Albania Tour Program
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Price:
359.00€
Duration
7 Days
People:
70
Language
English, Albanian, French
Tour Overview
UNESCO Heritage, Coastal Beauty & Cultural Immersion
Experience the essence of Albania on this comprehensive 7-day journey combining ancient history, stunning coastal landscapes, and authentic cultural encounters.
Discover Albania's remarkable diversity as you travel from the vibrant capital of Tirana to the pristine Albanian Riviera, exploring four UNESCO World Heritage Sites along the way. This carefully crafted itinerary balances historical exploration with natural beauty, featuring ancient archaeological treasures, perfectly preserved Ottoman towns, and meaningful interactions with local communities.
Tour Highlights:
🏛️ Four UNESCO World Heritage Sites
- Berat - "The City of a Thousand Windows" with its iconic Ottoman architecture
- Gjirokastër - The dramatic "Stone City" and birthplace of Ismail Kadare
- Butrint - Ancient ruins showcasing 2,500 years of continuous civilization
- Apollonia - Where Roman Emperor Augustus once studied
🌊 Albanian Riviera Experience Navigate the spectacular coastal road through Llogara Pass, discovering the pristine beauty of Porto Palermo Bay with Ali Pasha's triangular fortress and the fascinating remnants of a Cold War submarine base. Enjoy the turquoise waters and dramatic mountain-meets-sea scenery that defines Albania's stunning Ionian coastline.
🍷 Authentic Culinary & Cultural Encounters
- Lunch at the legendary Mrizi i Zanave farm, renowned throughout Albania for exceptional traditional cuisine
- Wine tasting at Çobo winery, exploring indigenous Albanian grape varieties
- Olive oil factory visit revealing ancient production methods
- Traditional raki tasting in Gjirokastër
- Experience UNESCO-listed polyphonic singing traditions
🕌 Religious Harmony & Diversity Explore Albania's unique interfaith coexistence visiting the World Bektashi Center in Tirana and witnessing Muslim, Catholic, and Orthodox sites peacefully coexisting in Shkodër—a testament to Albania's remarkable religious tolerance.
🎭 Traditional Crafts & Local Life
- Visit a Venetian mask workshop in Shkodër, unique to this region
- Discover communist-era bunkers transformed and abandoned
- Stroll through centuries-old bazaars and cobblestone streets
- Experience genuine Albanian hospitality in traditional settings
What Makes This Tour Special:
This journey takes you beyond typical tourism to experience the real Albania—meeting Bektashi community members, dining at family farms, tasting wines from indigenous grapes, and walking through living history in UNESCO-protected towns where people still inhabit Ottoman-era houses.
You'll witness Albania's dramatic transformation from ancient Illyrian settlements through Greek and Roman civilizations, Byzantine Christianity, five centuries of Ottoman rule, the communist isolation period, and today's vibrant emergence as one of Europe's most compelling destinations.
The tour perfectly balances cultural depth with coastal beauty, structured sightseeing with authentic encounters, and historical education with pure enjoyment of Albania's spectacular landscapes and warm hospitality.
Perfect For:
- History and archaeology enthusiasts
- Cultural travelers seeking authentic experiences
- Food and wine lovers
- UNESCO World Heritage collectors
- Travelers wanting comprehensive Albanian overview
- Those seeking beautiful Mediterranean scenery with fewer crowds
Tour Details:
- Duration: 7 days / 6 nights
- Style: Cultural immersion with coastal highlights
- Pace: Comfortable with varied daily activities
- Group Size: Typically 10-20 participants (private tours available)
- Accommodation: Carefully selected 3-4 star hotels
- Meals: 6 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 6 dinners included
- Transportation: Modern air-conditioned vehicle throughout
This tour showcases why Albania is being called Europe's last undiscovered gem—all the history, beauty, and culture of better-known Mediterranean destinations, but with authenticity, value, and the thrill of genuine discovery.
