Balkan Bites: A Culinary Journey

Dobro došli — welcome to Croatia! Your journey begins in Dubrovnik, a stunning stone city wrapped in ancient medieval walls and set against the shimmering Adriatic Sea. Full of charm and easy to explore on foot, it’s the perfect place to start your adventure.
Your trip kicks off with a welcome meeting at 6:30 pm, but if you arrive early, take the chance to wander along the iconic city walls and soak in the views. After meeting your group, head out for dinner and get to know your fellow travellers. Croatian cuisine varies by region, but one beloved staple is charcuterie — a rich selection of expertly cured meats, each with its own distinct flavor shaped by traditional preservation methods.

It’s important to attend the welcome meeting at the beginning of your trip — during this time, your leader will collect your travel insurance and emergency contact details. If you think you might arrive late, please let your travel agent or the hotel reception know in advance. You can also check with reception or look for a note posted in the lobby for details about the meeting’s time and location.

Venice is one of Italy’s busiest destinations, and some attractions can sell out fast. If you’d like to visit St. Mark’s Basilica or climb the Bell Tower, it’s a good idea to book tickets early at www.basilicasanmarco.it.

If you plan to explore the Doge’s Palace, we recommend scheduling your visit today (if you’re staying longer in Venice) or tomorrow after 2 p.m. Tickets can be purchased in advance at palazzoducale.visitmuve.it.

After breakfast, head to the village of Tici in the scenic Luštica Bay near Kotor for a visit to a local olive farm. Learn the craft of olive oil production from your hosts, who continue a proud second-generation tradition of organic farming. Stroll through peaceful olive groves before reaching a historic stone mill, where olives were once pressed by hand.
Enjoy a guided tasting that reveals the secrets of high-quality olive oil, paired with local specialties like cured ham, cheese, and traditional grape brandy.
Back in Kotor, take time to wander the maze-like streets of the Old Town or hike up the hills for panoramic views and the remains of ancient fortifications. With the evening free, treat yourself to dinner at a cozy local wine bar and soak in the atmosphere of this charming coastal town.

Your travel time today will be approximately 4 hours.

Bid farewell to Montenegro and journey onward to Kosovo, with a stop at Albania’s historic Rozafa Fortress — once a key stronghold resisting Ottoman forces in the 15th century.
By afternoon, arrive in Prizren, Kosovo’s second-largest city and its cultural melting pot. With its blend of traditions and influences, Prizren offers a unique atmosphere unlike anywhere else in the region.
Enjoy free time to explore at your own pace — wander through streets lined with terracotta rooftops, admire the city’s striking mosques and churches, and soak in its vibrant character. When evening comes, consider asking your guide for local dining spots to experience the best of Kosovo’s cuisine.

• Your travel time today will be approximately 5.5 hours.

Begin your day with a guided tour of Prizren, wandering through its lively bazaar filled with rich aromas, vibrant sounds, and local specialties like stuffed peppers. From there, continue to Pristina — the capital and largest city of Kosovo — where your leader will introduce you to the highlights of the city centre.
Later, enjoy a traditional Kosovo-Serb barbecue, hosted by locals who serve homemade sausages and smoked pork specialties from their own smokehouse. Take time to explore the nearby Gračanica settlement and monastery, one of the key cultural and spiritual centers of the Serbian community in Kosovo.
Afterwards, leave Kosovo behind and cross into North Macedonia. Visit the peaceful St. Jovan Bigorski Monastery, one of the most revered spiritual sites in the country, before continuing your journey to Ohrid, where you’ll spend the night.

Your travel time today will be approximately 5.5 hours.

Ohrid, home to Europe’s oldest lake and one of the world’s earliest human settlements, is rich in history and spiritual heritage. Once believed to have had 365 churches — one for each day of the year — it proudly carries the nickname “the Macedonian Jerusalem.”
Today is yours to explore at your own pace. Stroll through the lively Old Bazaar in search of unique finds, or join your leader on an optional excursion to Lake Ohrid and the renowned Sveti Naum Monastery — one of North Macedonia’s most important pilgrimage sites. Along the way, take in landmarks like Tsar Samoil’s Fortress, perched above the town, and the ancient Roman theatre dating back over 2,000 years. Don’t miss the iconic Church of St. John at Kaneo, dramatically set on a cliff overlooking the lake.
In the evening, head to the nearby village of Kuratica, where warm local hospitality awaits. Enjoy a traditional home-cooked dinner and sample your host’s homemade rakija — the perfect way to end the day with a true taste of the region.

• Your travel time today will be approximately 1 hour

After checking out of your accommodation in Ohrid, start the day at the local green market with a traditional breakfast. Try the town’s famous burek or sample gjomleze — a beloved local pie made using a time-honoured Ohrid recipe.
Then continue to Lake Prespa, a peaceful retreat popular with Macedonian holidaymakers. Visit a local apple farm, where you’ll have the chance to taste freshly picked produce straight from the source.
Next, travel to the charming village of Dolno Dupeni on the shores of Lake Prespa, where you’ll be welcomed into a local home for a hands-on cooking experience followed by a homemade lunch.
Later, head to Bitola and enjoy some free time — relax in one of its cozy cafés or wander through the lively Old Bazaar, soaking in the atmosphere of this elegant historic city.

Your travel time today will be approximately 2 hours.

Today, travel to Dihovo — a peaceful village nestled at the foothills of Mount Pelister. Here, meet a local beekeeper who will introduce you to the fascinating world of honeybees, including a hands-on demonstration with an open beehive. Afterward, enjoy a tasting of fresh honey straight from the comb, followed by a delicious home-cooked meal in a traditional villa, prepared with organic ingredients grown in the family’s own garden.
Return to Bitola in the afternoon and take time to explore the city further. You may choose to visit the nearby archaeological site of Heraclea Lyncestis, an ancient settlement founded by Philip II of Macedonia in the 4th century BC. Named after the mythological hero Heracles, whom Philip believed to be his ancestor, the site offers a fascinating glimpse into the region’s rich past.

Your travel time today will be approximately 1 hour.

Start your day with a visit to the ancient site of Stobi, where you’ll take a short walk through the remains of this once-thriving city. Originally part of Paeonia, Stobi was later conquered by the Macedonian kingdom and became an important center of the Roman province of Macedonia Salutaris.
From here, continue to the renowned Tikveš wine region, where fertile soil and abundant sunshine create ideal conditions for grape growing. Visit two of the country’s top wineries and enjoy tastings of local varieties, perfectly paired with regional cheeses and cured meats.
In the late afternoon, arrive in Skopje and set out on a guided walk through the city centre, sampling traditional Macedonian sweets along the way. In the evening, gather with your fellow travellers for a memorable final dinner in Debar Maalo — Skopje’s lively bohemian quarter — where your leader will make sure all the must-try local dishes are on the table for a perfect farewell celebration.

Your travel time today will be approximately 2.5 hours.

No activities are scheduled for today, so you’re free to check out and depart at any time. But if you’re not quite ready to say goodbye, why not extend your stay? Spend more time exploring Skopje or venture out to the stunning Matka Canyon — just speak with your booking agent to arrange the next chapter of your adventure.