35, with a group size of 1 to 16, and includes 8 nights of accommodation, 8 breakfasts, a guide for the full route, and highlights like the Bunk’Art 2 bunker museum, a Himare coast speedboat trip, and a guided walk through UNESCO-listed Gjirokaster. From €1,395 per person.
Planned and operated by InAlb, Tirana. Last updated .
What's included
- 8 nights’ accommodation: 4 nights hotels, 3 nights guesthouses, 1 night hostel
- 8 breakfasts
- English-speaking tour leader for the full route
- Bunk’Art 2 bunker museum visit in Tirana
- Leader-led orientation walks in Tirana and Corfu
Highlights
- Walk Dubrovnik’s old town and city walls before the group meeting, with the option to ride the cable car up Mount Srd
- Spend time in Kotor, a walled old town wrapped around the end of a dramatic Montenegrin bay
- Visit Bunk’Art 2 in Tirana, a museum inside a Cold War nuclear bunker beneath the city
- Free day in Tirana for an optional side trip to the bazaar and castle of Kruja
- Cross the Llogara Pass to the Albanian Riviera and base in the beach town of Himare
Dubrovnik to Corfu in 9 Days at a glance
- Duration
- 9 days, 8 nights
- Price
- From €1,395 per person, twin or multi-share
- Countries
- Albania, Croatia, Greece, Montenegro
- Start and finish
- Dubrovnik → Corfu, Croatia
- Trip type
- Adventure, Beach, Culture, Solo
- Travel style
- Small group with guide
- Group size
- Max 16
- Fitness
- Easy. You need to manage your own luggage, walk on uneven cobbled streets and steps in the old towns,…
- Hotels
- 8 nights, Standard
- Meals
- 8 breakfasts
- Transport
- 740 km. Private vehicle or coach between cities, plus the ferry crossing from the Albanian coast to Corfu
- Activities included
- 1 ferry crossing, 1 boat trip, guided visits
- Payment
- 30% deposit to book, balance 30 days before. Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Klarna, Bank transfer
- Availability
- Fixed dates, next season on request
- Best months
- July to September
- Languages
- Guides in English
- Borders and visas
- Visa requirements depend on your nationality. Many passports enter Croatia, Montenegro, Albania and Greece visa-free for…
- Support
- InAlb local team on WhatsApp, 24/7 during the trip
Read the full overview
This is a one-way coastal journey through the southern Balkans: you start in Dubrovnik, follow the Bay of Kotor and the Montenegrin shore into Albania, then work south through Tirana, the Albanian Riviera at Himare and the Ottoman stone town of Gjirokaster before crossing the strait to Corfu. It suits younger travelers who want a sociable small group, a guide who handles the logistics and borders, and a route that mixes city culture, beaches and history rather than ticking off one country.
Most trips through this part of Europe pick one country. This one strings together the best of four along a single coastline, which is why the order matters. You begin in Dubrovnik with a welcome meeting at 6pm on Day 1, leaving the morning free to walk the city walls or take the cable car up Mount Srd before the group comes together. Day 2 is a coastal transfer through Montenegro, with time in Kotor, where the old town sits under steep mountains at the end of its bay, and a night in the quieter Albanian-influenced beach town of Ulcinj.
The middle of the trip is Albania, and it gets the most time. Two nights in Tirana cover the Bunk’Art 2 museum, built inside a Cold War bunker under the city, plus a free day for a side trip to the hilltop bazaar town of Kruja. Then the route climbs over the Llogara Pass to Himare on the Albanian Riviera, where an included speedboat trip reaches coves you cannot drive to: Pigeon’s Cave, Crystal Bay, Gjipe Beach and Pirate’s Cave, with stops to swim. Gjirokaster follows, a UNESCO town of slate-roofed Ottoman houses, where a local guide shows you the Zekate tower house and the hilltop fortress over a Turkish coffee brewed on the stone.
The trip ends with a short ferry crossing from the Albanian coast to Corfu, where two days let you slow down on a Greek island before flying home.
