Dubrovnik to Tirana: Self-Launched Balkans Explorer (Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Albania, Kosovo)

Get out of Dubrovnik early: the seasonal bus from Dubrovnik bus station to Mostar takes around 3–3.5 hours (roughly £12–15, book on GetByBus or buy at the station; there are also direct buses from near Gruž port). Drop bags at a hostel in the Old Town area (Hostel Miran, Hostel Majdas or similar, ~£15–20 dorm / £30 double). Spend the afternoon on Stari Most — watch the divers, then cross into the Kujundžiluk old bazaar for coppersmith stalls. Visit the Biščević House Ottoman residence (~£3) and pay the small entry to climb a mosque minaret or the Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque for the classic bridge view. Dinner of ćevapi and baklava in the bazaar, ~£8–10.

🚌Local bus Dubrovnik–Mostar, ~3.5 hrs, ~£13

🛏Hostel/guesthouse in Mostar Old Town (dorm ~£16, private ~£30)

• →Stari Most and the divers
• →Kujundžiluk Old Bazaar
• →Biščević House (~£3)
• →Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque viewpoint (~£4)

Take the early morning train from Mostar to Sarajevo — one of Europe's most scenic rail routes, around 2 hours and only about £5–6 (book ahead on the ŽFBH site in summer). In Sarajevo take a free walking tour (tip-based, ~£8–10 tip) covering Baščaršija bazaar, the Ottoman quarter, the Latin Bridge where Franz Ferdinand was assassinated, and the Austro-Hungarian streetscape. Grab a Bosnian coffee at Caffe Divan or anywhere in Baščaršija (~£2). If you'd rather not rush it, stay the night in Sarajevo (Hostel Balkan Han or similar, ~£15–20) and take the morning train back the next day — this is the more relaxed self-launched approach and still cheap. Return train ~£6.

🚌Train Mostar–Sarajevo return, ~£11 total

🛏Hostel/guesthouse in Sarajevo or Mostar (dorm ~£16)

• →Free walking tour of Sarajevo (tip-based)
• →Latin Bridge
• →Baščaršija bazaar and Bosnian coffee
• →Optional: Tunnel of Hope (~£5)

Morning local bus or shared taxi (about 15 min, ~£2) to Blagaj to see the Ottoman tekija at the mouth of the Buna spring and the old riverside houses — entry to the tekija is a few euros. Back to Mostar, then take the afternoon bus to Kotor (around 4 hrs via Trebinje, ~£15–18, one or two daily services; GetByBus shows times). Alternatively bus Mostar–Trebinje (~£6) then Trebinje–Kotor (~£8). In Kotor, check into a hostel inside the old town walls (~£18–22 dorm / £35 double). Wander the Old Town, see Saint Luke's Church and Saint Tryphon Cathedral, and climb part of the city walls if you have daylight left (free, ~£2 optional section fee).

🚌Local bus/shared taxi Blagaj return ~£4; bus Mostar–Kotor ~£16

🛏Old Town hostel/guesthouse, Kotor (~£20 dorm, ~£38 private)

• →Blagaj tekija and Buna spring
• →Kotor Old Town
• →Saint Luke's Church
• →Kotor city walls walk

Take a local bus from Kotor to Budva (about 45 min, ~£3). Walk the walled Budva Old Town — St. Ivan Church and Santa Maria in Punta — and swim at one of the nearby beaches. Local bus onwards to Sveti Stefan viewpoint (~£1) for the postcard photo of the islet. From Budva, take the bus south to Shkoder via Ulcinj/Dobra Voda (roughly 4–5 hrs including a border crossing, ~£12–15; check GetByBus / BalkanViator the day before). In Shkoder, a guesthouse near the centre or by Lake Shkoder costs ~£15–20 dorm or ~£25–30 private. Visit Rozafa Castle on foot or by local taxi (~£1–3 in, small entry) and find Buna river life at sunset.

