YPT Tours to Kosovo

Our Kosovo tours are unique and also the gateway to many other interesting countries. Since 2008, Kosovo is an independent nation, separated from Serbia and keeping its strong ethnic identity and links to Albania. Despite having a wealth of natural beauty, hospitable locals and an abundance of history from ancient to modern, the land-locked country is still very underrated and less travelled than its neighbours.

Kosovo underwent a gruelling civil war to gain independence after the fall of the iron curtain. Since then, it has become safe for travel with a lot to offer. It is progressing towards a brighter future and trying to shake off the stigma left from their dark pasts. We like to explore the country in depth from the isolated villages deep in the mountains to the cities cut in two by fierce ethnic tensions between Serbian and Kosovars.

You’ll see that the Balkans are rich with history, diversity, culture and beautiful scenery. It is more than a region haunted by Nazi occupation and concentration camps, with decaying and forgotten spomeniks (monuments) scattered around.

Kosovo is but one of seven countries of former Yugoslavia, each unique despite their shared history, where you’ll meet genuine people and learn and about their language, cultures, and political views. A mixture of ancient and modern history through times of peace and conflicts makes this a truly unique place to visit.

Group Tours to Kosovo

YPT runs group tours to Kosovo as part of our Ultimate Yugoslavia Tour, which offers several groups and variations to pick from. 

Ultimate Yugoslavia Tour: Tito’s Winter – November 22^nd-December 3^rd, 2024 – €795 – €1695

Ultimate Yugoslavia Tour – May 16^th-27^th, 2025 – €795 – €1695

Independent Tours to Kosovo

YPT can arrange Kosovo tours deep into the country, leveraging on its network of local partners, or link it with tours to other parts of the former Yugoslavia such as as Croatia, Serbia, North Macedonia, Montenegro or Bosnia and Herzegovina. Overland trips to Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Transnistria, and beyond are possible as well. Prices depend on the number of people and what level of accommodation you desire, but YPT can arrange everything you need for a perfect independent Kosovo tour.

Below is an example Kosovo tour for a post-WWII and post-soviet city experience. This can be extended or combined with other activities to create independent tours. 

Example of a 3-day Kosovo Post-WWII and Post-Soviet Itinerary

Day 1 – Arrival in Pristina

• Arrival at your own leisure into Pristina, the capital city of one of the youngest countries in the world: Kosovo!
• Check into our very comfortable private apartments at in Pristina. The apartments are run by a very hospitable Kosovan family who kept this business going even through the darkest days of the Kosovo War.
• Meet with your YPT guide in the afternoon. We’ll then head downtown and check out the fascinating ethnographic museum detailing life in a traditional Kosovar home in centuries gone by.
• Visit the museum of Kosovo with discarded artillery and weapons left over from the war. Usually devoid of visitors, this museum details the ancient history of this land and covers their brutal fight for independence.
• For dinner we visit a local Kosovan restaurant for delicious food and to warm ourselves up with their homemade rakija!
• Overnight in private apartment in Pristina.

Day 2 – Pristina

• We’ll have a leisurely morning, starting the day with breakfast before we’ll explore this amazing region.
• Once we’re ready, we’ll head out to Gračanica – the town has a majority Serbian population. Located in the centre is the beautiful monastery built in 1321, we’ll need to dress appropriately when entering.
• We’ll continue to the Bear Sanctuary, a fantastic institution that houses bears rescued from performances in Kosovo. These bears were snatched from their mothers as cubs by animal poachers and sold to restaurants, only to be kept in small cages to attract customers. Thankfully in 2010 it became illegal to privately own bears.
• After seeing these amazing intelligent animals we’ll head back to Pristina to visit the National Library of Kosovo, which was met with controversies due to its appearance. The library was vital during the Yugoslav Wars, providing shelter for refugees. Unfortunately the site was also used as a command centre for the Serbian Forces resulting in the destruction of important Albanian literature.
• We’ll also visit the much loved Bill Clinton monument and get a group picture with the 42nd President.
• We’ll have lunch at a local restaurant, we recommend trying the local delicacy Sarma – cabbage leaves stuffed with minced meat, rice, and onions.

