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Closed to outsiders for much of the 20th century, Albania has long been Mediterranean Europe’s enigma. Until fairly recently its rumpled mountains, fortress towns and sparkling beaches were merely a rumor on most travel maps but with the end of a particularly brutal strain of communism in 1991, Albania tentatively swung open its gates. The first curious tourists to arrive discovered a land where ancient codes of conduct still held sway and where the wind whistled through the shattered remnants of half-forgotten ancient Greek and Roman sites. A quarter of a century after throwing off the shackles of communism, Albania’s stunning mountain scenery, crumbling castles, boisterous capital and dreamy beaches rivaling any in the Mediterranean continue to enchant. But hurry here, because as word gets out about what Albania is hiding, the still-tiny trickle of tourists threatens to become a flood.
*This package trip requires a minimum of 2 people.
*Can be customized upon request, to meet travelers needs
*9 Nights Hotel/ 4 Star accommodation (upgrades on request)
*Meals = (B) Breakfast
*Trip Extensions available on request.
DISCOVERY HIGHLIGHTS
- Gjirokaster is a little Ottoman town which turned out to be breathtakingly unique not only in Albania but in the whole Europe.
- It is the distinctive traditional architecture of the “City of 1001 windows” that has placed Berat in UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites.
- The Albanian Riviera, a stretch of land from the Llogara Pass to Ksamil, is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Europe.
- Ardenica Monastery, a precious relic that dates to the 13th century, when religion was dominant in the country, and where the national hero, Skanderbeg, married in 1451.
- The famous ‘Blue Eye’, an exquisitely colorful pool and source of fresh water.
- The new design for Skanderbeg Square includes a pedestrian-only zone measuring 41,000 square meters and an underground car park.
- The Old Bazaar of Kruja dates to the 17th century and is known by the locals as Derexhiku.
- The ancient city of Durrës is at once a relaxed beach town and a historical center, home to the largest amphitheater in the Balkan Peninsula.
POLICY PRICES
- 🙋The price publish in the program are for individual request (2-6 persons)
- 🙋♂️🙋♀️If you are group 10 + persons, please contact us for special discount
email: info@internationaltravelalbania.com
phone: +355 39 37 71 019 (whats app / viber) - 🎽If you are a Tour Operator, please conctac us to get Tour Operator special rates
email: info@internationaltravelalbania.com
phone: +355 39 37 71 019 (whats app / viber)
Included/Excluded
- Sightseeing as per itinerary with English / French / German / Spanish / Italian speaking guides
- Transportation by comfortable touristic car/coach/minibus/bus
- Accommodation in 3*/4* hotels on twin / dbl / triple sharing basis with daily breakfast for 9 nights
- All Taxes
- Folk Show
- Meals other than that mentioned in itinerary
- Overseas medical insurance
- Tips and porterage
- Entrance fees
- Optional tours
- Anything that is not stated in itinerary
DAY 1th: TIRANA (THE CAPITAL)
*An agency representative will meet you at the Tirana International Airport and escort you to your hotel 4* in center of Tirana.
*After check in the hotel we may do a walking tour of the city, visiting the main tourist attraction starting from the Clock Tower, Mosque Ethem Bey (whose decorative are unique because they describe only nature), The Palace of Culture, Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ (the biggest in Albania) , The walking boulevard of the city (the architecture of which is based on a musical pentagram), remains of the Castle of Tirana, Pyramid (symbol of Communism), Angle of persecuted Martyrs located at the Nation Boulevard, the home of former dictator Enver Hoxha.
In Tirana you will experience a city with a rich history from Ottoman rule through the fall of communist to a modern European city.
*Free time to enjoy a coffe in the capital and than dinner with traditional dishes
After the visit of the gallery we can visit
*Dinner and Overnight in Tirana
DAY 2th: BERAT (UNESCO CITY) – APOLLONIA ARCHEOLOGICAL PARK
*Breakfast in the hotel.
After breakfast we travel toward Berat city
*During our away to Berat we will make visit at archeological park of Apollonia (part of Unesco), which used to be one the biggest Greek colonies in the Adriatik sea. Now days it is the biggest archaeological site in Albania. Our visit will include the main public area and the archaeological museum of the park located in the Christian Orthodox Monastery nearby. (Lunch in Apollonia Park)
*Continye our trip to Berat where will make another a stop to famous Albania winery, to enjoy several local wine accompanied with local dishes appetizer.
