Classical Highlights of Albania Tour

Itinerary

Day 1: Tirana

Stop At: Aeroporti Ndërkombëtar i Tiranës, Airport Rd Rinas Tirana AL, 1504, Albania
Pick up at Tirana airport and transfer to Hotel.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Muzeu Historik Kombetar, Skenderbej Square, Boulevard Zogu I, Tirana 1001 Albania
Time permitting we will visit the National Historic Museum in Tirana offering an in depth introduction to Albanian history from prehistoric times to the present day.
Duration: 2 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight in Tirana.

Day 2: Tirana – Shkodra – Kruja – Tirana

Stop At: Rozafa Castle, Rozafa, Shkoder Albania
After breakfast we drive to Shkodra the most important town of north Albania and the Illyrian capital, in the 3rd century BC. Visit Rozafa Castle from where spectacular views all around can be admired. Experience the supremacy the Illyrians would have feel over their enemies standing in such an imposing castle. Take a walk in the newly renovated pedestrian area of Italian and Austrian architecture, testimony to this town historic links with both these countries.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: National Museum George Kastrioti Skanderbeg, Kruja Castle, Rruga Kala, Krujë 1501, Albania
Kruja – the centre of Albanian resistance against the Turks under our national hero Scanderbeg. He kept them from crossing into Western Europe for 25 years, thus earning the title “Champion of Christ” given by the Pope of the time. We visit the Skanderbeg Museum, a very rich Ethnographic Museum and the Old Bazaar where the best handmade souvenirs can be purchased.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Return and overnight in Tirana.

Day 3: Tirana – Ardenica – Apollonia – Vlora

Stop At: Orthodox Monastery Nativity of the Virgin Ardenica, Albania
Depart to Vlora where Albanian Independence was proclaimed. On the way we stop at the Monastery of Ardenica, supposed to have been built in the middle ages, as argued by a stone in entrance dating back to the 1417. In fact it is said that Scanderbeg was married at the small chapel of Ardenica. Today inside the church you can admire icon paintings of 1743-1745, by Albanian artists such as Konstandin and Athanos Zografi, as well as Konstandin Shpataraku.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Apollonia, Fier Albania
Apollonia situated on the famous Via Egnatia – one of the most important cities in Roman times. Due to its fame and importance it was known as Apollonia Prima out of 16 ancient cities built to honour Apollo. Caesar chose to send his nephew Augustus Octavian to study oratory in Apollonia revealing the importance of this ancient city.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: National Museum of Independence, L. Pavaresia, Vlore Albania
situated in the original house where the first Independent Albanian Government had its offices
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in Vlora

Day 4: Vlora – Butrint (UNESCO) – Saranda

Stop At: Sh8, Llogara National Park Albania
Breathtaking sceneries await us at the Llogara pass – 1000 m above sea level
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Ali Pasha Castle, Sh8 Porto Palermo, Porto Palermo Beach, Vlore Albania
We continue on to Saranda, make a short stop at the fortress of Ali Pasha a fortification used to control the sea trade routes.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Butrint National Park, SH81, Butrint Albania
we continue past Saranda, to the ancient city of Butrint a UNESCO world heritage site and the most important archaeological discovery in Albania. Legend associates this city with Trojan settlers who fled Troy under the leadership of Aeneas. In fact the city was first settled by Greek colonists and was continuously inhabited for centuries forming archaeological layers of several eras of civilization. Apart the beautiful antique ruins it has the added benefit of being situated in a beautiful peninsula, rich in flora and fauna.
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Saranda for overnight.


Day 5: Saranda – Gjirokastra (UNESCO) – Berat

Stop At: Gjirokaster Castle, Gjirokaster Albania
After early breakfast we drive to Berat. On our way lays Gjirokastra, a UNESCO site and museum town with beautiful and very distinctive architecture. Visit the medieval Castle which used to be a political prison during the communist dictatorship
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Ethnographic Museum, Hysen Hoxha Street, Gjirokaster Albania
Ethnographic Museum which is also the house the Albanian dictator was born in. We suggest the group should stop for lunch close to Tepelena at a traditional restaurant (optional) among beautiful scenery.
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in Berat

Day 6: Berat (UNESCO) – Durres-Tirana

Stop At: Berat Castle, Rruga Mihal Komnena, Berat 5001 Albania
Berat castle is of particular interest as people still live within its walls in their traditional houses, as have their ancestors for centuries. The castle used to have over 40 churches of which 7 still remain,
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: National Iconographic Museum Onufri, Located in the Inner Part of Saint Mary Church in Berat Castel, Berat Albania
Onufri was an Albanian Icon master painter of the 16th century who painted many orthodox churches in Albania and Greece.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Durres Amphitheatre, Rruga Kalase, Durres Albania
depart for Durres one of the oldest (founded in 627 B.C.) where we have lunch by the sea (optional). After lunch we take a sightseeing tour of the Amphitheatre situated in the middle of the modern city in an inhabited area, and the Archaeological museum rich in arte facts found in the city and its suburbs.
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Tirana for overnight

Day 7: Tirana-Airport

Pass By: Aeroporti Ndërkombëtar i Tiranës, Airport Rd Rinas Tirana AL, 1504, Albania
After breakfast we drive to the Airport. End of our Service.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.