Afternoon

• Once we’re ready, we’ll head into Mitrovica. The city is divided by the River Ibar and ethnicity with the North being Serbian and the South Kosovan. The divided city has been the scene of numerous bloody fights and international incidents.
• We’ll cross the tense bridge which is guarded by international peacekeepers, and enter the Serbian side. Despite being the same city, it feels like you’re crossing into a different nation.
• Here, we’ll get to explore the city starting with huge political murals honouring Serbian commanders, generals, and paramilitaries. Along the way we’ll visit a bizarre souvenir shop that sells every pro-Russian, pro-Putin and pro-Serbian thing you can imagine!
• Once everyone’s ready and bought their souvenirs, we’ll head to the top of town, where there’s a monument dedicated to the Serbian and Albanian partisans who fought against Nazi Germany. From here we can enjoy the incredible views over this divided city.
• We’ll have dinner in Mitrovica near the river taking in the evening atmosphere and celebrating our final night together before heading back to Pristina. For those wishing to stay out and celebrate can freely do so.
• Overnight stay in Pristina.

Day 3 – Pristina – Brod

• Wake up early to board our private bus for the extremely scenic four hour drive to Brod.
• Brod is populated by the Gorani people. The Gorani have a total population of roughly 50,000 people. They are primarily sheep and cattle herders, but also have a cartel network of dessert/sweet shops. They live in a very geographically small mountainous area of the most southern part of Kosovo, in and near the city of Dragash just south of Prizren. The Gorani have their own language, which is a Torlakian Slavic language, related to Serbian and Macedonian, with Albanian and Turkish loanwords.
• We will stop for lunch at the new hotel that has been built just on the outskirts of Brod.
• We leave our luggage in the hotel and take our time walking around the old village, where there are numerous chances for some great photos and some wonderful hiking routes.
• The village was heavily damaged during the Kosovo war as both Serbian troops and Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) militias operated in the area. Many homes are still ruined by artillery and NATO strikes. Some of the walls of buildings are still daubed with ‘Allahu Akbar’’, faded graffiti left by the KLA.
• In the late afternoon we complete our check in and grant some time for everybody to gather themselves.
• We will have a leisurely dinner together, reminiscing about the tour impressions. For sure there´s also time for a beer or two!
• Overnight in Brod

Day 4 – Brod

• Breakfast in hotel before the tour concludes. YPT can arrange further transfers from here.

From here you can join us further into the former Yugoslavia, go on a tour to Albania, Bulgaria, or venture further on by yourself.

Bespoke tours to Kosovo

As part of our travel packages within Central and Eastern Europe, we can offer bespoke and independent tours to Kosovo. These can be done as full Kosovo tours or be combined with other countries. 

For more information on the following programs, simply get in touch. 

Eco-Travel in Kosovo

Young Pioneer Tours can arrange trips to the lesser seen places of Kosovo, such as the rural areas that cater to eco-tourism within the country. Eco tourism is still in development here, but the two main national parks of Sharr and Bjeshkët e Nemuna invite for authentic experiences in nature. Also many of the smaller towns and villages of the country invite for “soul-vacation”.

Kosovo to North Macedonia Overland Tour

Starting with the exploration of Pristina and its surroundings we will then head to Skopje, North Macedonia´s fascinating capital. After two nights in Kosovo, we enter the country of North Macedonia to learn about its role in the communist era and how it successfully blends tradition with the modern world.

Kosovo to Albania Overland Tour

Starting with the exploration of Pristina and its surroundings we will then head via the city of Prizren to Tirana, Albania’s exciting capital. You’ll discover a beautiful, friendly and welcoming country which was overshadowed by Enver Hoxha totalitarian regime. The transition from the socialist era to today´s status quo is truly a fascinating one.

Kosovo Hiking Tour

Escape the bustling cities of Kosovo and breathe in the fresh mountain air on a hiking tour to Liqenati Lake in the Rugova Mountains. Trek through the Accursed Mountains along parts of the Via Dinarica and Peaks of the Balkans hiking trails to reach this serene glacial lake.

Underground Kosovo Tours

Pristina, Mitrovica, and the wider country have some amazing dark tourism, urbex and contemporary historical sites that few tourists get to see. Working with our local partners, YPT can arrange and underground and dark tourism tours to Kosovo. Get in touch to have a bespoke itinerary planned for you. 

Wine Tasting Tour

For thousands of years, Kosovo has been renowned for its high-quality grape, wine, and brandy production, particularly in the Dukagjini Plain and the Anadrini region, with notable areas including Rahovec, Theranda, Prizren, Gjakova, and Malisheva. You can go on a wine tasting tour of one of these regions, or you can visit one of Kosovo´s many wineries run by local families. 

Filming in Kosovo
Through our media arm Pioneer Media we can make arrangements for productions, journalists, or others, to film within Kosovo from big budget to guerrilla productions. We can also arrange meetings in country, as well as correct visas for journalist wishing to do projects within the country.

Frequently asked Questions about travel to Kosovo

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