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Car
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Tirana International Airport
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Year-Round
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Cultural
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French
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Medium to Moderate
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1-6
Overview
After collecting your luggage, you will be welcomed met by one of our agents at the airport and transferred to your hotel.
Highlights
- Explore Historical Tirana: Begin your journey in Tirana, visiting key cultural sites like the National Historical Museum, Bunk'art 2, and the vibrant Shetitorja Murat Toptani district. Experience the city's transformation through its colorful post-communist architecture and lively nightlife in the trendy Bloc district.
- Adventure in Nature: Dive into the wild beauty of Albania with activities like rafting on the Vjosa River, hiking in Llogara National Park, and kayaking along the Ionian coast. Discover diverse ecosystems in Divjaka National Park and Llogara Pass, offering panoramic views of the Ionian Sea.
- UNESCO Heritage Sites: Visit the UNESCO-listed cities of Berat and Gjirokastër, known for their unique architecture and historical significance. Explore the ancient city of Butrint and the archaeological treasures of Apollonia, gaining insight into Albania's rich cultural heritage.
Itinerary
Airport – Tirana: 30 min
Accommodation in Tirana, 3* hotel,https://maps.app.goo.gl/oWXmSWvxHY23HspV9
Meals included: Breakfast
After collecting your luggage, you will be welcomed by one of our agents at the airport and transferred to your hotel.
Depending on your arrival time, you can begin your discovery of Tirana by visiting its numerous museums: the National Historical Museum retracing the history of Albania or the Bunk'art 2, a museum housed in a vast underground bunker and the House of Leaves which allows you to understand the history of espionage in Albania during communism. You can also take the time to admire the colorful facades of the city's buildings, testimony to the post-communist era of the early 90s.
You can then stroll through the Shetitorja Murat Toptani district to admire the ramparts of Tirana Castle, the Tanners' Bridge, the Et'hem Bey mosque and the Pazar i Ri bazaar.
In the evening, we advise you to go to the Bloc, which was at the time a place reserved for the political elite and is, today, the trendiest district of Tirana. You will have the opportunity to have a drink there and discover the typical atmosphere of Albanian bars.
Optional activities in Tirana:
-Bunk'Art
-Bunk'Art 2
- The new bazaar of Tirana (pazari i ri)
-Visit to Shengjergj
-Visit to Fustanella Farm
Proposed Restaurants:
Oda Restaurant: https://maps.app.goo.gl/FtcjCEudbjXyhV9b8
Era Restaurant:https://maps.app.goo.gl/VjASZjefW7dRFK8E6
Lulishte 1-Maji:https://maps.app.goo.gl/C7whfJtfaQiRzFB77
Tirana-Divjake: 1h 30 min, 90km
Divjake-Berat: 1h, 74km
Accommodation: Berat. 3* hotel, https://maps.app.goo.gl/99oU4czMjD9dhKBJ8
Meals included: Breakfast
This morning, you will collect your rental car from the hotel and discover the Divjaka national park. You can take a possible passage through the lagoon and the Karavasta National Park, a protected natural area located along the coast of the Adriatic Sea. The park's ecosystem also includes around 230 birds, 12 species of mammals and 16 reptiles. The 4,300-hectare park is known for being home to one of the largest colonies of Dalmatian pelicans in the world. You can take a bike tour to observe the richness and unique ecosystem of the region.
Then, you will drive to the city of Berat, “the city of a thousand windows”, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Upon your arrival, set off to explore the ancient citadel, one of the most beautiful sites in Albania. Located on the heights of the Mangalem district, the fortress houses the oldest mosque in the country, numerous churches as well as the famous museum dedicated to the painter Onufri. Also not to be missed are the ethnographic museum and the Gorica district located on the left bank of the Osum river and accessible by the two bridges from the city center.
