Highlights of Albania

Overview:

Departure Dates 2025

Tour Itinerary:

Day 1: Arrival in Tirana

Pickup from Tirana International Airport and transfer to the city. Leisure day.

Overnight at Albanopolis Hotel 4* or similar.

Day 2: Kruje - Tirane

After breakfast we head to Kruja, one of Albania’s most important towns due to the part it played in resistance against the Ottomans. Visit the Skanderbeg Museum and castle as well as the old bazaar. Then heading to Tirana. City tour of Tirana, Albania's capital.

Overnight at Albanopolis Hotel 4* or similar.

Day 3: Lezhe - Shkoder

After breakfast, the next stop will be in Lezha city. In the ancient pelasgian period it was called Lis (in Roman era Lissus). Visit to its top hill castle where you enjoy the fascinating panorama of the Adriatic Riviera and bronze age ancient city walls, and visit the Mausoleum of Skanderbeg (Albanian National Hero). Afterward, we will continue to Shkodra. A nice landscape with highland (Albanian Alps on the north) is a full contrast. City tour of Shkodra, Old Bazaar, Centrum, Cathedral and Mosque. Visit the Castle of Rozafa and we will enjoy wonderful views of mountains (Albanian Alps), Shkodra’s lake (the biggest in the Balkans), Drini, Buna and Kir rivers with the valleys around from the top of Rozafa castle. Shkoder overnight.

Overnight at Tradita G & Tosk Hotel 4*, or similar.

Note: Today’s ancient Lezha City castle, according to an interesting theseus, is also under consideration/evaluation and considered to be ancient Priam's led Illius city in ally with other Illyrian-Pelasgian city-states Lycians (Shkodra) and Dardans (modern Kosovo Prizren city). It is very interesting to realize that every single details of Trojan war prescribed in Iliad meet perfectly with the terrain, nature, neighbor cities/places, socials anthropological phenomenons, traditions, “besa” or famous Albanian given word/oath, ancient ritual to respect dead people, revenge (Albanian blood feud), etc. which are same way still in use in this part of authentic Arbania), which makes it interesting experience/perception to enjoy while traveling in this ancient Europe’s lands.

Day 4: Durres - Berat (UNESCO)

After breakfast we continue to Durres. This port city, is the most important ancient central mediterranean metropol until medieval time in the 15th century when it got occupied by ottomans until 1912 when Albania proclaimed its independence, and Durres became its capital until 1920. (Durres is also more than 3500 years old (mentioned first time in Odisea where Ulicsus spent part of his time in Taulantia (ancient Pelasgian-Illyrian name of Epidamn-Durrah-Durres) on his way back to Itaka after Troyan war. This city has the largest Roman amphitheater in the Balkan region (about 20,000 seats), dating back to the beginning of the 2nd century which we will visit with the ancient city castle wall and byzantine bazaar/forum, Roman public baths, etc. Later we will continue to Berat, one of the oldest inhabited regions of Albania, more than 2400 years old, and with special status from UNESCO. Visit the castle of Berat with the Onufri museum and other churches inside; the Mosque of Berat and the old Bridge of Gorica, Onufri Museum and several churches and mosques. Onufri was an Albanian master painter of the 16th. Many of his wonderfully painted icons still remain in the museum while others can be found in churches in Albania and Greece where he worked.

Overnight at Hotel Republika 4* or similar.

Day 5: Ardenica Monastery - Apollonia (UNESCO) - Vlore

Drive to Ardenica Monastery, a 13th century Byzantine site locally famed for hosting the wedding of the hero Skanderbeg. We will continue from here to the ruins of Apollonia, an atmospheric set of Roman remains on a remote hillside and once an important city in the region. Later depart to the coastal city of Vlora. Visit the city, including its old town, independence square and monument, where Albanian independence from the Ottomans was proclaimed on November 28th, 1912.

Overnight Hotel Partner 4* or similar.

