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Car, Bus
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Tirana International Airport
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Year-Round
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Cultural, Hiking
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French
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Medium to Moderate
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1-15
Overview
Upon your arrival, you will be welcomed by one of our agents at the airport and then transfer to Tirana. Depending on the time of arrival, you can make a first discovery of Tirana.
Highlights
- Scenic Adventures and Hiking: The itinerary includes extensive hiking through picturesque landscapes such as Lake Koman, Valbona Valley, Theth National Park, and the Albanian Alps, offering a mix of round trips and one-way hikes with varying durations and elevation changes.
- Cultural and Historical Exploration: The program features visits to significant cultural and historical sites, including the Butrint Archaeological Park, the National History Museum in Tirana, the ethnographic museum in Gjirokastër, and the Onufri Museum in Berat.
- Authentic Local Experiences: Participants will stay in guesthouses and homestays, share rooms, and have meals with local families, providing an immersive experience in Albanian culture and traditions. Notable activities include interacting with locals, visiting artisanal cheese factories, and exploring historic villages.
- Comprehensive Inclusions and Support: The tour includes accommodation, all meals (except dinner on Day 12), local and private transportation, airport transfers, a French-speaking guide, and various site visits. Additionally, a mule is provided to carry luggage during the Valbona to Theth crossing.
Itinerary
Airport – Tirana, transfer: 30min
Overnight in Tirana. Hotel 3
Arrival at Tirana “Mother Teresa” Airport.
Upon your arrival, you will be welcomed by one of our agents at the airport and then transfer to Tirana. Depending on the time of arrival, you can make a first discovery of Tirana.
Tirana – Koman, privatized vehicle transport: 3 hours
Crossing Lake Koman: 2h30min
Fierzë – Valbona: Local transport: 1 hour
Accommodation: Valbona. Guest house Kol GJONI.
Mountain lodge, rooms to share with members of the group (mattress, towels, blankets provided)
https://maps.app.goo.gl/YhQ3VisK6XVXwAuB8
Meals included: morning, noon - picnic, evening - restaurant
Hike: 7 km
Type: Buckle
Duration: 4 hours
Elevation difference: 380m + and – 380
Today, we will leave early in the morning towards Lake Koman to reach the departure point of the boats. We will have a pleasant stroll on Lake Koman. This valley offers an immersion in the wild and elusive nature of the North, similar to the Norwegian fjords.
After 2 hours and 30 minutes of travel, we will take the minibus towards the Valbona Valley. Once we arrive in Valbona, we will settle into the guest room. This will be a magnificent experience, a journey to the heart of nature. In Valbona, you will have the opportunity to meet and interact with the locals. We will start with a hiking welcome tour around the village at our meeting point.
Valbona – Zic
Hike: 9 km
Type: Round trip
Duration: 6 hours
Elevation difference: 700m + and -700
Accommodation: Valbona. Guest house Kol GJONI.
Mountain lodge, rooms to share with members of the group (mattress, towels, blankets provided)
https://maps.app.goo.gl/YhQ3VisK6XVXwAuB8
Meals included: morning, noon - picnic, evening - restaurant
The day is dedicated to a 6-hour round trip towards the Zic sheepfold. A day which will take us towards the western part of the Valbona valley, where we will have a view of the most beautiful peaks of the Alps also said to be cursed by the locals, notably the summit of Rossi 2522m, Kollata 2534m and the highest point of Albanian Alps, Jezerca 2694m. Arriving at our destination, we can enjoy this magnificent panorama where we will have our picnic with a view!
Passing the Col de Valbonë – Theth
Hike: 15km
Type: One way, stopover
Duration: 6-7 hours
Height difference +900m / -900m
Accommodation: Theth. Bujtina Berishta.
