Hidden Treasures of Albania

Hidden Treasures of Albania

Experience a unique journey through one of Europe's most unexplored regions. Set off on an adventure in Albania to discover its history, different cultures, gastronomy, renowned hospitality, and splendid mountain and seaside landscapes.

Duration: 21 days - 20 nights

Detailed Program

Day 1

Day 1 : Tirana Airport > Tirana (45 min - 20 km)

After your arrival at Tirana airport, take your private transfer and head to the capital of Albania - Tirana.

Arrive at your hotel and drop off your luggage.

Night stay in Tirana.

Hotel Metro 4*

Included :

  • Night stay
  • Airport - Hotel Transfer
Day 2

Day 2 : Tirana

Set out to visit Tirana, a city in constant evolution. Once dull and gray, the city has experienced international post-communism growth, becoming a lively, colorful, and very vibrant metropolis thanks to its unique atmosphere. Fascinating, Tirana represents both the past and future of Albania.

Visit Skanderbeg Square, the Et'hem Bey Mosque (1824), the Clock Tower (1822), and the government buildings. You'll head to the Grand Park of Tirana at the end of the day to discover its artificial lake.

OPTION: Explore the Erzen Canyon.

Night stay in Tirana.

Hotel Metro 4*

Included :

  • Rental Car
  • Night stay
  • Breakfast
Day 3

Day 3 : Tirana > Mirzi i Zanave > Shkodra (2h35 - 120 km)

After breakfast, head to the famous Albanian restaurant 'Mrizi i Zanave'. Lost in the Albanian countryside, you'll enjoy lunch in an eco-friendly restaurant where all products consumed come from the restaurant and local families in the surrounding area.

Continue your journey to Shkodra.

Upon arriving at the entrance of Shkodra, stop at Rozafa Castle, built by the Illyrians and witness to numerous sieges and occupations throughout the centuries.

OPTION: Wine tasting in Shkodra

Night stay in Shkodra.

Çoçja Boutique Hotel

Included :

  • Breakfast
  • Night stay
Day 4

Day 4 : Shkodra > Koman Lake > Shkodra (3h20 - 110 km)

After breakfast, leave early in the morning for a day of exploration in one of Albania's wonders, Lake Komani, artificially created in 1979 with the construction of a hydroelectric dam nicknamed at the time 'The Light of the Party', which unites the Shala and Valbona rivers. Lake Komani is considered one of the most beautiful attractions in Albania and the Balkans.

Board a boat and reach the Shala River for a relaxing afternoon in a paradise-like place.

Return to Shkodra in the afternoon.

OPTION: Night stay in accommodation near Lake Komani or the Shala River.

Night stay in Shkodra.

Çoçja Boutique Hotel

Included :

  • Breakfast
  • Night stay
Day 5

Day 5 : Shkodra > Theth (2h - 80 km)

After breakfast, take the mountain road located in northern Albania and reach the village of Theth. An intact village located in the heart of the valley, rich in history with the Albanian tribes that once lived there.

Drop off your luggage at your guesthouse.

Spend the afternoon walking through the village and discover its old tower, once used to negotiate business between families according to the Kanun law (book of laws in Albania).

OPTION: Quad activity in the mountains OPTION: Zipline

Dinner and night stay in Theth.

Bujtina Polia

Included :

  • Night stay
  • Breakfast and dinner
Day 6

Day 6 : Theth > Blue Eye > Theth

After breakfast, start a hike to reach the splendid 'Syri i Kaltër' or Blue Eye. It's an incredible water spring located in a paradise-like place where you can rest and swim in clear, but cold water.

Lunch by the water spring on wooden tables built nearby by the locals.

Dinner and night stay in Theth.

Bujtina Polia

Included :

  • Breakfast, lunch and dinner
  • Night stay
Day 7

Day 7 : Theth > Rubik (3h20 - 150 km)

After breakfast, enjoy a last moment in Theth then head to an eco-camp in Rubik located on the heights of a magnificent valley for a unique experience.

Drop off your luggage in your bungalows and set out for a walk in untouched and peaceful nature.

Dinner composed of local products from the region.

OPTION: Possibility to organize a hike with your host to a small wild waterfall. OPTION: Kayak excursion on Shkopet Lake.

