All around Albanian Grand Tour

Albania is a small mountainous Balkan country of dramatic natural beauty dating back to pre-Illyrian times.

With a long and complex history, a wealth of culture and tradition, and ancient archaeological sites, this country is a must see.

Located in the western Balkan Peninsula in southeastern Europe, bordering Montenegro, Kosovo, Macedonia and Greece, Albania is truly a unique and authentic place.

A lot of things have changed since its 50 years of communist isolation, however there’s always something to discover.

You’ll continue to find beautiful pristine beaches on parts of the Ionian coast, such as Ksamil, Saranda, and Vlora, enchanting classical sites like ancient Apolonia, Butrint, Berat, & Gjirokaster, and interesting mountain villages such as Voskopoja.

From north-to-south, east-to-west, take an extended fourteen-day tour of Albania, and discover a fascinating history, unique culture and beautiful landscapes, from mountains to sea.

Highlights

• Visit historic castles, churches and mosques
• Traditional, regional local food and drink
• Visit old bazaars and ethnographic museums
• Visit charming characteristic villages
• Experience both Ionian and Adriatic coasts
• Discover the last communism country in Europe

Route
Kruja - Lezha - Shkoder - Tirana - Elbasan - Pogradec - Korça - Gjirokaster - Saranda - Himara - Vlora - Berat - Apolonia - Ardenica - Durres - Tirana


Day 1

• Arrival at Mother Theresa airport
• Meet tour guide
• Departure to Kruja
• Visit monument of Skanderbeg
• Tour Skanderbeg Castle
• Visit Kruja Historical & Ethnographical Museum
• Visit bazar
• Accommodation at 3-star hotel

Day 2

• Breakfast at hotel
• Departure to Shkoder
• See Skanderbeg’s Tomb in Lezha (Lisus)
• Arrival in Shkoder (from the 4th Cent. B.C.), capital of the      Illyrian tribe
• Walking tour of main attractions in the city
• Lunch by the lake
• Visit Rozafa Castle surrounded by Drini and Buna rivers
• Dinner at a traditional restaurant
• Overnight in Shkoder, accommodation at three-star hotel

Rozafa Castle - Mesi Bridge (18th Cent.) - Museum of History - Museum of Education - Gallery of Arts - Shkoder Characteristic houses - Mosque of Lead - Marubi Collection Gallery

Day 3

• Breakfast at hotel & departure to Tirana
• Accommodation at four-star hotel
• Tirana walking tour
• Lunch on Dajti mountain, enjoying the panoramic view of Tirana
• Afternoon shopping
• Dinner in Tirana
• Evening free (recommendation: pubs, jazz music etc.)

Historical Museum - Skanderbeg Square - Clock Tower (1830) - Ethem Bey’s Mosque (1798-1823) - Tabak’s Bridge (1st half of 19th cent.) - Town Hall & Ministries - Pyramid - Catholic & Orthodox churches - Mother Teresa Monument

Day 4

• Departure to Elbasan
• Visit Elbasan Castle
• Continue south to Pogradec
• Short stop en route to visit remains of Via Egnatia (145 B.C.)
• Lunch at small restaurant by Shkumbini river
• Arrival in Pogradec and visit to water springs of Drilon
• Dinner by lake Ohrid, taste famous “koran” fish
• Accommodation at three-star hotel & overnight in Pogradec

Day 5

• Breakfast at hotel
• Departure to Korça—“city of serenades”
• Accommodation at three-star hotel
• Walking tour of the city
• Lunch of traditional Korça food
• Restaurant dinner with live music and famous Korça serenades

Museum of Medieval Art - Archeological Museum - Education Museum - Vangjush Mio Museum (1891-1957 - Sotiri Studio (1883-1970) - Traditional Market - Cathedral “Christ Resurrection” (1992) - Mosque of Ilyaz Bey Mirahori (1484) - Tomb of Kamenica (3000 B.C.)

