living albania

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Price From

2233€

Category

Experiences

Destinations

Southeastern Albania, Gjirokastër

Difficulty

T2

Duration

6 Days

Tour Type

Private Guided Tour

Trip Code

EXP02P

Why join this tour?

  • This is a private tour, just for you and your loved ones
  • Discover Gjirokastra – UNESCO World Heritage
  • Be guest of local shepherds and experience a life, long lost to the western world
  • Hike along ancient trade routes and immerse into the history and traditions of unknown regions of southern Albania
  • Engage in a unique local life experience: coffee prepared in a stone
  • Experience cooking with the locals
  • Undertake culinary discoveries during your entire journey
  • Meet the locals and be their guest
  • Enjoy the visit of the vibrant capital city – Tirana

The right tour for you?

  • This journey includes some easy hikes that don’t require previous hiking experience. However, we recommend you to bring suitable hiking shoes in order for you to enjoy the experiences to the fullest. Please read the packing list carefully and bring all essential items with you
  • We take care of the luggage transportation between the accommodations. We recommend you to pack smart as you will be required to carry your own luggage from the vehicle to your accommodation.
  • Some of the places you will visit may be hilly with cobblestone streets that become slippery if wet. Be careful and pack light.
  • Summer temperatures can be high. It is essential to use sun protection. Wear layers to combat the heat and drink plenty of water.
  • Most of the meals are organized from us and included in the price. Each of them represents a unique culinary experience. The guides will give you recommendations for the free meals.
  • On days 2 and 5 there is a fair amount of driving involved. We have planned them well, with many stops along the way, the vehicles are modern and air-conditioned. Please make sure you are comfortable spending up to 4 hours in the vehicle.
  • We are strongly committed towards responsible and sustainable travel. We please you to follow our guidelines regarding sustainability.
Day 1: Arriving to Tirana

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!

 

Day 2: Living like a shepherd in Çajup: T2, 3h, ↑300m, ↓300m, 3km

After breakfast we will depart from Tirana to start our journey towards the region of Zagori in the surrounding of Gjirokastra.
The field of Çajup lies at an altitude of 1200m, right in the middle of the mountains with the same name. The road is windy, and gains more than 1000m in altitude in an hour-long drive, but it will reward us with some spectacular views.
We will be guest of a local shepherd, who will show us how their ancestors lived throughout the millennia, and how they continue to live to this day. We will see how milk is turned into cheese or yoghurt, through some, to the western world long-lost techniques. Of course, you will also taste the fresh products during our traditional shepherd’s lunch.
But don’t eat yourself too full, because there is a hike planned as well. We will walk to the mountain ridgeline, from where the views on the valley of the river Drino are more than spectacular. After the walk, we will transfer to Gjirokastra, where dinner and accommodation are planned.
The price includes:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
• Accommodation in a 4-Star hotel in Gjirokastër
*Please see “Inclusions” section!

 

Day 3: Guided visit of Gjirokastra and experiences in the city of stone
Visit of the ancient site of Antigonea

After breakfast, you will get to experience another century – old tradition, the preparation of coffee on a rock. You will be part of the entire process: roasting in an oak wood fire, pressing on a carved limestone rock, boiling on the fire in a copper pot and serving with a spoonful of jam and a glass of Raki.
Then follows the visit of Gjirokastra. 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 the museum which lies inside it. Then follows a visit of a very special museum house which is a well-preserved representative of the past urban life of the region.
For lunch, we will be guests of a local family in the surroundings of Gjirokastra. The region is well known for the rich culinary tradition, which people have preserved and transmitted to the youngest.
In the afternoon we will visit the archaeological site of Antigonea. Founded in the 3rd century BC by the King Pyrrhus of Epirus. It has been one of the most important cities of its time.
After the visit, transfer to Gjirokastra, where the accommodation is planned.
The price includes:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Accommodation in a 4-Star hotel in Gjirokastër
*Please see “Inclusions” section!

 

Day 4: Hiking in the surroundings of Gjirokastra: T2, 2h, ↑200m, ↓250m, 7km

After breakfast, short transfer to the starting point of the hike at the village called Labovë of the Cross. There we will visit the church, which is known as one of the most important Byzantine monuments of the entire Balkans. It has an interesting architecture, decoration and an extraordinary story. Until the end of 80s, in the church was preserved a silver cross that was believed to contain a piece of the True Cross where Jesus Christ was crucified. This very rare relic in the Byzantine world, gave the village its name.
We will start the hike on a clearly visible but not marked path which mostly goes through meadows up to Libohovë. This path was part of the old pastoral trails used by the migrants travelling from Greece to the north.
Lunch is planned at a small local farm. This experience starts with the gathering of the vegetables from the back yard. After returning to the kitchen, the very ingredients you gathered from mother nature, will be cooked into a delicious meal, right in front of your eyes. Of course, after putting in all the effort, you will also get to taste the food, which is now doubly as delicious.
In the afternoon we will take a short transfer to the villages of Peshkëpi and Melan. In Peshkëpi, the village that lies on the border with Greece, is located the St Mary`s Church, one of the most important ones in the area. The church has constantly attracted visitors and researches attention because is one of the most popular and studied medieval monuments in Albania. It is also one of the oldest dome churches remaining in Albania.
From there the tour continues to the Tekke of Melan. The building of this center of the Bektashi Order just in the middle of an Orthodox region is a perfect example of the harmonious religious coexistence in Albania. After the visit, transfer to Gjirokastër, where the accommodation is planned.
The price includes:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Accommodation in a 4-Star hotel in Gjirokastër
*Please see “Inclusions” section!

