The highlights of South Albania

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 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

Accommodation in hotel in Tirana

On this day we will begin our trip early in the morning to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Museum city, Gjirokaster also known as ‘Stone City’. Being the birthplace of ‘Kadare’ one of the most known writers in Albania and also of the notorious communist leader Enver Hoxha, the city is intriguing and controversial as it preserves well all phases of history.

• In Gjirokastra we will make the tour of the city visiting the Old Bazaar and the Castle where you will also have free time.
• Visit Skenduli House, a 300 years old house well maintained where you will learn more about the culture of Gjirokastra and everyday life of 18-th century.
• Free evening to explore on your own.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation in hotel in Gjirokaster

This day will be a mix of hiking and off-road adventures where we will visit few villages. After we have breakfast in the hotel, we will start drive off-road early in the morning from Gjirokaster to Sheper.

• We will start our hike in Sheper, the largest village of the former Zagori The hike will be a pass with wonderful viewpoints and wild forests that will lead us to the ‘city of roses’ Permet.
• After arriving at Permet we will accommodate in a local guest house where you will have free evening to wander around the city.

Hike information:

Gradient: 600m

Distance: 13km

Duration: 5h

Meals included: Breakfast and packed-lunch, Dinner

Accommodation in guesthouse in Permet.

This day will be a unique day. After having breakfast and packing our lunch we will continue with some adventure and exploration of Permet.

• We will start with the tour of the city, get a taste of the marvellous ‘gliko’ and visit the thermal baths of Permet, known for their healing effects.
• Later we will go rafting in the National Park of Vjosa.
• After eating our picnic-lunch we will drive to Kolonja region where we will accommodate.
• We will have time to explore a bit the area and in the evening we will consume dinner at the guesthouse.

Meals included: Breakfast, packed-lunch, gliko tasting and dinner.

Accommodation in guesthouse in Kolonja

After early breakfast around 6 am in the morning, we will continue our trip to the highest mountain of the south, Gramozi. The highest peak in the Gramozi Range is 2,520m. The mountain range forms the border between Albania and Greece.

We will start our hike early in the morning, and we will consume our packed lunch in the peak of Gramozi. After the hike we will return to our guesthouse to enjoy our dinner and be prepared for the next day.

Hike information:

Gradient: 1250-1300 m

Distance: 14 km total

Duration: 6-7 h total

Meals included: Breakfast, packed-lunch and dinner.

Accommodation in guesthouse in Kolonja.

On day six we will cross the border with Macedonia to go to Ohrid, one of the oldest human settlements in Europe. This city boasts exemplary religious architecture dating from the 7^th to 19^th centuries as well as an urban structure showcasing vernacular architecture from the 18^th and 19^th centuries.

• On the way we will have the chance to visit Korca, also known as ‘Small Paris of Albania’. Korca is not a typical touristic city. On the contrary, it is a place made to live like a local.
• We will visit the Bazaar of Korca, the Resurrection Cathedral, Mirahori Mosque and the First Albanian School. After the city tour you will have free time to live as a local in Korca.
• After crossing the border we will visit the Monastery of Saint Naum an Eastern Orthodox monastery in North Macedonia, named after the medieval Bulgarian writer and enlightener Saint Naum who founded it.
• After the monastery we will accommodate in Ohrid where you will have a free evening and be prepared for the next day.

Meals included: Breakfast.

Accommodation in hotel in Ohrid

After breakfast we will meet our local guide of Ohrid UNESCO world heritage city also named as the “Jerusalem of the Balkans” due to the fact it was once home to 365 churches- one for each day of the year. Today, many of those churches are gone, but it’s still a glorious city full of interesting things to see and do and delicious things to eat. Ohrid is also one of the few places in the world that is both a Cultural and Natural World Heritage Site.  A multicultural city, it’s home to Albanian, North Macedonian and Turkish.

• Pass by the glorious Church of Saint Sophia and the National Workshop for a handmade paper-making demonstration.
• Enter Samuil’s Fortress and walk along its historic 4th-centrury walls.
• Discover the Ancient Theater of Ohrid, built in the Hellenistic style.
• Walk up to the cliff-top Church of Saint John at Kaneo for panoramic views of the lake and surrounding mountains.

Meals included: Breakfast.

Accommodation in Tirana not included.