Kosovo, officially the Republic of Kosovo, is a partially recognised state in Southeastern Europe. It lies at the centre of the Balkans, occupying an area of 10,887 km²,
Day 01: Pristina – Gracanica monastery– Ulpiana – Prizren
Arrive Pristina meet and assist at the airport and drive to Prizen. The first destination of today is the Gracanica monastery. This monastery is seen as one of the most attractive ones in Kosovo. Inside of the church, you have to cover your knees and shoulders and women must wear a head scarf. You first enter the large chapel that has many medieval paintings. The smaller chapel is even more impressive with murals in bright colours. It is not allowed to take pictures inside, luckily the outside is just as picture-worthy.
After the monastery, our tour will continue to Ulpiana. You would probably not expect this in Kosovo, but the country has its own Roman Empire ruins. The ancient city of Ulpiana was an important centre of activity politically, economically and culturally. Many objects have been found on the site as well, such as sculptures of a woman’s head, a man’s head and a theatrical mask. You can still see the divisions between the different rooms and even a few stones are engraved with scriptures dating back to the Roman era.
Our final destination is Prizren. The city is considered to be the cultural capital of Kosovo, mixing its rich history, incredible nature, religious tolerance and gastronomic delights. You will get some free time around 12:30 on every day of the tour to enjoy a delicious lunch and wander around by yourself till 14:00. Prizren has played an important role in the region as an Illyrian settlement and as a crossroad for the Byzantine and Ottoman empires, contributing to the unique architecture of the city. The river flows through the heart of the old town and under the many bridges that crisscross the city. The best way to explore the town is by wandering through the streets passing by elegant medieval houses that fight for your attention.
Overnight in Prizren.
Day 02: Prizren – Prevalla National Park – Prizren
After breakfast we will move towards Prevalla National Park. The first thing we will see are the Sharr mountains that are getting more and more impressive as we get closer. The Lepenci River also begins in this mountainous terrain. The National Park is a popular ski location but also a beautiful place for a hike through amazing landscapes. This is what we will do, we will go for a hike once we arrive at the Prevalla village. After a day surrounded by the stunning Kosovar nature, we will return back to Prizren.
Overnight in Prizren.
Day 03: Prizren – Rahovec – Mirusha waterfalls – Place near the waterfalls
In and around Rahovec
Today we will drive towards the west of Kosovo. Here we will bring a visit to a winery inside of a castle and the vineyards that stretch out to the horizon. They offer various wines to taste. The town of Rahovec is known for being important in Kosovo’s wine industry. They proudly display the tombstone of an Illyrian soldier, dating back to 28 B.C. The tombstone is covered with carvings in the shape of grapes, which would indicate the long history of wine in the region.
Later continue our tour to another natural wonder, the Mirusha waterfalls, standing out from all the other waterfalls in the Balkans. It is a famous site in the country consisting out of two separate waterfalls. The water has created canyons around the waterfalls, making the site even more impressive. When you visit the waterfalls in the winter, they might be frozen, which gives a spectacular look. During the summer, you can take a dive in the inviting waters.
Overnight near the waterfalls.
Day 04: Place near the waterfalls – Decan – Gjakova
After breakfast drive to the city of Gjakova. On our way, we will make a stop at the Monastery of Decan. This one stands out for its white colour, but even more remarkable is the fact that Orthodox monks still inhabit the monastery and make fresh organic food there, such as cheeses. The monastery became part of UNESCO in 2004 because of its frescoes, which portray the lives of people during the 14th century as well as the Palaeologan renaissance that changed the way of Byzantine painting.
After this, we will arrive in Gjakova. The city has the oldest and largest bazaar of Kosovo. Even though, it got destroyed during the first Balkan wars, the second world war and the Kosovo war, the bazaar got rebuilt again to its old state and is a nice place to enjoy a meal or to take a look at the stores that sell traditional clothing and items. We will also visit the clock tower and the Hadum mosque. The latter was built in the 16th century and somehow managed to survive the wars. Nowadays it shows the beginning of Islamic architecture in the Balkans, covered in stunning arabesque decorations.
Overnight in Gjakova.
Day 05: Gjakova – Peja – Rugova Valley
In and around Peja
Our journey continues towards Peja. The city has one cultural UNESCO heritage site, the Patriarchate of Peja, located near the entrance of the Rugova Valley. This medieval Orthodox Monastery was built in the 13th century, having four churches in a beautiful red colour. After visiting the monastery, we will wander through the characteristic Old Bazaar of the city.