Your 9 days, day by day
Dubrovnik → Kotor → Ulcinj → Tirana → Himare → Gjirokaster → Corfu
Day1 Dubrovnik Dubrovnik
Arrive in Dubrovnik at your own pace. The trip officially begins with a welcome meeting at 6:00 PM, so the day is free to explore the old town inside its famous walls, walk the ramparts, or take the cable car up Mount Srd for the view over the Adriatic. Optional add-ons include the Game of Thrones filming-locations walk, the War Photography Museum, and a sunset sailing trip. Your guide leaves a note at the hotel about the exact meeting time and place.
Moment of the dayFirst sight of Dubrovnik’s old town and sea walls from above on the city ramparts.
- Drive
- None (free day, optional self-guided walks)
- Walking
- Light (optional old town walk)
- Meals
- None included
- Tonight
- Hotel (or similar)
Montenegro
Day2 Dubrovnik to Kotor and Ulcinj Kotor, Ulcinj
Today follows the Montenegrin coast. The first stop is Kotor, a walled medieval town at the head of the Bay of Kotor, ringed by steep mountains, where you can climb part of the fortress walls or visit St Tryphon’s Cathedral. The drive continues south to Ulcinj, an old seaside town near the Albanian border with a long beach and a strong Albanian character. Overnight in Ulcinj.
Moment of the dayThe Bay of Kotor opening up as the road curves around the water.
- Drive
- 200 km · Approx. 4 to 5 hr along the coast, two border crossings (to confirm)
- Walking
- Light to moderate (Kotor old town is cobbled, some steps)
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Tonight
- Hotel (or similar)
Albania
Day3 Ulcinj to Tirana Tirana
Cross into Albania and drive to the capital, Tirana. In the afternoon your leader runs an orientation walk through the centre, including the Blloku district that was once closed to ordinary citizens, and you visit Bunk’Art 2, a museum built inside a Cold War bunker that tells the story of Albania’s secret police and isolation years. The evening is free to try Tirana’s lively cafe and restaurant scene.
Moment of the dayStepping down into the Bunk’Art 2 bunker tunnels under the city streets.
- Drive
- 150 km · Approx. 3 to 3.5 hr (~150 km via Shkoder, to confirm)
- Walking
- Light (leader-led orientation walk)
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Tonight
- Hotel (or similar)
Day4 Tirana free day Tirana, Kruja
A full free day in Tirana. Popular options are a half-day trip to Kruja, a hilltop town with an Ottoman-era bazaar and a castle linked to the national hero Skanderbeg, browsing the city’s street markets, or simply settling into a cafe. Your leader can help arrange a Kruja excursion or point you to the National History Museum and the Sky Tower viewpoint.
Moment of the dayBargaining for handicrafts in Kruja’s old wooden bazaar.
- Drive
- None (optional self-paid day trip to Kruja)
- Walking
- Flexible
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Tonight
- Hotel (or similar)
Day5 Tirana to Himare Llogara Pass, Himare
Drive south to the coast, climbing over the Llogara Pass, where the road switchbacks down from pine forest to the blue of the Ionian Sea. Himare is a relaxed beach town on the Albanian Riviera with a small old quarter and castle ruins above it. The afternoon and evening are free for the beach, the old town lanes, or a seafront cafe.
Moment of the dayThe first view of the Ionian coast from the top of the Llogara Pass.
- Drive
- 230 km · Approx. 4 to 4.5 hr (~230 km via the Llogara Pass, to confirm)
- Walking
- Light
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Tonight
- Guesthouse (or similar)
Day6 Himare boat day Himare
An included speedboat trip along the Riviera reaches coves and beaches that are hard or impossible to get to by road: Pigeon’s Cave, Crystal Bay, the dramatic Gjipe Beach below its canyon, and Pirate’s Cave, with stops to swim in clear water along the way. The rest of the day is free to rest on the beach back in Himare.
Moment of the daySwimming into the bright blue interior of a sea cave on the boat trip.
- Drive
- None (boat-based day)
- Walking
- Light (swimming and beach stops)
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Tonight
- Guesthouse (or similar)
Day7 Himare to Gjirokaster Gjirokaster
Head inland to Gjirokaster, a UNESCO World Heritage town of grey stone houses with slate roofs stacked up a hillside. A local guide walks you through the old bazaar, the grand Zekate tower house, and the hilltop fortress with its views over the Drino valley, finishing with a Turkish coffee brewed on the stone in the local style. Optional visits include the house of writer Ismail Kadare and the Ethnographic Museum.
