This trip offers an excellent introduction to the varied and interesting country that is Albania.... Anonymous, 2018 See more reviews
This was an excellent tour with a lot covered in the 10 days enabling us to understand the... Anonymous, 2017 See more reviews
A wonderful trip to a country emerging from very difficult times, accompanied by a good group and... Anonymous, 2017 See more reviews
A trip of unexpected interest to a country whose landscape, history, heritage sites, food and... Anonymous, 2017 See more reviews
A fascinating trip that explored much of the country with a brilliant guide. ... Anonymous, 2017 See more reviews
An excellent overview trip of Albania made especially good due to the knowledge and experience of... Anonymous, 2017 See more reviews
Itinerary Include flights Expand all London to London Day 1 Start Tirana. The tour starts at our hotel in Tirana, Albania’s capital. Those travelling on the group flights will be met at the airport and transferred the short journey (approx. 20 mins) to our hotel. This afternoon we'll have an orientation tour of the colourful streets of Tirana, which was made the capital of Albania in just 1920. We’ll see the main sites, including the impressive façade of the National History Museum which is adorned with a gigantic mosaic known as ‘The Albanians’. This is one of the finest examples of late Albanian Socialist Realism in the country, depicting the resilience of the people in their fight against invasion and occupation throughout the centuries, and dominates Skanderbeg Square. The exhibits within the museum give great insight into Albania’s intriguing past and recent history up to the present day.We also explore an area known as Blloku on foot, where villas were once occupied by members of The Politburo (former leading sect of the Party of Labour of Albania) but which is now the lively centre of Tirana’s nightlife where trendy bars, cafés, and fashionable clubs can be found.Comfortable Hotel Day 2 Visit Elbasan Fortress en route to Pogradec, offering views across Lake Ohrid. After breakfast, we begin our drive to Pogradec (approx. 3 hrs. drive), but en route we make a short stop to visit the fortress of Elbasan. A city influenced by various cultures including Serbs and more importantly Italians, the fortress here dates back to the 15th century. The fortifications originally incorporated twenty-six towers equidistantly spaced from each other along the length of a nine-metre high wall; today the ruins can be seen along the southern wall which remains more or less intact.Our final destination for today is one of the most charming resorts in Albania, Pogradec, thanks to its position on beautiful Lake Ohrid with clear waters and mountain views. Keep your eyes peeled for Orhrid trout (known as ‘Koran’ in Albania), a species endemic to the lake. We go for a scenic walk at Drilon Park on the far side of the lake, to discover the waterways and ornamental plants and trees that make up this special ecosystem.Comfortable Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 3 Transfer to the artists' village of Voskopojë; continue to Korçë. This morning we continue driving for about an hour to reach Voskopoja Village (formerly known as Moskopole) an important and well-known centre of art where many talented Albanian painters chose to practice their profession. The village has suffered over the years, as many of its treasures were stolen during the second half of the 18th century and this continued during the world wars. We take a 40 minute walk to visit one of the oldest churches representing Voskopoja religious art.Another short drive (approx. 30 mins.) takes us to the largest city of south-eastern Albania, Korçë, which sits at the foot of Moravia Mountain, 800m above sea level. This city became an important trading and handicraft centre in the 18th Century and has also been referred to as ‘the city of museums’, being home to the National Museum of Mediaeval Art and Archaeology, the Museum of Education (where the first Albanian School was opened in 1878), and the new museum of ‘Bratko Collections’ displaying antiquities from the Far East. Our visit to Korçë includes the National Museum of Mediaeval Art and Archaeology, Mirahori Mosque (one of the oldest in the Balkans) and the famous church 'The Resurrection'. Korçë has been an important religious centre for Orthodox Christians. It's also worth trying the famous local beer whilst in the city.Comfortable Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 4 Drive via the mountain village of Ersekë to Përmet, famous for its food and wines. Our drive through the mountains today is truly spectacular as we enjoy sweeping views across the Gramos and Nemercka Mountains. Along the winding route, we enjoy a short stop in Ersekë, which at 1050m is the highest town in Albania. This 17th century town is surrounded by beautiful green pastures of the Gramos Mountains. Continuing onwards to beautiful Përmet, we make a quick stop at the old bridge of Benje village, and the hot springs, where we have time to relax and swim. After quite a long day (approx. 