8 days 7 nights
Daily Tour
10 people
English, Francais, German
In the south-east of Europe, Albania, a little-known country in Europe, opens its doors to foreign visitors after a few years of regime change. Southern Albania is renowned for the diversity of relief. High mountains intersect with the blue color of the Ionian Sea. Albania, also known as “The Last Secret of Europe” or “Pearl of the Balkans” is a country with many assets: fantastic scenery, an unspoiled environment, turquoise blue seas, a rich past and friendly local. On this program you will have the opportunity to enjoy: hiking in the mountains, kayaking in the sea, exploring the biggest lagoon in Albania, exploring the Canyon of Gjipe, discovering the country’s must-haves with alternating visits and free time to give you the time to enjoy Albania in your own way.
Depends on your arrival you will start your discovery of Albania with a visit of the capital, Tirana! Landing in Tirana, at the International Tirana Airport “Mother Theresa”. You will be welcomed by the staff of our agency and accompanied to the hotel where you will be staying the first night.
A city since 1614 and the capital of Albania since 1920, Tirana is the country's main cultural hub. You will be able to discover a city famous for the colorful facades of its buildings and the harmony between the various religions in the country. The visit of the National Museum located on Skanderbeg Square will be a nice introduction to the rich Albanian history!
Close to this square, we will be able to see the mosque "Et'hem Bey", which has been preserved even during the communist era for its historical value, the opera, the clock tower and the palace of culture. We will then discover the superb Orthodox Cathedral.
Overnight in Tirana
Tirana – Divjaka, 1h30min Divjaka – Berat, 2h
Today we will discover the National Park of Divjaka. In this National Parc, you can have a walk in the forest and also watch rare kinds of pelicans, like the curly pelican, in the Karavasta Lagoon. It is a quiet and nice place with nice landscapes. You may choose to discover the Parc by foot or by bike. Renting bikes on the spot is possible as well.
After lunch we will leave for the city of thousands of windows, Berat.
Divjaka – Berat 1h 10min
UNESCO has listed this city as World Heritage Site. The little streets of the Mangalemi neighborhood, the quartier also known as “kala” (castle), as well as the museum of the famous painter of the XVI century will surely leave you some good souvenirs.
Night in an old house converted into a hotel.
Berat – Ardenice 50min
Ardenice – Gjirokaster 2h 40 min
After breakfast we will continue our day with the visit of Orthodox Monastery of Ardenica, the only one still operating in Albania! The quality of its frescoes attracts many visitors each year. From there you will have a spectacular view all over the fields up to the sea. The next stop will be the city of Gjirokaster. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005.
This city is full of distinctive districts and shaded terraces. But its main touristic sites are the ethnographic museum and its citadel, which will take us back in time, years ago, through the history of Albania. Gjirokastra has retained its characteristic “old Albanian houses” architecture. It is in one of these that we will stay for the night.
Night in an old large house converted into a hotel in Gjirokaster.
Gjirokaster – Blue Eye 1h 40min
This morning the first stop on the way towards Butrint is the ‘The Blue Eye’. The Blue Eye Spring is one of those marvels of nature that continues to capture our imagination ever since its discovery. The spring water can be seen gushing forth under huge pressure. The darkness of the opening of the cave resembles the iris whilst the darker center looks like a pupil.
Blue Eye – Butrint 45 min
Then we will continue the journey with the visit of the site of Butrint, which is near the Greek border. Butrint is an ancient Greek city on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 1992. You will discover a historic landmark, an open ancient city testifying of centuries of human occupation.
Butrint è Sarande 30min
Late in the afternoon we will drive on the direction of Saranda, where you can enjoy the promenade of the city and a fish dish menu.
Night in Saranda
Sarande è Livadh 1h 20 min
After breakfast we will get on the bus to drive along Albanian Riviera for about one hour. We will reach the bay of Livadhi where we will prepare for the ‘Kayaking day’.
After a brief instruction on kayaking from our guide, on about 2 hours and half we will explore a part of Albanian Riviera. Some stops on the way to the bay of Gjipe will make the day more interesting. The bay of Gjipe is one of the most beautiful beaches of Albanian Riviera.
Optional! We may explore the Canyon of Gjipe in the afternoon or we may do some more kayaking as well.
Some animations in the afternoon are prepared for you.
Overnight in tends on the beach.
This morning we will start the day with a walk for around 20 min where we will take our bus on the direction of National Parc of Llogara.
Gjipe – Llogara 50 min
After accommodation on a hotel inside the park we will take our picnics and we will go for a hiking for around 3 and half hours. Are you ready to follow the same track as Cesar did, before returning in Rome? This park full of vegetation and well known for its rich flora and fauna is the ideal place to admire the Albanian southern coast. For these reasons we will be hiking for about 4h with an elevation of 300m. In this way you can also enjoy this place and also admire all the views and the landscapes.
Night in a hotel in the National Park.
Llogara –Tirane 2h 40min
After breakfast we will continue your journey towards the capital city of Albania.
The visit of Bunk Art might be o good option for the day. Reaching the mountain of Dajti by cable is another idea of the day. There you may walk for around 30 minutes enjoying the view of Tirana.
In the evening, we recommend you to enjoy the night life of the capital in the district of Blok: Once reserved to the communist nomenclature is now a trendy neighborhood and the place where you can have a drink or find a nice restaurant to relax after your last day.
Overnight in Tirane.
This is the last day of your trip to Albania.
One of our agents will accompany you to the airport according to your flight schedule.
We hope you had a great time during your visit and that you will come back to Albania once again.
This tour involves moderate hiking and outdoor activities, so a basic to moderate level of physical fitness is recommended. Comfortable walking shoes and a willingness to explore natural terrains are essential.
Besides general fitness, no special preparations are needed. However, carrying essentials like water, sun protection, and appropriate clothing for varying weather conditions is advised.
Accommodations in the villages are homestays, offering an authentic experience of local life. They provide basic amenities and a chance to immerse in the Albanian culture.
Leave a review