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 journey towards northern Albania. The first stop is planned in Kruja. The city lies on a mountain 600m above sea level and has a very ancient history.
It was the capital of Albanopolis inhabited by the Illyrian tribes of Albans, was the capital of the principality of Arber, is the city where the history of Skanderbeg began. The city resisted different Ottoman attacks and fell under Ottoman rule only after the death of Skanderbeg.
The city is rich in monuments of culture and ethnography.
The castle of Kruja is situated on a hill and the views from there are magnificent. The construction of the castle dates at VI – VII century and is rebuilt from the Byzantines and later on from the Ottomans.
After a walk through the traditional handicrafts market built around 400 years ago, we will continue the journey towards Shkodra.
On the way, near the village called Fishtë, we will have lunch in a traditional restaurant, known for the bio and homemade food.
Shkodra has an over 2400-year history and is one of the oldest inhabited cities of Albania. A short walk uphill to Rozafa Castle is planned. Its origins date back to pre-Roman times of the Illyrians.
After the visit of Shkodra, the journey continues towards Budva in Montenegro, where the accommodation is provided.
The price includes:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Accommodation in a 3-Star hotel in Budva
*Please see “Inclusions” section!

After breakfast, starts the visit of the ancient town of Budva. According to the legend, the city was founded by Cadmus, son of Agenor, a Phoenician king.
A guided walk around the historic center is planned. It lies inside the 15th Century fortress surrounded by imposing walls and towers. After the serious damages caused by the earthquake of 1979, the old city is rebuilt in Venetian-inspired style.
Then we will be transferred to the town of Kotor, which lies at the foot of the Mount Lovcen. The construction work on the ancient fortification walls started in the Middle Ages, in 1420 when Kotor was at the height of its splendor, and was only finished in the 18th century.
After the guided walk through the old town, surrounded by 15m high and 4,5km long walls, we will visit the Cathedral of St. Tryphon, built in 1166, and admire the Romanesque architecture enhanced by Byzantine elements.
After some free time to have lunch, transfer to the picturesque Perast, a quiet Baroque town with magnificent 17th and 18th century buildings.
From Perast we will start a short boat trip through the bay of Kotor to the island of “Our Lady of the Rocks”. According to the legend, the island was built by the locals over the centuries using stones and parts of sunken ships. There we will visit the Sanctuary of the Madonna of the Rocks.
In the late afternoon, transfer to Cetinje, the historic capital of Montenegro, and from there to Podgorica, where dinner and accommodation are provided.
The price includes:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
• Accommodation in a 4-Star hotel in Podgorica
*Please see “Inclusions” section!

The day starts with the scenic drive from Podgorica to Rozaje border crossing point, from where you will enter Kosovo. In Kosovo, a short photo stop is planned at the Drin Waterfall.
After lunch in Peja follows the visit of the Decani Monastery – UNESCO World Heritage. It was built between 1327 and 1335 and is the largest and best preserved medieval Serbian monastery. Today a young brotherhood lives in the monastery continuing the centuries old tradition of the past.
Transfer to Gjakova. The city tour will give you a taste of Gjakova and will include a visit to the reconstructed bazaar which dates back to the 16th Century and one of the finest showcasing local handicrafts.
Dinner and accommodation are provided at a traditional hotel, where you can enjoy your stay in a very special atmosphere.
The price includes:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
• Accommodation in a 3-Star hotel in Gjakovë
*Please see “Inclusions” section!

Transfer to Prizren, where a walk on the stone bridge built in 1534 and the visit of Sinan Pasha Mosque are planned. An important historical monument of Prizren is the “Albanian League of Prizren Museum”, the place where Albanian patriots gathered on 10 June 1878 to start the political, military and cultural struggle against the Ottoman Empire.
Prizren is also famous for the ancient handicraft of filigree which uses fine thread, mostly silver and gold, to produce astonishingly intricate and beautiful, lace-like works of art.
After lunch in a traditional restaurant in the Sharri mountains, transfer to Prishtina, the capital of Kosovo.
We will visit the Battle of Kosovo monument, dedicated to the battle of 1389 between the Balkan Alliance forces and the Ottoman army. The journey continues towards Gracanica to visit the superb Orthodox Church founded by the Serbian king Stefan Milutin in 1321, a triumph of Byzantine architecture and part of the Kosovo Medieval Monuments protected by UNESCO. The activities of the day end with the visit of the ancient remains of Ulpiana, a Roman town in the province of Dardania, also known as “Justiniana Secunda”, which is a testimony of Kosovo’s ancient civilization. Accommodation in Pristina.
The price includes:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Accommodation in a 4-Star hotel in Prishtinë
*Please see “Inclusions” section!

