ALBANIA CLASSIC TOUR - 5 DAYS

DURATION: 4 NIGHTS / 5 DAYS

STARTING POINT : TIRANA

FINISHING POINT : TIRANA

COUNTRIES : ALBANIA

THEME : CULTURE & HISTORY

OVERVIEW

Discover Albania in 5 Days

Experience the highlights of this magical country in just one week! Our compact 5-day tour hits all the top sights and gives you a truly wonderful taste of Albania. Though brief, this journey packs in everything you need to fall in love with Albania. You'll leave wanting more - come back to hike untouched trails, try your hand at crafts like copper-works, and meet the warmhearted people who call this scenic land home. Don't miss this perfect opportunity to experience so much in just one week!

HIGHLIGHTS

 Explore Tirana, the vibrant capital of Albania, with its disintegrating soviet-era buildings, brand new projects and proud historic monuments side-by-side, and a wonderful upland scenery.

 Wander through Berat, “The city of Thousand Windows”, an UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Visit Vlore, where the Albanian Independence was proclaimed.

 Drive along the breathtaking Albanian Rivera

 Explore the traces of different ancient civilization through visiting Butrint Archeological Park

 Stroll through the old town in Gjirokastra, “The City of Stone”, an UNESCO World Heritage Site

ITINERARY OUTLINE

DAY 1 () TIRANA (half day)

Tirana, is the vibrant capital of Albania, where we jump on a walking tour of the center, unveiling the charm of Scanderbeg Square, ministerial buildings, and a visit to Bunkart 2—a museum nestled within a bunker.

After lunch, ( to “King House”) , further explore the city on your own, and we will visit through the Central Boulevard: University of Tirana, Albania National Stadium, Comunist installations, Prime Minister’s offices, Pyramid of Tirana, Catholic Church, Democratic Party offices, Big mosque, Castle of Tirana, Italian buildings, Scanderbeg’s Square, National Bank of Albania, National Opera, etc.

Lunch Restaurant: “King House”

Dinner: Free Choice

Hotel: 365 SPA&Sport; Centre

DAY 2 () BERAT

After breakfast, we head to the Berat Castle, a magnificent fortress that dates back to the 13th century, with its origins tracing all the way back to the 4th century BC.

We will have a morning coffe on the castle, with a wonderful view over the city. And then we will have a trip through caracteristic houses. We will make some beautiful pictures on “Panorama”, over the caracteristic neighborhood of Mangalem.

Next up is the Onufri Museum, located within the castle. Inside the iconic church of the dormition of St Mary, which was built in 1797 atop an earlier chapel from the 10th century, you'll find the Onufri Museum. This museum showcases the spectacular 16th-century religious paintings by Onufri, displayed alongside the church's gilded 19th-century iconostasis. Don't forget to explore the chapel behind the iconostasis and admire the faded frescoes on its painted cupola.

Around 13.00 we will have lunch, to “Klea” Restaurant, (they offer Traditional Albania Food), and after lunch, we will head to Mangalem.

Mangalem is the caracteristic neighborhood, that gives to Berat the name of 1000 windows, and which is an UNESCO patrimony site.

In the end of this jurney, we will head to Gjirokaster.

Lunch: “Klea” Restaurant, Berat

Dinner: Villa “Lili”.

Hotel: Villa “Lili”.

DAY 3 () GJIROKASTER

After breakfast, we begin our journey to the charming town of Gjirokastra, a well-preserved UNESCO World Heritage site known for its unique stone architecture. Within the towering walls of its hilltop fortress, we'll explore the Castle. On the castle, we will visit an exposition of different canons and arms of World War II. Then we will visit the british plane, and the stage of “Gjirokastra Festival”

Stroll through the Stroll through the narrow, winding streets of the city, where every step echoes the tales of bygone eras.

We'll also visit the Ethnographic Museum housed in the birthplace of Enver Hoxha, Albania's communist-era dictator.

Lunch: “Check-in” Restaurant

Dinner:

Hotel: “Kalemi”

DAY 4 () BUTRINT – SARANDA - PORTO PALERMO – LLOGARA – VLORE –

Our journey' continues towards Butrint, founded over two millennia ago, this UNESCO World Heritage Site gracefully straddles eras - from its earliest Greek settlements to later Roman domination. Marble pillars and mosaic floors silently narrate Butrint's storied past amid a lush natural oasis.

After lunch, continue on a scenic drive through the picturesque Llogara pass, where terraced citrus groves and olive trees create a patchwork of greenery against breathtaking mountain and sea backdrops.

Next, the journey continues with a captivating visit to Porto Palermo, home to the formidable Ali Pasha Fortress. It features well-preserved walls, cannons, and surrounded by turquoise coastal waters.

Continuing your adventure, you will reach Vlora, a coastal city founded in the 6th century BC, known as the "City of the Flag." This significant town holds a special place in Albania's history, as it was here that the nation declared its independence on November 28, 1912. Enjoy n overnight stay in the charm of this beautiful coastal town.

Lunch: “Ujevara”, Borsh

Dinner:

Hotel: Hotel Partner

DAY 5 () APOLLONIA - ARDENICA

After depart from Vlora, enroute stop at Apollonia, once a thriving center in ancient Illyria. Explore the renowned Via Egnatia and discover the rich Roman heritage, where even Emperor Augustus Octavian once studied. Admire the remnants of temples, a grand theater, and the renowned Bouleuterion. Continue the exploration at the onsite museum, where the city's narrative unfolds, offering insights into its history and showcasing the artifacts unearthed during meticulous excavations.

Then we will have a wonderful typic lunch to “Ardenica” Restaurant.

After Lunch, we will make a visit to Ardenica Monastery. This is a 13th Century, (according to the legends), was builted over a Artemise’s Temple. Ardenica is a derivate of Artemis noun.

Lunch: “Ardenica” Restaurant.

Dinner: Free Choice

Hotel: Booked by you.

PRICE

GROUP (MIN) PRICE IN DBL/TWN ROOM

(BB BASIS)

5 PAX minimally 750 EUR

10 PAX 700 EUR

15 PAX 650 EUR

20 PAX 600 EUR

25 PAX 550 EUR

30+ PAX 500 EUR

INCLUDED :

 Transfers and round trip in an air-conditioned coach according to the itinerary

 Accommodation for 4 nights in carefully sought after 4*, with breakfast, launches, and dinners, (Full menu, all inclusive).

 Licensed English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Arabic Speaking guide throughout the whole itinerary

 City taxes

EXCLUDED :

 Flight Tickets

 Entrance fees (approx. 35-50 Euro PP depending on interests)

 Other meals not specified in lunches and dinners

 Gratuities/Tip to Driver, Guide

 Everything else not mentioned in the included section.