The Balkans Real Food Adventure

9 Days | Experience the cuisine, culture and warm hospitality of the Balkans

4.9 out of 5 based on 9 reviews submitted.
Food
From
USD $2,537
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Treat your palate to the culinary highlights of the Balkans on this nine-day foodie adventure. Dine on homemade meals and share stories with your hosts in North Macedonia, meet the makers behind famous Njegusi smoked hams in Montenegro and sample the charcuterie of Croatia. Take guided walks in Prizren and Skopje, exploring the cities where Balkan cuisine comes to life, and have ample free time to discover local markets and bazaars. With an expert local guide providing all the restaurant recommendations you could ask for, your Balkans adventure will not leave you hungry!

Trip overview

Map of The Balkans Real Food Adventure including Croatia, Macedonia, Republic Of, Montenegro and Kosovo
Start
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Finish
Skopje, North Macedonia (Macedonia)
Theme
Food
Destinations
Montenegro, North Macedonia (Macedonia), Kosovo, Croatia
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
We’re in the process of figuring out how much CO2-e this trip generates. In the meantime, find out more about our climate commitments and carbon reduction target.

Why you'll love this trip
  • Experience an authentic taste of the Balkans and a look at local life when you dine in family homes in Ohrid, Lake Prespa and Dihovo.
  • Take in a cooking demonstration in the village of Dolno Dupeni, then get a fresh taste of homemade North Macedonian cuisine.
  • 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.
  • Explore the stunning landscapes and charming cities of the region, discovering the legendary Rozafa Fortress and going on guided tours of Prizren and Skopje.
  • Try the most iconic foods of Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro and Kosovo, including smoked and barbecued meats, cheese, honey, apples and locally produced wine.
  • By travelling on this trip, you’ll directly support our Intrepid Foundation partner, Humana Zagreb. Donations help provide job opportunities and education programs in sustainable fashion and textiles for people with disabilities.

Is this trip right for you?
  • 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.
  • This region 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 the region's topography very demanding.

Itinerary

Map of The Balkans Real Food Adventure including Croatia, Macedonia, Republic Of, Montenegro and Kosovo

Inclusions

Meals

4 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 2 dinners

Transport

Private Vehicle

Accommodation

Hotel (8 nights)

Activities
  • Lustica - Olive oil farm visit
  • Njegusi - Smokehouse visit & tasting
  • Shkoder - Rozafa Fortress visit
  • Prizren - Leader-led city tour
  • Pristina - Serbian barbecue lunch
  • Pristina - Leader-led city tour
  • Pristina - Gracanica Monastery visit
  • Debar - St Jovan Bigorski Monastery visit
  • Kuratica - Home-cooked dinner
  • Ohrid - Green Market
  • Prespa - Agriturismo visit & tasting
  • Prespa - Home-cooking demonstration
  • Dihovo - Home-cooked lunch
  • Dihovo - Beekeeper farm visit
  • Tikves - Wine tasting
  • Stobi - Stobi archaeological site
  • Skopje - Leader-led walking tour with traditional sweets
Add on activities
  • Ohrid - St Naum Monastery & Trpejca - EUR80
  • Ohrid - City tour and cruise - Minimum 2 passengers - EUR50
  • Bitola - Breakfast Ckembe Corba - EUR5
  • Bitola - Heraclea Lyncestis - EUR25

Dates and availability

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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.

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.

Read Essential Trip Information

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 based on 9 reviews submitted.
Reviews are from travellers who have completed their trip and want to share their experience. We show all reviews, but may remove any that include profanity or inappropriate content, are unrelated to the trip or reveal personal details.

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Michaela · Traveled September 2023
This trip provided an insight into each country and their culture that would not have been possible without going on this tour. We were welcomed into peoples homes and could experience the passion and love they have for their foods/drink. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone wanting to visit these countries.
Review submitted 16 Oct 2023

Nick · Traveled September 2023
This trip is a must to experience Balkan food and drinks. The food is amazing and you will come back a little heavier!
Review submitted 10 Oct 2023

Tadhg · Traveled September 2023
The Balkans are wonderfully complex, it is perfect for a great travel experience. Food is great, drink plentiful, people delighted you travel this way. A dramatic mountain peak always watches over you. North Macedonia is an undiscovered jewel.
Review submitted 09 Oct 2023

Kaye · Traveled September 2023
This tour was amazing. The food was exceptional but more exceptional were the people who proudly shared their culture, homes, businesses with us. I felt privileged to meet them and through food learn about their countries. The history lessons learnt as we travelled were also enlightening and helped me to understand the political and cultural landscape of the Balkans. The accomodation was more than expected of an Original tour. Do this tour, not only for yourself but to support the hard working people whose hospitality and enthusiasm was so special. I can’t recommend this trip highly enough! Be prepared to be welcomed with rakija at most places, just take a deep breath and swallow!
Review submitted 06 Oct 2023

Julie · Traveled September 2023
An amazing trip. We experienced so much and felt like travellers not tourists. There was so much included on the tour, the transport is excellent and you certainly won't go hungry or thirsty! Our guide Alex was superb, knowledgeable and well connected. Our driver Frossie was a legend - you are in safe hands with Frossie. Great experience, would recommend it wholeheartedly.
Review submitted 20 Nov 2023
The Balkans Real Food Adventure
From
USD $2,537