What Included
Professional Guides
Paddling Equipment
Meals and Snacks
Guided Wildlife Watching
Eco-friendly Practices
Cultural Experiences
Optional Activities
First Aid Support
Not included
Additional Services
Insurance
Drink
Tickets
Tips
Tour Plan
-
Day 1: Tirana Airport - Tirana
Tirana Airport – Tirana, 25 min (15 km) Arrival at Mother Teresa airport in Tirana. City of bright colors, Tirana is the nerve center of the country. The visit of the city and its typical and modern districts will give you a good overview of the history of this city, while a stroll around Skanderbeg Square will allow you to take the pulse of the capital. Discovering the district of Bllok, a former district reserved for the nomenclature during the communist period, nowadays the one where there is nightlife and buzzing. Discovery of the world center of the Bektashis, a variant of Islam unique in the world. Meeting with a member of the Bektashi community. Overnight and dinner in Tirana. -
Day 2: Shkoder
Tirana – Shkoder, 1h 50 min (105 km) Departure in the direction of the city of Shkodër. Inhabited since prehistoric times and today a symbol of deep harmony between religious faiths. This city is home to places of different worship: Muslim, Catholic and Orthodox. Shkoder is considered the capital of northern Albania and since ancient times was a city of great importance for Albania and the whole region. Legends, different styles of construction, museums and art workshops animate this city of many facets. Overnight and dinner in Shkodra. -
Day 3: Shkoder - Fishte - Berat
Today before leaving the city of Shkodra we will visit a workshop of Venetian Masks. Shkoder – Fishte, 40 min (35 km) Our journey will take us to Fishte village in Lezha region. We will visit the farm “Mrizi i Zanave” an agrotourism center. An amazing place, but above all with the best cuisine. Lunch in the farm where we will taste local products renowned throughout Albania. Fishte – Berat, 2h 40 min (171 km) Before arriving in Berat we will visit a wine cellar. In the Çobo cellar you will discover local, national and international specialties. Then direction to Berat. This city has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008, is also known as “the city of a thousand windows”. Berat is one of the characteristic cities of Ottoman architecture that has been best preserved in the country. Overnight and dinner in Berat. -
Day 4: Berat - Vlore
Today visit the city of Berat. The typical neighborhoods with its cobbled streets, traditional houses and views of the mountains give a particular charm to this city. Berat – Vlore, 1h 35 (83 km) Then drive to Vlora a coastal city, known to be one of the most important ports in the country. It is also an important place for the Albanian nation, because there was proclaimed the independence of the country on 28th of November in 1912 by Ismail Qemal. The Bay of Vlora has always been a strategic point of great importance. Overnight and dinner in Vlora. -
Day 5: Porto Palermo - Sarande
Vlore – Porto Palermo, 1h 50 min (80 km) Our path today will take us to the bay of Porto Palermo. En route we will visit an olive oil factory and learn about the ancient history of olive oil production and export since antiquity. Then head for the bay of Porto Palermo, where the fortress of the famous Ali Pasha of Ioannina is located. This small triangular castle was one of the many castles of the great Pasha! The splendid bay of Porto Palermo served as an important submarine base during the communist regime. Today semi-abandoned, the base, its tunnel and the structures are still visible. During this day we will discover and contemplate polyphonic songs which are classified in the World Heritage of Humanity (UNESCO). Lunch en route. Porto Palermo – Sarande, 1h (47 km) After departure for Sarandë, a seaside town located opposite the island of Corfu. Sarandë is fortunate to be located in one of the most beautiful regions of Albania, the Albanian Riviera. This town was known in antiquity as Onhezmi and its small port was a communication bridge between Corfu and the Epirote tribes. Visit of the city, promenade by the sea, and the many terraces located by the sea. Overnight and dinner in Saranda. -
Day 6: Butrint – Gjirokaster
Sarande – Butrint, 25 min (17 km) Our path today will take us to the archaeological site of Butrint. Classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992, Butrint is an ancient open-air city testifying to several centuries of human occupation, as the Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Venetians and Ottomans successively occupied the site. Did you know that Racine referred to Butrint in his work Andromaque? The Lion's Gate is well hidden, but still standing! Butrint – Gjirokaster, 1h 30 min (71 km) Then drive to the city of Gjirokastër, also known as "the city of stone". Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005, Gjirokastër is the birthplace of Albania's greatest writer, Ismaïl Kadare and, on a less literary note, the hometown of former communist dictator Enver Hoxha. This city is full of typical neighborhoods and shady terraces. Gjirokastër has managed to preserve the picturesque and typical architecture of the old Albanian residences. Raki tasting. Overnight and dinner in Gjirokastër. -
Day 7: Apollonia - Tirana
Gjirokaster – Apollonia, 2h (115 km) On the way to Apollonia we stop to visit bunkers that were built during the communist era in Albania. Our next stop is the archaeological site of the city of Apollonia, in the region of Fier. Inhabited by Illyrian tribes, the city was colonized in the 4th century BC by Greek settlers from Corinth and Corfu. Apollonia was also a very important city during Roman times. The Agora, the Theater and its Museum, very rich in objects, bear witness to the importance of this archaeological site. The Roman emperor Octavian Augustus studied here. Lunch en route. Apollonia – Tirana, 2h (125 km) We will leave the archaeological site of Apollonia to head towards the capital. Overnight and dinner in Tirana.
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