*Arrival in Berat and accomodation at 4 star hotel.
Berat is one of the most visited and characteristic towns in Albania under the protection of UNESCO as a patronage of humanity for its architectural uniqueness.
Our visit in Berat will start from the Medieval center of the town located next to Mangalemi neighborhood, and the old bazaar by the river.
After that we will contuinue to visit the Castle and the Onufri Museum. (Lunch in Berat Castle)
Berat castle is of particular interest as people still live within its walls in their traditional houses, as have their ancestors for centuries. The castle used to have over 40 churches of which 7 still remain including St. Mary’s church turned into Onufri Museum. Onufri was a famous Albanian Icon master painter of the 16th century who painted many orthodox churches in Albania and Greece, using a special red colour.
*After the city tour of Berat, free time during evening to enjoy the city
*Dinner in traditional restoraunt and overnight in Berat
The rest of day is free time where you can walk through the old paths of the city and enjoy his architecture
DAY 3th: POGRADEC – VOSKOPOJA – KORCA
* After breakfast we will travel toward Pogradec on the shores of Lake Ohrid. Visit to the Park of Drilon and Villa Art that used to be the old fishing villa of the dictator. Take a walk through beautiful scenery and lunch.
*Continue our trp for Voskopoja one of the most important towns in the Balkans during the beginning of the 18th century. We visit a number Churches with frescoes from the Zeografi brothers. Lunch in Voskopoja with delicous traditional dishes in traditional restoraunt.
After luch we travel for 20 minutes to arrive in Korca.
Accomodation in 4 star hotel in city center. After accomodation we will visit Korcia starting with the well-stocked Museum of Medieval Art, the Mirahori mosque one of the oldest in Albania, the reconstructed old bazaar and the Church at Mborje, built in the 14th century also one of the oldest in Albania.
*Dinner and overnight in Korca.
The rest of day is free time where you can walk through the old bazar or main boulevard of the city
DAY 4th: ALBANIA SOUTH EAST – GJIROKASTRA
* After breakfast we drive to Gjirokastra through the wonderful Kelcyra gorge following the magnificent valley of Vjosa river and the lush forests of Leskovik. Several photo opportunities stops to take in the spectacular nature. Lunch in Kelcyre gorge in restoraunt of river shore.
After lunch we depart for Gjirokastra (the stone city). also part of Unseco.
Our visit will start at the Byzantine fortress of Gjirokastra (XIII century), part of which was turned into a political prison for dissidents of the regime and the Arms Museum. Visit to the Ethnographic Museum, which is also the house the Albanian dictator was born in, as well as a 300 year old house next to it, where the grandeur of Gjirokastra’s master builders can be observed. Our vizit will end at the old bazaar of the town.
*Accommodation at hotel 4* city center
The rest of day is free time where you can walk through the old paths of the city and enjoy his architecture
* Dinner at traditional restaurant and overnight in Gjirokastra.
DAY 5th: SARANDA – BUTRINT ARCHEOLOGICAL PARK
*After breakfast, our tour will continue travelling to Saranda, where during the trip we will visit te National Park “Blu Eye”, named such due to its eye shape and deep blue colour.
Arrival in Saranda accommodation in hotel 4* (sea side).
*After accommodation we will visit the ancient city of Butrint another UNESCO World Heritage considered the best archaeological site in Albania and probably one of the most important in the Balkans. The city was first settled by Greek colonists and was continuously inhabited for centuries forming archaeological layers of passing civilizations, giving archaeologists the possibility to study continuity through time. It is situated on a beautiful peninsula among dense vegetation. The site has been occupied since at least the 8th century BC, although myths associated with its origins speak of the city’s foundation by Trojan exiles.
After a thorough visit of the site by bus we will go to the castle of Lekursi for lunch. Also from the castle you can enjoy a spectacular view of Saranda bay.
*The rest of the evening is free time where you can walk along the main boulevard of the city located in sea side
*Diner on restoraunt by the sea and Overnight in Saranda
DAY 6th: ALBANIA RIVIERA – LLOGARA NATIONAL PARK – VLORA – ZVERNEC ISLAND
*After breakfast we depart to Llogara National Park through the spectacular Albanian Riviera with its traditional villages. We will make different stops during the trip at the, as castle of Ali Pasha and Himara village.
