Inclusions
- Return International Flights
- 1 night in a 3 star hotel in Kruja
- Kruja Castle, Skanderbeg Museum, Ethnographic Museum
- National Archaeological Museum, Bunk’Art, Bektashi HQ, Bllok district walk
- 2 nights in a 3 star hotel in Berat
- Berat Castle, Onufri Museum, local home visit (coffee & raki)
- 1 night in a 4 star hotel in Llogara National Park
- Ancient city of Apollonia, Orthodox Monastery, Albanian Riviera, Cesar’s Pass hike
- 2 nights in a 4 star hotel in Gjirokastra
- Ali Pasha Fort, UNESCO Butrint, Gjirokastra Old Town
- Gjirokastra Castle, Ethnographic Museum, village lunch in Dhoksat, Old Bazaar
- 1 night in a 4 star hotel in Tirana
- Ancient Bylis, organic farm dinner, Komiteti Communist Museum Bar
- Daily Breakfast
- 1 Lunch
- 3 Dinners
- Services of an English-speaking guide throughout
- All transfers and transportation in a private, air-conditioned vehicle
- Airport transfers on arrival and departure days
You'll Love
- Kruja Castle & Skanderbeg Museum – Step into Albania’s heroic past at the stronghold of national hero Skanderbeg.
- Berat (UNESCO World Heritage Site) – Discover the “City of a Thousand Windows,” with Ottoman houses, Berat Castle, and the Onufri Museum.
- Apollonia & the Albanian Riviera – Explore ancient Roman ruins before enjoying breathtaking coastal views and a hike to Cesar’s Pass.
- Butrint (UNESCO Site) – Walk through one of the most important archaeological sites in the Balkans, inhabited since Greek and Roman times.
- Gjirokastra (UNESCO City) – Wander the cobblestone streets, visit its castle and bazaar, and enjoy authentic village life with a traditional home-cooked lunch.
- Bylis & Tirana Experiences – Visit the ancient hillside ruins of Bylis, then enjoy an organic farm dinner and drinks at the quirky Komiteti Communist Museum Bar.
Overview
This 8-day journey through Albania offers the perfect blend of history, culture, nature, and authentic local experiences. Begin in Kruja, the stronghold of Albania’s national hero Skanderbeg, before exploring the vibrant capital Tirana, with its mix of communist-era history and modern life. Travel through the UNESCO city of Berat, famous for its Ottoman architecture, and discover the ancient ruins of Apollonia before crossing the scenic Albanian Riviera and hiking in Llogara National Park.
Continue south to Butrint, a UNESCO World Heritage archaeological site, and the stone city of Gjirokastra, with its fortress, bazaar, and traditional houses. Along the way, enjoy unique cultural encounters such as Turkish coffee and raki in a local home, a home-cooked village lunch, and an organic farm dinner. End your adventure with the dramatic ruins of Bylis and time in Tirana, reflecting on Albania’s remarkable blend of history, landscapes, and hospitality.
When/Date
Itinerary
Arrive at Tirana International Airport and transfer to Kruja, the former stronghold of Albania’s national hero, Skanderbeg, who led the resistance against the Ottomans. Visit the Ethnographic Museum and the Skanderbeg Museum, both set within the impressive Kruja Castle.
Travel to Tirana and explore the National Archaeological Museum and Bunk’Art, a vast Cold War-era bunker now transformed into a museum. Visit the World Headquarters of the Bektashi sect before enjoying a walking tour through the Bllok district, once reserved for the communist elite. Continue to Berat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famed for its Ottoman houses and mosques.(B, D)
Discover Berat Castle, perched high above the town, and explore the Onufri Museum, housing the works of the renowned 16th-century icon painter. Later, enjoy warm Albanian hospitality with a visit to a local home for Turkish coffee and raki. (B)
Depart for Apollonia, an ancient Roman city where Emperor Augustus once studied. Visit its ruins and the monastery-turned-museum before continuing along the spectacular Albanian Riviera. Stop for a short hike at Cesar’s Pass in Llogara National Park, where Julius Caesar once marched during his campaigns.(B)
Travel via the Llogara Pass to Porto Palermo to see Ali Pasha’s Fort, then continue to the UNESCO-listed archaeological site of Butrint, with ruins spanning Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and Venetian eras. End the day in Gjirokastra, the “Museum City,” with its stone tower houses cascading down the hillside beneath its mighty castle.(B)
Explore Gjirokastra Castle and the Ethnographic Museum, located in the birthplace of former dictator Enver Hoxha. Continue to the nearby village of Dhoksat for a traditional home-cooked lunch, before returning to Gjirokastra with free time to wander its cobbled streets and local shops. (B, L)
Head north to the ancient city of Bylis, dramatically set on a hillside with panoramic views. Return to Tirana for an overnight stay at the 4★ Hotel Opera. In the evening, enjoy a memorable dinner at an organic farm, followed by a drink at the quirky Komiteti Communist Museum Bar. (B, D)
Transfer to the airport for your onward flight. The order of visits may vary depending on flight schedules.