Optional activities in Berat
• Fortress
• Medieval Center, The King's Mosque and Teke Bektashi
• Ethnographic Museum
• The Onufri Museum
Proposed Restaurants:
Onufri Restaurant: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Onufri+restaurant/
Klea Restaurant: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Hotel+Klea
Berat-Allows: 3h, 190 km
Accommodation: Allow. Small Family Hotel. https://maps.app.goo.gl/SD3fBHJwi8QQfJaJ9
Meals included: Breakfast
This morning, you will hit the road again towards the town of Permet, nicknamed the “city of roses” and the main gateway to the national parks of the Hotova-Dangëll fir and especially the Vjosa, which will be the main theme of the day. Considered one of the last wild rivers in Europe, the Vjosa has just obtained (in 2023) the status of National Park. Today, rafting will be an opportunity to get your adrenaline rush by discovering the course of the river that winds through the valley.
You will also have the opportunity to explore the Llangarica Canyon, which measures between 30 and 150 meters in height and is home to one of the last wild rivers in Europe. It is one of the most breathtaking natural wonders of the Permet region of Albania. This spectacular gorge offers visitors an unforgettable experience surrounded by the wilderness and natural beauty of the region.
When you approach the canyon, you will immediately be impressed by the steep walls of the gorge that rise on either side. The walls of the gorge are mainly made of limestone, and they are decorated with fascinating geological formations, such as caves and waterfalls.
You can also swim in the refreshing waters of the river, which is especially pleasant on hot summer days.
At the end of the afternoon, you will arrive in Përmet where you will have the opportunity to take an Albanian cooking class in a guest house of an Albanian family.
The guesthouse provides an ideal setting for an immersive experience. You will be surrounded by local culture, flavors and hospitality. The establishment will offer you an exceptional culinary experience, where you will have the opportunity to master the secrets of authentic traditional dishes of the region with the help of the chefs.
Some of the country's specialties that you will learn are gliko (candied fruit) and lakrori.
In the evening, you will be eating and sleeping in a small family hotel.
Allows - Gjirokastër: 1h00, 60km
Accommodation in Gjirokaster, 3* hotel https://maps.app.goo.gl/oFGLMwNKNNCCBEEa7
Meals included: morning
After breakfast, you will leave for Gjirokastër, nicknamed “the stone city” and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005. This city is full of typical neighborhoods and shaded terraces, but above all, houses the ethnographic museum and its fortress, witnesses to a large part of the History of Albania. Birthplace of the great Albanian writer Ismail Kadaré and the former communist dictator Enver Hoxha, you will discover its city center and its hundreds of buildings of Ottoman architecture.
We also advise you to take the time to visit its bazaar, a major trading hub in the region.
Optional activities in Gjirokaster:
• The fortress
• Meeting with a stonemason
• House Skenduli
• Zekate House
• Ethnographic Museum (former house of dictator Enver Hoxha)
Restaurant options:
Kujtimi Restaurant:https://www.google.com/maps/place/Kujtim+Restaurant/
Mapo Restaurant:https://www.google.com/maps/place/Mapo+Restaurant/
Restaurant Taverna kuka:https://www.google.com/maps/place/Taverna+Kuka/
Gjirokaster-Butrint: 1 hour, 70 km
Butrint – Qeparo: 1 hour, 56 km
Accommodation: Qeparo.3* hotel. https://maps.app.goo.gl/ALM9dnRqDjeSb5za8
Meals included: Breakfast
Your journey will continue towards the Butrint National Park, an ancient city listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, built in an exceptional natural environment, which Julius Caesar transformed into a residential city and an aristocratic cultural center for his war generals. Butrint was also, two thousand years ago, a real inspiration for various Greek authors and philosophers who described it as “the garden of democracy”.
After visiting Butrint, you will head towards the magnificent Albanian Riviera to the wild village of Qeparo, located by the sea. Still sheltered from tourist flows, the locality is divided into two parts, the first considered to be the “new village” and the second, the “old village” perched on the heights with a panoramic view of the Adriatic Sea.
At the end of the day, you can stroll through the village of Qeparo, a small haven of peace perched on the mountainside offering a magnificent panorama of the Ionian Sea, before settling down in a traditional house. If you are more adventurous in nature, we can also offer kayaking.
Exploring the Ionian coast by kayak is one of the best ways to enjoy the beauty of this landscape: sandy coves, lagoons and wild marshes, imposing mountains and pebble beaches.