Night stay in Rubik.

Guest House Bavent Toven

Included :

  • Night stay
  • Breakfast and dinner
Day 8

Day 8 : Rubik > Berat (2h20 - 160km)

After breakfast, take the road to Berat, the city of a thousand windows.

Upon arrival, begin a visit of Berat, a UNESCO World Heritage city. Discover the 'Kala' fortress located on the heights of the city, built in the 13th century. Enjoy a splendid panoramic view of the city. Visit the Onufri Iconographic Museum.

OPTION: Possibility to visit a family vineyard to discover the Albanian wine world. OPTION: Guided tour of Berat.

Night stay in Berat.

Hotel Mangalemi

Included :

  • Night stay
  • Breakfast
Day 9

Day 9 : Berat

After breakfast, free day in Berat.

OPTION: Discover traditional local gastronomy during a cooking class and taste the dishes you have prepared for dinner. OPTION: ATV in the region. OPTION: Hiking in Mount Tomorr. OPTION: Electric mountain bike in Mount Tomorr. OPTION: Meet a Sufi dervish. OPTION: Off-road 4x4 excursion and vineyard visit.

Night stay in Berat.

Hotel Mangalemi

Included :

  • Night stay
  • Breakfast
Day 10

Day 10 : Berat > Apollonia > Himare (3h20 - 200 km)

After breakfast, take the road to the ancient city of Apollonia of Illyria, the ruins of the largest ancient Greek city in Albania, founded in 625 BC. You'll immerse yourself in this mythical place with the possibility of a guided tour by a French-speaking archaeologist working on the site.

After lunch, you'll take the road to Himare. On the way, make a stop in Llogara National Park through magnificent mountain landscapes.

Upon arrival in Himare, a charming small seaside resort in Albania, drop off your luggage at your hotel and dine by the sea.

Night stay in Himare.

Wait n Sea

Included :

  • Night stay
  • Breakfast
Day 11

Day 11 : Himare

After breakfast, free day to enjoy the beaches in Himare or surroundings.

Possibility to reach Dhermi to spend time on its incredible beach.

OPTION: Boat excursion in Himare OPTION: Kayak in Drymades OPTION: Rappelling and stand-up paddle OPTION: Canyoning in Gjipe

Night stay in Himare.

Wait n Sea

Included :

  • Night stay
  • Breakfast
Day 12

Day 12 : Himare

Free day to enjoy the beaches and activities in Himare.

Night stay in Himare.

Wait n Sea

Included :

  • Night stay
  • Breakfast
Day 13

Day 13 : Himare

Free day to enjoy the beaches and activities in Himare.

Night stay in Himare.

Wait n Sea

Included :

  • Night stay
  • Breakfast
Day 14

Day 14 : Himare > Butrint > Gjirokastra (2h45 - 125 km)

After breakfast, follow the Albanian coastline.

Reach Butrint to visit the UNESCO World Heritage archaeological site. Visit this ancient city occupied by Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, and Venetians. This archaeological site presents ruins of ancient civilizations of this historical city.

Head to Gjirokastra, another rare example of a city featuring typical architectural style from the Ottoman period.

OPTION: Guided tour of Butrint

Night stay in Gjirokastra.

Rose Garden Hotel

Included :

  • Night stay
  • Breakfast
Day 15

Day 15 : Gjirokastra

After breakfast, visit Gjirokastër and admire the architecture of a series of two-story houses classified as 'remarkable' dating from the 17th century, a site giving the impression of contemplating a painting with thousands of windows.

Visit the Gjirokastër Citadel overlooking the city. You'll also visit the Skenduli House, a typical Ottoman house dating from the 18th century.

Possibility to eat in an eco-restaurant 'the Barrel' outside the city.

OPTION: Guided tour of Gjirokastër OPTION: Join the mountains of Gjirokastër and start a horseback ride in the region.

Night stay in Gjirokastra.

Rose Garden Hotel

Included :

  • Night stay
  • Breakfast
Day 16

Day 16 : Gjirokastra > Leskovik > Korça (4h - 190 km)

You'll cross magnificent landscapes of plains and mountains through rural Albania.

