Both Macedonia and Albania are relatively Macedonia (FYROM), Skopje. Our will recognize it from a distance by the big unknown countries to the average tourist, representative will be waiting outside the white cross erected in the hills above although they have interesting history and arrivals hall at Skopje Airport with a Penguin town, which signalizes that this is a inspiring mountainous terrain. During this Travel sign. After transfer from the Airport Christian community. (breakfast, dinner) journey we will try to discover their hidden and accommodation at our hotel we take a Day 4: We will climb up to the church of treasures. The group is usually small, about sightseeing walk through the new town and Leusa in the morning after which we will 5 or 6 people, plus guide and driver. We are the remains of the old town of Skopje. continue on our route. Today’s drive is driving in a minibus. The road may be (dinner) approximately 130 km. long. The roads bumpy once in a while, but the natural views Day 2: After breakfast in Skopje we are are of varied quality. Mainly narrow we are going to see can rarely be seen heading for our next destination: Ohrid. We asphalt road on the way to Gjirokaster, elsewhere in Europe. take the road which goes via Tetovo. It a short distance of highway after that, starts with a short stretch of motorway west which we leave at a certain point of of Skopje, and is mostly mountainous time to climb up the Delvine pass onwards, when it goes south. The distance leading to Saranda. After a walk to the is approximately 200 km, but the journey fortress in the outskirts, some picture usually takes several hours because of the hunting downtown and a lunch break steep terrain. The expected arrival in Ohrid in Gjirocaster, we continue to Saranda, is in the early afternoon. A sightseeing tour where we will spend the night, and is planned for that day. The old part of town probably taste the local fresh fish for with its churches, narrow picturesque dinner, at some of the seafood streets and remains from a Roman restaurants. (breakfast, dinner) Amphitheatre is the main point of interest, Day 5: Today we will drive first along together with the Samuil’s Fortress, from the quite narrow road southwards, Highlights: which there is a magnificent view over the following the coastline, to the ancient • Skopje’s varied architecture and its mix of town and the lake. (breakfast, dinner) city of Butrint. Having visited Butrint – culture • The sublime lakeside town Ohrid – the most southern point of our tour, we the culmination of the Macedonian drive back to Saranda, and from there experience • Lake Ohrid - a UNESCO World Day 3: We start our trip for the day early in we take the picturesque coast road Cultural and Natural heritage Site in 1980 • the morning, by driving from Ohrid towards north to Vlora (about 130 km). The road One of the most attractive towns in Albania the St. Naum Monastery. After visiting the goes through olive and citrus gardens Gjirokastra - home of the biggest castle in monastery we continue towards the Albanian up in the mountains, offering us a Albania • The Butrint National Park which border. Just like Macedonia, Albania has gorgeous view to the lowlands. When contains one of the Balkans’ largest and been influenced by different cultures we get in the mountains we enter the most romantic excavated ancient cities • throughout the ages, and is now an Llogora National Park. With its amazing Apolonia - a vital stronghold for Caesar in interesting mixture of religions, traces of the Karst slopes, entering directly the Adriatic the civil war between Pompey and Julius old totalitarian regime and new Western Sea and covered with coniferous trees, Caesar • Dures - the most ancient city of influence. Having crossed the border, we this place is a house of exceptionally rich Albania, an important Byzantine port in the pass by the first town on the Albanian side, flora and fauna. Middle Ages. called Pogradec, and continue southwards Overnight in Llogora. (breakfast, dinner) towards Korce. The terrain soon becomes ITINERARY mountainous. Other suitable towns for a short rest are Erseke and Leskovik. It will probably Day 1: The expedition starts in the Capital of already be dusk when we reach Permet .We Penguin Travel Frederiksberg Alle 32, 1820 Copenhagen F, DK tel. +45 33215100, fax +45 33215150 www.penguin.dk The price includes: All ground GENERAL FACTS ABOUT THE transportation, accommodation and boarding COUNTRIES as mentioned above, English speaking guide, entrance fees. (Former Yugoslav) Republic of The price does not include: Drinks, tips, Macedonia personal expenses Area: 25 713 sq. km. Population: Approx. 