🚌Kotor–Budva ~£3; Budva–Sveti Stefan ~£1; Budva–Shkoder ~£13

🛏Shkoder guesthouse/hostel (~£18 dorm, ~£30 private)

• →Budva Old Town
• →Sveti Stefan viewpoint
• →Rozafa Castle
• →Lake Shkoder shoreline walk

Book a taxi or arrange a local transfer to Mrizi i Zanave agrotourism near Fishtë/Lezhë (about 30–40 min, ~£15–20 each way shared; alternatively take a bus towards Lezhë and ask the driver to stop at the farm). Reserve lunch ahead directly by phone/email — the farm-to-table slow food tasting menu is ~£20–25 and is the highlight of the day. The farm shop sells cheese, raki and preserves. Continue by bus from Lezhë/Shkoder to Prizren (via Pristina or direct minivans, ~4 hrs, ~£12–15). Guesthouse in Prizren old town ~£15–18 dorm / ~£28–32 private. Evening stroll past the Sinan Pasha Mosque, the old stone bridge and the bazaar's filigree shops.

🚌Local transfer/taxi to Mrizi i Zanave ~£18; bus to Prizren ~£13

🛏Prizren old town guesthouse (~£17 dorm, ~£30 private)

• →Mrizi i Zanave farm tour
• →Farm-to-table lunch (reserve direct)
• →Sinan Pasha Mosque
• →Prizren Fortress sunset view
• →Filigree craft shops

Take the morning bus or shared minivan from Prizren to Gjakova (~45 min, ~£3) for the Grand Bazaar, the oldest in Kosovo, and the artisan workshops including the çifteli/lute makers. Bus onwards to Decan (~1 hr, ~£4) to visit the Serbian Orthodox Visoki Dečani Monastery (free entry, dress modestly, no photos inside; bring ID). Then a local taxi or bus to Rahovec (~30 min, ~£5), where Kosovo's wine valley is centred — Stone Castle and the smaller family wineries around Rahovec/Kamenica offer tastings from about £6–10, but you must book at least two days ahead (a lesson from the original tour's reviews). Return to Prizren by evening bus/minivan (~£5).

🚌Buses/minivans Prizren–Gjakova–Decan–Rahovec–Prizren, ~£18 total

🛏Prizren old town guesthouse (~£17 dorm, ~£30 private)

• →Gjakova Grand Bazaar and artisan workshops
• →Visoki Dečani Monastery (free)
• →Rahovec wine tasting (pre-book, ~£8)
• →Evening in Prizren bazaar

Long travel day: bus or minivan Prizren to Tirana (about 3.5–4 hrs via the highway, ~£12–15; several daily minivans from the bus station). From Tirana, take a local furgon/bus to Kruja (~1 hr, ~£2) to see Kruja Castle, the Skanderbeg Museum (small entry) and the Medieval Old Bazaar with carpets, jewellery and handmade goods — this is where you'll want your souvenir budget. Back to Tirana in the afternoon; check into a hostel or budget apartment near Blloku or the centre (~£15–20 dorm / ~£30–35 private). Evening at the New Bazaar area with a cheap Albanian dinner of tavë kosi or grilled meats (~£8).

🚌Minivan Prizren–Tirana ~£13; bus Tirana–Kruja return ~£4

🛏Tirana hostel/budget apartment near centre (~£18 dorm, ~£33 private)

• →Kruja Castle and Skanderbeg Museum (~£3)
• →Medieval Old Bazaar shopping
• →Tirana New Bazaar at night

Book a small-group Tirana food walking tour on GetYourGuide, Klook or a local provider (around £28–35 for 3+ hours) — these cover byrek, Çam Bazaar, the New Bazaar street markets, second-hand alleys, Albanian grape raki and a traditional sit-down meal. If you'd rather self-launch it, do the walk yourself: byrek from a bakery (~£1), a coffee at Komiteti, raki at a bazaar bar (~£2), and a long lunch at a New Bazaar tavern (~£10). Finish at Skanderbeg Square. Book an onward bus or a cheap hostel night if you're flying out the next day — the extra night is not included in the tour price either way.

🚌Walking in Tirana; airport bus ~£2.50

🛏Own arrangement / pre-booked hostel (~£18 if staying on)

• →Tirana food walking tour (book on GetYourGuide/Klook, ~£30)
• →Çam Bazaar
• →New Bazaar street markets
• →Albanian raki tasting
• →Skanderbeg Square