The Leskovik thermal baths, located in a mountainous region of Albania, are renowned for their natural springs. Rich in minerals, these springs offer therapeutic benefits, especially for skin, muscle, and joint problems. The surrounding natural environment, with its forests and mountains, enhances the atmosphere of relaxation and well-being.

On the way, you'll make a stop at a small ranch in the heart of the mountains for a traditional lunch.

Arrival in Korça in the afternoon. Also called 'little Paris', Korça is the center of Francophonie in Albania, but also for its coffee culture.

Visit Korça and stroll through its alleys to discover its many monuments, such as the country's largest Orthodox cathedral, 'the Resurrection Cathedral', or its old bazaar.

Night stay in Korça.

Hotel Hani Pazarit 4*

Included :

  • Night stay
  • Breakfast
Day 17

Day 17 : Korça > Pogradec > Ohrid (1h30 - 71 km)

After breakfast, depart for the village of Pogradec, located on the shores of Lake Ohrid, for lunch in Drilon National Park, where you can taste an endemic fish from the lake.

Take the road to North Macedonia towards Ohrid, the cradle of Orthodoxy.

Visit the Saint Naum Monastery. Nestled in the middle of lush greenery and built in the 10th century, this monastery is a haven of tranquility at the border between Albania and Macedonia.

Photo stop at the 'Bay of Bones', an authentic reconstruction of part of a settlement dating from 1200 to 700 BC.

OPTION: Guided tour of Ohrid.

Night stay in Ohrid.

Hotel Su 4*

Included :

  • Night stay
  • Breakfast
Day 18

Day 18 : Ohrid

After breakfast, free day in Ohrid to enjoy the city's beaches and stroll through the old town. You'll have the opportunity to visit Ohrid.

OPTION: Diving OPTION: Kayak on the lake OPTION: Walk to Vevchani OPTION: ATV in Galicica OPTION: Paragliding

Night stay in Ohrid.

Hotel Su 4*

Included :

  • Night stay
  • Breakfast
Day 19

Day 19 : Ohrid > Bulqize (1h50 - 100 km)

After breakfast, return to Albania and head to the Dibër region.

The Dibër region, located in northeastern Albania, is still a relatively unknown tourist destination but rich in natural beauty and cultural heritage. Bordered by the Korab massif mountains, the region offers a spectacular setting for nature and hiking enthusiasts. Mount Korab, Albania's highest peak, attracts many hikers with its picturesque trails and panoramic views of the Drin Valley.

You'll have the possibility to sleep in a Kulla. The word 'Kulla' in Albanian means 'tower' or 'fortified house', and the building maintains this historical essence while being modernized for guest comfort. The thick stone walls, wooden beams, and architectural details reflect a bygone era, while the warm interior offers everything needed for a pleasant stay.

OPTION: Rafting in Dibër OPTION: Hiking to Korab OPTION: Cooking class OPTION: Horseback riding

Night stay in Bulqizë.

Kulla Hupi

Included :

  • Night stay
  • Breakfast
Day 20

Day 20 : Bulqize > Kruje (2h20 - 115 km)

After breakfast, depart for the historic Albanian city of Krujë.

Visit one of the oldest cities in Europe. Discover the city with its old bazaar and the medieval fortress of Skanderbeg. Compared to Alexander the Great, Skanderbeg is a true hero in the Balkans for being the first to unite Albanians and resist the Ottoman Empire's invasion.

Night stay in Krujë.

Hotel Panorama 4*

Included :

  • Night stay
  • Breakfast
Day 21

Day 21 : Kruje > Tirana Airport (35 min - 18 km)

Have your breakfast and enjoy your free time until your departure to Tirana airport for your return flight.

Included :

  • Breakfast

What's included

Included

  • ✓Transfer from Tirana airport to Tirana on day 1
  • ✓Car rental from Tirana on day 3 until Tirana airport on day 21
  • ✓Overnight stays with locals and in 3* and 4* hotels in double/twin room with breakfasts (local standards subject to availability)
  • ✓Phone assistance throughout the circuit
  • ✓Travel guide with essential travel information (addresses, contacts, restaurants)

Not included

  • ✕Full board (lunches and dinners)
  • ✕All additional expenses not mentioned in the program
  • ✕Tips
  • ✕Insurance
  • ✕Round-trip flight
  • ✕All activities mentioned in the program and monument entries