Best of Albania & North Macedonia: National Parks & Local Life

After you enroll, we’ll ask you to provide or update your personal information and preferences, which includes your health information, lodging and meal preferences for your program.

A passport is required for this program. It must be valid for at least 6 months after your return date.

This information about travel documents pertains to participants holding U.S. passports. Non-U.S. citizens should refer to their country's requirements to ensure they have the necessary documentation for travel.

United States citizens don’t need a visa for any of the countries you’ll be visiting. Non-U.S. citizens should refer to their country's requirements to ensure they have the necessary documentation for travel.

There is currently no proof of vaccination, COVID-19 passport/certificate or COVID-19 tests required to enter Albania/North Macedonia. None of the countries visited on this program have specific inoculations required for entry. However, the CDC recommends all visitors entering these countries to be up to date on their vaccinations for Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Tetanus, Measles, Chickenpox, Polio and the flu. We encourage all participants to discuss their travel plans and personal health with their health care provider prior to the program.

If Road Scholar is arranging your air travel to and from the program, and you travel on the scheduled start and end dates, you’ll receive free round-trip transfers from the airport to the hotel.

Arrival day is on October 21, 2026

Meet the group at Tirana International Hotel in Tirana

Start of Trip:  3:00 p.m. hotel check-in; 6:00 p.m. Orientation in hotel meeting room followed by Welcome Dinner.

Getting to the site: Taxis are available outside Tirana International Airport (TIA) to help you reach your program hotel. The journey should take approximately 25–30 minutes and cost you between 20–30 USD (18–28 €). Most taxis accept cash only, so it is recommended to exchange money to Euros or Albanian Lek (ALL) before leaving the airport. For a public transportation alternative, you may take the official Rinas Express airport shuttle to Skanderbeg Square in the city center. The shuttle departs every hour between 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM and can be found right outside the arrivals terminal. The ride takes about 30–35 minutes and costs approximately 5 USD (400 ALL) per person. Payment is accepted in cash onboard.

Getting to the site by train or bus: Ferry, bus and train also operate in the region.

Your trip ends on: Monday, November 2, 2026 in Skopje at Hotel Holiday Inn

End of Trip: 4:00 a.m. for earliest transfers to airport. Transfers continuing through the day depending on flight departure times. 12:00 Noon hotel check-out. Breakfast or breakfast boxes available.

Getting to the airport: Taxis to Skopje International Airport (SKP) are available from your program hotel. The journey should take approximately 25 – 30 minutes and cost you between 18 – 25 USD (17 – 23 EUR). Ask the hotel to help you make these arrangements. Please note that taxis in North Macedonia rarely accept credit cards, so be sure to exchange money to Macedonian Denars (MKD) or Euros (EUR) before your departure from the hotel.

Information if you are purchasing your own airfare: Participants who have not purchased airfare through Road Scholar are responsible for making their own transfer arrangements to the first site at the beginning of the program, as well as from the last site at the end of the program. The Information Packet Road Scholar sends in advance of the program includes details needed to make your transfer arrangements. If you wish to purchase airfare through Road Scholar, please call (800) 241-1404. Please note: In the unlikely event Road Scholar must make changes to the program's arrival or departure details, we will notify all participants as soon as possible. Participants who have purchased Road Scholar airfare are protected against airline change fees; however, anyone who has not purchased Road Scholar airfare will be required to make their own adjustments and may incur fees imposed by the airline.