10 Days / 9 Nights from $8,610 Price Per Person
Sales from 01 January 2025 to 31 December 2025
**Day 1: Tirana**
Upon arrival to Tirana Airport you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.
**Day 2: Tirana**
After breakfast you will explore the historic and architectural evolution of the city. Tirana was once a small rural and trade centre in the 17th century and later became the capital of Albania. Its vibrant streets and architecture reflect the rich blend of ancient Roman, Illyrian, Byzantine and Ottoman cultures.
You will also visit the Bunk’Art2, a museum dedicated to the history of the Albanian Ministry of Internal Affairs and the regime from 1912 to 1991. As you stroll through the museum you will learn about the secrets and practices of Sigurimi, a State Agency utilised during the regime of statesman Enver Hoxha.
After the museum you will end your day at a traditional bar-museum where you will hear more about unique aspects of Albanian culture and taste raki, a strong, clear fruit brandy usually made from grapes.
**Day 3: Tirana > Shkodra**
After breakfast you will travel to Shkodra, known to be the centre of Albanian Catholicism. Stroll through the lively streets of Kole Idromeno – named after the Albanian artist widely regarded as a precursor of both realism and landscape art in the country. Continue to the Venice Art Mask Factory, which displays handmade masks that will immediately transport you to the atmosphere of the Venice Carnival!
The main cultural attraction is Rozafa Fortress, rising majestically upon a rocky hill west of the city and surrounded by two rivers. Enjoy the views as the outcroppings and battlements paint a blazing picture against the setting sun.
**Day 4: Shkodra > Kruja > Berat**
This morning travel to Kruja. See the beautiful Kruja (Kruje) castle, where the national hero George Castriota Scanderbeg defended the lands of the country from the Ottoman invaders for years. The walking tour takes you through the cobblestone’s pathway to the Ottoman bazaar, wooden shops, and castle walls. Next visit National History Museum Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu, one of the most important and visited museums in the country.
After the visit, you will be driven to Berat for your overnight.
**Day 5: Berat**
Today enjoy a city tour of Berat. The city is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and consists of: Gorica located on the opposite side of the river; Mangalem located on the side of the fort and the residential quarter within Kalaja fortress. The old citadel features several religious buildings, such as mosques and Byzantine churches. You will explore the ancient castle, and learn more about the typical residential architecture. Continue to the Onufri Iconographic Museum dedicated to Byzantine art and iconography and located inside the beautiful Church of the Dormition of St Mary.
Travel to the outskirts of the city for a wine tasting experience. Cradled beneath the majestic Mount Tomorr in Albania’s rolling hills lies Roshnik village, a tapestry woven from verdant vineyards, olive groves, and abundant orchards. Here, Kantina Alpeta, a family-run vineyard, beckons you to experience the warmth of Albanian hospitality.
**Day 6: Berat > Gjirokastra**
This morning depart Berat and travel towards Gjirokastra (Gjirokaster). Walk through the old town of Gjirokastra, a UNESCO Heritage Site and known as the ‘Stone City’. See unique slate-roofed houses, vertiginous streets paved with limestone and a castle assembled from rock hewn from the surrounding mountains. Of a great importance and interesting to be visit is the Gjirokastra Castle, the old town and the bazaar, with its characteristic shops and with great opportunity to interact with locals.
Gjirokastra Castle, is undoubtedly one of the most magnificent structures of the city of Gjirokastra, sits on a rocky bluff with the city. It offers spectacular views of the Drino valley and surrounding mountains.
After visiting the castle you will discover the rich culinary heritage of Gjirokastra on a cooking class. Rooted in Ottoman and Balkan traditions, Gjirokastra’s cuisine highlights hearty local ingredients and time-honoured recipes.
**Day 7: Gjirokastra > Saranda**
After breakfast depart for Saranda with a stop at Blue Eye Natural Spring. Take a walk and soak in the beauty of the Blue Eye, a natural spring with vibrant blue waters so clear you can see all the way to the bottom. The lighting in the early morning is particularly magical. After your visit continue to Saranda and check in at your hotel.
**Day 8: Saranda > Butrinti > Saranda**
After breakfast you will go on a day trip to Butrinti Archaeological Site, also recognised as a UNESCO Heritage Site. The archaeological site contains different artifacts and structures which date from the Bronze Age up until the 19th century. See well-preserved monuments including the city walls, late-antique baptistery, great basilica, theatre and Venetian castles. At the end of your tour return to Saranda for your overnight.
**Day 9: Saranda > Llogara National Park > Vlore**
After breakfast drive to Vlore with a stop at Llogara National Park. On the way you will drive towards the Albanian Riviera, a stunning stretch of coastline along the Ionian Sea, located in the southwestern part of Albania. It has become one of Europe’s most exciting and relatively undiscovered travel destinations. Make sure to try fresh yogurt drizzled with mountain honey, a perfect way to enjoy the pure flavours of the Albanian mountains. Continue for your overnight in Vlore.
**Day 10: Vlore > Apollonia > Tirana**
After breakfast you will return to Tirana. If time permits, on the way to the airport, you may visit Apollonia Archaeological Site. Established in 1958, the museum contains artifacts unearthed nearby from the ancient town of Apollonia and is housed in a 14th century building which was previously the monastery of St. Mary. An impressive collection of statues is located in a portico on the east side and a number of historically important frescoes remain in the building from medieval times. Fragments of inscriptions can be found on the walls and the museum also has a collection of medieval mosaics.
Tailor-made journey: This itinerary can be tailor-made, with the number of days, places visited, and activities varied to suit you.
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Discover the Balkans By World Journeys
Discover the Balkans By World Journeys
A journey through thousands of years of history, with stunning scenery, picturesque coastal towns and old walled cities. Immerse yourself in fascinating cultures, wonderful cuisine and eclectic architecture as you explore the lesser visited gems of Serbia, North Macedonia, Albania and Montenegro, ending in Dubrovnik, Croatia.
9 Days / 8 Nights from $8,600 Price Per Person
