Day 1: Airport-Tirana
Depending on time of arrival in Tirana, we may do a short city tour before or after check in at the hotel. In the evening, we’ll have dinner at a traditional restaurant and then explore the nightlife of Tirana, walking in the ex-block area known as “the forbidden town” where the villas of the communist’s leaders are still standing next to trendy boutiques, expensive jewelry shops and active local pubs. Overnight in Hotel
Day 2: Tirana – Kruja – Durres (78 KM )
Today you will see examples of an age of unbounded creativity. Your morning tour begins from Skanderbeg Square, named after the Albanian hero the main landmark of the city. Pilgrims from far and wide reach the Et’hem Bey Mosque to offer prayers. The Clock Tower next to the Et’hem Bey Mosque, National Museum- north of Scanderbeg Square, The Palace of Culture, The monument to Mother Albania and The National Historical Museum are the significant spots that catch up the attention of one and all who make a visit to the city.Continue the tour with the visit to Kruja – one of the biggest cities in Northern Albania is the “city of history” and the best known as hometown of Albanian’s National Hero Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg. Visit to the Castle, Skanderbeg Museum and Ethnographic Museum.After the visit of the castle, is free for you to explore Kruja’s old bazaar with authentic and antique shops.The route continues to Durres– the ancient Greco-Roman port city of Dyrrachium.Overnight in Durres.
Day 3: Durres- Berat (90 KM)
In the morning after the breakfast the tour will continue toward the charming and UNESCO protected town of Berat. Upon arrival in Berat we will start the walking tour of the town to visit the upper castle with its characteristic houses and the museum of the icons. Walking down in the lower part of the town we will visit the medieval centre and some very beautiful examples of byzantine churches and ottoman mosques. Berat is also known as “The town of a Thousand windows” due to the many large buildings that decorate the houses of the old town. The town is still renowned for its historic architecture and particular beauty and is declared as a world heritage site by UNESCO. Historical Berat consist of three quarters. The quarters of Gorica and Mangalem are situated on the slopes of two hills that are divided by the river Osum. The castle (fortress) quarter stands on the top of the Magalemi hill and is enclosed by a fortification wall that dates back to the IV century BC. The town has several XVI century mosques, very well decorated and a very large numbers of Byzantine orthodox churches. Several of the churches has frescoes by the well-known painter Onufri and his school and from other later famous schools of frescos and icons of the Balkan area. Of particular interest are: The icons museum located in the old cathedral church of the Castle and the Ethnographic museum hosted in an old house in the Mangalem quarter. Overnight in Berat.
Day 4: Berat- Apolonia- Valona (92 KM )
After breakfast our tour will continue to Archeological Park of Apollonia. Here during the walking tour we will visit the ruins of the ancient city, the monastery of Saint Mary and the archeological museum. The ancient city of Apollonia of Illyria was founded at the beginning of the VII century BC. by Greek colons coming by the cities of Corinth and Corcyra. Apollonia became an emporium of merchandising between Greeks an Illyrians and was taken by Aristotle as a model in his analysis of oligarchy due to the distinct and separate Greek and Illyrian communities. The city prospered very much in roman times. It was a vital stronghold in Caesar’s civil war with Pompey and also important in early Christian history as the resident bishop attended the councils of Ephesus and Chalkis in 431 and 451. The discovered monuments on the site are: the fortification wall of the city, the Prytaneon, the Bouleterion, the big and small Stoas, the Odeion, the Theatre, the Nympheum and many more. The museum of Apollonia is hosted in the nearby monastery of the XIV century when can be visit also the Church of St. Mary. After the visit, drive to the city of Valona. Valona is the second largest port city of Albania and the most important economic and cultural city of southwest Albania. It is the city where the Albanian Declaration of Independence was proclaimed on November 28, 1912. The city was for a short time the capital of Albania. Founded as an ancient Greek colony in the 6th century BC by the name of Aulon and continuously inhabited for about 26 centuries. Dinner and overnight in Valona
Day 5: Valona- Dhermi (116 KM)
After breakfast we will drive up to Albanian Riviera. Continue climbing to 3,000 feet where you can enjoy the best views, as we drive through the fertile slopes and villages. Drive along Dhermi, overnight in one of the best Albanian beaches, overnight in Dhermi or Himara
Day 6: Dhermi- Himara- Saranda(70.5 KM)
After breakfast drive along Dhermi, Himara coastline and stop for a special lunch in a restaurant, enjoying the wonderful scenery among the pinewoods.En route making a short visit to the bay of Porto Palermo where the castle of Ali Pasha is situated. Depart for Saranda the hillside town facing the sea, famous for its magnificent, “Butrinti” archeological site. Overnight in hotel .
Day 7: Saranda- Ksamil Beach- Butrinti Archeological Site (48 KM)
After breakfast drive to Butrint we will visit the well preserved ruins of the ancient city of Butrint and its museum hosted in the Venetian castle, Butrint: is a National park that includes a very well preserved archaeological area, an uncontaminated vegetation area of Mediterranean, and has also a lake that is connected to the Ionian sea by a natural channel. The wetlands around the lake are shelter for different animals and aquatic species in danger of extinction. The excavations and studies has proved that during the VII and the VI centuries BC. Butrint was a protourban centre. By the V century BC Butrint has got the full form of an ancient city. During the VI century the city was equipped with new buildings such as the theatre, the agora, the small, temple and the stoa. The complex of the sanctuary of Asclepius forms the most magnificent part of the city. The main importance and magnificence of the Site was in the Roman period when the City was proclaimed a Roman Colony and used by the roman aristocracy as a holiday destination. Even during late antiquity Butrint maintained its importance.
The construction of the Great Basilica and of the baptistery dates to this period. The baptistery has the floor surface covered by a mosaic decoration of a very fine processing, which is very well preserved. .After the visits in Butrint, we will continue to must beautiful sea side village of Ksamil, free time for optional lunch in Fish restaurant 10 m from the sea. Continue to Saranda. Overnight in Hotel Brilant
Day 8: Saranda- Gjirokastra- Tirana (292 KM )
After breakfast we will depart to Gjirokastra known as “Museum City”. In the way we will make a stop and visit, Visit the “Blue Eye” spring, formed by underground springs and the unusual continue to Gjirokastra city where the dwelling houses have the form of medieval towers constituting a building ensemble with a characteristic architecture.Visit the Castle and the Museum of Weapons. Drive to the museum city of Gjirokastra, birthplace, of the former iron-fisted dictator of Albania, Enver Hoxha. Gjirokastra is a strikingly picturesque town, perched on the side of a mountain above the Drino River. The tour includes the district museum, housed in the building in which Enver Hoxha was born and the pre-Ottoman citadel, a former political prison and now a weapons museum. Continue to Tirana for an overnight stay.
Day 9: Return Home
*Including:
- Transfers with Modern A/C private car/ bus or minibus with driver on tour ,
- Good standard Accommodation at 3*, 4* hotels,
- all parking’sProfessional English-French-German-Italian-Russian or Spanish speaking local guide throughout the tour,
- all the museum entry fee.