5 hrs. drive in total) we arrive in Përmet, situated in the heart of the white mountains on the Vjosë River. This evening you’re sure to be in for a treat as Përmet is famous for its food and wine, including 'gliko' sweets and raki.Comfortable Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 5 To Gjirokastër via the characteristic village of Dhoksat. Drive to the beautiful town of Gjirokastër (approx. 2 hrs. drive), calling in at the traditional village of Dhoksat en route for a home-cooked lunch. In the afternoon we enjoy a guided visit around the famous town of Gjirokastër. Set on a mountain slope, the cobbled streets wind their way between old houses with interesting architectural features including mediaeval towers. The castle is the main feature and stands like a balcony over the town offering wonderful panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. We visit the ethnographic museum which is the house of Albania's former dictator Enver Hoxha.Comfortable Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Day 6 Visit 'The Blue Eye' natural water spring; travel to Butrint and on to Sarandë. In the morning we have a short journey (approx. 30 mins) to visit the ‘Blue Eye’, an area where seven artesian wells (natural springs) rise. Named after the largest spring, the water descends to depths of over 50m as it infiltrates the pale-coloured surrounding rock. We then continue to the UNESCO World Hiritage Site of Butrint (approx. 1 hr. drive), a sanctuary dedicated to Asclepius, the god of medicine, founded in the 4th century BC. Worshippers came to the sanctuary and left symbolic objects or money for the gods and priests in the belief that they would then be healed by the sacred waters. We spend the night in the city of Sarandë, which is a stark contrast to the tranquil towns we have stayed in so far.Comfortable Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 7 To Vlorë via Porto Palermo Bay to visit Ali Pasha Castle. In the summer we can swim and sunbathe at the small beach here. A change of scenery today as we travel through the spectacular Albanian Riviera. We spend time at Porto Palermo Bay and visit Ali Pasha Castle, which was once one of the most important military bases during the cold war. There is a small beach here, suitable for swimming, sunbathing and relaxing in an unspoilt corner of the Mediterranean during the summer months.From Porto Palermo Bay, we wind our way up the coast enjoying views to Corfu and miles of olive groves and pine forests, stopping for lunch en route to the popular destination of Vlorë, where the Albanian Declaration of Independence was proclaimed in 1912. We arrive in the afternoon and there is time to relax before we explore this vibrant large town. (Total driving time today is approx. 3.5 hrs.)Comfortable Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 8 Visit Apollonia and Ardenica Monastery; drive to Berat. We start our journey north today and stop at the wonderful ruins of Apollonia (approx. 1.5 hrs. drive). Originally occupied by the Illyrian tribes and then the Greek colonists from Corfu and Corinth around 600BC, Apollonia flourished in the Roman period and was home to a renowned school of philosophy but began to decline in the 3rd century AD when its harbour started silting up as a result of an earthquake. We continue inland to the Monastery of Ardenice, built by the Byzantine Emperor in 1282 (approx. 40 mins. drive). The monastery became famous as the national hero of Albania, Gjergj Kastriot (Skanderbeg), married Donika Arianiti here in 1451. Another highlight is the Church of Saint Mary set within the monastery, which reveals frescoes from famous Albanian painters. Finally, we transfer further inland to the beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Site of Berat (approx. 1.5 hr. drive), where we spend a night in the oldest district of the town.Comfortable Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 9 Guided tour of UNESCO site of Berat; continue to amphitheatre and port of Durrës; Continue to Krujë. This morning we enjoy a guided tour around the old district of Berat, with its pretty white buildings perched on the hill amid pine forests. We walk through the narrow cobbled streets and finally reach Berat Castle on the slopes of Mount Tomorr, where we are rewarded with breath-taking views (and begin to understand why it is known to Albanians as 'The City of a Thousand Windows'). Within the castle walls are dwelling houses and the Onufri Museum (Museum of Iconography), which we will visit.From Berat we drive to the port of Durrës (approx. 