Kotor Bay is by far Montenegro’s crowning jewel. Today we will admire the charming Venetian beauty of Kotor’s Old Town. You will enjoy the city’s imposing bulwarks, charming alleyways, lively plazas, palaces, churches, and cafes. Particularly notable are the Rector’s Palace and the leaning clock tower. Kotor was one of the major Jewish communities on the Adriatic coast during the Habsburg period, and the Jewish section at the city cemetery has some well-preserved graves. In the afternoon, we will take a leisurely boat ride through the magnificent Kotor Bay, making stops in the Baroque tiny town of Perast, still home to some 17 palaces, the isle of Our Lady of the Rock with its Catholic church, and the mini-island of St. George, home to a Benedictine monastery.
Overnight in Kotor. Huma Kotor Bay Hotel 5*.

• Breakfast
• Huma Kotor Bay Hotel

Today we explore the natural beauty of Montenegro’s mountainous interior. Savor the scenic landscape of the Skadar Lake National Park, the Crnojevica River, historic Cetinje, and the pristine village of Njegusi, famous across Montenegro for its local cured meats and cheeses. Before we return to Kotor, we will make a stop at the top of the cliffs above the bay for some stunning panoramic views of the Kotor Boka and its surrounding majestic mountains. Overnight in Kotor. Huma Kotor Bay Hotel 5*.

• Breakfast
• Huma Kotor Bay Hotel

Our morning drive will take us to Budva, Montenegro’s most iconic coastal town. We’ll explore Budva’s old town, overlooked by a 15th-century citadel. Further down the road is the picturesque island of Sveti Stefan, the most photographed site in Montenegro. Our next stop is atmospheric Bar, where the Stari Bar fortress dates back to Byzantine times. Our seaside drive along the Adriatic coast will ultimately take us to the serene town of Ulcinj (Dulcigno). Overnight in Ulcinj. Barjaktar Boutique Hotel.

• Breakfast
• Barjaktar Boutique Hotel

Ulcinj is famous in Montenegrin Jewish history as the final resting place of 17th-century false messiah Sabbatai Tsevi. We’ll visit the Ulcinj Fortress, where Tsevi spent the last four years of his life, and we’ll stop by the grave site where he was most likely buried in 1676. The Pasha Mosque, the town’s hammams, and the Oriental clocktower all preserve the city’s Ottoman legacy. You’ll also learn why pirates favored Ulcinj as their Adriatic base. We’ll then cross the border into Albania, where our first stop is Shkoder. The city is located on a beautiful lake, and a small Italian Jewish community has been documented here. After we explore Shkoder’s historic center, we continue to scenic Kruja, of 15th-century national fame. Kruja’s Old Bazaar is particularly atmospheric. We’ll end the day in Tirana, Albania’s vibrant capital, and we’ll have a Kabbalat Shabbat dinner.
Overnight in Tirana. The Maritim Plaza Hotel 5*.

• Breakfast
• The Maritim Plaza Hotel

Tirana’s Grand Park – one of the most relaxing green areas of the city – is home to Albania’s Holocaust Memorial. Unveiled in 2020, the monument commemorates both the victims of the Holocaust and the many valiant Albanians who protected local and foreign Jews. The Jewish part of our tour will also take us to the Jewish section of the National History Museum and to the historic building of the Jewish community, which is being converted into the Besa Jewish Museum, dedicated to the history of Albania’s Jews. (The museum is scheduled to open in 2024.). Our city tour also includes Skanderbeg Square, the Et'hem Bey Mosque, and the formerly off-limits Blloku neighborhood, where Albania’s communist ruler Enver Hoxha lived. Today the area is one of the liveliest and most charming parts of the city, full of modern cafes, bars, and galleries. Overnight in Tirana. The Plaza Hotel 5*.

• Breakfast
• The Maritim Plaza Hotel

Our southward morning drive heads toward Elbasan, Albania’s fourth-largest city, known for its Roman castle and cobbled Ottoman alleyways. A highlight of the day is the spectacular old town of Berat. A UNESCO World Heritage site, Berat was also home to a small Jewish community. The unique Jewish Solomoni Museum holds a wonderful exhibit about Albania’s Jewish community. Berat’s beautiful whitewashed housed, steeply situated on the town’s hills, give “the town of a thousand windows” an enchanting aura. The 14th-century Kalasa Citadel overlooks the Mangalemi and Gorica districts.
Overnight in Berat. Boutique Hotel Onufri.

• Breakfast
• Boutique Hotel Onufri

Today we continue our journey through Albania to the ancient-Greek site of Apollonia. Later a major trade center in Roman Illyria, the archeological site holds remains from the 6th century BCE to the third century CE. Further to the south lies the marvelous town of Gjirokaster, another UNESCO landmark. As soon as we arrive, you will feel you’re back in a 19th-century Ottoman metropolis, rife with quaint cafes, restaurants, workshops, and galleries. The beautiful slate-roofed hilltop town is the birthplace of both Enver Hoxha and Ismail Kadare, Albania’s world-renowned author. Below Gjirokaster’s 12th-century castle lies the intriguing Cold War Tunnel, an enormous bunker meant to protect the communist elite from an enemy invasion. Overnight in Gjirokaster. Boutique Hotel Bineri.

• Breakfast
• Boutique Hotel Bineri

As magical Gjirokaster remain behind us, we continue to the coastal town of Saranda, the southern hub of the pristine Albanian Riviera. A notable landmark on our Jewish tour are the remains of a 5-6th-century CE synagogue complex. The intricate mosaics contain stylized menorahs, citrons, and ram’s horns. South of Saranda lie the ruins of Butrint, which will transport you back in time some 2,500 years. From the ancient Greek and Roman periods, an agora, an acropolis, a theater, a basilica, and a bapsisterium are well preserved today. In the afternoon, we will board a speedboat, which will soon take us across the Ionian Sea to the mythic Greek island of Corfu. Overnight in Corfu. Mon Repos Palace 4*.

• Breakfast
• Mon Repos Palace

The town of Corfu is flanked by two Venetian fortresses, and you will also recognize the Venetian influence in the local architecture, street layout, and general atmosphere. Jewish presence on this Ionian island dates back to the 12th century, and the community thrived during Venetian rule (14th -18th century). Your walking tour of Corfu includes the lively Liston promenade, the Old Fortress, the Campielo quarter, the Jewish ghetto, the Holocaust Memorial, and the La Scuola Greca Synagogue. A few streets in the old town bear the names of prominent Jews. Free time in the afternoon to enjoy the bazaar alleyways, offering a wealth of olive oils, carved olivewood items, and much more.
Overnight in Corfu. Mon Repos Palace 4*.

• Breakfast
• Mon Repos Palace 4

Today you will delve into Corfu’s beautiful countryside, flanked by picturesque olive groves, mountains, and pristine woodland. Corfu is also the site of some of the best beaches in Greece, including Palaiokastritsa, Sidari and Kassiopi. In the afternoon, you’ll have some free time to enjoy more of Corfu Town and do some last-minute shopping and packing. We’ll end the day with a festive farewell dinner. Overnight in Corfu. Mon Repos Palace 4*.

• Breakfast
• Mon Repos Palace

Free time and departure.

• Breakfast