2 000 000 people ACCOMMODATION Time zone: Central European Time Largest city: Skopje We stay in tourist class hotels 6 nights and in Official language: Macedonian a pension in Ohrid for 1 night. All rooms are Religion: Christian Orthodox (Approx. with en-suite facilities. Meal plan is based on 60 %)/Muslim minority: (Approx. 35 HB (breakfast and dinner included). %)/Others (5 %) EQUIPMENT AND CLOTHING Republic of Albania Area: 28 748 sq. km. Day 6: After breakfast we visit Vlora It is advisable to bring comfortable shoes Population: Approx. 3 000 000 and then continue our drive to one of and clothes. No formal clothes are Largest city: Tirana the highlights of the trip – Apolonia. necessary. Laundry facilities cannot Time zone: Central European Time From this day on we are leaving the practically be used at the hotels. Those Official language: Albanian mountainous areas of Albania, and hotels which offer that service deliver the Religion: Christian Orthodox or continue north towards the lowlands. clothes on the following day, and this does Catholic / Muslim / Other Today’s tour is about 100 km long. We drive to not coincide with the itinerary. Mineral Weather: The suitable period of travel is town of Fier first, and from there further on to water and other supplies can be bought on from April to October. The summers the ancient settlement of Apolonia. From the way. Local water is not harmful to drink, can be quite hot. Apolonia we drive to another highlight– the but many tourists prefer to buy mineral beautiful, cozy, and picturesque town of Berat, water anyway. famous for its steep, narrow, cobble stoned streets, white painted low-rise houses in the CELL PHONE COVERAGE AND old town, and last but not least the ancient ELECTRICITY fortress. (breakfast, dinner) The cell phone coverage is average. Good Day 7: We start the day by driving northwest in the towns and cities but not to the city of Durres by the sea and after that always reliable in the mountains, which the 40 km east to the capital Tirana. Durres we cross. Electricity standard is and Tirana are the most rapidly expanding 220/240V, two-pin sockets as those in Albanian cities, with a lot of new buildings. Germany, France, Italy, Denmark, After a sightseeing tour in Durres we Holland etc. continue to Tirana. The distance between Durres and Tirana would not take long, as VISA REQUIREMENTS the road is good. It is even considered a highway, although pedestrians crossing it Visa is not needed for EU citizens and are not a rare sight. After accommodating at citizens of a number of other European our hotel we will take a sightseeing walk in countries (per September 2006). In any the centre. In the evening we will have case it is advisable to contact the dinner at one of the stylish restaurants nearest Macedonian and Albanian downtown, known for their good cuisine. Consulate or Embassy and ask for (breakfast, dinner) details as those rules are subject to change. From year 2009 there are no Day 8: Departure from Tirana. Transfer to charges for entering Albania. There are Tirana Airport or transfer to Skopie, no such charges in Macedonia either. depending on your personal itinerary. For Your passport should be valid at least 6 those who are flying from Skopie, the road months after leaving each of the two goes east via Elbasan (48 km from Tirana). countries. We cross the Macedonian border at Perenjas (115 km from Tirana). On the Macedonian side, the road goes via Struga MONEY AND PERSONAL EXPENSES (on the Ohrid lake), north to Tetovo and east Macedonia: The local currency is DEN - to Skopie. (breakfast) pronounced |denar|. 1 USD = 41 MKD. 1 EUR = 61 MKD. Albania: The local currency Difficulty grade: A (easy) is LEK. 1 USD = 90 ALL. 1 EUR =135 ALL ( The tour is a roundtrip in minibus. You rates per November 2009). Credit card payment is not a general should be in normal good shape, able to practice. The most usual way to pay is in cope with short walks. We are driving most cash. There are cash machines in front of of the time, and walking for a couple of most banks. The generally accepted hours during the sightseeing walks. currencies in banks and exchange offices Sometimes walking up a hill to visit a certain in both Macedonia and Albania are EUR site and back down again, but it is not and USD. The currency market is still extremely exhausting. Sometimes the unstable in both countries, so we advise driving may be on bumpy roads. you to check the actual exchange rates shortly before departure. The local Best period: June – September currency is not convertible outside Group Size: Min. 6 persons Macedonia / Albania, so we advise you to change back to convertible currency before you leave the country. Penguin Travel Frederiksberg Alle 32, 1820 Copenhagen F, DK tel.