2 hrs. drive), the second largest city in Albania and famed for housing the largest amphitheatre in the Balkans. The amphitheatre dates back to the 2nd century AD, seats 15,000 people and contains an early Christian crypt with rare wall mosaics. The city was colonised by colonists from Corinth and Korkyra in 627 BC and was named Epidamnus, but later became Dyrrachium. We then drive to the famous mediaeval citadel of Krujë (approx. 45 mins. drive), where Albania's national hero, Skanderbeg, led the resistance against the Ottomans. He kept them from crossing into Western Europe for 25 years, earning the title "Champion of Christ".Comfortable Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 10 Tour of Krujë; visit the ethnographic museum and wander through the bazaar. After breakfast we’ll have a tour of Krujë. We will visit the Skanderbeg Museum, a rich ethnographic museum inside the castle, and enjoy inspirational views out to the Adriatic Coast. We have time to wander through the mediaeval bazaar full of souvenirs and handicrafts. Those travelling on the group flights will be transferred to Tirana airport for your flight back to London (approx. 45 mins. drive). Meals included: Breakfast
Albania No visa required for most nationalities, including UK passport holders, most other EU nationalities, US, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand.
Hotels We spend each night in a different 3 or 4-star hotel or pension with good service, amenities and en suite rooms. Each night we will be situated within walking distance of local attractions and a variety of choice for restaurants to eat in the evening. The accommodation ranges from comfortable modern properties to older properties bursting with character.
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Reviewed April 2018 Katherine Holt Trip: Highlights of Albania Albania is a hidden gem! This trip offers an excellent introduction to the varied and interesting country that is Albania. Amazing mountain vistas, coastal views, friendly mountain towns and authentic villages. Food is fantastic, wine is good and plentiful and raki also available in a range of 'flavours' for those who like it! What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? I enjoyed seeing long-forgotten frescos in churches previously abandoned during the communist era. I also found the concrete mushroom bunkers scattered everywhere a poignant reminder of the recent history of this amazing country. What did you think of your group leader? We had two leaders as Ed unfortunately had to leave mid-way through. Ed - super passionate about his country, really gave a compelling impression of what it was like to live through recent history with stories of his family, friends (he has many...). I was really sad to lose him so soon. However Erion was an incredible replacement! He had to pick up half way through - a difficult job, but he is such a professional guy. Knowledgeable and able to explain complex subjects in a really clear way. I learnt a lot about Albania from Erion and he was also good company and very funny guy. I think we were lucky in the end to have two guides - Ed was very much 'heart and passion' and Erion was very much 'educator and friend'. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Order wine by the 0.5 litre rather than the glass as its better value! Is there anything else you would like to add? Some more opportunity for walks would have been good.
Reviewed February 2018 Claire Sheriff Trip: Highlights of Albania Highlights of Albania Excellent trip, excellent Guide, excellent country! What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Excellent trip, excellent Guide, excellent country! What did you think of your group leader? Excellent trip, excellent Guide, excellent country!
Reviewed February 2018 Claire Sheriff Trip: Highlights of Albania Highlights of Albania Excellent trip, excellent Guide, excellent country! What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Excellent trip, excellent Guide, excellent country!
Reviewed February 2018 Claire Sheriff Trip: Highlights of Albania Highlights of Albania Excellent trip! What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Our guide. He has so much knowledge and was super interesting!!