Guest room, rooms to share with members of the group (mattress, towels, blankets provided)
https://bujtina-berishta.business.site/#gallery
https://maps.app.goo.gl/LXPaibCuSZnp5fAe7
Meals included: morning, noon - picnic, evening - restaurant
Early departure towards the village of Theth. The high peaks and passes challenge you today. The splendor of the most extraordinary landscapes of the peaks of the Albanian Alps is revealed during this dynamic day of hiking, forest pasture sheepfold, or even Albanians who live in the mountains are the decoration of this day. The wild side of the peaks is simply breathtaking. Enjoy this intimate contact with nature. In Theth, you will have the opportunity to visit the center of the village (the isolation tower) testifying to certain old traditions dating back several centuries, such as the customary law of the Kanun of Lekë Dukagjini.
Theth National Park – Grunas Waterfall, the Blue Eye.
Theth – Nderlysaj: Local transport 30min
Hike: 14km
Type: One way
Duration: 6 hours
Height difference 300 m + and -
Accommodation: Theth. Bujtina Berishta.
Guest room, rooms to share with members of the group (mattress, towels, blankets provided)
https://bujtina-berishta.business.site/#gallery
https://maps.app.goo.gl/LXPaibCuSZnp5fAe7
Meals included: morning, noon - picnic, evening - restaurant
In the morning, we will transfer by local minibus to the charming village of Nderlysaj, where we will begin our hike towards the Blue Eye, a stunning natural wonder nestled in the heart of the Albanian Alps. The hike then takes us to the Grunas waterfall, one of the most beautiful from Albania. All along the hike, we will follow the valley of the river of Theth to conclude the day's visits with the "tower of reconciliation", which awaits us to tel itsl stories of the famous "Kanun of Lekë Dukagjini, an ancestral law transmitted orally from generation to generation.
Theth – Shkodër: 2h30min
Shkodër - Tiranë: 2 hours
Hike: 3km
Duration: 1h30min
Elevation difference: 250m + and -
Accommodation: Tirana, 3* Hotel, Hotel IDEA
https://maps.app.goo.gl/Z8qWXcrEePuWuVU99
Meals included: morning, noon - restaurant, evening - restaurant
The city of Shkodër is located on the shores of Lake Shkodra and next to the Drini River. Considered “the house of Albanian culture”. This city has produced many notable Albanian artists. Capital of the Illyrian Empire during Antiquity, it has kept the charm of a historic city. The Romans, the Venetians, the Ottomans are part of its history. It is also the largest city in northern Albania.
We will have lunch at the lakeside and then continue towards Tirana.
City of bright colors and nightlife, Tirana is the nerve center of the country. A visit to the National Museum allows you to have a summary of history.
The country's capital opens to curious travelers as a festive and vibrant city, economic and cultural center. Known for its main Skanderbeg square, symbol of an overthrown dictatorship, here are the most significant buildings in the history of the city and the country.
Tirana – Elbasan: 45min
Elbasan – Tushemisht: 1h 45min
Hiking: 13km
Type: One way,
Duration: 5 hours
Elevation difference: 500m + and -600
Accommodation: Tushemisht, 3* Hotel, Hotel MIllenium
https://maps.app.goo.gl/fQEgRg3cezWvbr4F8
Meals included: morning, noon – local restaurant in the village of Serice, evening – restaurant
The Via Egnatia was, a road built by the Romans in the 2nd century BCE. It passed through Illyria, Macedonia and Thrace, a territory which is now part of modern Albania, North Macedonia, Greece and European Turkey as a continuation of there Via Appia. Starting from Durrës on the Adriatic Sea, the route followed a difficult route along the Shkumbini River, through the Candavian Mountains (Jablanica) and then led to the highlands around Lake Ohrid. We are therefore going to hike in the footsteps of one of the greatest routes that have ever existed and which characters like Strabo or Cicero passed through it.
We will enjoy a simple traditional meal with lots of flavors at village restaurant where garden products will be served.
