Discovering Albania

Day 1: Fly from London Gatwick to Tirana. Transfer to the Hotel Panorama at Kruja for a three-night stay.

Day 2: We begin our tour with a full day visit to Albania’s lively capital, Tirana. We visit the National Historical Museum, the early 19th century Ethem Bey Mosque, and a private visit to the Archaeological Museum. We then visit the nuclear bunker from the cold war era, newly opened as the Bunk’Art 2 Museum, a chilling memorial to the thousands imprisoned and persecuted during the Communist regime. Our final visit is the Petrela Castle, the history of which dates back to the 6th century AD.

Day 3: Today is devoted to the story of the great hero Skanderbeg, who led the resistance against the Ottomans in the 1400s. We travel to Lezhe, which was the centre of the resistance with its castle that boasts spectacular views, the grave of Skanderbeg and St Nicholas Cathedral. We return to Kruja to visit its castle that houses the Skanderbeg Museum and a fine ethnographic collection. Finally, a chance to wander through the old bazaar and possibly visit an Albanian family home.

Day 4: We drive to Durres, one of Albania’s oldest cities and the country’s main sea port. It was colonized by the Greeks in 627 BC and named Epidamnos. Under the Romans it was re-founded as Dyrrachium, a major trading point at one end of the ‘Via Egnatia’ which led through the Balkans to Byzantium. We see the Venetian Tower, the town walls, and the Roman amphitheatre, as well as an early Christian crypt with a rare wall mosaic. From Durres we travel south to a fine little monastery, Ardenica, where Skanderbeg was married in 1451. Our final visit is Apollonia, one of the most well-known classical sites in Albania. We continue to the sea to stay at Vlore, set on a beautiful bay, for a one-night stay.

Day 5: Today, we journey along the beautiful Radhima Bay to visit the recent excavations of the Roman site at Oricum. Continuing through stunning scenery of the national park of Llogara, we head for lunch in a local restaurant by the sea, Borsh, in an area of olive and citrus groves. After lunch we have a brief visit to the Ali Pasha castle at Porto Palermo, before reaching Sarande for a two night stay.

Day 6: A short 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. Lunch will be in Ksamil Village seaside restaurant on the spectacular coastline of this area. Returning to Sarande, we will climb up to Lekursi Castle, overlooking Sarande town and the island of Corfu.

Day 7: A wonderful drive takes us over mountains from Sarande to the valley of Gjirokaster, with en-route visit to the Church Monastery at Mesopotam and Antigonea, the site of a short-lived Hellenistic city. At Gjirokaster our visit begins with the 8th century castle museum which was formerly a prison – the old quarter is known as the City of Stone, because the tall houses used solid stone slabs for roofing. It is the birthplace of Ishmael Kadare, Albania’s most significant modern author. There is a castle with spectacular views and some splendid traditional houses, one of which is now a fascinating folk museum and was the birthplace of Enver Hoxha, the Albanian Stalinist dictator. Overnight in Gjirokaster.

Day 8: The final leg of this journey takes us through yet more beautiful scenery as we visit the Hellenistic and Roman city of Byllis, an extensive site set within great Hellenistic walls in a spectacular mountainous region. From here we continue 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, which are of great architectural importance, as well as Byzantine churches, a mosque, and a fortress. Overnight in Beret.

Day 9: Transfer from Beret to connect with our homeward flight from Tirana to London Gatwick.

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.