Search

Ffestiniog Travel · Escorted tour

Albanian Odyssey

Escorted 15-day journey through Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, and Serbia by rail, coach, and ferry

Illustration of Albanian Odyssey

Ffestiniog Travel's Albanian Odyssey is a 15-day escorted journey from London through four Balkan countries: Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, and Serbia. The tour departs from Tirana and concludes in Belgrade, combining flights, scenic rail travel, coach journeys, and a memorable ferry crossing through the Albanian Alps. Days combine city exploration in UNESCO heritage towns like Berat and Shkodër with time in remote mountain villages and coastal areas rarely visited by tourists. A London-based tour leader and local Albanian guide accompany the group throughout. The itinerary balances culture and history: visitors explore the Bunk'Art 2 Museum dedicated to communist-era persecution, the ancient Greek archaeological site at Butrint, Ottoman citadels, and Bronze Age settlements. Rail highlights include the Durrës-to-Elbasan line climbing through central mountains and Montenegro's famous scenic main railway to Belgrade. Groups are small, capped at 15 people. Accommodation is in good quality hotels with en suite facilities, and 12 dinners plus all breakfasts are included.

What to know before you look closer

  • Only one confirmed departure listed: August 2026.
  • Rail comprises about a quarter of the 15-day itinerary; most travel is by coach and ferry.
  • The itinerary description for day 10 (Valbonë) is incomplete in the operator's materials; confirm the full details before booking.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Tirana

    London to Tirana

    Afternoon direct flight from London for an evening arrival in Tirana, capital of Albania. Transfer to our city centre hotel. Evening meal included.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Voskopojë

    Lake Ohrid & Voskopojë

    A short walking tour of the Tirana highlights includes the clock tower, the Palace of Culture and the Bunk’ Art 2 Museum dedicated to the memory of the tens of thousands who were imprisoned and persecuted during the communist regime. Drive to Durrës and then train to Elbasan in Albania’s central mountains. Finally by road via beautiful Lake Ohrid to the tiny village of Voskopojë where a late evening meal awaits us.

  3. Day 3overnight: Voskopojë

    Korcë

    Time for a stroll in the village before the short drive to nearby Korcë, a bustling cathedral city which owes its existence to its proximity to both North Macedonia and Greece. Return to Voskopojë for overnight stay.

  4. Day 4overnight: Permet

    South to Permet

    The mountains are spectacular as we drive along minor roads towards our next destination. We visit the Farma Sotira bio fish farm and pass close to the Greek border before arriving at the spa town of Permet. Dinner at a local restaurant.

  5. Day 5overnight: Sarandë

    Sarandë

    Morning drive to Gjirokastra, birthplace of Enver Hoxha. The town is built on two levels, the upper level of which includes the old city with its pre-Ottoman citadel affording striking views of the Drino River below. Time for lunch here before continuing via the Blue Eye fresh water spring to the lovely coastal town of Sarandë for dinner and a 2-night stay.

  6. Day 6overnight: Sarandë

    Sarandë, Butrint & Coastline

    Explore Sarandë, the UNESCO World Heritage archaeological site at Butrint, originally settled by the Ancient Greeks, and the Albanian Riviera coastline.

  7. Day 7overnight: Berat

    Berat

    Heading into the mountains of Central Albania, our next overnight stay is in Berat, a small UNESCO Heritage town on the Osum River known for its white Ottoman houses and castle housing an ethnographic museum and reconstructed medieval bazaar.

  8. Day 8overnight: Shkodër

    North to Shkodër

    Our exploration of the northern half of Albania starts with a drive to Shkodër, the largest city in the north west of the country and, once again, a place of rich history dating back to the Bronze Age. We have a 2-night stay here.

  9. Day 9overnight: Shkodër

    Mes Bridge & Shiroka

    A full day’s sightseeing starting with the famous Mes Bridge, an 18th Century stone viaduct over the Kir River, once part of an important trade route linking Shkodër with Constantinople. We then continue to the lakeside fishing village of Shiroka.

  10. Day 10overnight: Valbonë

    The Koman Ferry

    We drive into the Albanian Alps, the wildest and remotest region in the whole country. Highlight is a 2 hour trip on a ferry linking the dam at Koman with the small village of Fierza. The lake was created in the eighties by flooding the valley of the River Drin and is now one of a series of important hydro-electric schemes. In Fierza we rejoin our bus to reach our final destination of Valbonë. Here we are surrounded by snow covered peaks, beautiful but rarely visited.

  11. Day 11overnight: Shkodër

    Return to Shkodër

    Heading back down the valley, we arrive at the town of Bajram Curri (named after a 19th Century local hero who played a big part in Albania’s struggle for independence). From here we cross into Kosovo and pause briefly in Prizren with its citadel high above the town. Returning to Albania, we overnight in Shkodër.

  12. Day 12railovernight: Podgorica

    Montenegro

    A morning transfer brings us to Podgorica, capital of Montenegro for a short sightseeing tour. The afternoon is free and those who wish could take the opportunity to ride either the main rail line to the coast at Bar or the branch to Niksic.

  13. Day 13railovernight: Belgrade

    Montenegro’s Scenic Main Line

    The main railway line from here to Belgrade in Serbia is justifiably famous as one of the most scenic in Europe. For the first 80 miles, the line climbs high above the valley and there are wonderful views of the surrounding mountains.

  14. Day 14overnight: Belgrade

    Belgrade

    Free day in Serbia’s capital city. Our hotel is within an easy walk of the main sights including the fortress and Kalemegdan Park.

  15. Day 15

    Home Again

    Mid-morning flight to London arriving at lunchtime.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Train journey from Durrës to Elbasan through Albania's central mountains, followed by a drive along Lake Ohrid to the remote village of Voskopojë
  • Day 5Visit Gjirokastra, birthplace of Enver Hoxha, with its pre-Ottoman citadel and views over the Drino River, then continue to the coastal town of Sarandë
  • Day 10Two-hour ferry across the Koman dam lake through the Albanian Alps, one of Europe's wildest and most remote regions
  • Day 13Travel on Montenegro's scenic main railway line to Belgrade, climbing high above the valley with views of surrounding mountains for the first 80 miles

Included

  • Flights in Economy Class by scheduled airline
  • Rail and ferry travel as specified
  • Other travel by private mini-coach
  • Accommodation in good quality hotels or guest houses with en suite facilities
  • All breakfasts and 12 evening meals
  • Entrance fees
  • Airport and other transfers
  • All local taxes/fees
  • Services of a tour leader from London and throughout the tour plus local professional Albanian guide

Questions travellers ask

Is the train travel included?
Yes. The package includes rail travel on the Durrës to Elbasan line in Albania and Montenegro's scenic main line to Belgrade, plus ferry crossings. Flights are economy scheduled airline; other ground transport is by private mini-coach.
Is this escorted or independent?
Fully escorted. A tour leader from London accompanies the group throughout, and a local professional Albanian guide joins for the Albanian portion. Groups are capped at 15.
What meals are included?
All breakfasts and 12 evening meals are included. Lunch is not mentioned for most days.
How much walking is involved?
Short walking tours in Tirana, Sarandë, Berat, and Shkodër; a stroll in Voskopojë; and a 2-hour ferry crossing through the mountains. Most inter-city travel is by coach and rail.
What is the from-price and when does it depart?
From GBP 3,600 (approximately USD 4,808). One departure is confirmed for August 2026.
Which countries are visited?
Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, and Serbia. The itinerary begins in Tirana and ends in Belgrade.

Similar journeys