Discovering Albania Tour - The Land of the Double Headed Eagle

Explore the fascinating history, archaeology and culture of Albania. This tour offers a heady mix of castles, monasteries, classical sites and historic UNESCO World Heritage towns, all set amidst spectacular scenery. Beginning in Kruje, we visit Tirana and then move gradually south visiting the classical site of Apollonia. A breathtaking scenic drive takes us through the Llogara National Park. We visit the impressive sites of Butrint and the historic towns of Gjirokastër, ‘the city of stone’, and Berat, ‘the city of a thousand windows’. This tour provides a fantastic insight into the history, both ancient and more recent, of this fascinating country.

ITINERARY

Day 1: Fly from London Heathrow to Tirana.
Transfer to Kruja, approximately 50 minute drive. Check-in at the Panorama Hotel for a two-night stay. This comfortable hotel is well-located for visiting the sites of Kruja on foot. Dinner at the hotel.

Day 2: Exploring Kruje.
Our first day is devoted to the story of Albania's great hero Skanderbeg, who led the resistance against the Ottomans in the 1400s. We will explore the sites of Kruje, visiting its castle, that houses the modern Skanderbeg Museum, the excellent ethnographic museum, and wander through the old bazaar. 

Day 3: Tirana.
Our visit today is Albania’s lively capital, Tirana, which has positively blossomed since Albania left communism behind and today is a thriving modern city. Our visits here include the National Historical Museum, the early 19th century Ethem Bey Mosque and the secret nuclear bunker from the cold war era, known today as the Bunk’Art 1 Museum. This huge bunker, one of thousands built throughout Albania due Hoxer's paranoia of a nuclear attack,  was built specifically for Hoxer and his political companions and remained secret for much of its existence. It's a fascinating place to visit, especially knowing it was built as recently as the 1970's. Check-in to the Hotel Opera or Hotel Oxford for a one-night stay. Dinner this evening at a local restaurant.

Day 4: Ardenica and Apollonia.
Leaving Tirana behind we travel south to a fine little monastery, Ardenica, where Skanderbeg was married in 1451. Then its on to the UNESCO listed site of Apollonia, one of the most well-known classical sites found in Albania, dating from the 6th century BC. It's a lovely site with the ruins scattered amongst an open nature. After our visit here, we continue to Vlorë, set on a beautiful bay, for a one-night stay. Check-in to the Hotel Bologna or Hotel Partner for a one-night stay. Evening at leisure. Restaurants can be easily reached on foot from the hotel.

Day 5: Vlorë to Sarandë.
We journey along the beautiful Radhima Bay to visit the recent excavations of the Roman site at Oricum. Continuing through the stunning scenery of the national park of Llogara, we find time to stop for lunch by the sea before a short visit to the Ali Pasha castle at Porto Palermo before reaching Sarandë for a two-night stay. Today we enjoy the scenery of what has, rightly become known as ' the Albanian rivieria'. Check-in to the Hotel Brilant of Hotel Agimi for a two-night stay. Dinner at a nearby restaurant.

Day 6: Full day Butrint and Sarandë.
A short and picturesque journey takes us to the wonderful site of Butrint, whose classical remains lie hidden in woods beside an evocative lake, one of the most beautiful sites in Albania. After visiting the site, we head to Ksamil Village situated next in a beautiful setting next to the sea, and have time for lunch at a restaurant on the spectacular coastline of this area. Returning to Sarandë, we will climb up (with our bus) to Lekursi Castle that overlooks Sarandë town and the island of Corfu to enjoy the splendid views. Evening at leisure. Restaurants can be easily reached on foot from the hotel.

Day 7: Sarandë to Gjirokastër.
A wonderful drive takes us over hills and across mountains to the valley of Gjirokastër, with an en-route visit to the beautiful Blue-eye Lake, an exquisitely coloured natural fresh water pool.  The old quarter of Gjirokaster is known as the 'City of Stone', because the tall houses here used solid stone slabs for roofing. Our visits begin with the impressive 8th century castle, formerly used as a prison. The castle has spectacular views across the town and its splendid traditional houses, one of which is now a fascinating folk museum and was the birthplace of Enver Hoxha, the Albanian Stalinist dictator. Check-in to the Rose Garden Hotel, Gjirokastër for a one-night stay. Evening at leisure.

Day 8: Gjirokastër to Byllis and Berat.
The final leg of our journey takes us through yet more beautiful scenery to the Hellenistic and Roman city of Byllis, an extensive site set within great Hellenistic walls in a spectacular mountainous region.Then its on to Berat, a UNESCO World heritage site known as the “city of one thousand windows”. Overshadowed to the east by Tomorr Mountain at 2415m, it was founded in the 4th century B.C. The old part of the city has a remarkable collection of fine traditional houses of great architectural importance, as well as Byzantine churches, a mosque, and a fortress. Overnight at either the Mangalemi Hotel or Hotel Onufri in Berat. Dinner at the Mangalemi Hotel.