Day 6

• Breakfast at hotel
• Departure to Voskopoja village (14th Cent. name, Moskopoli)
• Visit to Voskopoja churches and Monastery
• Lunch at a traditional restaurant
• Travel back to Korça
• Dinner at hotel and overnight in Korça

St. Mihali church (1726) - St. Athanasi church (1724) - St. Ilias church - St. Marias church - St. Kolli church (best Byzantine fresco paintings in the area) - St. Prodhom Monastery

Day 7

• Breakfast at hotel
• Departure to Erseka
• Lunch at a restaurant in the rural area of Germenj
• Coffee break at Viroi water source
• Arrival in Gjirokastra – “the city of stone”
• Accommodation at a three-star hotel
• Dinner and overnight in Gjirokastra

Argjiro Castle - Arms Museum - characteristic houses - Qafa e Pazarit (Bazar) - Water source of Viroi

Day 8

• Breakfast at hotel
• Visit to Argjiro Castle (12th Cent.) & the Arms Museum
• Departure to Saranda (Forty Saints)
• En route visit to Blue Eye spring
• En route visit to Mesopotam Church (13th Cent.)
• Arrival in Saranda, accommodation at three-star hotel
• Lunch at a restaurant by the sea
• Afternoon free for shopping/walking around
• Dinner and overnight in Saranda

Fourty Saints - Ksamili’s Islands - Likurs Castle (14th Cent.) - Archeological sites of Finiqi & Butrint - Blue Eye spring - Mesopotami Church

Day 9

• Breakfast at hotel
• Visit to the ancient city of Butrint (4th Cent. B.C.), protected by UNESCO
• Lunch in Ksamil, enjoying the panoramic view of the islands
• Visit to Likurs Castle (14th Cent.), to enjoy the spectacular sunset
• Dinner at a fish restaurant in Saranda
• Overnight in Saranda

Amphitheatre (5000 seats) - Asclepius temple (dedicated to the god of medicine) - Ancient walls and the gates of the city - Palaeochristian Baptistery (the biggest in Balkans) - Roman public baths - Palaeochristian Basilica (4th Cent. A.D.) - Archeological Museum

Day 10

• Breakfast at hotel
• Departure to Albanian Riviera (southern coast – approx. 100 km)
• Visit to Ali Pasha’s Castle in Porto Palermo bay
• Lunch in Himara by the sea
• Coffee break at Llogara National Park
• Arrival in Vlora, and accommodation at a three-star hotel
• Dinner and overnight in Vlora

National Park of Llogara - charming characteristic villages of southern coast - Porto Palermo Bay - Ali Pasha’s Castle - Panoramic views of untouched beaches - Albanian Riviera

Day 11

• Breakfast at hotel
• Visits to the main tourist attractions of Vlora
• Lunch by the sea
• Afternoon free for shopping
• Dinner and overnight in Vlora

Kanina Castle - Kuz Babà - Historical Museum - Ethnographic Museum - Riviera, "Cold Water" - Orikum (4th C.B.C) - Marmiroi Church (13th Cent.) - Tragjas village - Zvërnec - Monastery, St. Mary Church (13th Cent.)

Day 12

• Breakfast at hotel
• Departure to Apolonia, Fier
• Visit to the archeological site of Apolonia (established 588 B.C.)
• Departure to Berat
• Accommodation at a three-star hotel in Berat
• Dinner at a characteristic restaurant in the Berat castle
• Overnight in Berat

Day 13

• Breakfast at hotel
• Visits to the main tourist attractions of Berat
• Lunch at one of the characteristic restaurants of the castle
• Afternoon departure to Durres (ancient name “Epidamnus” or “Dyrrahium”)  
• En route visit to the Monastery of Ardenica  
• Arrival in Durres, and accommodation at a three-star hotel   
• Dinner and overnight in Durres

Berat Castle (3rd C.A.D.) - Mangalem quarter - St. Mary Church (13th Cent.) Onufri Muzeum - St. Trinity Church - Ethnografic Museum - King Mosque - Mosque of Lead - Berat Bridge

Day 14

• Breakfast at hotel
• Visit to the main tourist attractions of Durres
• Departure to Tirana
• En route lunch in Preza village
• Accommodation at a hotel in Tirana
• Afternoon free in Tirana for shopping/walking around
• Dinner with Tirana’s characteristic food and live music
• Visit Sky Tower bar to enjoy Tirana by night
• Overnight in Tirana

Day 15

• Breakfast at Hotel
• Departure to Mother Theresa Airport

Trip Guide: 14 nights/15 days
Km traveled: 1,020
Price: 1,000 euros per person (double occupancy); min 12 pers


Included in the price:

• Accommodation 3*
• Full board for all the stay (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
• Professional guide during all the trip
• Transport (air condition bus/minibus)

Should you have special requirements, our packages can be customized and adjusted to your convenience