Itinerary
- Day 1
Durres to Gjirokastra
Your driver picks you up at 8:30 AM and heads to Durres City on the coast. Once there, you'll walk through the historic streets to see the ancient City Walls from Emperor Anasius I and check out the well-preserved Amphitheater, which dates back to Roman times. After a relaxing walk along the seaside, grab fresh seafood lunch at a local restaurant. Then it's a drive to Gjirokastra where you can wander the narrow cobblestone streets of the UNESCO World Heritage Old Town and climb up to Gjirokastra Castle for views across the valley. You'll check into your hotel for the night.
- Meals
- Lunch (Fresh seafood lunch at a local seafood restaurant)
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Durres City
- Durres City Walls exploration
- Amphitheater of Durres visit
- Seaside stroll in Durres
- Exploration of Gjirokastra Old Town
- Gjirokastra Castle visit
Optional Activities
- Shopping for souvenirs in Gjirokastra Old Town
Landmarks/POIs Durres City Walls Amphitheater of Durres Gjirokastra Castle Gjirokastra Old Town - Day 2
Gjirokastra to Saranda
After breakfast, spend the morning walking through Gjirokastra's Old Town at your own pace, taking in the cobbled streets and local atmosphere. Visit the Gjirokastra Fortress sitting on the hilltop for panoramic views of the valley. Then stop at a traditional museum house to see how people lived during medieval times. Next comes about an hour and 15 minutes by car to reach Saranda on the Ionian coast. You'll head to Ksamil Village with its nice beaches and three nearby islands where you can swim and spend time relaxing. Before heading to your hotel, check out the Butrint Archaeological Site, a UNESCO World Heritage location with structures from ancient Greek, Roman, and medieval periods. You'll settle into your Saranda hotel for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Sightseeing tour of Gjirokastra's Old Town
- Gjirokastra Fortress exploration
- Traditional Museum House visit
- Ksamil Village visit with free beach time
- Butrint Archaeological Site exploration
Optional Activities
- Swimming at Ksamil Village beaches
Landmarks/POIs Gjirokastra Fortress Ksamil Village Butrint Archaeological Site - Day 3
Saranda to Vlora
After breakfast, you'll drive along the Ionian Riviera coastline with stops for photos of the coastal views. The road takes you into the mountains around Llogara National Park where the scenery gets even better as you pass through. By midday, you arrive in the coastal town of Himara and try traditional yogurt with honey as a local treat. Then it's on to Vlora where you'll check into your hotel and relax a bit. For dinner, head to a waterfront restaurant for fresh traditional Albanian food. Later in the evening, take a guided tour of Vlora, Albania's first capital, stopping at Independence Square with its monument and the Museum of Independence. You can walk the waterfront at your own pace before heading back to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner at a local restaurant by the water with fresh, traditional Albanian dishes)
Included Activities
- Scenic drive along Ionian Riviera with photo stops
- Mountain drive through Llogara National Park
- Himara town visit
- Traditional yogurt with honey tasting
- Guided tour of Vlora
- Independence Square visit
- Museum of Independence visit
Optional Activities
- Waterfront stroll in Vlora
Landmarks/POIs Ionian Riviera Llogara National Park Himara Independence Square Museum of Independence - Day 4
Berat to Tirana
After breakfast, head for Berat, one of Albania's most well-known cities. Visit Berat Castle, which goes back to the 6th-5th century B.C., and see the churches inside with their frescoes, icons, and the calligraphy school. Walk through the charming old town with its three neighborhoods: Mangalemi, Gorica, and Kala, where you'll see traditional architecture throughout. Have a traditional Albanian lunch in the old town with nice views. Then drive through the countryside to Tirana, the capital, and start a walking tour hitting Skanderbeg Square, the National Museum and Palace of Culture, Gallery of Arts, National Theater, Bunk'Art Cold War museum, the Pyramid of Tirana, the Blloku area, and Government area. You'll end at Mother Teresa Square and see the House of Enver Hoxha before checking into your Tirana Airbnb for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Traditional Albanian lunch in the old town with beautiful views of Berat)
Included Activities
- Berat Castle visit
- Berat Old Town exploration
- Walking tour of Tirana
- Skanderbeg Square visit
- National Museum visit
- Palace of Culture visit
- Gallery of Arts visit
- National Theater visit
- Bunk'Art museum visit
- Pyramid of Tirana visit
- Mother Teresa Square visit
Optional Activities
- Shopping in Tirana
- Further exploration of Tirana on your own
Landmarks/POIs Berat Castle Berat Old Town Skanderbeg Square National Museum Palace of Culture Gallery of Arts National Theater Bunk'Art Pyramid of Tirana Mother Teresa Square House of Enver Hoxha