Day 6: Himare - Ksamil - Butrint (UNESCO) - Saranda

After breakfast, we continue to the south of Albania, where we enjoy spectacular views of Vlora Bay, the mountains and the Ionian Riviera. Continue via some picturesque seaside villages to Saranda in Ksamil, where we stop for lunch break, with the possibility to enjoy the beach and cristal azure sea and the views. Afterward, we will continue to visit the ruins of Butrint, Albania's most important archaeological site, and a UNESCO site. Butrint dates from the 7th century BC, later becoming a Roman colony, then falling under the sway of the Venetians and Turks. Explore numerous buildings including an acropolis, basilica and palace. The location of the site itself is also very attractive, surrounded by trees and water. Later will return to Saranda.

Overnight in Havana Hotel 4* or similar.

Day 7: Mesopotam - Blue Eye - Gjirokaster (UNESCO)

This morning we will continue to Gjirokaster. En route we will make a stop in Mesopotam monastery, built over the ancient temple inside the fortress. Then we then travel to Blue Eye National Park before we reach the UNESCO listed town of Gjirokaster known for its distinct and traditional architecture. Then proceed to Gjirokaster, part of (UNESCO) heritage since 2005. City tour, then visit to the Castle Weapons Museum inside. The main characteristic of Gjirokastra is the intensive use of stone in building the houses, which look like small fortresses, the streets of cobblestone, which all lead to Bazaar. You can also visit the Mosque of Bazaar here, built in 1557. Due to all these features, Gjirokastra is also known as “The Stone City''. We have time to explore this UNESCO listed site, one of the highlights of Albania with an imposing citadel and numerous typical houses.

Overnight Bineri 4* or similar.

Day 8: Permet Thermal Water - Korce

After breakfast, continue via Permet (magnificent Vjosa river valley, considered Europe's last Wild River) to Permet where we stop at the Benje Thermal Water. Lunch break in Farma Sotira or similar. Then arrive in the historic town of Korce, walking tour where we can see some of the most important city highlights: the Museum of Medieval Art with the richest icon archive in all Europe; The First Albanian School; Traditional Market; Cathedral (1992); Mosque of Ilyaz Bey Mirahori (1484), and The Old Bazaar.

Overnight Hotel Mik 4* or similar. 

Day 9: Pogradec - Lin - Elbasan - Tirane

After breakfast we will travel to Pogradec. On the top of the hill overlooking Pogradec, there used to be an ancient Illyrian fortress known as Encheleana. In the Middle Ages this fortress was reconstructed and the place was renamed by the Bulgarians, who invaded Southeastern Albania at this time. (Pogradec, Pod Grad - the place beneath the fortress). (We will have a short break where you can enjoy walking by the Ohrid Lake). Then we will continue to Elbasan, where we will have another short stop at Lin village (oldest in Europe 8000 years) by the lake of Ohrid where we visit the ancient ruins of Paleochristian Basilica. Then proceed to elbasan. Elbasan was a very important city in ancient Illyrian time, while in Roman empire time was famous as the cross-point of the main road “Via Egnatia” that used to connect Durres-Elbasan-Ohrid-Thessaloniki-Istanbul. City tour to visit: Elbasan Castle (dating back to 4rth Century BC), The Clock, The ethnographic Museum, Church, The Old Mosque. Then we will continue to Tirana. Leisure time to walk in the city.

Overnight at Albanopolis Hotel 4* or similar. 

Day 10: Departure from Tirana 

Transfer to Tirana Airport for departure. 

Package Includes:

• Return flights from London to Tirana

• 1 piece of check-in luggage per traveler (up to 23 kg)
• 9 nights’ accommodation as specified or similar 
• Breakfast daily
• Air-conditioned modern transportation
• English-speaking guide
• Entrance fees to attractions as specified on the itinerary:
• Skanderbeg Mausoleum in Lezha
• Tophill Fortress in Lezha
• Rozafa Castle in Shkodra
• Skanderbeg Museum in Kruja
• Amphitheater in Durres
• Onufri Museum and St. Mary Church in Berat
• Ardenica Monastery
• Apollonia Archeological Park
• Butrint Antic City
• Mesopotam monastery
• Blue Eye National Park
• Gjirokaster Castle
• Lin paleochrisitan basilica
• Elbasan Ethnographic Museum 

• 24-hour emergency service
• ATOL protection
• All taxes