Day 9: Transfer from Berat to connect with our homeward flight from Tirana to London Heathrow.

NB: Exact order of itinerary may vary according to local conditions and tour manager's discretion 

The maximum group size on this tour is 25 passengers. 

INCLUDED 

• Return flights from London Heathrow to Tirana
• Eight nights’ bed and breakfast at good standard four-star hotels, based on shared occupancy of a twin/double room
• Four dinners at hotels or local restaurants
• Transfers, tours and entrance fees
• Local guide and tour manager throughout

NOT INCLUDED

• Single room supplement
• Holiday insurance
• Meals other than those stated
• Items of a personal nature such as drinks, laundry, telephone calls
• Porterage and gratuities

HOTELS

Excellent quality three and four star hotels are used throughout this tour, all offering a high standard of service, facilities and comfort in ideal locations for exploring the sites visited. Please note some of these hotels may change prior to departure as many of the hotels used on this tour are relatively small, especially in the historic UNESCO towns of Gjirokaster and Berat, they may on occasion be substituted for alternative hotels due to a limit on occupancy, which is why we state on booking confirmations two hotel names at some places. If it is necessary to change any of the advertised hotels, the alternative hotels used will be of the same high standard as the advertised hotel.

Hotel Panorama, Kruje
This excellent four-star hotel is well-situated in the centre of Kruje and enjoys beautiful panoramic views of the surrounding area. The hotel has a choice of two restaurants and has a bar area to relax in. Rooms all have private bathroom facilities with bath/shower, air-conditioning, TV, telephone and free wi-fi.

Hotel Panorama Website 

Hotel Opera, or Hotel Oxford, Tirana
Situated in Tirana, both hotels are four-star centrally located hotels offering modern rooms with easy access on foot to the sites of Tirana. Rooms have private bathroom facilities with bath/shower, air-conditioning, TV, telephone and free wi-fi.

Hotel Opera Website

Hotel Partner or Hotel Kraal, Vlore
Modern four-star hotel located on the seafront in Vlore. Rooms all have private bathroom facilities, TV, minibar, air-conditioning, telephone and free wi-fi.

Hotel Kraal Website

Hotel Brilant or Hotel Iliria, Sarande
Comfortable four-star hotels, just 100m from the main boulevard and 50m from the sea. Rooms all have private bathroom facilities, air-conditioning, minibar, telephone, TV and free wi-fi.

Hotel Brilant Website

Hotel Iliria Website

In Gjirokaster and Berat the hotels are all quite small so it is necessary to use two hotels, the Mangalemi and the Hotel Portik, which sit within 100m of each other. Both hotels offer an equally comfortable standard for your stay.

Hotel Rose Garden and Hotel Kalemi 2, Gjirokaster
Excellent four-star hotel situated just below the Old Castle at Gjirokaster. Built in the typical and attractive traditional design of Gjirokaster, hotel facilities include a bar, garden, lounge and seasonal swimming pool.Rooms all have private bathroom facilities, telephone, air-conditioning, hairdryer, TV and free wi-fi.

Hotel Rose Garden Website

Hotel Kalemi 2 website 

Hotel Mangalemi, Berat
Charming historic hotel set in the old Mangalemi quarter in the heart of Berat. The hotel has a restaurant serving traditional Albanian cuisine, and a terrace which offers a beautiful panoramic view of the city and mountains. Rooms all have private bathroom facilities, hairdryer, TV, air-conditioning/heating, minibar, telephone, safe and free wi-fi.

Hotel Mangalemi Website

Hotel Onufri, Berat
The four-star traditional style Hotel Onufri is situated in the heart of Berat, and just a two minute walk from the Osum river. This attractive hotel, offers spacious rooms  featuring dark woods and high windows with views to the historic centre. The bedrooms have private bathroom facilities with shower, as well as air-conditioning, TV, wi-fi and telephone.

Hotel Onufri website 

MORE INFO - Please click here to see full details of this tour 

Travelling Information

In order to see the highlights of the country, this tour covers quite a large part of Albania, which does mean moving hotels quite often, so we recommend travelling relatively light as you will be packing and unpacking several times during your stay. The hotels are all relaxed places with very relaxed (or no) codes of dress for dinner so casual dress is fine. Please note, this is only offered as advice based on our experience of this tour with the idea that it might help you when it comes to deciding what to pack. Please also note the luggage allowance for this tour does provide a maximum of 23kgs for hold luggage.

Walking Advice

We have graded this tour moderate because mostly the walking is this level, ‘Walking between sites and lots of standing for viewings’ but please note in Kruja, Gjirokaster and Berat, cobble roads will also be encountered.