Albania - Crossroads of Culture

Day 1 – Berat

Scheduled flight to Tirana from your preferred airport – transfer with our professional guide to Berat, a UNESCO world heritage site – a guided tour of the lower part of the town includes the 15th century mosque and the 18th century Halveti Tekke – check in at the 4* Portik Hotel in Berat.

Day 2 – Guided tours of Berat and Apollonia & Vlora

Guided tour of the upper part of Berat takes in the Kalaja Fortress with 4th century BC fortifications and 15th century mosques including the Church of St Mary, home to the Onufri Iconographic Museum – guided tour of the ancient city of Apollonia of Illyria founded at the beginning of the 6th century BC and the Museum of Apollonia located in a 16th century Byzantine monastery – panoramic tour of the coastal city of Vlora where the first parliament convened following the declaration of independence in 1912 – check in at the 4* Hotel Partner in Vlora.

Day 3 – Llogara National Park, Castle of Porto Palermo & Butrint

From the Llogara Pass enjoy dramatic views of the coast below before a leisurely walk at Llogara National Park – continue to the stunning Albanian Riviera and the picturesque Castle of Porto Palermo, built by Ali Pasha of Ioannina in the early 19th century – the archaeological site of Butrint, settled by Greeks in the 6th century BC, prospered as a holiday resort under Roman rule – check in at the 4* Hotel Bineri in Gjirokastra.

Day 4 – Gjirokastra & Labove e Kryqit

The UNESCO listed town of Gjirokastra, known as the City of Stone, is dominated by a vast castle dating from the 13th century – visit the beautiful Byzantine church built in 554 at the nearby village of Labove e Kryqit (Labova of the Cross).

Day 5 – Durrës & Tirana

The city of Durrës, a key port for both the Greeks and the Romans, boasts ancient city walls and a Roman forum and baths – continue to Tirana and check in at the 4* Tirana International Hotel.

Day 6 – Tirana guided tour

Guided tour of Tirana takes in the underground palace of BunkArt Museum, the National Gallery, the Mosque of Et’hem Bay and a Roman house dating back to the 3rd century AD.

Day 7 – Shkodra walking tour & Kruja

On the banks of a lake and at the foot of the mountains of High Albania, a walking tour of Shkodra includes a visit to the mighty fortress of Rozafa and Marubi Museum – continue to Kruja, Albania’s medieval capital, and visit the Ethnographic Museum, the caste ruins and wander through the old medieval bazaar.

Day 8 – Tirana

Morning free at leisure before we transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight home.