Albania Adventure
$1999
per person
on request
- Start your Albania adventure in the capital of Tirana
- Visit Castle of Rozafa in Skhodra & enjoy local specialties in a small village
- Discover the New Mosque, Ebu Bekr, the largest in Albania and among the largest in Balkan
- Explore the attractions of Thethi valley: the church, the blood feud tower & the waterfall
- Tour the Archaeological Museum and the Venetian Tower in Durres
- Journey through the spectacular Albanian Riviera & visit Saranda
- Enjoy Gjirokastra a museum town under the protection of UNESCO as a World Heritage Site with beautiful and very distinct architecture
Begin your journey in the capital of Tirana. Stop in Shkodra, a center of Roman Catholicism in Albania and a town with long historic routes, the only mentioned capital of the Illyrian Kingdom. Visit the Castle of Rozafa which is set on a rocky hill at the entrance of the city of Shkodra.
Next, continue through the splendid valley of Boga where the road climbs towards the steep Thore Pass which descends into the Thethi valley. Visit Durres located on the central of the Albanian coast, west of the capital Tirana. The city has inherited a lot of values of the past, historical and archaeological centers as Amphitheatre, the Byzantine fences, Venetian Tower, The perimeter castle wall, but also cultural and religious center of Basilica in Arapaj ruins, Castle of Rodon etc.
Depart to Saranda through the spectacular Albanian Riviera with its traditional villages. Ee head toward the White Road Beach, where we will begin or kayaking adventure. For about 2 hours we will traverse with kayak some rarely visited beaches, as well as some other very popular beaches in the south coast e.g. Palasa, Drymades, Dhermi, Pirate’s Cave, the extraordinary Beach and Canyon of Gjipea.
Next, we depart for Gjirokastra a museum town under the protection of UNESCO as a World Heritage Site with beautiful and very distinct architecture. Our adventure ends in Tirana.
9 days
- Destination
1
Arrive Tirana
You will be greeted by your Tour Director and transferred to your hotel. Enjoy the rest of the afternoon in leisure. Hotel Kotoni, Tirana, (B). 2
Tirana/Kruja/Skhoder
After breakfast transfer to Tirana. Stop in Shkodra, a center of Roman Catholicism in Albania and a town with long historic routes, the only mentioned capital of the Illyrian Kingdom. Visit the pedestrian area with Italian influences and the archeological museum situated in an old Ottoman style house where one of our heroes Oso Kuka was born as well as Ramiz Alia, the successor to the dictator Enver Hoxha and leader of the Albania’s Communist Party when it fell in 1991. Lunch is a culinary delight of local specialties in a small village with organic gardens and farms. After lunch depart to Tirana where we take a driven tour of the major sites of the capital and visit the World Headquarters of Bektashi liberal sect of Islam. After being outlawed in Turkey for their liberal interpretation of Islam, the order was transferred to Albania where it had been embraced by a large portion of the population which converted to Islam during Ottoman occupation. Bektashism is a religion which allows alcohol consumption and has a more spiritual link to GOD, with philosophy and poetry as major ways of expression. Hotel Colosseo, Shkodër, (B). 3
Shkoder/Thethi
This day is reserved for visiting the Castle of Rozafa which is set on a rocky hill at the entrance of the city of Shkodra. This castle was used as the center of the Illyrian stronghold, mentioned for the first time during the reign of King Gent, who ruled from 181 BC until 168 BC. Also we will visit the Cathedral of the city. The Cathedral of Shkodra is called the Great Church because, at the time of construction, was one of the largest churches in Balkan. Next, we will visit the Mosque in Shkodra. The New Mosque, Ebu Bekr, is the largest in Albania and among the largest in Balkan. It is worth noting that one of the greatest values of the Albanian people is the coexistence and the religious tolerance. A visit to the Clock Tower of the nineteenth century. The clock tower known in history as the Clock Tower of Inglizi regards to the period of medieval aristocracy. The Clock Tower, along with the house next door was built with the funds of the English Lord Paget. After lunch continue through the splendid valley of Boga where the road climbs towards the steep Thore Pass (1700m), which descends into the Thethi valley. At the pass we will stop at Ms. Edith Durham memorial – a great panoramic spot. In the afternoon we will explore the attractions of Thethi on foot: the church (750m), the blood feud tower, the waterfall, etc., followed by dinner. Villa Gjeçaj, Theth, (B, L & D).