Moment of the dayLooking out over the slate rooftops and the valley from the walls of Gjirokaster fortress.
- Drive
- 100 km · Approx. 2.5 hr (~100 km, to confirm)
- Walking
- Moderate (steep cobbled streets, fortress climb)
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Tonight
- Guesthouse (or similar)
Greece
Day8 Gjirokaster to Corfu Corfu
Drive down to the Albanian coast and cross by ferry to the Greek island of Corfu. Your leader gives an orientation walk through Corfu Town, with its Venetian fortresses and arcaded streets. The rest of the day is free to explore the old town, the seafront, or sites like the Mon Repos summer palace and the Palaiopoli archaeological site.
Moment of the dayCrossing the strait by boat and arriving in a different country and culture in under an hour.
- Drive
- 60 km · Approx. 1 hr to the coast at Saranda, then a short ferry crossing to Corfu (to confirm)
- Walking
- Light (leader-led orientation walk)
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Tonight
- Hostel (or similar)
Day9 Corfu departure Corfu
The trip ends after breakfast in Corfu with no further activities, so you can fly home or stay on to enjoy the island. Extra nights in Corfu can be arranged in advance if you want more island time.
Moment of the dayA last slow morning by the Ionian Sea before heading home.
- Drive
- None
- Walking
- Flexible
- Meals
- Breakfast
Practical information
How do you get there and back?
- Starts
- Dubrovnik, Croatia
- Ends
- Corfu, Greece
- Flights
- Not included. International flights are not included (arrive into Dubrovnik, depart from Corfu). We can advise on options.
- On the ground
- Private vehicle or coach between cities, plus the ferry crossing from the Albanian coast to Corfu.
- Borders and visas
- Visa requirements depend on your nationality. Many passports enter Croatia, Montenegro, Albania and Greece visa-free for short stays, but check with the relevant embassies before you travel.
Who is this trip for? Graded easy
Each scale runs 1 to 5, from very easy to demanding.
- Difficulty
- EasyLevel 2 of 5. You need to manage your own luggage, walk on uneven cobbled streets and steps in the old towns, climb to a couple of fortresses, and get in and out of a small boat for the Himare trip.
- Pace
- BalancedLevel 3 of 5
- Walking
- Light to moderateLevel 2 of 5
- Travel days
- 740 kmLevel 2 of 5
Good for. Younger, sociable travelers (18 to 35) who want a multi-country coastal loop with the logistics, borders and ferries handled, and who are happy with a mix of accommodation styles.
Not for you if you are outside the 18 to 35 age range, if you want every night in a hotel rather than a mix that includes guesthouses and one hostel, or if you prefer a single base instead of changing towns most days. It also is not ideal if you want all meals included; only breakfasts are provided. Travelers who need step-free access should check with us first, as several old towns are steep and cobbled.
Several old towns such as Kotor and Gjirokaster are steep and cobbled with steps, so this trip is not suitable for mobility-restricted travelers without prior arrangement. Contact us to check options.
What is included in the €1,395 price?
Included in the price
- 8 nights’ accommodation: 4 nights hotels, 3 nights guesthouses, 1 night hostel
- 8 breakfasts
- English-speaking tour leader for the full route
- Bunk’Art 2 bunker museum visit in Tirana
- Leader-led orientation walks in Tirana and Corfu
- Himare coast speedboat trip (Pigeon’s Cave, Crystal Bay, Gjipe Beach, Pirate’s Cave) with swimming stops
- Gjirokaster guided walk with local guide: Zekate tower house, fortress and Turkish coffee on the stone
- All land transport between destinations
- Ferry crossing from the Albanian coast to Corfu
Not included
- International flights (into Dubrovnik, out of Corfu)
- Travel insurance (required)
- Most lunches and dinners
- Optional activities and entrance fees not listed (for example the Mount Srd cable car, Kruja day trip and Kotor fortress)
- Visas where required
- Tips for the leader and drivers
- Single supplement for a private room
Entry fees. Optional activities and entrance fees not listed as included are paid locally (for example the Mount Srd cable car, the Kruja day trip and the Kotor fortress walls).