The day starts with a guided tour of the capital city of Kosovo: We will visit the Fatih Mosque, dating back to 1461. Its huge ceiling domed cupola crowns a splendidly painted floral interior of Arabesque design.
After the visit and some free time for lunch starts the journey towards Tirana, where dinner and accommodation are provided.
The price includes:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
• Accommodation in a 4-Star hotel in Tirana
*Please see “Inclusions” section!

After breakfast at the hotel, we will have a visit of Tirana and its main attractions.
Then you will have some free time to enjoy the city in your own and to grab an early lunch, before the journey continues in the direction of Apollonia, where we will visit the archaeological site. The city was originally founded in 588 BC as a Corinthian colony and was named after the God Apollo. It is estimated that the city had about 60,000 inhabitants, a record for ancient times.
In the late afternoon, transfer to Berati, where dinner and the accommodation are provided.
The price includes:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
• Accommodation in a 4-Star hotel in Berat
*Please see “Inclusions” section!

The day starts with the visit of the old city of Berati, a short walk uphill to the castle and the visit of the Onufri Museum.
Berati is a 2407 years old city that forms a wonderful combination of eastern and western cultures, costumes, traditions. The city’s life began as an Illyrian settlement and today, the castle is made unique by the fact that people continue to live inside of it.
Then follows the transfer to Gjirokastra, another UNESCO World Heritage.
It 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. Accommodation in Gjirokastër.
The price includes:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Accommodation in a 4-Star hotel in Gjirokastër
*Please see “Inclusions” section!

After breakfast transfer to Butrinti to visit the site. It is astonishing how the landscape changes as we travel in the direction of the Ionian coast. After only few miles the dwellings of past pastoral communities and traditional medieval villages, leave their place to the characteristic Mediterranean villages set into the mountain sides with their stone houses nestling happily with historical monuments.
Butrinti 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.
After the visit, starts the scenic drive along the Ionian Coast.
The first stop is planned at the Porto Palermo Bay. Apart from its natural beauty, it was also 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 enter the area without special permission.
In the middle of the bay, on a peninsula connected by a narrow rock strip, lies the 19th century castle of Ali Pasha, which we will visit. It is a good example of traditional, Ottoman military architecture. There is a spectacular and rare view of the coast from the castle walls.
The journey continues towards Himara, a village situated on a hill which overlooks the entire bay. Himara has a long history. At around 214B.C, the first Greek colonists arrived, probably from Corfu, founding the city. An interesting fact is that even throughout Ottoman rule, it remained an important Christian center. The old Himara had been built as a fortress for the Epirus tribe of Kaons and is an important part of the long history of the Himara people to be safe and independent. Transfer to Dhërmi, where the accommodation is provided.
The price includes:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Accommodation in a 3-Star hotel in Dhërmi
*Please see “Inclusions” section!

Today the scenic drive continues in the direction of Llogara National Park. The road winds along the Çika mountain slopes accompanied by the magnificent views of the Ceraunian Mountains. They lie parallel to the coast, starting from Saranda up to Orikum and reach their highest altitude with Çika Mountain (2045m). The mountain drops down to the Ionian Sea with an altitude difference of more than 2000 meters.
Llogara National Park is one of the most amazing places of Albania. With an area of 1020ha, it is covered in everlasting greenery. An amazing part of this geo-park is the “Balcony” in Llogara pass, at the height of 1050m, from where the views over the Albanian Riviera and the island of Corfu are breath-taking.
After a photo break we will be transferred to Vlora, where a guided visit of the city and lunch are planned.
In afternoon, transfer to Tirana, where the accommodation is provided.
The price includes:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Accommodation in a 4-Star hotel in Tirana
*Please see “Inclusions” section!

After breakfast, we will drive to the Bunk’Art museum, built inside the nuclear bunker of Enver Hoxha. It contains video installations, sounds, lights, images, objects and digital equipment to recreate a historical journey of emotional content.
Then we will take the cable car to the Dajti mountain, part of Dajti National Park. The Dajti mountain is part of Krujë-Dajt mountain range, which rises abruptly from the coastal plain and is cut by deep river valleys. From the cable car terminal there’s a magnificent view over Tirana, Durrës and the whole central-west Albania up to the Adriatic Sea. Here we will have lunch at a traditional restaurant.
In the afternoon you will have some free time to enjoy Tirana on your own.
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!