Reviewed October 2017 Dennis Jenkins Trip: Highlights of Albania Highlights of Albania This was an excellent tour with a lot covered in the 10 days enabling us to understand the difficult times Albania has gone through as well as opening up the many things it has to offer as a destination. It was a busy trip but did not feel rushed at any of the places we visited as it has not yet fully embraced mass tourism (although some places like Butrint no doubt get very busy in the summer months). What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? There were many but the mountain scenery is stunning and there is plenty of it! Also the food was very good especially the excellent, wholesome lunch we had at the village house. What did you think of your group leader? Edjon was really excellent. Obviously very passionate about his country, he made every effort to make sure we saw as much of Albania as he could and gave us a thorough understanding of how the country existed under a very repressive regime and how it is now trying to move forward. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Go now before it changes too much. Also, very little time is spent in Tirana if you take the group flight via Vienna. If you take the direct flight from Gatwick a day earlier, by staying an extra night in Tirana, it gives you nearly a full day to explore the city yourself and also more time in Kruja at the end as it doesn't depart until around 9pm. Is there anything else you would like to add? Although the lunch at the local house was excellent in every way and the family very welcoming, it did not really represent a typical local village home. Also, to cover as much as we did later in the autumn could prove difficult with the shorter day lengths. Maybe extending the tour by a couple of days would help. Certainly, 2 nights in Berat would be well worthwhile.
Reviewed September 2017 Janet Gibbons Trip: Highlights of Albania Highlights of Albania A wonderful trip to a country emerging from very difficult times, accompanied by a good group and fab guide. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Most days there were great experiences. Berat and Gjorokastra were stunning cities, beautiful mountainous scenery, the Blue Eye, the icon museum at Korce, having lunch with a lovely family in Dhoksat, archeological ruins at Butrint, etc. I could go on. And then there was friendly welcome from the Albanian people. What did you think of your group leader? Klodi was an exceptional guide. Passionate about and proud of his country, extremely knowledgeable and professional, caring and very good company with a great sense of humour! Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Nothing in particular. Is there anything else you would like to add? Changing hotels every night might seem daunting but it was a thoroughly enjoyable and quite relaxing. Moving on was not a problem. I would thoroughly recommend this trip. Albania has so much to offer.
Reviewed September 2017 Susan Keane Trip: Highlights of Albania Wonderful Albania Hi I've travelled a lot but must say this was one of the best places I've been. Wonderful scenery every day. Learnt a lot about its history. Great hotels and food. I spent £200 in 10 days. Thanks to our guide Claudio and our driver Astrid. You looked after us every day. Sue What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The scenery. What did you think of your group leader? Very knowledgeable. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Don't take too much luggage.
Reviewed June 2017 Elizabeth Marshall Trip: Highlights of Albania Highlights of Albania A trip of unexpected interest to a country whose landscape, history, heritage sites, food and drink all exceeded expectation. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? My choices here might be influenced by the rather wet weather we uncharacteristically experienced. Our visits to the old churches at Voskopoja and to the world heritage site of Berat rate highly and the family lunch was an absolute delight! In a more general sense I was fascinated to gain some insight into Albania's recent communist past and to witness how the country is changing. What did you think of your group leader? I can't speak too highly of our group leader, Kledi. He is exceptionally knowledgeable and was able to answer all of our many questions. He did so articulately and with warmth and gentle humour. He is mild mannered, well organized and inclusive. Our driver, Genti, also deserves comment as an extremely competent and safe driver. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? This is not a physically active holiday but the itinerary is very full with a feeling of always being 'on the go', The hotels overall were of a higher standard than we anticipated and the roads, far from suffering the potholes we had been lead to expect, were new comfortable highways (with a few exceptions!) Is there anything else you would like to add? I feel the trip would greatly benefit from allocating more 'down time' to independently explore each of the places we stayed. This trip could readily be extended to a 14 day holiday which would be much less tiring. Other advice would be to explore all options of flights to Tirana - the group flight required a 3 hour stopover both ways in Vienna which makes a relatively short trip feel like long haul! BUT don't let this put you off visiting this lovely country!