Proposed Activities:
• Boat trip
• Explorations of old Qeparo
• Explorations of the Riviera by kayak
• Explorations of wild creeks by boat
Restaurant options:
Restaurant Riviera:https://www.google.com/maps/place/Restaurant+Riviera+Qeparo/
Restaurant Portopalermo:https://www.google.com/maps/place/Porto+Palermo+Restaurant/
Restaurant Jorgo (Jale):https://www.google.com/maps/place/Taverna+Peshkatari/
Qeparo - Llogara: 1h20, 50km
Llogara – Narta: 1 hour, 60km
Accommodation:Narte, Guest House. https://maps.app.goo.gl/JF1GKhuzsNUi9xEv9
Meals included: Breakfast
Today, you will start the day with a hike in the Llogara National Park which lies mainly in the so-called Ceraunian mountain range, encompassing the Llogara Pass, famous for its panoramic views of the Ionian Sea. The region is covered with dense forests, green pastures.
Due to its location between the Ionian and Adriatic Seas, the park is home to rich biodiversity. You will find a variety of bird species, endemic plants and wildlife.
You will hike to Caesar Pass, named after Julius Caesar who camped here with his army during the war. Here, a beautiful view of the entire bay of Vlora will be revealed.
Then, you will be heading to Narta, the highlight of your visit will be the Island of Zvernec, where the ancient church of Saint Nicholas is located. It is a historical and spiritual site which offers a breathtaking view of the lagoon and the surrounding mountains.
After exploring the island, you will relax on the golden sand beach and swim in the calm waters of the sea.
Vlora-Apollonia:30 mins, 36km
Apollonia-Kruja: 2h, 126 km
Accommodation in Kruja, Panorama Hotel.https://maps.app.goo.gl/akhEwx3jv3j43YFv5
This new day is dedicated to the discovery of the Archaeological Museum of Apollonia. The Apollonia Archaeological Museum is a museum located in Apollonia, an ancient ancient city in Albania. Apollonia was an important ancient city, founded in the 6th century BC and was dedicated to the God Apollo. Today, the archaeological site of Apollonia is a major historic site in Albania, and the associated museum houses a collection of artifacts and archaeological objects that bear witness to the history of the city.
You can explore the ruins of the ancient city of Apollonia, including its theater, temples and walls. You will discover several statues and sculptures, some of which represent Greek and Roman deities. You will also be able to see ancient inscriptions, religious objects and architectural elements from the temples and public buildings of the city.
Then you head towards Kruja to explore its castle and its old bazaar. Kruja is a historic town in Albania, located approximately 32 kilometers north of the capital, Tirana. It is a popular tourist destination due to its rich history and cultural significance. The Kruja tour begins with a walk through Kruja Castle and admiring the stunning views. Kruja Castle, one of the oldest monuments of its kind in the country, best reflects an important part of Albanian history, culture and traditions.
Then, you can visit the Skanderbeg Museum and the Ethnographic Museum which are located inside the castle. The name of the museum is in honor of the Albanian national hero Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbej. Admire the original wall paintings, carved wood ceilings and rare furniture.
Optional activities in Kruja:
- Visit to the workshop to see production traditional Albanian hat "Qeleshe"
- Hike to Mount Sarisalltik
Restaurant options:
Panorama Restaurant:https://maps.app.goo.gl/8uV2qM2yhLe7dc4t9
Kruja- Airport: 20 km 40 min
Today is departure day depending on your flight schedule. One of our agents will accompany you to the airport.
Cost
The Cost Includes
- Accommodation in hotels and guesthouses
- Breakfasts from D2 to D8
- Rental of a vehicle from D2 to D8
- Airport transfers
- A personalized roadbook with your accommodation
- A smartphone + package
- Welcome and French-speaking assistance24 hours a day during your trip
- Activities: Rafting, Cooking classes in Permet, cycling in Divjakë, Kayaking in Dhermi
The Cost Excludes
- Extras and personal expenses
- Drinks + meals not mentioned
- Lunches (possibility of requesting picnics when you are with the locals)
- Visits to museums and other sites
- Cancellation and/or repatriation insurance
- Anything not mentioned in the “included” section