5 Nights/6 Days
What's included
Day 1: Tirana
- Reception at the airport in Tirana and transfer to the hotel.
- Depending on the arrival time, possibility of checking in.
- Continuing for a Walking Tour of the Capital: we will visit from the outside the Natural History Museum with its mosaic made in the communist era that depicts our history.
- We then continue towards Skanderbeg Square and towards the Et’hem Bey Mosque, founded at the end of the 18th century, the Tower built in 1822, the Palace of Culture, whose first brick was laid by the former Soviet president Nikita Hrushov in 1959.
- Passage by the Pyramid of Tirana, mausoleum of the dictator Enver Hoxha, now rebuilt with a modern touch.
- Passage by Blloku, once the headquarters of the highest officials of the communist state.
- Dinner in a restaurant in Tirana and overnight stay.
- N.B. the program may vary depending on the flight arrival time. In case of afternoon or evening arrival the visits may be reduced or not carried out.
- Meals planned: Dinner in restaurants.
Day 2: Tirana – Kruja-Durrës-Tirana
- After breakfast departure at 08.00 for Kruja, an emblematic city of Albanian history and resistance.
- You will visit the Kruja Castle, the ancient symbol of Albanian resistance, which remained undefeated by the invasions of the Ottoman Empire for 35 years of siege.
- You will also visit the Gjergi Kastrioti National Museum on the life of Skanderbeg and the Ethnic Museum housed in the house that belonged to one of the richest families of the place, the Toptani.
- You will visit the Old Bazaar, 450 years old, which at its peak hosted more than 150 merchants. Today, it sells antiques and handicrafts.
- Lunch in a restaurant.
- After lunch, departure for Durres, also called the “Taverna dell’Adriatico” in ancient times, a city among the first in Europe to have had a university, founded in 1380.
- Born as the University of Religious Studies, it was transferred in 1396 to Zadar, Croatia, due to Ottoman threats.
- You will visit the Byzantine Bazaar, and then continue towards the Roman Amphitheatre, where excavations are still underway for its complete recovery.
- Walk along the main street, with Italian architecture.
- Stop at the new Veliera installation where you can admire the Venetian Tower, recently restored.
- Passage on the new Lungomare di Durres full of bars, clubs, restaurants and stop to admire the sunset.
- Departure for Tirana with accommodation in a 4-star hotel.
- Free dinner and overnight stay.
Day 3: Tirana – Scutari – Tirana
- After breakfast, departure for Scutari (about 2 hours), the largest city in northwestern Albania.
- Historically also known as Scodra, it is located in a flat valley surrounded by high mountains, the Dinaric Alps, in a very particular environmental context.
- Scutari is one of the oldest cities in Europe, and has always been one of the most important cultural centers of Albania, in fact it is considered “The cradle of Albanian culture” or the cultural capital of Albania.
- The city has different phases of construction, from the Illyrian period to the present day.
- The old city is made up of different neighborhoods around the Rozafa Castle.
- Some houses are built by reusing the ruins of the Illyrian, Roman-Byzantine and Ottoman walls.
- The Castle can be admired from below (the climb is tough and arduous and possible only on foot or with a minivan that costs 2 euros per person!).
- A pleasant boat trip will be made on Lake Scutari (or Lake Skadar), included in the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve list since 2011, a recognition of its global ecological significance and its biodiversity.
- Lunch at the Buna Park Hotel, where the river and nature with the castle landscape give an idyllic feeling.
- After lunch, a short visit to the Mesi bridge, from the Ottoman era, which has 11 arches.
- We continue with a visit to the museum-art laboratory “Venice Art Mask Factory” which creates some masks for the Venice Carnival.
- We continue for a walk in the pedestrian area of the city with many typical souvenir shops and local crafts.
- Return to Tirana (about 2 hours).
- Farewell dinner and overnight stay.
Day 4: Tirana – Apollonia – Berat
- Breakfast at the hotel.
- Departure for the magnificent Archaeological Park of Apollonia, the second most important site in Albania. The ancient city of Illyria was founded at the beginning of the 7th century BC, a city that prospered greatly in Roman times with several emperors such as Octavian who were educated here.
- You will visit the City Fortification Walls, the Prytaneon, the Bouleterion, the Great and Small Stoa, the Oideon, the Theater, the Nymphaeum and the Museum near the 14th century Monastery and the Church of St. Mary.
- Then continue to Berat, a UNESCO heritage site.
- Upon arrival in Berat, climb to the Castle for lunch in a restaurant (Restoklea or similar), located in the Castle.
- After lunch, you will visit the Castle, a true “living” monument from antiquity to recent times. Erected on the top of a hill in the 4th century. A.C., is the jewel of this glorious ancient city. With a total of 24 watchtowers, the view from its fortified courtyard reveals the entire city of Berat, the Osun River and the old Gorica Bridge.
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- We will then go down the cobblestone street of the castle and visit the King’s Mosque in the Mangalem neighborhood, then cross the Bridge and the Gorica neighborhood.
- We will participate in a fun “cooking class” to learn some typical Albanian gastronomy. During this “Lesson” you will be able to learn the preparations for some dishes through the ingredients purchased from local farmers.
- Followed by dinner in Berat in a typical restaurant.
- Overnight stay in hotel.
Day 5: Tirana
- After breakfast visit the city of Tirana.
- It is undoubtedly the city with the most energy in Albania. The momentum and pace that can be felt everywhere creates the feeling of a capital that is developing day by day.
- The grey past of communism intertwines with the bright colors of the buildings painted after the fall of the system.
- Modern cafes, pubs and restaurants are equipped with the highest standards, but also the most competitive prices.
- The tour begins at the Old Bazaar of Tirana, then moves on to the Toptani monument and the Tirana Castle.
- It continues with Bunk’Art 1, the underground bunker of Enver Hoxha. It is a protective underground bunker of five levels and 3000 m2, the result of Enver Hoxha’s fear of nuclear fallout.
- Located on the outskirts of Tirana, the bunker extends five floors below the surface of Tirana and boasts a total of 106 rooms, all within an incredible space of 3000 m2.
- Taking the Tirana cable car, you will reach the highest mountain in the city, Mount Dajti, at 1613 meters, in 15 minutes.
- The trip provides a sort of summary of life in Albania and its history.
- The ruins of Dajti represent the oldest settlements in Tirana, dating back 10,000-30,000 years.
- This tour offers a breathtaking panoramic view of Tirana.
- Once at the top of the mountain you can enjoy the splendid panorama.
- Free lunch on Mount Dajti.
- After lunch, descent towards the Capital.
- Afternoon at leisure.
- At the end, free time at leisure.
- Farewell dinner.
Day 6: Tirana – Airport
- Breakfast at the hotel.
- Check-out.
- Free time for personal visits and shopping while waiting for the transfer to the airport for the return flight.
- N.B. The order of visits may be subject to changes due to technical practical problems or due to the weather or the arrival and departure flight times.
- Such changes may affect the general execution of the services.
- Optional excursions must be requested at least 24 hours in advance to the local guide and will always be subject to reconfirmation.
Price:
|
Hotel Used or Similar
|
Per Person in Double room
|
|---|---|
|
Tirana D’oro City 3*+
Or Berat Hotel Onufri 4* |
$ 1600
|
The prices per person in USD and include:
- Round trip economy class flights as per the lowest booking fare
- 5 Overnight stays in 3*+/4-star hotels with continental breakfast
- Individual or group transfers on arrival and departure in Tirana
- Local English-speaking guide for the entire itinerary
- 24-hour assistance
- Visits and transfers as per program in air-conditioned bus
- Local taxes
