Route notes
Why this routing works
This itinerary is structured in two clear sections: a North America flight sequence followed by a Europe return segment after an overland break. Starting and ending in Porto keeps the long-haul ticket anchored at the same point, while the open-jaw between Quebec and Skopje allows the trip to pause flying and resume later in the Balkans.
Within North America, the routing moves west to east in manageable steps: Phoenix for 13 nights, Portland for 12, Minneapolis for 3, and Quebec for 19. That sequencing reduces backtracking and works well for travelers who want a mix of longer stays with one shorter transit-style stop before the transatlantic break.
The Quebec to Skopje gap is the key ticketing feature here. Because Skopje is reached overland, this is not a continuous around-the-world flight chain but a multi-stop itinerary with a surface sector built in. The final flight section then reconnects Skopje to Ljubljana and returns to Porto, closing the loop without requiring a flight back to Quebec.
At 9 weeks in economy, this sits in a practical long-duration range, with pricing from USD 2,312 to USD 3,527 based on a recent sold trip. A July departure places the trip in the July to September travel window, which is useful for travelers planning a summer schedule with multiple medium and long stopovers.