Tour of Albania and Kosovo in eight days

Tour of Albania and Kosovo in eight days

This eight days tour program is tailored to offer its participants the best combination of historical sites of Albania and Kosovo, with some of the best national parks of these two Balkan countries. During these 8 days you will be able to visit the most important tourist attractions of Albania and Kosovo.

Itinerary

Day 1: Tirana (Albania) – Kruja – Shkodra

Stop At: Kruja Castle, Near Tirana, Kruje 1501 Albania
Our professional tour guide will pick you up at your hotel in Tirana, at 9:00 am to start our journey towards Northern Albania. On our way to Shkodra, we will visit the historic town of Kruja, its medieval castle and the Scanderbeg National Museum. At 12:30, you will get some free time on all of the days during this tour to have some delicious lunch and to wander around by yourself till 14:00 pm.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Shkoder, Shkoder, Shkoder County
After lunch, we will visit Rozafa castle and the Venetian style pedestrian street “pedonale”. Overnight in Shkodra.
Duration: 12 hours

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

Day 2: Shkodra - Komani Lake - Valbona Valley

Stop At: Komani Lake, Koman Albania
Komani Lake journey is described as “one of the World’s greatest boat trips”. As we take the turn from the main road the area becomes more rural, with fewer cars but more wild nature and amazing landscapes. We will stop for a short break by Vau i Dejes Lake, a beautiful and tranquil setting. At 09:00 we get on a ferry that will take us through Komani Lake offering spectacular views of the Albanian Alps, waterfalls, rural villages and wild forests.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Valbona Valley National Park, Valbona Albania
Our next destination will be Valbona Valley National Park. After a delicious traditional lunch, we hike to Kukaj, explore the area and admire the so-called Crown of the Albanian Alps.
Duration: 20 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in a traditional guesthouse in Valbona.

Day 3: Valbona Valley - Prizren (Kosovo) - Tirana

Stop At: Albanian League of Prizren Museum [Muzeu Lidhja Shqiptare e Prizrenit], Rr. Sharri, Prizren Kosovo
Our journey continues towards Prizren (Kosovo). This town played an important role in the region firstly as an Illyrian settlement and as a crossroad for the Byzantine and Ottoman empires, contributing to the unique architecture of the city. Prizren is considered as the cultural capital of Kosovo, mixing its’ rich history, incredible nature, religious tolerance and gastronomic delights.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Skanderbeg Square, At the center of Tirana, Tirana Albania
Our final destination for the day will be the capital of Albania, Tirana.
Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in Tirana.

Day 4: Tirana - Durrës - Berat UNESCO site

Stop At: Durres Amphitheatre, Rruga Kalase, Durres Albania
We head to the ancient town of Durres to explore the amphitheatre, the Roman ruins and the Venetian Tower.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Berat Castle, Rruga Mihal Komnena, Berat 5001 Albania
The town of 1001 windows Berat (UNESCO world heritage) is our next destination. Berat has it all; a beautiful medieval castle, ancient churches and mosques, a lively lower town consisting of grand old houses draped on steep hillsides, an old stone bridge, great museums and remains from the communism era in Albania.
Duration: 20 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight i Berat.

Day 5: Berat - Zvërnec - Vlora

Stop At: Zvernec Monastery, Zvernec Island, Vlore Albania
On our way to Vlora we visit the Narta Lagoon, the island of Zvërnec and its ancient Monastery of Saint Mary (XIII century).
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Independence Monument, Sheshi Pavaresia, Vlore Albania
Our tour continues towards Vlora where the Adriatic and Ionian Seas meet. Free afternoon by the seaside.
Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in Vlora.

Day 6: Vlora - Llogara National Park - Butrint - Saranda

Stop At: Sh8, Llogara National Park Albania
We drive along the coastline known as Albanian Riviera. We will shortly stop at Llogara National Park offering a spectacular view of the Palasa Beach.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Butrint National Park, SH81, Butrint Albania
Our next stop will be the beautiful castle of Ali Pasha at Porto Palermo. The ancient site Butrint, is our next destination. Part of the UNESCO world heritage, Butrinti is the most important archaeological site in Albania.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Sarande Museum, Saranda Albania
In the evening we take a city tour of Saranda, including the synagogue and Lekursi castle. On the ruins of the old castle there is a bar with a breath taking view of Saranda and Corfu Island.
Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in Saranda.

Day 7: Saranda - Blue Eye - Gjirokastër UNESCO

Stop At: The Blue Eye, Vlore 9706 Albania
On our way to Gjirokastra we will visit the natural wonder of Blue Eye.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Gjirokaster Castle, Gjirokaster Albania
Gjirokastra is also known as “The Stone City”, part of UNESCO World heritage. The origin of the city starts with the castle of Gjirokastra, built in IV century AD, and is considered one of the best-preserved medieval towns in the Balkans. Right before entering the castle of Gjirokastra you would have to pass by the medieval bazar. The atmospheric old town cascading down in graceful hill crammed full of beautiful narrowed stone decorated streets, where you would be amazed by the wide variety of hand made crafts from local artisans and producers. Overnight in Gjirokaster
Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in Gjirokaster.

Day 8: Gjirokastër - Apollonia - Tirana

Stop At: Apollonia Archaeological Park, Pojan Albania
After breakfast we head back to Tirana our final destination for this tour. On our way to Tirana we visit the ruins of the ancient city of Apollonia the Odeon Theatre, the Church of Saint Mary, the ancient statues of Illyrian times and the mosaic.

Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Choose Balkans - Albania Tour Operator, Rruga Reshit Çollaku, Tirana, Albania
This marks the end of this amazing experience through history and adventure.
Duration: 10 minutes

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