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Map of Essential Southern Balkans including Albania, Croatia, Greece and Montenegro

Say hello to the Southern Balkans!

Say hello to the Southern Balkans – steeped in medieval history, overflowing with quirky towns, and blessed with a spectacular, glistening coastline. This 9-day tour from Dubrovnik to the Greek island of Corfu has battle zones, beaches, bunkers and bars all rolled together in one Balkan adventure. Discover Stari Bar and its epicurean delights, explore the political history of Albania’s capital, Tirana, lay beachside on the Albanian riviera and wind up sun-kissed on the beaches of a Greek island.

This trip is for 18 to 29-year-olds

Some of our under-30 travellers prefer to get around with people their own age. If that’s you, you’re in the right place!

Over 29? We’ve got over 900 other great adventures to choose from for solo travellers, friends, families, food lovers, hiking enthusiasts, and more.

Start
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Finish
Corfu, Greece
Destinations
Albania, Croatia, Greece, Montenegro
Style
Basix
Theme
18 to 29s
Code
ZMYA
Physical rating
Ages
Min 18, Max 29
Group size
Min 1, Max 16

Travel solo, together

You're never alone when travelling solo with Intrepid

Why you'll love this trip

  • Walk the walls of the Old City of medieval Dubrovnik and spot the film locations that have been used in worldwide blockbusters.

  • The Albanian riviera gives any coastline a run for its money. Float in the sparkling waters of Dhermi beach and explore this local seaside hotspot.

  • Head by hydrofoil to Corfu, one of Greece’s famed islands. Explore the rocky landscapes and relax on one of the island’s many sandy beaches. This is living.

  • Descend into one of the world’s most peculiar contemporary art museums in Tirana, housed in an underground bunker built for the Albanian political elite.

  • There is no shortage of medieval influences on this tour. Discover the walled cities of Kotor and Stari Bar, teeming with history from a bygone era.

Is this trip right for you?

  • Summer temperatures can be extreme in many of the regions visited (over 40°C), which can be uncomfortable. 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. Please note that only some of our hotels will have airconditioning, and is virtually non-existent on public transport.

  • Hotels in this region often don't have double beds, but rather two single beds that can be pushed together/apart. Rooms can be rather small, especially compared to American or Australian standards, and in most cases bathroom facilities will be shared rather than en-suite.

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Itinerary
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Bok! Welcome to Dubrovnik in sun-kissed Croatia. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm today. You can arrive at any time beforehand as there are no activities planned until this important meeting. If you do happen to arrive early, good for you! Head to the walled Old City through the Pile Gate drawbridge and explore the confines of this beautiful town. A great way to get a grasp of Dubrovnik is by walking the walls around the Old City. Take your time – as there’s some great vantage points on your walk, plus a bar on the wall to grab a drink and admire the view. In town, there’s plenty of cool eateries and bars, however if a swim is on the cards, head outside the walls to a cove and dive into the azure waters of the Adriatic Sea – our hot pick is Suluci or Banje Beach.
Accommodation
  • Hostel (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • Dubrovnik - Three Islands Boat Cruise - HRK300
  • Dubrovnik - Discover Game of Thrones Filming Locations Urban Adventure - EUR69
  • Dubrovnik - Lokrum Island Boat Trip - EUR27
  • Dubrovnik - Mt Srd Cable Car - EUR27
  • Dubrovnik - War Photography Museum - EUR10
  • Dubrovnik - Mt Srd Museum of Croatian War of Independence - EUR4
  • Dubrovnik - Sunset Sailing - EUR64
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place. If you can't arrange a flight that will have you arrive at the hotel by early evening, you may wish to arrive a day early so you're able to attend. We'll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability).

This morning, hit the road to Kotor in Montenegro. Spend some free time exploring this terracotta-lined medieval town, perhaps walking up Kampana tower to see the surrounding turquoise waters and limestone cliffs or finding one of the many churches dotted around the relatively small town. Continue on to Stari Bar – the old town of Bar. Stepping inside the walls, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time, so spend the night like a medieval ruler. Perhaps try the area's typical drink, beer or wine with pomegranate juice, before exploring the compact town and its surroundings.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • St Tryphon's Cathedral - Free
  • Kotor - Fortress - EUR3
  • Kotor - Maritime Museum - EUR5
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Get your car games ready for a drive across the border into Albania to our next stop in Tirana. Upon arrival, take a leader-led orientation walk around the city to get your bearings. Included for today is a visit to a history and contemporary art museum, Bunk’Art. This museum is quite the experience just to get to, as you’ll head through a long, dark tunnel in the hillside that leads you to the entrance, on the side of a active Albanian military base. From here, you’ll descend into 3000 square metres of underground space, which was originally meant as a bunker in the 1970s for Albania’s political elite. Now, it houses different exhibitions of Albanian modern history and contemporary art pieces. This afternoon, you’ll have time to explore this eclectic city. Perhaps, head out to the Block for drinks.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Tirana - Bunk'Art Bunker Exhibition Visit
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Wake up without an alarm today, you’ve got the day to yourself to explore however you wish – yep, Tirana is all yours to check out. So, what’s an adventurer to do on a free day here? Well, you could go where the locals go and explore the colourful street markets, spend some time wandering the city (perhaps, discovering its traditional cuisine) or even jump on public transport to Kruja. A town with medieval charm, the ancient Albanian city is just 32km out of Tirana. This evening, you might like to gather your newfound travel buds and head to the Blloku neighbourhood, a hotspot for pre-dinner drinks. Then, why not treat yourself to dinner at Tirana castle – a Byzantine time castle that has been transformed into a trendy outdoor shopping area with plenty of restaurant options to take your fancy.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • Tirana - National Art Gallery - ALL200
  • Tirana - National History Museum - ALL700
  • Tirana - Sky Tower - ALL400
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

