We Love —
- Strolling through magnificent UNESCO listed towns and learning the history of this remarkable country through included walking tours.
- Visiting stunning beaches where we can cool off with a swim and take in the lovely views.
- Staying comfortably in carefully selected 4* hotels with breakfast included each morning.
New Voyage Privé —
Carefully selected by our experts especially for you
Your Itinerary In Brief —
In a land steeped in history, discover the many treasures of Albania, a country not to be missed in the Balkans. Visit the remains of the Byzantine Empire, admire the beauty of its landscapes and immerse yourself in the cultural mix of its uniquely charming cities. During this 7-night tour, accompanied by a professional guide, soak up the richness of the territory.
Your itinerary:
Day 1: Airport - Berat
Day 2: Berat - Apollonia - Vlora
Day 3: Vlora - Butrint - Saranda
Day 4: Saranda - Blue Eye - Gjirokaster
Day 5: Gjirokaster - Durres - Tirana
Day 6: Tirana
Day 7: Tirana - Shkodra - Kruja
Day 8: Kruja - Airport
Your Itinerary In Detail —
Day 1: Berat
Meet with the guide and transfer to the charming UNESCO town of Berat.
Upon arrival, start touring the lower part of the city. The tour of the city will include the lower quarters and the upper fortress, passing by Ottoman laic architectures, Byzantine churches and elegant mosques.
Berat: is also known as “The Town of a Thousand Windows” due to the many large buildings that decorate the houses of the old town. The town is still renowned for its historic architecture and particular beauty and is declared as a world heritage site by UNESCO. Historical Berat consists of three quarters. The quarters of Gorica and Mangalem are situated on the slopes of two hills that are divided by the river Osum.
Check into your hotel and enjoy dinner. Overnight stay in Berat.
Day 2: Berat – Apollonia – Vlore
After the breakfast, continue the guided tour of Berat, the upper part.
The Kalaja (fortress) quarter stands on the top of the Magalemi hill and is enclosed by a fortification wall that dates back to the IV century BC. The town has several XV century mosques, very well decorated, and has numerous Byzantine orthodox churches. Several of the churches have frescoes by the well known painter Onufri and his school and from other later famous schools of frescos and icons of the Balkan area. Of particular interest are: The icon's museum located in the old cathedral church of the Castle and the Ethnographic museum hosted in an old house in the Mangalem quarter.
After the visit, drive towards the Archaeological Park of Apollonia, founded in 588 BC - walking tour of the park of Apollonia.
Apollonia: the ancient city of Apollonia of Illyria was founded at the beginning of the VII century B.C. by Greek colonies coming by the cities of Corinth and Corcyra. Apollonia became an emporium of merchandising between Greeks and Illyrians and was taken by Aristotle as a model in his analysis of oligarchy due to the distinct and separate Greek and Illyrian communities.
The city prospered very much in Roman times. It was a vital stronghold in Caesar’s civil war with Pompey and also important in early Christian history as the resident bishop attended the councils of Ephesus and Chalkis in 431 and 451. The discovered monuments on the site are: the fortification wall of the city, the Prytaneon, the Bouleterion, the big and small Stoas, the Odeion, the Theatre, the Nympheum and many more. The museum of Apollonia is hosted in the nearby monastery of the XIV century, when it can be visited also the Church of St. Mary. Continue to Vlora for a panoramic tour of the city.
Dinner and overnight stay in Vlora.
Day 3: Vlora – Butrint – Saranda
Leave the hotel towards the Albanian Riviera.
After a 1-hour drive, we will reach the National Park of Llogara. We will continue our tour that will bring us through the woods following the same paths that Julius Caesar together with his army followed to reach the ancient city of Apollonia where he fought his rival Pompeus. Here, we will enjoy a walk with breathtaking views and wonderful nature.
The Llogara National Park takes its name from a passage, which is over 1000 metres in height and extends along the road that from the city of Vlore goes toward the south of the country. This impressive panoramic Ionian road was built by Mussolini in the thirties. The park is characterized by a wild and untouched nature where the peaks of the “Malet Vetetimes” or the Mountains of the Lightings, are often surrounded by clouds.
Albanian Ionian Riviera, dubbed by some as “the last secret of Europe”, boasts stunning Mediterranean beaches. It’s a stretch of coastline between Vlore and Sarande, in south-west Albania. This is the most beautiful part of the coast in Albania, and also one of the most beautiful areas in the whole Ionian Sea. The road goes through breathtaking scenery, with mountains rising dramatically up from the coast and the deep blue sea shimmering in the sunlight.
The Ionian coast here is very rugged, with rocky coves along the narrow coastal strip and steep mountains rising almost straight up along much of its length. The sea along this part of the coast has clear blue water and the beaches are usually made of small pebbles, but there are also many sandy ones, especially in the south. Stop at “The Gulf of Porto Palermo” for a visit at the Fortress of Ali Pasha Tepelena situated on an attractive island. Our next stop will be the UNESCO site of Butrint.
Butrint: is a National Park that includes a very well-preserved archaeological area, an uncontaminated vegetation area of Mediterranean maquis, and has also a lake that is connected to the Ionian Sea by a natural channel. The wetlands around the lake are shelter for different animals and aquatic species in danger of extinction.