At the Llogara National Park we stop at around 1100 metres where spectacular views of the Ionian sea can be admired. Lunch in Llogara Mountain.
*After luch we can walk the through the park along 500 m to enjoy the fantastic nature that surrounded us, through the Cezar path, a path which we believe has been used by roman emperor Julius Cezar and his army during the war against Pompey.
*We will continue our trip toward Vlora, the biggest city of south Albania.
Accommodation in hotel 4 in Vlora, by the sea.
During afternoon will visit Zvernec island connected to the mainland by a 270m long wooden bridge.
*Returing in the hotel and rest of the evening is free time where you can walk along the main boulevard of the city located in sea side called “Lungo Mare”
*Diner on restoraunt by the sea and Overnight in Vlora
DAY 7th: DUURES (ex ROMAN CITY) – NATURAL PARK OF KARAVASTA – SHKODRA
*After breakfast, few km away we will visit Natural Park of Karavasta, walking through the beautiful forest and possibility to organize boat trip along adriatic coast for seabird, especially for the rare specie of curly pelican.
*Continue our trip to Durres which was the Adriatic’s largest port for centuries serving as a starting point for Via Egnatia, the ancient Roman road connecting Rome
*Then, on the way to Shkodra, we will stop in Lezha to explore the Mausoleum of Albania´s national hero, Scanderbeg. In the afternoon we visit Shkodra, the most important town of north Albania and the Illyrian capital, in the 3rd century BC. Visit Rozafa Castle from where spectacular views all around can be admired. Experience the supremacy the Illyrians would have feel over their enemies standing in such an imposing castle. Take a walk in the newly renovated pedestrian area of Italian and Austrian architecture, testimony to this town historic links with both these countries and then we will visit the famous Viennese mask factory which is located near the city of Shkodra. The Venetian masks made in Shkodra are all crafted by hand. They combine traditional techniques with new contemporary decoration. The masks have intricate details, bright colors, fancy feathers, gold leaf, and crystals that make them unique pieces of art. The masks are exported all over the world.
Overnight in Shkodra.
DAY 8th: KOMAN LAKE BY FERRY – VALBONA (ALBANIA ALPS)
*Early in the morning we will depart on a scenic drive from Shkodra, to reach the docks in the dam of Koman. The homonymous lake beyond it, was artificially created in the 80’s after the construction of the third hydropower dam that interrupts the canyon of river Drin.
*From Koman port we will sail with ferry among Koman lake. This spectacular ferry ride through gorgeous landscape that will follow from there, is a not-to-miss highlight of Northern Albania!
*Once reached the docks of Fierza, we will stop for a tasty lunch in a traditional restaurant nearby. The trip will continue by local car through the narrow valley of Valbona – one of the most beautiful valleys of the Albanian Alps.
*Our transfer ends in the charming village of Valbona – Rrogam, where we will be hosted in a comfortable hotel. The location of the hotel is the ideal starting point for all kinds of hikes in the surrounding mountains. Free time to explore the village at own pace, while the steep and jagged limestone peaks above the village are embraced by the sunset light.
*Diner and Overnight in Valbona
DAY 9th: PRIZREN – TIRANA
*In the mornign we leave Valbona to return in Albania by passing traznit in Kosovo.
In Kosovo we will visit Prizren, which is a true open-air museum, one of the most beautiful towns of Kosovo. It is situated on the slopes of the Sharr Mountains and on the banks of the river Bistrica. The craftsmen of Prizren are well known for their beautiful gold and silver articles, embroidery, the Prizren cloth, knives and other folk handcrafts. From all the cities of Kosovo, Prizren has best preserved the architectural physiognomy of the past. Overlooking the town on a hill that dominates over the Prizren plateau is the Fortress of Prizren.
*Dinner and Overnight in Tirana
Day 10th: KRUJA – Airport transfer
*After eating breakfast in the hotel we drive few km away the capital to Kruja, the center of Albanian resistance against the Ottomans under our national hero Scanderbeg who defeated them in 22 battles including one of the most warriors like sultans Mehmet the Conqueror and resisted the Ottoman occupation for 25 years. We visit the Castle with two great Museums and the Old Ottoman style bazaar.
*After lunch transfer to the airport