Best of Albania Explorer 8 days Tour

Arrival - Tirane. Pickup from Tirana International Airport and transfer to the city. Leisure day. Overnight at Freddy's 3* or similar.

Kruje - Tirane. After breakfast we head to Kruja, one of Albania’s most important towns due to the part it played in resistance against the Ottomans. Visit the Skanderbeg Museum and castle as well as the old bazaar. Then heading to Tirana. City tour of Tirana, Albania's capital. Overnight Overnight at Albanopolis Hotel 4* or similar. (B)

Lezhe - Shkoder. After breakfast, the next stop will be in Lezha city. In the ancient pelasgian period it was called Lis (in Roman era Lissus). Visit to its top hill castle where you enjoy the fascinating panorama of the Adriatic Riviera and bronze age ancient city walls, and visit the Mausoleum of Skanderbeg (Albanian National Hero). Lunch break at the worldwide famous agritourism Mrizi i Zanave. Afterward, we will continue to Shkodra. A nice landscape with highland (Albanian Alps on the north) is a full contrast. City tour of Shkodra, Old Bazaar, Centrum, Cathedral and Mosque. Visit the Castle of Rozafa and we will enjoy wonderful views of mountains (Albanian Alps), Shkodra’s lake (the biggest in the Balkans), Drini, Buna and Kir rivers with the valleys around from the top of Rozafa castle. Shkoder overnight. Overnight at Tradita G & Tosk Hotel 4*, or similar. (B)(L)

Durres - Berat (UNESCO). After breakfast we continue to Durres. This port city is the most important ancient central mediterranean metropol until medieval time in the 15th century when it got occupied by ottomans until 1912 when Albania proclaimed its independence, and Durres became its capital until 1920. (Durres is also more than 3500 years old (mentioned first time in Odisea where Ulicsus spent part of his time in Taulantia (ancient Pelasgian-Illyrian name of Epidamn-Durrah-Durres) on his way back to Itaka after Troyan war. This city has the largest Roman amphitheater in the Balkan region (about 20,000 seats), dating back to the beginning of the 2nd century which we will visit with the ancient city castle wall and byzantine bazaar/forum, Roman public baths, etc. Later we will continue to Berat, one of the oldest inhabited regions of Albania, more than 2400 years old, and with special status from UNESCO. Visit the castle of Berat with the Onufri museum and other churches inside; the Mosque of Berat and the old Bridge of Gorica, Onufri Museum and several churches and mosques. Onufri was an Albanian master painter of the 16th. Many of his wonderfully painted icons still remain in the museum while others can be found in churches in Albania and Greece where he worked. Overnight at Hotel Republika 4* or similar. (B)

Ardenica Monastery - Apollonia - Vlore. Drive to Ardenica Monastery, a 13th century Byzantine site locally famed for hosting the wedding of the hero Skanderbeg. We will continue from here to the ruins of Apollonia, an atmospheric set of Roman remains on a remote hillside and once an important city in the region. Later depart to the coastal city of Vlora. Visit the city, including its old town, independence square and monument, where Albanian independence from the Ottomans was proclaimed on November 28th, 1912. Overnight Hotel Partner 4* or similar. (B)

Himare - Ksamil - Butrint (UNESCO) - Saranda. After breakfast, we continue to the south of Albania, where we enjoy spectacular views of Vlora Bay, the mountains and the Ionian Riviera. Continue via some picturesque seaside villages to Saranda in Ksamil, where we stop for lunch break, with the possibility to enjoy the beach and cristal azure sea and the views. Afterward, we will continue to visit the ruins of Butrint, Albania's most important archaeological site, and a UNESCO site. Butrint dates from the 7th century BC, later becoming a Roman colony, then falling under the sway of the Venetians and Turks. Explore numerous buildings including an acropolis, basilica and palace. The location of the site itself is also very attractive, surrounded by trees and water. Later will return to Saranda. Overnight in Havana Hotel 4* or similar. (B)

Mesopotam - Blue Eye - Gjirokaster (UNESCO) - Tirane. This morning we will continue to Gjirokaster. En route we will make a stop in Mesopotam monastery, built over the ancient temple inside the fortress. Then we then travel to Blue Eye National Park before we reach the UNESCO listed town of Gjirokaster known for its distinct and traditional architecture. We have time to explore this UNESCO listed site, one of the highlights of Albania with an imposing citadel and numerous typical houses. Return then to Tirana.

Departure. Transfer to Tirana Airport for departure. End of services. (B)