From Peja, we will go to Rugova Valley. No matter what season it is, Rugova Valley looks beautiful during all of them. Waterfalls, rocks, small villages, lakes, caves and numerous mountains with high peaks is what makes this national park a must-see destination in Kosovo. We will go for a hike through the valley and drive through the Accursed Mountains.
Overnight in Rugova Valley.
Day 06: Rugova Valley – Prekaz – Mitrovica
Today we will dive into some quite recent history of Kosovo, first by visiting the village of Prekaz. The Prekaz village memorial of the Jashari family includes a memorial ground, a museum and the house of the Adem Jashari family. You can still see the bullet holes in the original house and Adem Jashari is buried nearby. In 1998, the Serbian police force launched an attack that caused the lives of Adem Jashari and 50 family members. The deaths of the Jashari family sparked protests all around Kosovo. Nowadays, Adem Jashari is seen as the national hero and you will find his name and image throughout the country.
Our next destination is the city of Mitrovica in the north of Kosovo. This city is divided in two halves, one having an Albanian population and the other a Serbian population. When crossing the New Bridge, that divides the two parts, it looks as if you are arriving in a completely different city. We will bring a visit to the Xhamia e Zallit mosque, built in the Ottoman style, and the Saint Demetrius church, built in Orthodox style. In the distance, on top of a mountain, the Miner’s monument is visible, which was designed in 1973 in honour of the workers that died during the Second World War.
Overnight in Mitrovica.
Day 07: Mitrovica – Pristina
Our last destination of this tour will be the capital of Kosovo, Pristina. Here we will make a city tour. Not to be missed is the Newborn monument, symbol of their independence and being a young new country. We will also visit the Cathedral of Saint Mother Teresa with its own clock tower. The National Library of Kosovo is a building that definitely stands out from the rest, consisting out of 73 white domes. The main boulevard in the capital, Sheshi Nena Tereza, is a nice street to stroll through and enjoy a delicious meal or coffee at one of the restaurants. Here we will also pass the Skanderberg square with the statue of Skanderberg himself, the national Albanian hero. We will visit the Old Bazaar in Pristina with nearby the ethnographic museum that shows the traditional Kosovar life.
Overnight in Pristina
Day 08: Depart Pristina
After breakfast departure transfer to airport to catch the flight for onward Journey
Place | Night (s) | Hotels |
Prizren | 02 | Premium Park Hotel |
Mirusha waterfalls | 01 | Garden Guesthouse |
Gjakova | 01 | Hotel Pashtriku |
Rugova Valley | 01 | Hotel Dukagjini |
Mitrovica | 01 | Amazona Hotel |
Pristina | 01 | Swiss Diamond Hotel Prishtina |
- Welcome on arrival with fresh flower garlands.
- Meet to attend airports / hotels by our office representative.
- 07 nights in accommodation as per the program.
- Meals as per Program
- Guide Services ( English language )
- Entrance fees to the monuments.
- All taxes.
• International flights
• Personal Expenses.
• Camera / Video Camera Fees.
• Medical Aid.
• Tipping.
• Travel Insurance.
• Visa If any.
• Accommodation in good hotels.
• Check-in / out time is 12 noon at most of the hotels.
• Extension to other places is also possible with a minimal extra cost. – Additional nights are available at each place with minimal supplement.
• A visa is required and must be obtained prior to your departure from your Country.
• If quoted hotel is not available, we will provide one of a similar category and standard.
• Small deviations in the tour program are sometimes necessary, depending on weather, road conditions, flight schedules and room availability.
• In case the government changes presently applicable taxes, increase in airlines prices, fuel surcharge our rates will need to be adjusted accordingly.
• In Asia, there is no relevance between the distance and time of travelling, as it depends upon the condition of the roads and congestion of the traffic.
• While every effort will be made to maintain the itinerary, in view of local strikes etc that are beyond our control all schedule and itineraries are subject to last moment changes.
• Clients must be fully insured, as the company cannot accept liability for loss or damage to client’s property, medical emergencies or any other loss suffered by them whilst on tour.
• In Case of issuing Domestic or International air tickets, SGV is not responsible for any refund if the flight is delayed or cancelled, as it is the responsibility of airline.