Before you travel
What to pack
Swimwear, a towel and water shoes for the Himare boat trip, comfortable walking shoes with grip for cobbled old towns and fortresses, sun protection: hat, sunscreen and sunglasses, a light layer for the boat and cooler evenings, cash in euros for Croatia, Montenegro and Greece, plus euros or lek for Albania, a European travel plug adapter (types C, E, F), a copy of your booking confirmation and travel insurance details.
Four currencies, mostly euro
Croatia, Montenegro and Greece use the euro; Albania uses the lek, though euros are often accepted. Carry some cash.
Several border crossings
The trip crosses borders between Croatia, Montenegro and Albania, then Albania to Greece by ferry. Keep your passport and booking confirmation with you.
Visas depend on nationality
Many passports enter all four countries visa-free for short stays, but check before you travel.
Summer heat
July to September is hot and sunny on the coast. Bring sun protection and stay hydrated.
Mixed accommodation
Nights are split across hotels, guesthouses and one hostel, all twin or multi-share unless you pay a single supplement.
Not suitable for
Travelers outside 18 to 35; those needing step-free access; anyone wanting all meals included or every night in a hotel.
Travel insurance
Travel insurance is required to join this trip. Bring your policy details to the welcome meeting.
Health
No mandatory vaccinations for most travelers. Some vaccinations such as Hepatitis A are recommended for the region; check with your doctor before travel.
Money and tipping
Croatia, Montenegro and Greece use the euro; Albania uses the lek, though euros are often accepted. Carry some cash, as ATMs are available in main towns. Tips for the leader and drivers are at your discretion.
Climate and weather
These July to September departures fall in a hot, dry Mediterranean summer, with warm sea temperatures and strong midday sun. Bring sun protection and plenty of water.
Connectivity
Mobile and wifi coverage is good in towns. Note that roaming charges can change between EU countries (Croatia, Greece) and non-EU countries (Montenegro, Albania).
FAQs
Where and when does the tour start?
The trip begins in Dubrovnik, Croatia, with a welcome meeting at 6:00 PM on Day 1. The morning and afternoon are free, so most travelers arrive by midday. We send the exact meeting point and joining details before you travel.
What is the age range for this tour?
This is an 18 to 35 departure. The operator can sometimes accept travelers up to 37 at the start of the trip, subject to confirmation for the specific date. If you are older and want this exact route, ask us and we can suggest open-age alternatives.
Are the accommodations hotels or hostels?
It is a mix: 4 nights in hotels, 3 nights in guesthouses and 1 night in a hostel, all on a twin or multi-share basis. Solo travelers can be paired with someone of the same gender, or pay a single supplement for a private room where available.
Can I travel solo and share a room?
Yes. Solo travelers can share a room with another traveler of the same gender where arrangements allow, with no single supplement. A private room is available for a supplement on request.
Can I stay extra days in Corfu at the end?
Yes. The trip ends in Corfu with no onward activity, so you are free to fly home or stay on. Extra nights in Corfu can be arranged in advance; just ask us when you book.
How do I get between Albania and Corfu?
Day 8 includes a drive to the Albanian coast and a short ferry crossing to Corfu. The ferry is part of the included transport. If you want to return to the Albanian mainland afterwards, ferries run back to Saranda.
What documents do I need?
A valid passport and a copy of your booking confirmation to present on Day 1. The trip crosses several borders, so keep your passport with you throughout. Visa requirements depend on your nationality.
How much does the Dubrovnik to Corfu tour cost?
The tour costs from €1,395 per person, two sharing, with a 30% deposit to book and the balance due 30 days before the trip. That covers 8 nights’ accommodation in a mix of hotels, guesthouses and one hostel night, transport along the route, and a group leader for the whole trip. International flights, travel insurance and most meals beyond the included ones are extra.
Cancellation and refunds
Bookings are confirmed on request. A deposit secures your place on departures after 25 August 2026; departures before that date require full payment at the time of booking. The balance is due 30 days before departure. The 30% deposit is non-refundable. If you cancel, the remaining balance paid is refunded in full 30 days or more before departure, 70% is refunded 15–29 days before departure, 50% is refunded 1–14 days before departure, and no refund is given on the departure day or for a no-show. For a valid reason, you may request to reschedule your multi-day tour at least one month before departure. Rescheduling is free of charge, subject to availability and approval by InAlb.
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