Albania and Montenegro (Small Group)

Touch down in Tirana and make your own way to the hotel. No fuss, no faff, just bags dropped and holiday mode officially switched on. Later, meet your Travel Director and small group travellers to get your first taste of Albania's lively capital on an orientation of the local area. Think buzzing streets, bold flavours and that brilliant “where have you been all my life? ” kind of energy.

Tonight, perhaps head out to dinner with your fellow travellers, or keep things low-key and do your own thing. New place, new crew, new stories. Not a bad way to start.

Start your day with your Travel Director on an orientation walk through Tirana, a capital that does not do boring. See Skanderbeg Square, stroll along Bulevardi Dëshmorët e Kombit and check out the Pyramid of Tirana, a landmark with more twists than a good holiday story. Then, the city is yours. Grab a coffee, follow your curiosity or head to Bunk'Art 2 Museum for a deep dive into Albania's communist past.

Tonight, keep doing Tirana your way, or join a Choice Experience dinner packed with Albanian flavour, culture and proper local character.

Wave goodbye to Tirana and roll into the hills of central Albania, where vineyards, farmland and big road-trip views do their thing. In Berat, meet Gladiola with your small group for a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience that comes with rose juice, rakija, Turkish delight and a brilliant local story. She's part of a growing movement of women shaking up heritage tourism, supporting female producers and keeping traditional skills firmly in the spotlight. Then, get your bearings in Berat's UNESCO-listed old town, from the Mangalem Quarter to Gorica Bridge and the riverfront.

Later, it's on to Gjirokaster for a wander through its atmospheric bazaar. Old stones, bold stories, great snacks. Very Albanian.

The Albanian Riviera is ready to show off. Roll towards Porto Palermo, where bright blue water, rugged coastline and the Castle of Ali Pasha bring the drama in all the right ways. Have a poke around, climb into the castle if you fancy it and soak up views that do not need a filter. The coast keeps delivering as you head to Himare for free time along the beachfront. Swim, stroll, snack, people-watch or do absolutely nothing with great confidence. Your Riviera road trip wraps in Vlore, where sea air, mountain backdrops and laid-back coastal buzz are waiting.

Vlore is all yours, so spend it exactly how you like. Beach flop? Excellent choice. Seafront stroll? Also strong. Want to dial things up? Why not take a speed boat trip to the Karaburun Peninsula, Haxhi Ali Cave and Sazan Island, where the water is ridiculously blue and the coastline does not hold back. Swim, snap photos or just sit there smugly wondering why everyone is not in Albania right now. Back on dry land, the good stuff keeps coming with a Choice Experience for dinner at a local farm and vineyard. Coast by day, countryside by night. Very tidy planning.

The coast gets one last chance to show off as you head north, before the road turns inland towards Kruje. This mountain-backed town is small, mighty and packed with character. Join your Travel Director for an orientation through the old town and bazaar, where cobbled lanes, Ottoman-style stalls and souvenir temptation are all part of the deal. See the fortress, once the stronghold of Albania's national hero Skanderbeg, then enjoy free time to do Kruje your way. Museum? Coffee? Bargain-hunting? A slow wander with zero agenda? All valid. Stay the night here and soak up the old-world charm.

Cross into Montenegro and make a beeline for Budva, where the old town brings the charm and the Adriatic brings the sparkle. Walk its stone lanes with your Travel Director, past medieval walls, tucked-away squares and the kind of coastal views that make “just one more photo” a lie. Free time means lunch is on your terms, so grab something fresh, local and preferably with a sea view. There's also time for a swim, because when the Adriatic looks that good, it would be rude not to. Continue towards the Bay of Kotor for the night, where mountains, water and serious wow-factor are all waiting.

Kotor knows exactly what it's doing. Mountains? Check. Sparkly bay? Obviously. Old town packed with stone lanes, hidden corners and medieval swagger? Absolutely. Get your bearings with your Travel Director on an orientation of Kotor's UNESCO-listed old town, then the rest is yours to play with. Wander the squares, peek into churches, climb towards the fortress if your legs are feeling ambitious or settle in for a long coffee and some top-tier people-watching. No rush, no rigid plan. Just Kotor, your way.

The Kotor Serpentine Road is not here to be subtle. Twist your way up from the bay, with big mountain views, hairpin bends and scenery that keeps trying to steal the show. Roll into Cetinje, Montenegro's former royal capital, for a look at its elegant streets, old embassy buildings and proud little-city charm. Free time is yours to spend as you like. Visit King Nikola's Palace, grab a coffee or wander and see what catches your eye.

Cross into Croatia and continue to Mlini, where the coast is calling again. Why not round off your trip with dinner together in a local restaurant, raising a glass to the journey.

And just like that, your Albania, Montenegro and Croatia adventure wraps up after breakfast. Say goodbye to your Travel Director and small group travellers, then head off with a camera roll full of coastlines, castles and bazaar finds. From Tirana's buzz to Kotor's bay and Mlini's seaside charm, this trip did not exactly hold back. Departure day? Yes. End of the stories? Not a chance.