Tushemisht – Voskopojë: 1h10min 55km
Hike: 7km
Type: Buckle,
Duration: 4 hours
Height difference: 350m + and -
Accommodation: Voskopoje, Hotel Pashuta,
https://maps.app.goo.gl/eZemBFu12tx4mKCy8
Meals included: morning, noon - picnic, evening - restaurant
In the morning, you can take the opportunity to take a stroll along Lake Ohrid or if you wish you can you head towards North Macedonia to visit one of its most tourist attractions, the Sveti Naum Monastery, thanks to its exceptional natural setting, history and architecture. Built from the 10th century, it is dedicated to Saint Naum, disciple of Cyril and Methodius, two monks who created the Cyrillic alphabet. The monastery has the particularity of being the refuge of a colony of peacocks.
Then, we will take the road to the village of Voskopoja, which in the 18th century, represented one of the most developed towns in Albania and the most important cultural and economic center of the Balkans. Today this corner of Albania is known for its typical houses and the numerous Orthodox churches. And it is in the direction of a beautiful and decorated church that our walk for the day will take us to the village of Shipske.
On the way back, we will discover good cuisine and typical traditional dishes in which we can participate. The village of Voskopoja today remains a place much loved by Albanians who take the opportunity to escape the daily noise of the week to be lulled by the calm and fresh air of the village without forgetting the good flavors of the cuisine.
Voskopojë – Korça: 30min
Korça – Rehova: 1 hour
Hike: 7km
Type: Return
Duration: 4 hours
Height difference: 400m + and -
Accommodation: Rehove, Homestay
Meals included: morning, noon - picnic, evening - restaurant
Today, we will visit the town of Korça, renowned throughout the country for its historical attachment to France and the Francophonie, since this town hosted a French high school from 1917 to 1939, for Albanian students. Also, the National Medieval Museum, the Cemetery of French soldiers from the First World War, and the Orthodox Cathedral represent the key monuments to discover and visit.
Afterwards, we will have a discovery of the village of Rehova. This village, which is located on the border with Greece, is renowned for its culinary know-how and its stone houses. Lunchtime is reserved for interacting with locals and visiting the village. In Rehova, you will taste the warmth and hospitality of the Southern Albanians who will come to meet us to share their culture and know-how through food and their way of life. We will also have a walk around the village and in the Gramozi Mountain.
Rehova – Langarica Canyon: 3 hours
Canyon – Përmet: 30min
Hike: 3km
Type: Round trip in the canyon (you must have suitable shoes to walk in the water),
Duration: 3 hours
Height difference: 10m + and 10 -
Accommodation: Allows, Hotel Alvero, 3*
https://maps.app.goo.gl/Y9jq9jeJHWSLREqA7
Meals included: morning, noon - picnic, evening - restaurant
Today, we are heading towards the town where very beautiful panoramas will accompany us throughout the journey.
Allow is known as a flowery city, a real agrotourism stopover in the country. The landscape that will accompany you during this day will be fabulous. You will also have the opportunity to take a closer look at the know-how of the region's artisans and their local products such as their jams, wines, raki, etc.
Stops are planned along the road, particularly in the small town of Leskovik where time seems to stand still. We will take the opportunity to discover a local cheese factory. Before joining Permet, we will take the opportunity to explore the Langarica canyon and bathe in the thermal waters of Benje known for its curative properties.
Përmet – Çajupi Mountain: 1h30min
Hiking: 8km
Type: Round trip
Duration: 4 hours
Elevation difference: 250m + and –
Accommodation: Gjirokastër, 3* Hotel. Hotel Cajupi
https://maps.app.goo.gl/nd5mkYuJYfDLC2jE8
Meals included: morning, noon – lunch with a family in Saraqinisht, evening – restaurant
Today, we will head towards the mountain of Çajupi to discover the village of Saraqinisht and its charming houses. Following the shepherds' path, we will arrive at a well-preserved monastery, discreetly nestled in the mountains. After the discovery of this hidden treasure, we will return to the village to taste typical cuisine in the village with a local family.