The complex of the sanctuary of Asclepius forms the most magnificent part of the city. The main importance and magnificence of the site was in the Roman period, when the City was proclaimed a Roman Colony and used by the Roman aristocracy as a holiday destination. Even during late antiquity, Butrint maintained its importance. The construction of the Great Basilica and of the baptistery dates to this period. The baptistery has the floor surface covered by a mosaic decoration of a very fine processing, which is very well-preserved.
Dinner and overnight stay in Saranda.
Day 4: Saranda – Blue Eye – Gjirokaster
After the breakfast, we will drive towards the UNESCO town Gjirokastra. En route visit of the water spring of Blue Eye declared a Monument of Nature.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is known by many as the City of Stone and has hundreds of Ottoman-style tower houses with distinctive stone roofs, wooden balconies and whitewashed stone walls. Dominated by the sheer flanks of its vast castle, Gjirokastra is a magical city with a tumultuous past. From feudal stronghold to Ottoman jewel to Italian colony, the city has known many rulers and has inspired poets, authors and artists. A walk around the network of cobbled streets will transport you back in time. A visit to the vast 13th-century Castle brings the adventurous tales of medieval rulers and communist atrocities alive.
Dinner and overnight stay in Gjirokastër.
Day 5: Gjirokaster – Durres - Tirane
After the breakfast, leave Gjirokastra and drive towards the Albanian capital, Tirana.
En route visit of the coastal city of Durres.
Durres: is the main port and the second-biggest city in the country. Some important archaeological monuments that testify to the glorious past of the city during different periods of history are: The ancient city walls, the Roman amphitheatre and baths, the Byzantine forum, the Venetian tower, the Ottoman hammam.
The city offers a range of interesting buildings and museums such as: the Archaeological Museum, The Exhibition of Folk Culture hosted in a very elegant house of Ottoman architecture, The museum of History etc. Of interest to be seen are the Italian building constructed in between the WWI and WWII that now hosts the Municipality, the Cultural centre with the Aleksander Moisiu Theatre, the main Library, the philharmonic orchestra etc.
Continue to Tirana and enjoy a free afternoon. Dinner and overnight stay in Tirana.
Day 6: Tirana
After breakfast start exploring Tirana including visits to the National Museum, BunArt 2, House of leaves and Et’hem Beg Mosque. The oldest discovery in downtown Tirana was a Roman house, later transformed into an aisleless church with a mosaic-floor, dating back to the 3rd century A.D.
Modern Tirana was founded as an Ottoman town in 1614 by Sulejman Bargjini, a local ruler from Mullet. Tirana became Albania’s capital city in 1920 and has a population of 600,000. The city is host to many public institutions, public and private universities, and is the centre of the political, economic and cultural life of the country.
Dinner and overnight stay in Tirana.
Day 7: Tirana – Shkodra – Kruja
After breakfast leave Tirana, head north and reach Shkodra. Upon arrival, go on a walking tour of Shkoder – visit Rozafa’s Castle, the city centre with its monuments and Marubi Museum.
Shkoder: set on the banks of a sparkling lake at the foot of the wild and rugged mountains of High Albania, Shkodra, was once the largest and most flourishing town in the country. Even today, it remains the cradle of northern Albanian culture. Its mighty fortress, Rozafa, still rises proudly over the Drin and Buna Rivers as a symbol of Shkodra's will to survive. Shkodra itself was a hybrid town. The half-Catholic, half-Muslim population was western-oriented and had close ties with Italy. Shkodra’s turbulent, 2400-year history has left plenty of interesting relics that make a visit worthwhile.
After the visits continue to the famous Agrotourism organic farm for a small tour and enjoy lunch from the local products followed by a tour of the city of Kruja, visiting the Ethnographic museum, the Castle Ruins, Scanderbeg museum and the old bazaar.
Kruja: having survived for thousands of years, nearly disappeared at the beginning of the 20th Century and been brought back to life during the last 50 years. Some main points of interests include the restored Castle and Citadel.
Dinner and overnight stay in Kruja.
Day 8: Kruja - Airport
After breakfast, you will have some free time before leaving to the airport for your flight back home.
Your Hotels —
HAND-PICKED JUST FOR YOU
During your tour, you will stay in Standard Rooms at the following hotels (or similar):
In Berat: Hotel Mangalemi 4* (or similar)
In Vlora: Regina city hotel 4* (or similar)
In Sanranda: Brilant Hotel 4* (or similar)
In Gjirokastra: Hotel Argjiro 4* (or similar)
In Tirana: Hotel Oxford 4* (or similar)
In Kruje: Hotel Panorama 4* (or similar)
Possibility to stay in a single room with supplement.
Your Dining Choices
This offer is based on a Bed and Breakfast stay.
Your Journey to Albany —
Flights:
You may choose from Economy, Premium or Business class flights on sectors that they operate, at the next stage of the booking process. The flights included are with either a scheduled or no-frills airline and are subject to live availability and prices can change. You can choose your preferred departure times during the booking process. Please select your flight options carefully as departure and arrival airports may differ.
Your Destination —
Tirana
The capital city of Albania, Tirana, has been completely transformed since its Communist days, Now, colourful buildings line the streets, with pedestrianised squares dotted across the city, which has a decidedly festive feel.
Hang out drinking raki and rubbing shoulders with the locals in a trendy bar, walk along boulevards featuring relics from Albania's Ottoman, Italian, and communist past, and pop into one of the local museums to truly get a taste for Albania's chaotic historical past.