4
Thethi
After breakfast, we will walk towards Nderlysa (12km) (510m altitude), and further to the Blue Eye pool (670m altitude) and the valley of Kaprea. On or way back, we will stop in the lovely hamlet of Nderlysa where we will have lunch at a village house with a spectacular rural setting. We return to Thethi and relax while the sun sets in the valley. Villa Gjeçaj, Theth, (B, L & D). 5
Thethi/Durres/Vlora
Durres is located on the central of the Albanian coast, west of the capital Tirana. The city has inherited a lot of values of the past, historical and archaeological centers as Amphitheatre, the Byzantine fences, Venetian Tower, The perimeter castle wall, but also cultural and religious center of Basilica in Arapaj ruins, Castle of Rodon etc. During this day we will visit the amphitheater of Durres, last constructed in the second century BC, one of the greatest of its kind by the Roman Empire, and the only one in Albania. Its ellipse size 120×110 m, and the axis of arena 61×42 m, took up to 15.000 spectators. Its presence is a landmark in the city’s urban organization. We will also visit the Archaeological Museum and the Venetian Tower. The old museum was inaugurated in March 1951. The new one in April 2002. A museum of national dimensions, it contains the pavilion of prehistory and antiquity during the post byzantine period, where are exposed about 2000 items derived from the underground archaeological museum of the city. After visiting the city we will have a lunch break and then will depart towards the ancient city of Apollonia, which is among the largest in the Adriatic basin and the most mentioned among 30 other cities with the same name. It was established around the beginning of the IV century BC. Apollonia ruins were discovered in the early nineteenth century. The earliest archaeological traces are several objects from the Iron Age, typical of the Illyrian culture. From the first centuries of city life are preserved some of the remains of the defensive wall and an archaic temple dedicated to Artemisia, the worship goodness of the Apollonian. Apollonia is located 12 kilometers from the city of Fier. Hotel New York, Vlora, (B) 6
Vlora/Butrint/Sarande
After breakfast we depart to Saranda through the spectacular Albanian Riviera with its traditional villages. Llogara National Park is impressive stretching to a height of over 2000 metrers at its peak, the mountain of Cika. We stop at around 1100 meters where spectacular views of the Ionian sea can be admired. Afterwards continue along the wonderful coast to the ancient city of Butrint another UNESCO world heritage considered the best archaeological site in Albania probably one of the most important in the Balkans. The city was first settled by Greek colonists and was continuously inhabited for centuries forming archaeological layers of passing civilizations, giving archaeologists the possibility to study continuity through time. It is situated in a beautiful peninsula among dense vegetation. The site has been occupied since at least the VIII century BC, although myths associated with its origins speak of the city’s foundation by Trojan exiles. After a thorough visit of the site continue to Saranda for overnight. Villa Duraku, Sarande, (B) 7
Sarande
This morning we head toward the White Road Beach, where we will prepare the kayaks and we learn how to properly use them. The kayaks that we will use for today adventure are 2-seats kayaks, suitable for sea expeditions. For about 2 hours we will traverse with kayak some rarely visited beaches, as well as some other very popular beaches in the south coast e.g. Palasa, Drymades, Dhermi, Pirate’s Cave, the extraordinary Beach and Canyon of Gjipea. Optional rock climbing can be done in the canyon. Villa Duraku, Sarande, (B) 8
Sarande/Gjirokaster/Tirana
In the morning we depart for Gjirokastra a museum town under the protection of UNESCO as a World Heritage Site with beautiful and very distinct architecture. On the way we stop at the Mesopotam Church where carvings of mythological beasts can be admired on the outer walls making this a distinct church where mythology and religion combine in a place of worship. Afterwards in Gjirokastra we will visit we visit the fortress part of which was turned into a political prison for dissidents of the communist regime and an Arms Museum. Visit to the Ethnographic Museum, which is also the house the Albanian dictator was born in, as well as a 300 year old house next to it, where the grandeur of Gjirokastra’s master builders can be observed. After the lunch break we continue to Tirana. Hotel Kotoni, Tirana, (B). 9
Tirana
Depart Tirana.
YOUR JOURNEY INCLUDES
HOTELS
NOT INCLUDED
- Experienced English speaking tour director/driver throughout the trip as per itinerary
- Comfortable air-conditioned sedan at your disposal as per itinerary
- Sightseeing of Tirana & Kruja, Shkoder, Durres, Vlore, Butrint and Gjirokaster
- Hiking in Theth
- Hiking in Llogara National park
- Sea kayaking in Bay of Gjipea
- Experienced English-speaking local guides
- VAT
HOTELS
- Tirana, Hotel Kotoni, 1 night, breakfast
- Skhoder, Hotel , 1 night, breakfast,
- Thethi, Villa Gjeçaj, double room, breakfast, lunch & dinner
- Vlora, Hotel New York, 1 night, breakfast
- Sarande, Villa Duraku, 2 nights, breakfast
- Tirana, Hotel Kotoni, 1 night, breakfast
NOT INCLUDED
- Airfare
- Meals, drinks, gratuities, telephone charges and incidentals
- Anything else not mentioned in the inclusion
This is a private journey just for you and your travel companions. You select your travel date and our travel experts seamlessly connect all the dots for you. Start now!