Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Tirana
You'll fly over the Alps and along the Adriatic coast before landing in Albania. Once you arrive at the airport, you're picked up and driven to your hotel where you can get settled in and rest after your journey.
- Day 2
Shkodra
Head to Kruja to walk through the medieval fortress and bazaar, then continue to a cave tomb of an important Bektashite saint. After that, drive to Shkodra where you'll get a guided tour of the town followed by free time to wander around on your own. The drive covers about 175 km.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Kruja fortress and bazaar
- Visit Bektashite cave tomb and pilgrimage site
- Guided tour of Shkodra
Optional Activities
- Independent exploration of Shkodra
Landmarks Kruja Fortress Kruja Bazaar - Day 3
Durres
You'll explore Durres, Albania's major port city with ancient history running deep through it. There's an amphitheater from 1966 that once held 15,000 people and features a chapel underneath with Byzantine mosaics. You're about 115 km from your previous location.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Durres
- Visit Roman amphitheater with Byzantine chapel
Landmarks Durres Roman Amphitheater - Day 4
Apollonia
Start at Divjaka National Park where ancient trees have been standing for over 400 years. You'll take a boat tour to see the park from the water, then head to Apollonia to check out the medieval Church of St. Mary with artifacts from the city's golden age. This day involves about 215 km of travel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Divjaka National Park
- Boat tour of Divjaka National Park
- Visit Church of St. Mary in Apollonia
- View displays of ancient Apollonian artifacts
Landmarks Divjaka National Park Church of St. Mary, Apollonia - Day 5
Vlora
Walk through Berat's old town and climb up to Kalaja fortress for views over the area. You'll wind through alleyways lined with churches, mosques, and 18th-century Ottoman houses, then stop at the Onufri Museum to see works by Albania's most important icon painter. Later you travel to Vlora, covering roughly 200 km.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Berat old town
- Visit Kalaja fortress
- Visit Onufri Museum
Optional Activities
- Independent exploration of Berat's churches and Ottoman architecture
Landmarks Berat Old Town Kalaja Fortress Onufri Museum - Day 6
Porto Palermo
Drive through the Ceraunian Mountains to Llogara National Park pass at 1,027 meters and do a hike through the barren landscape. Then you'll take winding roads down to the coast, explore Himara's old part and Porto Palermo castle, and try local cheese pastries and schnapps along the way. About 145 km total.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Llogara National Park
- Hike in Ceraunian Mountains
- Explore Himara old town
- Visit Porto Palermo castle
- Tasting of typical Albanian cheese pastries and local schnapps
Landmarks Llogara National Park Ceraunian Mountains Porto Palermo Castle - Day 7
Optional Excursion to Corfu, Greece
You have a choice today: relax back at your hotel or take an optional ferry to Corfu in Greece. If you go, you'll travel to Saranda port and cross to the Greek island to see the UNESCO old town with monasteries and Venetian fortresses. Grab coffee and browse local shops before heading back. Just 20 km to the port.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Saranda port
Optional Activities
- Ferry to Corfu, Greece (€130)
- Visit monasteries and Venetian fortresses in Corfu old town
- Explore Corfu old town shops and cafes
Landmarks Corfu Old Town - Day 8
Gjirokaster
Explore Butrint, a UNESCO site sometimes called 'a second Troy in miniature' with layers of Greek, Roman, and Byzantine history. Walk through ruins of what was once a popular spa and festival destination due to its lagoon and mineral springs. You'll have Turkish coffee with a local family before driving about 80 km to Gjirokaster.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Butrint archaeological site
- Guided tour of Greek, Roman, and Byzantine history at Butrint
- Turkish coffee with a local family
Landmarks Butrint Archaeological Site - Day 9
Pogradec
Check out Gjirokaster, another UNESCO site known for Ottoman-style architecture with massive stone houses. Walk through the old town and visit the ethnographic museum in the former home of communist founder Enver Hoxha. Then drive across the country about 370 km to Pogradec on Lake Ohrid's southeastern shore, where you'll stay for four nights.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Gjirokaster old town
- Visit ethnographic museum (Enver Hoxha house)
Optional Activities
- Independent exploration of Gjirokaster
Landmarks Gjirokaster Old Town - Day 10
Korce and Winery Visit
Travel to Korce, Albania's literary center, and stroll through the town with your guide exploring alleyways, markets, and the Orthodox cathedral. Stop at a local winery to taste wines from the Lake Ohrid region. The afternoon is free to spend by the lake however you'd like. About 80 km from Pogradec.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Korce town center
- Visit Orthodox cathedral in Korce
- Wine tasting at local winery
Optional Activities
- Independent exploration of Korce
Landmarks Korce Orthodox Cathedral - Day 11
Optional Excursion to Ohrid, North Macedonia
Today you can either relax or join an optional trip to Ohrid in North Macedonia. The city has over 365 churches, one supposedly for each day of the year. There's a boat tour of the lake to see the castle and old town from the water. Around 110 km from Pogradec if you choose to go.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of historic Ohrid (€35)
- Visit churches in Ohrid
- Boat tour on Lake Ohrid around castle and old town
Landmarks Ohrid Old Town Lake Ohrid - Day 12
Lake Ohrid Religious Sites
Take a short hike to ruins of an early Christian basilica with panoramic views over Lake Ohrid. Come back down to the fishing village of Lin where you'll have traditional meze with local brandy raki. By evening there's colorful live music and Albanian folklore performances. Just 40 km from your base.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Traditional meze with local brandy raki)
Included Activities
- Hike to early Christian basilica ruins
- Traditional meze with local brandy raki
- Live music and Albanian folklore performance
Landmarks Early Christian Basilica Ruins at Lin - Day 13
Tirana
Travel toward Tirana with a stop in Elbasan along the way. You'll see the striking 19th-century clock tower on the fortress wall and walk through the Ottoman old town with its winding alleyways. There's a tour of the old city wall, eleven meters high with 26 regularly arranged towers. Once you reach Tirana, you have the afternoon free to explore or grab a coffee. About 135 km from Pogradec.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Elbasan clock tower
- Explore Elbasan Ottoman old town
- View Elbasan city wall
Optional Activities
- Independent exploration of Tirana
- Shopping for souvenirs in Tirana
Landmarks Elbasan Clock Tower - Day 14
Tirana
Explore Tirana, Albania's capital. You'll see important buildings around Skanderbeg Square including the bell tower, town hall, national theater, national bank, and the Ethem Bey Mosque. Tour the Archaeological Museum and BunkArt 2, a nuclear shelter from the 1980s that shows what political leadership was thinking back then. Free time to explore the city and then a farewell dinner in the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Farewell dinner)
Included Activities
- Sightseeing tour of Tirana
- Visit Archaeological Museum
- Visit BunkArt 2 nuclear bomb shelter
- Visit Skanderbeg Square
- View Ethem Bey Mosque
Optional Activities
- Independent exploration of Tirana
- Cafe time in Tirana
Landmarks Skanderbeg Square Ethem Bey Mosque National Theater of Albania Archaeological Museum of Albania BunkArt 2 - Day 15
Departure
After two weeks of exploring Albania, you head to the airport for your flight home, taking with you new impressions and memories from the country.
- Meals
- Breakfast
