8 Day Albania Private Classic Tour

Day 1 · Pick up at the airport & familiarization with Tirana (approximately 45 minutes total daily driving time)

1. 1

   Stop 1

   2 hours Admission not included

   Time permitting, visit the National Historic Museum in Tirana offering an in-depth introduction to Albanian history from prehistoric times to the present day.

2. 2

   Tirana

   one hour

   Time permitting we take a walking tour of central Tirana including the New Bazaar and Scanderbeg square.

Boutique style 4 star centrally located hotel

Day 2 · Tirana visits and Kruja (approximately 2 hours total daily driving time)

1. 1

   Museum of Secret Surveillance

   1 h 30 min Admission not included

   Tirana is a relatively modern city, however there is not any better place to help one understand Albania-s recent communist past, so a walking tour will give you a perspective of the city’s development and different influences, while a visit to the House of Leaves will help you understand the Communist Dictatorship period and how its survival for 45 years was assured through a very intricate system manipulation and terror on its citizens.

2. 2

   Kruja Castle

   2 hours

   Kruja fortress is the symbol of resistance against the Ottoman invasion in the 15th century where Albanians lead by Scanderbeg resisted being subdued for 25 years. Inside the fortress is the Scanderbeg Museum dedicated to Albania's national hero.

3. 3

   Kruja Bazaar

   one hour

   A traditional bazaar with hand made arts and crasfts as well as antiques.

4. 4

   Kruja Castle

   one hour

   We suggest around 1 hour for lunch in one of the characteristic restaurants inside the castle. Pay direct.

Boutique style 4 star centrally located hotel

Day 3 · Tirana - Ardenica - Apollonia - Vlora (approximately 3.5 hours total daily driving time)

1. 1

   Ardenica Monastery

   one hour Admission not included

   The Monastery of Ardenica, supposed to have been built in the middle ages. Scanderbeg is thought to have been married in the small older chapel. In the main church chapel you can admire icon paintings of 1743-1745 from famous Albanian painters of the time like the Zeografi brothers.

2. 2

   Apollonia Archaeological Park

   2 hours Admission not included

   The ancient city of Apollonia was situated on the famous Via Egnatia an important trade route connecting Rome to Constantinople. The city flourished under the Romans and turned into one of the most important learning centres. Julius Caesar chose to send his nephew Augustus Octavian to study oratory in Apollonia revealing the importance of this ancient city. The ruins spread over several hectares of land with only 5% of them being excavated.

3. 3

   Pojan

   one hour

   After visits of Apollonia site we would suggest a local restaurant at or close to the site. Pay direct.

4. 4

   Vlore

   one hour

   After the visits of apollonia ancient remains and lunch we continue to Vlora the town where Albanian Independence was proclaimed. Visit the the small house where history was made, now called the Independence Museum.

5. 5

   Vlore

   45 min

   Stroll through the beautiful seaside promenade with palm trees and plenty of cafés to get a feel on the local vibe.

Boutique style 4 star centrally located hotel

Day 4 · Vlora - Albanian Riviera - Butrint (UNESCO) - Saranda (approximately 4 hours total daily driving time)

1. 1

   Stop 1

   20 min

   Beautiful Mediterranean pine covered mountains and a gorge with breath-taking views of the Ionian coast.

2. 2

   Ali Pasha Castle

   30 min Admission not included

   Seaside fort worth stopping for wonderful photo opportunities.

3. 3

   Ksamil Beach

   one hour

   Just before reaching Butrint we will suggest several wonderful beachside restaurants in Ksamil where you could have a fantastic seafood lunch with wonderful views of the white sandy beach and turquoise waters which have given Ksamil the nickname "the Albanian Caribbean". Pay direct.

4. 4

   Butrint National Park

   2 hours Admission not included

   after lunch a few minutes drive take us to the ancient remains of the city of Butrint which have been declared a UNESCO world heritage site for their archaeological importance. It is considered the most important archaeological discovery in Albania and. Situated in a beautiful natural peninsula it offers a spectacular mixture of archaeology, history and nature appealing to anyone, not just history buffs.

Boutique style 4 star hotel

Day 5 · Saranda - Gjirokaster (UNESCO) - Berat (UNESCO) (approximately 3.5 hours total daily driving time)

1. 1

   Gjirokaster

   2 hours

   Gjirokastra, is a city built completely in stone from the streets you walk on, to the slabs of rocks covering the roofs of the houses. The city of stone as it is called is hence a very distinct town and has earned the honor of being a museum town and a UNESCO protected site for this very distinctive architecture.

2. 2

   Gjirokaster Castle

   one hour Admission not included

   Visit the medieval Castle which used to be a political prison during the communist dictatorship. It also holds an arms museum from WW2.

3. 3

   Skenduli House

   one hour Admission not included

   This is an almost 300-year-old house which showcases the skills of the Gjirokastra masons and builders as well as the traditions of living in an extended family. Proudly presented by the current owners who use the earnings to maintain and preserve it for future generations.

4. 4

   Gjirokaster

   one hour

   After the visits we suggest lunch in one of the small traditional restaurants at the bazaar. Pay direct.

Boutique style hotel in the historic centre of Berat

Day 6 · Berat visits (approximately 0.45 hours total daily driving time)

1. 1

   Berat Castle

   2 hours Admission not included

   Berat fortress is of particular interest as people still live within its walls in their traditional houses, as have their ancestors for centuries. It used to have over 40 churches of which 7 still remain including St. Mary’s church turned into Onufri Museum.

2. 2

   National Iconographic Museum Onufri

   one hour Admission not included

   It houses a splendid collection of icons from different artists the most famous being Onufri. He was a famous Albanian Icon master painter of the 16th century who painted many orthodox churches in Albania and Greece, using a special red colour now named after him.

3. 3

   Stop 3

   45 min

   The old quarter with houses built one over one which is probably responsible for Berat becoming a museum town and a UNESCO protected heritage site.

4. 4

   Berat Castle

   one hour

   Lunch could be had at one of the family restaurants in the fortress. Pay direct.

5. 5

   Berat

   one hour

   We continue with the visits to Bachelors Mosque, Kings/Sultans Mosque and Helvetti Tekke situated close to each other which showcase the tolerance between different religious beliefs in Albania. a small donation at the Kings Mosque is recommended.

Boutique style hotel in the historic centre of Berat

Day 7 · Berat - Dajti Mountain - Tirana (approximately 2 hours total daily driving time)

1. 1

   Parku Kombetar Mali i Dajtit

   one hour Admission not included

   Today returning to the capital we will take a cable lift to 1100m above sea level to enjoy the clean air of Dajti Mountain and the spectacular panoramas of Tirana and the surrounding hills and fields stretching like a blanket all the way to the Adriatic sea.

2. 2

   Syflysports Mount Dajti

   2 hours

   At the Dajti mountain there is the possibility of a walk in nature. Afterwards suggested lunch in the panoramic restaurant with amazing views of Tirana and on most days the Adriatic coast.

3. 3

   Bunk'Art 1

   one hour Admission not included

   After taking the cable lift back to the base station we transfer 10 minutes to a unique museum based on a cold war era bunker. The bunker was built in total secret and has several tunnels and more than 100 rooms, showcasing the paranoia of Albania's isolation dictatorship. After tis interesting visit return to the hotel where you have a late afternoon and evening to explore independently.

Boutique style 4 star centrally located hotel

Day 8 · Transfer to Airport

1. 1

   Tirana

   Passing by

   After breakfast transfer to the airport.