After arriving at Tirana airport, you will travel by bus to Shkoder, the cultural capital of northern Albania. In the evening, like many locals, there is room to stroll around the city centre or sit on a terrace soaking up the atmosphere of this historically important, multi-religious and convivial city. A walk to the grand mosque and nearby Orthodox and Catholic cathedrals is also recommended.

On the second day, a two-day excursion to Montenegro begins. Driving by bus along Lake Shkoder, you will reach the small town of Cetinje, at the foot of Mount Lovcen, after a two-hour drive. It was founded in the 15th century and was known early on for its printing industry. Cetinje is an ancient capital with much (old) European architecture and is considered the cultural heart of Montenegro. One visits Montenegro's most famous Serbian Orthodox monastery there, the Vlaka Church and the National Museum. After visiting Cetinje, a very scenic route over the flanks of Mount Lovcen takes you to the pretty town of Kotor on the bay of Boka Kotorska.

This morning, participants will enter the old town ('Stari Grad') on foot through one of the three city gates. This part of Kotor is also under UNESCO protection. In the old town, a visit is made to the Orthodox St Nicholas Church and the 11th-century Cathedral of St Tryphon. The Bay of Kotor forms the deepest natural fjord in the Mediterranean and its location is spectacular with mountain slopes reaching almost down to the water. The afternoon is otherwise at leisure.

After visiting Kotor, participants continue towards the further south town of Budva. The journey continues along the Adriatic with a stop at the famous peninsula of St Stefan with its unparalleled historical wealth, and then continues towards Bar and Ulcinj before crossing the border with Albania again and returning to Shkoder a little later.

In the morning, the party departs by minibus for the beautiful town of Theth in the western half of the Albanian Alps, set in beautiful natural surroundings. There will be plenty of time to enjoy this in the afternoon. E.g. by taking a walk in the surroundings. One stays here overnight.

In the morning, the return journey to Shkoder is accepted, where part of the tour is by bus to explore this city, referred to by the Albanians as the birthplace of their culture and founded in the 4th century BC at the place where the Drin and Buna rivers meet. The sightseeing tour starts with the impressively large Rozafa Castle with great views of the city and Lake Shkoder, the largest inland lake in the Balkans. Then the Loden Mosque, the Folk Museum, the Marubi Photo Museum will be visited. Afterwards, there is every opportunity to continue your acquaintance with the cosy centre of this vibrant city by, for instance, still visiting the Grand Mosque and the nearby Orthodox and Catholic cathedrals or the bazaar.

On day 7, an early morning journey to the more eastern Albanian Alps begins with a trip by minibus to Koman (reservoir) lake, which is fed by the Drin river. After a boat trip of approx. 2.5 hours through beautiful scenery (the lake lies like a fjord between two mountain gorges), one arrives in Fierzë, where the buses continue the trip via the town of Bajram Curri to the beautiful rugged region of Valbona. This is a beautiful unspoilt natural area, which is completely isolated in winter. People are accommodated in simple shelters in people's homes. This allows you to get to know the ancient culture and traditional cuisine of this beautiful mountain region with mighty peaks like Jezerca that reach above 2600 m.

This day is free to enjoy the breathtaking nature of the Northern Albanian mountains. This can best be done - given the terrain - by a brisk hike led by an experienced local guide. But today you can enjoy the unspoilt nature and the flora and fauna of the Valbona National Park even if you limit yourself to a walk along the river. In the evening, there will be an opportunity at the guesthouse to get reacquainted with the way of life and hospitality of the 'Malesore' , the inhabitants of the highlands, and once again enjoy a real North Albanian meal.

On the ninth day, the journey goes via Lake Koman back to the western coastal region through the town of Lezhe. After lunch, the journey continues southwards to the town of Kruja, situated on the flank of a mountain. Kruja is one of Albania's most important historical sites because of the remains of the old castle and the somewhat pompous but no less interesting National Museum. Here in Kruja, Albanian folk hero Skanderbeg led the resistance against the Ottomans in the 15th century. Afterwards, the adjacent Folk Museum with its houses decorated in traditional style is visited. After a walk through the old bazaar, a traditional meal can be enjoyed in a local restaurant. The journey then continues again by bus to the coastal town of Durres with its lively boulevards.

After visits to the impressive amphitheatre from the Roman period and the Archaeological Museum, one departs by bus in the morning for nearby Tirana, the capital of Albania. After arriving at the hotel, you will take a walk through the city centre together and visit the central square, in particular the National History Museum with Albanian art and cultural objects, the Et'hem Bey Mosque and the Clock Tower and see the statue of the national hero Skanderbeg. Afterwards, there is plenty of time for, say, a pleasant stay on one of the terraces of the trendy artists' quarter Blloku, which in the communist past was only open to party members. There are many fancy shops and interesting galleries here.

In the morning, a bus excusrsion is made in the Tirana area and a visit is made to Petrela Castle, whose current construction dates back to the 15th century, but has its origins in antiquity. From there, this excursion concludes at the summit of Mount Dajti, where one can enjoy stunning views of the city and the grand pine forests in the surrounding area from a height of 1613m and in an environment of truly pure air. The afternoon is entirely at leisure. You will have plenty of time to stroll through the city centre, do some shopping or relax on a terrace.

On day 12, depending on the time of departure to the airport, there will then be an opportunity in the morning to further explore this city of modern and traditional contrasts on your own, for example by visiting the nearby bazaar.