Welcome to Tirana. Your hotel is located in the downtown. There are plenty of attractions, cafes and bars to keep you busy. Founded in 1614, Tirana became the capital of Albania in 1920 and is the main cultural and industrial center of Albania. The city boulevards are marked with fascinating relics of the Ottoman, Italian and communist past.
In the evening, you can have a drink at one of the numerous cafes or trendy bars of the “Blloku” district. The most animated quarter of the city lies at the place where before the democratic changes it was not allowed for the public to enter as it was inhabited only by the higher leadership.
The price includes:
• Accommodation in a 4-Star hotel in Tirana
*Please see “Inclusions” section!

The day starts with the transfer to Berat, one of the main attractions of the country. It has a more than 2400-year-old history and is a wonderful combination of eastern and western cultures, costumes, traditions. The city’s life began as an Illyrian settlement. Later, in the 3rd century B.C., it was turned into a castle city known as Antipatrea. During feudalism churches with precious frescos and icons were built inside the castle. Today, the castle is made unique by the fact that people continue to live inside. In 2008, the old town of Berat was added to the UNESCO list of world heritage sites. We will visit the castle and the old neighborhood of the city.
After lunch in a traditional restaurant is planned the visit of the Onufri Museum, displaying works of the most important Albanian icon painter with the same name. In the evening you will have some free time to enjoy the city on your own. Accommodation in Berat.
The price includes:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Accommodation in a 4-Star hotel in Berat
*Please see “Inclusions” section!

After breakfast starts the journey to Pogradec, the town that lies on the shores of Ohrid Lake. Here, we will have a short coffee break at one of the bars by the lake promenade. Then we will be transferred to Korça.
Situated on the side of the Morava Mountain, 896 meters above the sea level, Korça is the largest city in the South-Eastern part of Albania. It is built on an Illyrian settlement. In the 15th century the city developed as an artisan and trading center and in the second half of the 19th century it became one of the biggest economic, commercial and cultural centers of the country.
After some free time to have lunch, follows a guided walk through the traditional market. It used to be a trading market not only for domestic goods but also for imported items originally from Turkey, Greece, Trieste and Venice. The market has been burned three times and reconstructed each time.
We will visit the National Museum of Medieval Art. It is one of the most important museums with about 7500 objects, of which 6000 are icons dating from the 13th-14th Century, while other 5th-6th century objects are made of stone, wood, textile, silver and metal.
The discovery of the city ends with the visit of the Cathedral of “Christ Resurrection”. Constructed in 1992, the modern Albanian Orthodox cathedral is the largest in Albania and the second largest in the Balkans. Dinner and accommodation in Korça.
The price includes:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
• Accommodation in a 4-Star hotel in Korçë
*Please see “Inclusions” section!

Today we will travel towards Meteora, an area in Thessaly Region. Many centuries ago, in Meteora was established one of the most important monastic communities of Greece. The monasteries are built on natural sandstone pillars, more than 600 meters high, and seem like a continuance and a natural ending of the rocks.
Today only six monasteries are active with a small number of monks or nuns who reside there. In 1988, the Meteora monasteries have been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
After some time to settle in your hotel and to have lunch, starts the visit of the site. We will visit three main monasteries, and learn the history of the site from a local’s perspective. Enough time for photos is planned as well.
Dinner and accommodation are planned in Kalabaka Village, at the feet of Meteora rock formations.
The price includes:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
• Accommodation in a 3-Star hotel in Kalabaka
*Please see “Inclusions” section!

After breakfast starts the journey towards Ioannina. The first indications of human existence in the regional unit of Ioannina are dated back to the Paleolithic period (38,000 years ago). Here the visit of the Fortress (which was the heart of the Despotate of Epirus, and the Ottoman vilayet) along with the visits of the Fethiye Mosque, Municipal Ethnographic Museum are planned. After the lunch break, we will visit the Historic Centre of Ioannina with its small traditional shops and houses.
In the late afternoon we will travel towards Gjirokastra, in Albania, where dinner and accommodation are provided.
The price includes:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
• Accommodation in a 4-Star hotel in Gjirokastër
*Please see “Inclusions” section!

Gjirokastra is an outstanding example of an Ottoman merchant town and one of the few still surviving in the Balkans. We will visit the castle and a very special museum house which is a well-preserved representative of the past urban life of the region. After the visit, is planned some free time to explore the city on your own.
In the afternoon you will participate in a unique experience: the centuries – old traditional ceremony of the coffee made in stone. You will be part of the entire process: roasted in fire which is lit with oak wood, pressed on a carved limestone, boiled on the fire in a copper pot and served on the mahogany with a sprig of marjoram.
In the late afternoon transfer to Saranda, where the accommodation is provided.
The price includes:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Accommodation in a 4-Star hotel in Sarandë
*Please see “Inclusions” section!

After breakfast, transfer to Butrint, the most important archaeological site of Albania, an UNESCO World Heritage. Butrint is known since the 7th century B.C. as the most important city of Epirus. Its building is linked to the presence of the Trojan prince Aeneas.
Then we will get in the vehicle for the transfer along the Ionian Coast.
The Albanian Ionian Coast runs from Vlora to Saranda, in the south. The coast line is famous for its small bays, pebbly beaches and crystal-clear waters. Since ancient times, the Albanian Coast has seen different cultural influences come and go, leaving behind a host of archaeological and historical treasures, such as ancient sites, Roman or Greek cities, hillside castles and fortresses, walled towns, monasteries, churches, mosques, and other interesting jewels.
After a one-hour drive we will reach the Bay of Porto Palermo. Apart from its natural beauty, the Bay is known as an important military base during the cold war. From the road you can see the tunnels where Albanian military submarines were moored. During the communist years, it was forbidden to walk or even to be in this area without permission. On a peninsula, just in the middle of the Porto Palermo Bay lie the ruins of the fortress of Ali Pasha, which has a long and very interesting history. There is a spectacular and rare view of the coast from its walls.
The next stop is planned in Himara, where after a short walk uphill, we will visit the ruins of the old village. The views over the coast from there are magnificent.
From there the journey continues towards Dhërmi. The old village is set on the mountain and is one of the oldest and most characteristic villages on the Ionian Coast, with its stone, mountain houses nestling happily with historical monuments. Accommodation in Dhërmi.
The price includes:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Accommodation in a 3-Star hotel in Dhërmi
*Please see “Inclusions” section!

After breakfast, we will begin the return trip to Tirana. Founded in 1614, Tirana became the capital of Albania in 1920 and is the main cultural and industrial centre of Albania. The city boulevards are marked with fascinating relics of the Ottoman, Italian and communist past.
Tirana has changed incredibly in the last twenty years, from the dull, grey city it once was. Tirana is a city where fun is guaranteed: lively, loud, crazy, colourful, simply fascinating.
After some free time to rest in Tirana, we will start the guided tour of the city and its main attractions.
The farewell dinner will be provided in a restaurant not too far from your hotel.
In the evening, you can go out and enjoy a drink at one of the numerous cafes or trendy bars of the “Blloku” district. The most animated quarter of the city lies at the place where before the democratic changes it was not allowed for the public to enter as it was inhabited only by the higher leadership.
The price includes:
• Breakfast
• Farewell dinner in a traditional restaurant in Tirana
• Accommodation in a 4-Star hotel in Tirana
*Please see “Inclusions” section!

After breakfast at your hotel, it is time to say goodbye to Albania.
The price includes:
• Breakfast
*Please see “Inclusions” section!