This trip is an overland adventure expedition, tailor-made by us, as a 4×4 off-road adventure. You will have the chance to visit many cultural places and go deep into the old Albanian traditions.
Itinerary
The beginning of the tour and meeting point with the guide takes place at the hotel in Tirana around 17:00 o’clock, we will do a Tirana walking tour which will last for 2 hours where you will discuss the program for the coming week and also have the chance to see Tirana by locals. After the walking tour, we will offer dinner in a traditional restaurant and after that if you want to enjoy the nightlife of Albania we will bring you to our center point of nightlife ‘The Bllok’.
Meals included: Dinner
Airport transfer included
After an early breakfast, we will start our trip to Valbona National Park, which is located in the eastern part of the Albanian Alps.
- We will take the boat trip at Koman Lake (also known as Albanian Thailand) surrounded by the ever-changing scale of dramatic mountain gorges that reflect in the calm water’s surface.
- Taking a camera to capture all the magnificent views is also essential.
- (Optional) After arriving in Valbona we can explore the river bed of Valbona.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner.
Accommodation in Guesthouse.
After eating breakfast, we will take the vehicles and be prepared for real off-road adventure passing through old villages (most of which are abandoned), alpine valleys and glacial lakes with a typical north Albanian tradition known for warmth welcoming. When we arrive in Doberdol we will set up the tents and prepare our wild campsite.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner in guesthouse.
Accommodation in guesthouse.
After breakfast, we will continue to Lura National Park. For many, Lura National Park encapsulates the diversity, beauty, and wonder of Albanian nature better than anywhere. As some say, if you haven’t been here, you don’t know Albania…
- On our way to Lura we will Spaci Prison, a very famous prison during communism time.
- We will also visit Lura glacial lakes that are above 1000m from sea level.
- After the visit we will head for the campsite where you will have the chance to try tasty fresh and local dishes
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Accommodation in guesthouse.
After breakfast we will visit a part of the second biggest National Park of Albania called Shebenik-Jabllanic. We will learn more about the flora and fauna of Shebenik-Jabllanic National Park and why it was ‘preserved’ during communism time.
- We will have the chance to hike/drive to the peak of Kallkani at 2400m above sea level. There we will see the pyramid that was marking the border with Macedonia.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Accommodation in guesthouse.
On this day we will head to Lake Prespa which is one of the oldest tectonic lakes in Europe, and also the highest tectonic lake on the Balkan Peninsula. It is made up of the Great Prespa Lake and Small Prespa Lake. The former located on the border of Albania, Greece and the Republic of Macedonia region is characterized by many sunny days, while along the shore of the Prespa Lake there are several beautiful sandy beaches. You are constantly surrounded by mountains with lush vegetation. All that along with the clear lake water will not leave you indifferent and will constantly invite you to bathing and relaxation.
- In Prespa we will have a chance to take a boat trip to Maligrad Island and hike to the ancient hermit church of St. Mary.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Accommodation in a home stay guesthouse.
In the morning we will start after an early breakfast our driving to Korca a museum city also known as small ‘Paris’ or the city of Serenades. We will stop there for a coffee or drink at the Bazaar of Korca and continue driving to Permeti also known as the “city of roses.” The small town of Permet is famous for its folk music, good cooking (especially sweets) the most famous called ‘gliko’, or preserves. Permeti also is the greenest and the cleanest town in Albania also there you will be served good wine and raki.
- In Permet we visit the stone of the city and after we will have some ‘gliko’ tasting together with the traditional Albanian drink Raki.
- We will also visit the thermal baths of Benja and Langarica canyon.
Meals included: Breakfast and lunch.
Accommodation in a guesthouse.
In the morning after breakfast, we will start driving to to our UNESCO World Heritage Museum City Gjirokaster. The old city is famous for being a well-preserved Ottoman-style town, with its fortress overlooking the entire city, the old houses lean against the slopes of the hills with their beautiful old wooden facades. After Gjirokaster we will continue our tour to Nivica, one of the five villages in Kurvelesh Valley. The village sits on a plateau 790 m above sea level overlooking dramatic canyons.
- In Gjirokaster we will visit the Bazaar, the castle and Skenduli House, a 300 years old house where one of the richest families of the 18th century was living.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Accommodation in camp site.
This day we will start driving to the unofficial capital of Albanian Riviera, Saranda. Saranda is one of most charming towns of the Albanian Riviera where we can enjoy the busy beach and busier nightlife along its crowd-filled seaside promenade. What was once a sleepy fishing village is now a thriving city, and while Saranda has lost much of its charm in the past two decades, it has retained much of its charisma.
- In Saranda we will have the chance to visit Lekursi Castle. Lekursi Castle was built in 1537 by the Orroman emperor Sultan Suleiman, when he attacked Corfu and needed control over the harbour. There we will enjoy the most amazing sunset of the Albanian Riviera.
Meals included: Breakfast and lunch.
Accommodation in hotel
In the morning we will start driving to Gjipe, one of the wildest beaches of Albania, reachable only by boat/hiking and real 4WD.
- On the way we will stop to an UNESCO World Heritage Archeological Site, Butrinti (on-site guide).
- After Butrinti we will head for the Castle of Ali Pasha also known as Porto Palermo.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Accommodation in camping site.
On this day we will visit the city of 1000 windows (window above window). Berat, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008, comprises a unique style of architecture with influences from several civilizations that have managed to coexist for centuries throughout the history.
- Visit the old fortified city filled with churches and mosques painted with grandiose wealth of visible murals and frescos where you will also have the chance to step inside one of the traditional houses in Berat.
- Visit Gorica and Mangalem neighbourhoods.
- Visit one of the most marvellous mosques in Albania, The King’s Mosque together with Helveti Tekke located at the side of the mosque.
- Enjoy dinner in a traditional agro-tourism & winery restaurant in a beautiful village near Berat.
- Free evening to explore the city on your own.
Meals included: Breakfast and lunch.
Accommodation in hotel.
On the last day we will head back to Tirana where we will finalize our tour.
Meals included: Breakfast.
Accommodation not included.
What is included in this tour?
Included
✅Accommodation as mentioned in the itinerary
✅Food as mentioned in itinerary
✅All transport as per itinerary
✅The guide
✅All museum fees described in the itinerary
✅Activities of the tour
Not Included
❌Health Insurance
❌Flight ticket
❌What’s not mentioned above
