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00355675000336
any questions? Call us
00355675000336
drop us email
info@insidebalkan.com
any questions? Call us
00355675000336
any questions? Call us
00355675000336
This is a cultural discovery of southern Albania. This part of Albania is rich in archaeological sites and historical monuments of different ages and influences with some of them which date back to the 7th century B.C. The visits are combined with many local life experiences and culinary highlights which make the tour even more varied and interesting. You will have free time to enjoy the sea and the sun on some of the most beautiful beaches of the entire Mediterranean Sea.
Day 1 Tirana, the vibrant capital
In the afternoon, you will meet your guide at the hotel in Tirana to start the guided tour of the city and its main attractions.
Founded in 1614, Tirana became the capital of Albania in 1920 and is the main cultural and industrial center of Albania. The city boulevards are marked with fascinating relics of the Ottoman, Italian and communist past.
Tirana has changed incredibly in the last twenty years, from the dull, grey city it once was. Tirana is a city where fun is guaranteed: lively, loud, crazy, colorful, simply fascinating.
A traditional welcome dinner and the accommodation are planned in Tirana. (-/-/D)
Day 2 Elbasan, Pogradec and Korça
We will start the day with the transfer to Elbasan. After a short sightseeing tour of the city, the journey continues driving east in the direction of the Ohrid Lake up to Pogradec. Here, you will have free time for lunch at one of the restaurants by the lake promenade.
Then we will be transferred to Korça.
Situated on the side of the Morava Mountain, 896 meters above the sea level, Korça is the largest city in the South-Eastern part of Albania. It is built on an Illyrian settlement. In the 15th century the city developed as an artisan and trading center and in the second half of the 19th century it became one of the biggest economic, commercial and cultural centers of the country.
We will visit the National Museum of Medieval Art. It is one of the most important museums with about 7500 objects, of which 6000 are icons dating from the 13th-14th Century, while other 5th-6th century objects are made of stone, wood, textile, silver and metal.
Follows a guided walk through the traditional market. It used to be a trading market not only for domestic goods but also for imported items originally from Turkey, Greece, Trieste and Venice. The market has been burned three times and reconstructed each time.
The discovery of the city ends with the visit of the Cathedral of “Christ Resurrection”. Constructed in 1992, the modern Albanian Orthodox cathedral is the largest in Albania and the second largest in the Balkans. Dinner and accommodation in Korça. (B/-/D)
Day 3 The city of flowers, Përmet
Our journey towards Përmet starts right after breakfast. Along the way, we will stop in the town of Leskovik, for a coffee break. There a short stroll is planned, through the old neighborhood with stone houses and cobblestone streets, surrounded by the magnificent views of the Melesin Mountain and Pindus Mountain range in horizon.
Lunch is planned in a small and traditional restaurant overlooking the wild Vjosa river. Then we will drive to the place called Bënjë. There, 6 beautiful natural pools of thermal waters are to be found along the river. The Langarica River forms a splendid canyon and the Ottoman Bridge of Katiu is the frame of this beautiful place.
After some free time to relax at the thermal baths, we will drive to Përmet.
For dinner we will visit a traditional house in the old neighborhood of Përmet. There, you will be served many traditional dishes, and enjoy them in a special atmosphere.
Accommodation in Përmet. (B/L/D)
Day 4 Gjirokastra, the city of stone, UNESCO World Heritage
The day begins with the drive to Gjirokastra, an UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is an outstanding example of an Ottoman merchant town and one of the few still surviving in the Balkans. We will visit the castle and a very special museum house which is a well-preserved representative of the past urban life of the region. After the visit, is planned some free time for lunch and to explore the city on your own.
In the afternoon you will participate in a unique experience: the centuries – old traditional ceremony of the coffee made in stone. You will be part of the entire process: roasted in fire which is lit with oak wood, pressed on a carved limestone, boiled on the fire in a copper pot and served on the mahogany with a sprig of marjoram.
Dinner in a traditional restaurant and accommodation are planned in Gjirokastra. (B/-/D)
Day 5 The coastal city of Saranda and the ancient site of Butrint, UNESCO World Heritage
After breakfast, transfer to Butrint, the most important archaeological site of Albania, an UNESCO World Heritage. Butrint is known since the 7th century B.C. as the most important city of Epirus. Its building is linked to the presence of the Trojan prince Aeneas.
Free time for lunch at the beautiful Ksamil, surrounded by a magnificent natural beauty. It is a village which lies at the southernmost part of the Albanian Riviera opposite to Corfu, known for the particularly warm and clean sea.
In the afternoon, transfer to Saranda. Dinner is planned at a restaurant in the Lëkursi castle, which lies on a hill overlooking the bay. Accommodation in Saranda. (B/-/D)
Day 6 Scenic drive along the Ionian coast
The Albanian Ionian Coast runs from Vlora to Saranda, in the south. The coastline is famous for its small bays, pebbly beaches and crystal-clear waters. Since ancient times, the Albanian Coast has seen different cultural influences come and go, leaving behind a host of archaeological and historical treasures, such as ancient sites, Roman or Greek cities, hillside castles and fortresses, walled towns, monasteries, churches, mosques, and other interesting jewels.
After a one-hour drive we will reach the Bay of Porto Palermo. Apart from its natural beauty, the Bay is known as an important military base during the cold war. From the road you can see the tunnels where Albanian military submarines were moored. During the communist years, it was forbidden to walk or even to be in this area without permission. On a peninsula, just in the middle of the Porto Palermo Bay lie the ruins of the fortress of Ali Pasha, which has a long and very interesting history. There is a spectacular and rare view of the coast from its walls.
The next stop is planned in Himara, where after a short walk uphill, we will visit the ruins of the old village. The views over the coast from there are magnificent.
From there the journey continues towards Dhërmi. The old village is set on the mountain and is one of the oldest and most characteristic villages on the Ionian Coast, with its stone, mountain houses nestling happily with historical monuments. Dinner and accommodation in Dhërmi. (B/-/D)
Day 7 Vlora and Durrës – the ancient and modern city on the Adriatic coast
In the morning, you will have some free time to enjoy the magnificent beach of Dhërmi. Then, the journey continues Vlora, where time for the lunch break is planned.
Afterwards, continues the journey to Durrës. The city, founded in 627 BC has much to tell of its colorful story, beautiful beaches and attractions. We will visit the roman Amphitheatre, one of the greatest monuments of antiquity in Albania. It was built in the first decades of the 2nd century, probably during the reign of the Roman Emperor Hadrian.
In the afternoon, transfer to Tirana, where dinner and accommodation are planned. After dinner you can have a drink in one of the nice bars in “Blloku” quarter, the most animated quarter of the capital. (B/-/D)
Day 8 Departure
After breakfast at your hotel, it is time to say goodbye to Albania.
Accommodation in 3* & 4* hotels.
English speaking guide.
7 Breakfasts and Dinners
This tour offers Vegetarian, Vegan and Halal food options on request.
Entrance fees as per program.
Transportation by minibus or bus for all the tour.
Other activities and services not included
Lunch
Tips