After breakfast today, we’ll be setting our sights for the coast; Dhermi Beach to be exact, a stunning stretch of Albania’s coastline. You’ll have time to laze on the golden beaches and swim in the shimmering waters of the Adriatic. Spend some time at one of the beachside bars with your group – a night of good food and good company is definitely on the cards.
Accommodation
  • Hostel (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Wake up on the calming shores of Dhermi Beach, with your day being as clear as the blue waters of the surrounding seas. There’s a range of optional activities that might take your fancy: think hiking, sea kayaking, or even a boat excursion to the Karaburun Peninsula. The best thing is that there’s no need to rush – go as fast or as slow as you want! Today, you call the shots. If you want some more recommendations on what to do, hit up your group leader – they know the ropes.
Accommodation
  • Hostel (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • Dhermi Beach - Pirate Cave Boat Transfer - EUR8
  • Dhermi Beach - Pirate Cave, Pigeon’s Bay, Gjipe Bay (includes boat trip, guide & picnic lunch) - EUR99
  • Llogara National Park - Day Trip (including transport, guide & lunch) - EUR86
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Leave the sparkling Adriatic shores behind and take private transport to Gjirokaster, stopping at Blue Eye Spring en route. This feat of nature has to be seen to be believed – a kaleidoscope of blues and greens pulsating from a natural river spring from a depth of more than 50 metres. Take the time to explore the surrounding parks and take in the different vantage points of the spring. Then head onwards to Gjirokaster, a well-preserved Ottoman town in Albania’s south. On arrival, visit one of the traditional tower houses with a local guide and taste their traditional coffee 'on the stone', roasted on the fire right in front of you. If you are lucky you may even get your fortune read. You’ll spend the night here, so explore the quaint cobblestoned streets and perhaps find some speca me glize (stuffed peppers) to have for dinner.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Gjirokaster - Zekate Tower House
  • Gjirokaster - Local Guide
  • Gjirokaster - Blue Eye Spring
  • Gjirokaster - Turkish Coffee 'on the Stone'
  • Gjirokaster - Gjirokaster Fortress
Optional Activities
  • Gjirokaster - Ismail Kadare's House - ALL200
  • Gjirokaster - Ethnographic Museum - ALL200
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Today we’ll be heading south to Saranda – a coastal resort town near the Albania-Greece border. From here, we’ll take a hydrofoil ferry to Corfu, an island off Greece’s northwest coast in the Ionian Sea. Corfu is known for its mountainous landscapes that extend to the shores, and its cultural heritage, spent under rule from Venetian, French and British influence, before being united with Greece in 1864. Your group leader will take you on an orientation walk near where you’re staying to direct you to the best places and help you get your bearings. The evening is all yours – perhaps round up your group and head out for sunset drinks at one of the local restaurants.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • Corfu - Palaiopoli Archaeological Site - EUR4
  • Corfu - Mon Repos Summer Palace - EUR4
  • Corfu - Archaeological Museum - EUR6
  • Corfu - Corfu Fortifications - EUR5
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

With no activities planned and no accommodation organised for tonight, you’re free to leave at any time. But, if shorelines and souvlakis are still on the cards, you don’t have to leave just yet! If you would like to spend more time on Corfu, we’ll be happy to organise additional accommodation for you (subject to availability).
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Want to tailor this itinerary?

Meals

7 breakfasts

Transport

Private vehicle, Ferry

Accommodation

Hotel (5 nights), Hostel (3 nights)

Included activities

  • Tirana - Bunk'Art Bunker Exhibition Visit
  • Gjirokaster - Zekate Tower House
  • Gjirokaster - Local Guide
  • Gjirokaster - Blue Eye Spring
  • Gjirokaster - Turkish Coffee 'on the Stone'
  • Gjirokaster - Gjirokaster Fortress

Dates & availability

Trip departures are unavailable.

There are currently no scheduled departures on our Essential Southern Balkans trip. If you are interested in other trips in the region visit one of the links below.

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Important notes

1. A single supplement is not available on this trip.

Essential trip information

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.

View Essential Trip Information

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