 

Day 5: Tirana – The vibrant capital city of Albania

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!

 

Day 6: Departure

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

Accommodation:

During the entirety of this tour, you will be accommodated in carefully selected hotels.

The accommodation will be provided on a twin-share basis. The hotel rooms all have a private bathroom with a shower/bath and toilet. In rare occasions, the accommodation in hotels will be provided in triple rooms.

In all cases, we pair up solo travelers with other travelers of the same gender as per the gender marker on each of their passports.

 

Performance level:

Different easy hikes are planned during this tour. Our daily trips descriptions give detailed information about: terrain, technical difficulty, estimated walking times, ascent/descent in meters. We kindly ask you to read these very carefully and consider them while choosing this trip.

The given technical difficulty for each daily trip specifies in any case the maximum difficulty in the course of the corresponding trip. That does not necessarily mean that the whole day trip is technically that difficult.

 

Solo travelers:

The tour is suitable for solo travelers.

 

Luggage transportation:

We take care of the luggage transportation between the accommodations.

 

Transfers:

All transfers described in the itinerary are included in the price and will be organized by us.

 

Extensions:

If you wish to extend your journey by a few days, we are at your disposal to further organize your tour according to your wishes. All related services and costs are not included in the tour price and as such will be additionally calculated.

If you wish to start or end your tour from/to a different location, we can pick you up or drop you off against additional charge, enabling your participation in the travel.

 

Sustainability:

We are strongly committed towards responsible and sustainable travel.

We please our guests to follow our guidelines regarding sustainability:

• Respect the local people, their culture and environment.
• Support locally owned businesses, restaurants and other services: Eat local food and drink local brands and brews.
• Shop from traditional artisans and for locally made products. Favor local products over imported items. This helps in keeping traditional crafts alive. Even a small amount could be extremely important to local producers.
• Always ask first before photographing or videoing people. Send them back copies of photos to help make it a two-way exchange.
• We strongly recommend bringing reusable water bottles. In places where tap water is potable, this eliminates the usage of single-use plastic bottles entirely.
• Bring a water filter. This way you can drink tap water even in places where it is otherwise unsafe to do so.
• Bring a reusable straw in case you use them regularly.

Feel free to ask any questions you might have. Our staff and guides are trained and able to advise you in detail about our approach towards sustainability.

 

Health and Safety:
We are committed to ensuring your safety and well-being during your travels. Here’s a summary of some important health and safety aspects for your upcoming visit to Albania:
• Travel Safety: (USA, UK, Germany, France, Switzerland, etc.) Many governments provide travel advice for Albania, which includes safety and security, insurance, entry requirements, and legal differences. Please visit your government foreign office for advice for more information.
• Water Quality: Please note that tap water in many parts of Albania may not be safe to drink due to aging infrastructure. We recommend opting for bottled water.
• Food Safety: While enjoying the local cuisine during your free meals, we advise you to follow standard food safety guidelines. This includes ensuring your food is thoroughly cooked and consuming only pasteurized dairy products.
• Illegal drugs: Penalties for drug-related crimes are severe. Possession of illegal drugs could result in a prison sentence of 5 to 10 years. The penalty for supplying drugs is up to 15 years in prison. Cannabis possession and consumption is not legal, and the same penalties as for all other drugs apply.
• Climate: Please be aware that Albania has a mediterranean climate. It can get very hot in the summers, and rain showers can be intense. Please be prepared for all weather conditions.
Please note that this is a general overview, and the specific health and safety issues can vary depending on the exact location within Albania and the activities undertaken. We always recommend checking the latest updates before travelling to Albania.

Included in the price:
• All trips according to the program schedule
• Transport in a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle
• 5 nights’ accommodation in 4 Star hotels
• Meals as described in the program
• Water during the meals and for the hikes
• Entries and visits listed in the program
• Luggage transport between the accommodations
• Accompaniment by an English-speaking guide during the entire journey

Not included in the price:
• Transfer from and to the airport
• Any type of insurance
• Any beverages
• Other services not mentioned in the included section above or in the itinerary

Essential Equipment:
• Daypack
• Hiking boots (category B)
• Sweater/Jacket
• Waterproof jacket and trousers
• T-shirts/shirts
• Spare socks
• Reusable water bottles (at least 2 liters in total)
• Comfortable shoes for traveling and sightseeing
• Sunhat
• Sunscreen
• Sunglasses
• Blister bandages
• Any prescription medication you might need
• Passport or ID

 

Recommended Equipment:
• Water filter or alternative water purification system
• Reusable container for packed lunch
• Reusable straw
• Hydration system
• Slippers
• Personal first aid kit
• Insect repellent

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