Reviewed June 2017 Petra Geggie Trip: Highlights of Albania Highlights of Albania A fascinating trip that explored much of the country with a brilliant guide. Trip sites were well chosen to explore the layers of the country's history and the wealth of landscape and hidden gems both inland and by the sea. A country that is as yet unspoilt and that inspired me to look at visits to the other Balkan countries. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Tirana was the start and was for me a summary of what was to come. The buildings old and new, side by side that says something of the state of Albania's pride in its past and its spirit in opening up to the future and tourism. It made me aware of the need to go on with an open mind and in this way I found it quietly exciting. Unesco sites of Girokaster and Berat survive with sensitive development of the buildings and locations that is a joy. What did you think of your group leader? Gledi was inspirational and exceptional. He was knowledgeable, articulate and accessible to questions and ideas with a modest manner and sense of humour. The very best. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? It is an intensive on the go trip but each day is different. Be prepared for the unexpected and some reading for the long journeys Is there anything else you would like to add? The trip could benefit from a couple of stops that are for two nights for example by the sea in Sarande and in Tirana and possibly Podgredec. Thanks to those who dared to set the trip up.
Reviewed May 2017 Debra Ansen Trip: Highlights of Albania Excellent overview tour of Albania An excellent overview trip of Albania made especially good due to the knowledge and experience of our guide, Erion Puca. His knowledge along with the friendliness of locals and the friendly group of experienced travelers we had made for a wonderful and informative trip. The beauty of the Albanian landscape is exceptional and our guide ensured we understood the history and current realities. For me, the trip had special meaning as I have Albanian-Arbëreschë roots going back to the 1400s. The guide, locals and my fellow travelers on the tour were all very helpful and supportive in my quest to understand more about the connection. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? There were several. Krujë was not only a beautiful city, with the Panorama Hotel being the best hotel of the trip, but it had historic significance for me. Porto Palermo and a stop in Himarë were also beautiful and meaningful for me. Gjirokaster was our first city where the weather was excellent and we could visit many historical sites. It was made all the more fun as we were one of the first tour groups of the season and were interviewed and appeared on local television. The ruins and our guide at Butrint were also very interesting. The visit to the Apollonia ruins with one of the chief archaeologists of the site was also superb. There was an overall good quality of food, with the lunch at the mountain restaurant just after the pass above Himarë standing out with its fresh lamb and homemade yogurt/honey dessert. We also tried many of the different sorts of raki, which was always an adventure. What did you think of your group leader? Erion Puca was a very experienced and considerate guide with excellent English and Italian. He understood what we wanted as tourists. He had a good sense of humor. He also explained the history of Albania and how things really work on a day to day basis in the country. If he did not know something, he took the extra time and trouble to get us an answer as quickly as possible. He had good connections that got things done. He also inspired hope for the future of Albania. His efforts to help me understand my genealogical roots in terms of history and places were much appreciated and interesting to all. When the National Musuem in Tirana was closed due to holidays, so that we did not lose out on learning about Albanian history, he found time at the end of the trip to bring us back to the Bunker Art Museum that was not at all what we expected and we enjoyed it very much. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? The weather started off a little cold in the first and northern most part of the trip, but as it got later in March and we traveled more to the south, the weather became warmer and we were definitely into a lovely spring. Shopping for Albanian items and souvenirs is limited and we really only had good opportunity for this in Krujë. The hotel in Permeti, the Hotel Permeti, was not that good, although it may have been the best option available. We all commented on the weird, squishy, wet bath mats that were in the bathrooms. In spite of that, the dinner of wild boar and local specialities and a quick morning walk in town on our own time before getting in the van were appreciated. There is a lot of time spent traveling in the van, but it was a good mix of sitting and walking when combined with the sightseeing we did when we got to our destination. Berat is a good city to walk around in and very beautiful, especially at night. Is there anything else you would like to add? This was my first Exodus trip and it was done so flawlessly that I will definitely be a returning customer. Perhaps the Bunker Art Musuem should also be added into the Tirana stop, although that might mean too much museum time there as we spent more than one hour in Bunker Art.