12 Days | Taste your way through Croatia, Montenegro and North Macedonia





Immerse yourself in the culinary delights of the Balkans on a 12-day tour through Croatia, Montenegro and North Macedonia. Along your way, stroll through lush national parks, discover quaint villages and see some of the region’s most spiritual sites. Picnic on the banks of the Treska River, master the art of the perfect pastry with the village women of Janche, indulge in a traditional Kosovan barbeque, dine on home-grown produce in the private garden of a Dihovo family and visit a centuries-old olive press outside of Kotor. With curated food and wine experiences plus an expert local guide leading the way, your Balkans adventure will not leave you hungry!
Trip overview

- Start
- Dubrovnik, Croatia
- Finish
- Skopje, North Macedonia (Macedonia)
- Theme
- Food
- Destinations
- Montenegro, Croatia, North Macedonia (Macedonia), Kosovo
- Physical rating
- Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
- Style
- Original
- Ages
- Min 15
- Group size
- Min 1 - Max 12
- Trip code
- ZKZM
- Experience an authentic taste of the Balkans and a look at local life when you dine in family homes in Ljuta, Ohrid, Lake Prespa and Dihovo.
- Get hands on with local village women in Janche for a cooking class focused on making local flaky pastries, and enjoy a cooking demonstration in Dolno Dupeni.
- See behind the scenes of local produce when you visit a centuries-old smokehouse, an olive mill, an apple farm, and meet a local beekeeper for a honey tasting.
- Throughout your culinary escapade, explore the stunning landscapes of the region, discovering the Painted Mosque, Matka Canyon, Mavrovo National Park and Lake Prespa.
- Try the most iconic foods of Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Kosovo, including smoked and barbecued meats, cheese, gjomleze and locally produced wine.
- The cuisine of the Balkans includes a lot of meat and seafood. For vegetarians and vegans we recommend reviewing the itinerary and inclusions to ensure that you will be able to fully participate and enjoy this trip. We also have many other trips to the Balkans which can accommodate a range of dietary requirements.
- Summer temperatures can reach 40C/105F or higher in some areas, so it's important to use sun protection, wear layers to combat the heat and drink plenty of water. Please carefully consider the time of the year you wish to travel and your suitability to that season.
- The Croatian coast is very hilly and mountainous and stairs are commonplace. You will have to be able to easily lift your luggage and carry it up and down stairs and inclines, so packing light is recommended. The cobblestone streets become very slippery when wet. Some people may find Croatia's topography very demanding.
Itinerary
View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2024 - 31 December 2024
Inclusions
6 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 3 dinners
Private Vehicle
Hotel (11 nights)
- Dubrovnik - Welcome Dinner
- Konavle - Home-cooked lunch with wine tasting
- Konavle - Ljuta visit
- Njegusi - Smokehouse visit & tasting
- Lustica - Olive oil farm visit
- Prizren - Leader-led city tour
- Shkoder - Rozafa Fortress visit
- Pristina - Leader-led city tour
- Pristina - Gracanica Monastery visit
- Pristina - Serbian barbecue lunch
- Tetovo - Painted Mosque
- Debar - St Jovan Bigorski Monastery visit
- Janche - Cooking class
- Kuratica - Home-cooked dinner
- Ohrid - Green Market
- Prespa - Home-cooking demonstration
- Prespa - Agriturismo visit & tasting
- Dihovo - Beekeeper farm visit
- Dihovo - Home-cooked lunch
- Stobi - Stobi archaeological site
- Tikves - Wine tasting
- Matka - Matka Canyon boat cruise
- Skopje - Green Market
- Ohrid - City tour and cruise - Minimum 2 passengers - EUR50
- Ohrid - St Naum Monastery & Trpejca - EUR80
- Bitola - Heraclea Lyncestis - EUR25
- Bitola - Breakfast Ckembe Corba - EUR5
Dates and availability
Important notes
1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
2. While we endeavour to cater for specific dietary requirements, some meals and food activities are set in advance and may be difficult to adjust. Please advise us of any dietary requirements at the time of booking so that we can ensure you’ll enjoy this trip.
Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.
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