Albaniaʹs eventful history sets in very early: Illyrians, Greeks, Romans and Byzantines left behind quite noticeable traces until today in the small mountainous Balkan country. Later on almost all middle European countries followed, most of them as occupiers which used the country as a bridgehead for further expansions. We will be dealing with the five centuries lasting Ottoman occupation and the resistance under the leadership of the National hero Skanderbeg. With the late first establishment of the state at the beginning of the 20th century, with the two World Wars, with the consequences of the Italian and German occupation and the Albanian partisans’ resistance. But also with the five decades of communist dictatorship in total paranoiac isolation which ended up at the beginning of the 1990s in a transformation process up to democracy. A strenuous path for the small Balkan country until modern times since the majority of the population was making a living as shepherds and farmers.
Explore Albania
ABOUT TRIP
DAY 1
The tourist group arrives in the Mother Theresa Airport. We welcome the group and assist them with the luggages-Transfer to Tirana by bus. Accommodation in a 3 star Hotel near the city center – Guided visits in: Scanderbeg Square, Ethem-Beu Mosque, ex-residential area “The Block”, Pyramid, Historical parts of Tirana, Tabak’s Bridge, Historic Museum etc. Traditional Albanian Dinner.
Overnight: Tirana.
DAY 2
Breakfast in Tirana – Departure to Berat- On the way to Berat we make a stop in Durres to visit the Roman Amphitheatre – In Berat we first visit the Castle Berat. – After the Castle we visit Onufri Museum and the Etnographic Museum- Accommodation – According to the desire of the group we can have lunch in Restorant Mangalemi (on group expenses) – After lunch we will visit another section of the city called “Gorica”- Dinner in “White House” Restorant.
Overnight: Berat.
DAY 3
Breakfast in Berat – Departure to the city of Vlora – Visit Ardenica Monastery – Visit the archeological center of Apolloni and the monastery. Optional: lunch in Apollonia – Visit the Flag Square in Vlora – Short break in Vlora near Hotel Bolonja and free time. – Accommodation near Radhima beach-Free time to swim-Dinner in hotel.
Overnight: Vlora.
DAY 4
Breakfast in Radhime-Vlore -Drive to Saranda through Llogara, Himara, Borsh-Time to swim and lunch in Himara (lunch or picnic on group expenses). – Visit Porto Palermo Castle. Accommodation in Saranda-Guided Tour in the Archeological site of Butrinti.Traditional Albanian Dinner.
Overnight: Saranda.
DAY 5
Breakfast in Saranda-Departure for Gjirokaster-Visit Shen Koll monastery-Mesopotam. Visit Blue Eye and coffee-break – Arrival and accommodation in Gjirokaster in Cerçiz square – Lunch or picnic in the tourist site of Viroi, Gjirokaster-Visit of old center, market, mosque, castle, Zekate-house, time-off- Dinner at a traditional place.
Overnight: Gjirokastra.
DAY 6
Breakfast in Gjirokaster – Departure to Korça – Visit the Ali Pasha castle in Tepelene – Short photo stops through Vjosa valley and Gramoz Mountain – Picnic in the green near Erseka- Accommodation in Grand Hotel Korça. Walk through the old city, market, Orthodox Church and time off- Dinner at the hotel.
Overnight: Korca.
DAY 7
Breakfast in Korca. Departure from Korça to Kruja – Scenic route along Shkumbin-valley – Walk along Elbasan Castle (time permitting)- Depending on the time lunch will be somewhere near river Shkumbini and Librazhd or near Elbasan- Visit Petrela castle – Visit the Historical Center of Tirana.
Overnight: Tirana.
DAY 8
After breakfast, we drive to Shkodra. We visit Kruja the centre of Albanian resistance against the Turks under our national hero Scanderbeg. He kept them from crossing into Western Europe for 25 years, thus earning the title “Protector of Christianity” given by the Pope. We will visit the Skanderbeg Museum, a very rich Ethnographic Museum and the Old Bazaar. We drive northwest to Lezha to see mausoleum of Skanderbeg and the castel. Then you will head to Shkodra, one of the oldest cities in Balkans, the most important town of north Albania and the Illyrian capital, in the 3rd century BC. Dinner and overnight in Shkodra.
DAY 9
Breakfast at the hotel in Shkodra – We will also visit the Marubi Photographic Museum with a selection of prints of negatives taken in starting from the second half of the 19th century till the 1900-s, illustrating the life of the population of the area in that period. Take a walk in the newly renovated pedestrian area of Italian and Austrian architecture, testimony to this town historic links with both these countries. Drive to Rinas Airport. End of our service.
