Balkan Inbound is the Balkan side of our team: the same Tirana-based people behind Albania Inbound, running guided tours across Albania's neighbours and the wider Balkans. When a tour crosses a border, to Ohrid in North Macedonia, Prizren in Kosovo, Kotor in Montenegro or on a two-week journey to Dubrovnik, Sarajevo and beyond, it is our Balkan Inbound tour leaders who travel with you. This article explains who we are, where we go and what travelling the Balkans with us looks like, with photos from our recent groups.
Balkan Inbound at a glance
| Who we are | The Balkan tours team of Albania Inbound, one company and one team |
|---|---|
| Based in | Tirana, Albania |
| What we run | Multi-country Balkan tours, day trips across the border from Tirana, and private group trips |
| Countries on our tours | Albania, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Greece, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Slovenia, Bulgaria and Romania |
| Tour length | From one-day trips to a 16-day tour of all the Balkan countries |
| On every tour | An English-speaking tour leader, transport and the border crossings arranged for you |
| Traveller rating | 4.9 out of 5 from more than 400 reviews on our website |
Eleven countries, one team that lives here, and a tour leader beside you at every border.
Why Balkan Inbound exists
The Balkans are best understood together. The same Ottoman bazaars, Byzantine churches, Venetian walls and Yugoslav-era stories run through the whole region, across borders that are often only a few hours apart. Albania sits at the centre of it, and Tirana is a natural starting point for exploring the neighbours.
That is why our tours do not stop at the border. Albania Inbound is our name for travel inside Albania; Balkan Inbound is the name you will see on the T-shirts, flags and banners when a trip takes you across the region, whether to Ohrid, Prizren and Kotor or as far as Dubrovnik and Sarajevo.
Albania Inbound and Balkan Inbound: what is the difference?
| Albania Inbound | Balkan Inbound | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Albania: tours, day trips and holidays inside the country | The Balkans: tours that cross into neighbouring countries |
| Typical trips | Berat, Gjirokastra, the Riviera, the Albanian Alps | Ohrid, Prizren, Kotor, Dubrovnik, Mostar, Sarajevo |
| Team | The same Tirana-based team, the same booking, the same standards | |
Where we go
Day trips across the border from Tirana
Three neighbouring countries are close enough to visit in a day, with pick-up from your hotel and the border crossing handled for you:
- North Macedonia: the Ohrid and St Naum day tour, with a local guide in Ohrid's old town. See our Ohrid tour, stop by stop.
- Kosovo: the Prizren and Prishtina day tour, to the cultural capital and the capital city.
- Montenegro: the Budva or Kotor day tour on the Adriatic coast.
Short Balkan tours: 3 to 6 days
- Visit the Balkans in 3 Days: North Macedonia, Skopje and Prishtina, then Prizren and Kruja.
- Albania and Kosovo in 5 Days: Tirana, Berat, Kruja, Prizren, Peja and Prishtina.
- Visit the Balkans in 6 Days: Gjirokastra, the Meteora monasteries in Greece, North Macedonia, Skopje, Prishtina, Peja, Prizren and Kruja.
- Albania, Macedonia, Kosovo and Montenegro in 6 Days: Berat, Skopje, Prishtina, Prizren, Shkodra, Budva and Kotor.
Grand Balkan journeys: 10 to 16 days
- Full Balkan Experience in 10 Days: Berat, Ohrid, Skopje, Prishtina, Prizren, the Shala River, Budva and Kotor, Dubrovnik, Mostar and Sarajevo.
- Tour of Yugoslavia in 12 Days: from Ljubljana through Croatia, Mostar, Sarajevo, Serbia and Niš, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Ohrid and Albania to Montenegro.
- East Balkans: Albania to Romania in 14 Days: Tirana, Gjirokastra, Ksamil and Butrint, Berat, Ohrid, Skopje, Kosovo, Rila and Sofia, Veliko Tarnovo, Bucharest and Transylvania.
- All the Balkan Countries in 16 Days: from Sofia and Plovdiv through Serbia, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Ohrid, Albania, Montenegro, Dubrovnik, Mostar, Sarajevo, Plitvice and Zagreb to Slovenia.
Not sure how much to fit in? Our two-week Balkans itinerary shows how the countries link together.
What travelling with us looks like
Every Balkan Inbound tour runs with an English-speaking tour leader who stays with the group, handles the border crossings and keeps the day moving. In places with deep history, such as Ohrid, a local guide joins for the walking tour. The transport is arranged by us, so the long drives between countries happen in one vehicle with your luggage, not on a chain of buses.
We travel with small groups on our confirmed departures, with couples and families, and with large private groups like the one in Kruja above: friends, clubs, schools and companies who want a trip built around their own dates. Tell us about yours through our private group request.
Why travel the Balkans with a local team
- Borders without the stress. We know the crossings, the paperwork and the busy times, and we plan the days around them.
- One plan across many countries. Hotels, transport and guides are arranged by one team, so nothing falls between the gaps.
- Stories, not just sights. The region's history is complicated and connected. Our tour leaders explain how the places you visit fit together.
- Someone to call. A team in Tirana that answers when plans change.
Tips for a multi-country Balkan trip
- Carry your passport. Some neighbours accept ID cards for certain nationalities, but a passport works everywhere. Check visa rules for each country on your route.
- Expect several currencies. Albania uses the lek, North Macedonia the denar and Serbia the dinar, while Kosovo, Montenegro and Croatia use the euro. Cards are widely accepted in cities; carry some cash for small places.
- Allow time at the borders, especially on summer weekends.
- Check your phone plan. Roaming rules differ from country to country.
- Pack for changing weather. A day can start on the coast and end in the mountains.
Frequently asked questions
What is Balkan Inbound?
Balkan Inbound is the Balkan tours team of Albania Inbound, a tour operator based in Tirana. It runs guided tours from Albania into North Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro and the rest of the Balkans, from day trips to 16-day journeys.
Is Balkan Inbound the same company as Albania Inbound?
Yes. It is the same Tirana-based team. Albania Inbound covers travel inside Albania, and the Balkan Inbound name is used on tours that cross into neighbouring countries. You book both in the same place.
Which countries do Balkan Inbound tours visit?
Albania, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Greece, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Slovenia, Bulgaria and Romania, depending on the tour.
What is the shortest Balkan tour you offer?
A one-day trip from Tirana to Ohrid in North Macedonia, to Prizren and Prishtina in Kosovo, or to Budva or Kotor in Montenegro. The shortest multi-country tour is Visit the Balkans in 3 Days.
Do you organise private Balkan tours for groups?
Yes. We build trips for private groups of friends, clubs, schools and companies around their own dates and interests. Send your dates and group size through our private group request form.
Do I need a passport for a Balkan tour from Albania?
Yes, bring your passport. Some countries accept national ID cards for certain nationalities, but a passport is accepted on every crossing. Check whether you need a visa for each country on the route.
How do I book a Balkan Inbound tour?
Choose your tour on our website and book online, or join one of our confirmed departures. For a private trip, send us a request and we will plan it with you.