We will head towards the town of Gjirokastër also known as “the stone town”. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005, Gjirokastër is the birthplace of the great Albanian writer “Ismail Kadaré” and on less literary notes, the hometown of the former communist dictator Enver Hoxha. This city is full of typical neighborhoods and shaded terraces, but it is above all home to the ethnographic museum and its fortress, witnesses to a large part of Albania's history. Gjirokastra has managed to preserve its picturesque and typical architecture of ancient Albanian residences. We will discover the technique of cutting stones from a local craftsman.
Gjirokastër – Butrint: 1h30min
Butrint – Qeparo: 1h15min
Hike: 5km
Type: Return
Duration: 2 hours
Elevation difference: 350m + and -
Accommodation: Qeparo, Small family hotel. Riviera Hotel,
https://maps.app.goo.gl/8rmcYvw6PE7jPibX9
Meals included: morning, noon - restaurant, evening -free
Today, we will discover the Butrinti National Park, an ancient city listed by UNESCO, which was built in an exceptional natural environment. Julius Caesar transformed it into a residential town for his war generals, and an aristocratic cultural center. Butrinti was also an inspiration for various Greek authors and philosophers who, 2000 years ago, described it as the garden of democracy. Here, we find a Greek Theater, a 6th century Baptistery and a city which carries on its back the traces of all the civilizations which have passed through here. Finally, it has also been a very important economic and political center in the entire region for more than a millennium.
The small village of Qeparo nestled on the coast of the Albanian Riviera will offer you a timeless stopover. Before your arrival, you can admire the seaside landscape or purchase local products (honey, scented herbal teas and other seasonal fruits) sold in “stalls” on the side of the road.
Qeparo – Llogara: 1h20min
Hike: 6km
Type: One way
Duration: 2 hours Vuno – Gjipe
Height difference: -250m / +250
Accommodation: Natural ParkLlogara, 3* hotel. Hotel Sofo
https://maps.app.goo.gl/wMRCpvAzYMcBMSUz8
Meals included: morning, noon (poisons) - restaurant, evening - restaurant
Relaxing day at the beach.
We will head to Gjipe Beach, passing through the narrow, seemingly abandoned streets of the village of Vuno to reach our destination.
Arriving on this cove, we will enjoy this beautiful beach and its impressive canyon. In the afternoon, we will head to Llogara Park.
Llogara – Berat: 2h
Berat – Tirana: 2 hours
Overnight in Tirana. 3* hotel, Hotel IDEA
https://maps.app.goo.gl/Z8qWXcrEePuWuVU99
Meals included: morning, noon - restaurant, evening - restaurant
We are going to explore the city of Berat, an Ottoman-style city classified by UNESCO since 2008. “The city of a thousand windows”, known and recognized for its facades and its adjoining houses, is the best preserved city from the country. The small streets of the “Kala” district and the Museum of the famous 16th century painter “ONUFRI” will leave you with some unforgettable memories.
Tirana – Airport: 30min
Today is departure day depending on your flight schedule. One of our agents will accompany you to the airport.
It is time for us to say “Mirupafshim” and wish you a good trip.
We hope you enjoyed this trip.
Looking forward to seeing you in Albania once again.
Cost
The Cost Includes
- Accommodation in a 3* hotel and bed and breakfast in Valbona and Theth
- All meals from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on day 15except dinner on D 12.
- Transport by local minibus + private transfers
- Transfers from/to the airport
- French-speaking guide throughout the trip
- Mule to carry luggage when crossing from Valbona to Theth
- Visits:
- ▪ National History Museum
- ▪ Butrint archaeological site
- ▪ Onufri Berat Museum
- ▪ Insulation Tower in Theth
- ▪ Stonecutter in Gjirokaster
- Reception and assistance
The Cost Excludes
- The return flight
- Drinks + meals not mentioned
- Dinner day 12
- Personal expenses
- Anything not mentioned in the “included” section