Penguin Travel

Small, unknown and hidden in the heart of the Balkans, Macedonia and Albania offer visitors a unique blend of natural wonders, traditions, culture and hospitable people. Virgin beaches, mountains and lakes, churches and chapels, remains of ancient civilizations, breathtaking gorges and diverse wildlife are all available now to tour ists willing to enjoy this roundtrip in two of the economically poorest European countries. Our tour in Albania has no constant route. As infrastructure here is in a process of changes all the time we may be forced to react the bad roads by making slight alterations in the program. The accommodation facilities are also being developed in order to meet the requirements of tourists, but at this stage it may be still rather basic.

Tour Highlights:

• Skopje’s varied architecture and its mix of culture • The sublime lakeside town Ohrid – the culmination of the Macedonian experience • Lake Ohrid - a UNESCO World Cultural and Natural heritage Site in 1980 • One of the most attractive towns in Albania Gjirokastra - home of the biggest castle in Albania • The Butrint National Park which contains one of the Balkans’ largest and most romantic excavated ancient cities • Apolonia - a vital stronghold for Caesar in the civil war between Pompey and Julius Caesar  • Dures - the most ancient city of Albania, an important Byzantine port In the Middle Ages.

Download our trip-dossier as PDF

Departure dates:
05 April 2010
17 July 2010
04 September 2010

Price without flight ticket:    800 EUR

Additional price information:   Price for single supplement 95 EUR

Trip plan:
Day 1: After arrival in Skopje we may have some time for sightseeing. A short climb up to the Kale Fortress is well rewarded; from this hilltop where Skopje’s masters ruled for centuries one enjoys a commanding view of the city and its environs. Overnight on Skopje. /+dinner/
Day 2: In the morning we will have transfer to the town of Ohrid (3 h). located in a valley between the mountains and the transparent waters of the blue Macedonian pearl – Ohrid Lake. We will take a walk down the city streets. Overnight in Ohrid. /+breakfast+dinner/
Day 3: Ohrid Lake is no doubt one of the special highlights of Ohrid. Only Lake Ohrid, Lake Tanganyka, Lake Caspi, and Lake Baikal are believed to have been formed during the Tertiary Period some 2-4 million years ago, and hence these lakes are characterized by unique flora and fauna distinct to that period. We will have a tour by lake in the morning, where the St. Naum church is also located. As with most Byzantine churches, St. Naum was chosen primarily for its location – on a high, rocky outcropping over the lake, above deep forests and the life-giving springs of the Crn Drim. The monastic complex and church of St. Naum were built originally at the turn of the tenth century by the monk of the same name; Macedonians believe you can hear the saint’s heartbeat by pressing an ear to his stone coffin inside the church. After a short transfer by the lake we cross the Macedonian/Albanian border. Crop fields welcome us in Albania before the road starts to go up in the mountains to the military base Erseka and afterwards to Barmasi pass (1757 m a.s.l.). We stop here to enjoy the view towards the Gramos Mountains, which are on the other hand the border with Greece. Our next stop is Permet, situated in the heart of the mountains in the valley of Vjosa River. Wildlife, that has been extinct in many other European countries is still presented here – wolves, bears and not the least the elusive lynx. In Permet we will visit the Leusa church (from the 11th century) before taking a short walk through the neighbouring hills. Overnight in Permet. /+breakfast+dinner/
Day 4: In the morning we leave Permet. The road goes through vineyards situated along the Vjosa River. The wine produced in this region is considered  the best in the whole Albania. Our road continues to a gorge, where the Vjosa River has hollowed out very interesting rock formations and holes on its way to the Adriatic Sea. We are now in Mali Gjere Mountains – one of the most impressive places in Albania. The Karst substrate here is a prerequisite for the existence of many interesting and rare plant species that occur here. On our way to we will visit the mineral springs of Beija before continuing further to Gjirokastra - probably the most traditional city in Albania. The last stop for the day is Sarande. The first impression of the town is its international atmosphere, unlike most of the other Albanian settlements. Overnight in Sarande. /+breakfast+dinner/
Day 5: A 20 minute drive from Sarande lies the ancient historical town of Butrinti, home to the Butrint National Park, one of the least known and least spoilt great classical sites of the Mediterranean. After having a walk in the town we continue to Vlore (Vlora) along the coast of the Adriatic Sea – this is one of the most attractive routes in Albania. The road goes through olive and citrus gardens up in the mountains, offering tourists a gorgeous view to the lowlands. When we get in the mountains we enter the Llogora National Park. With its amazing Karst slopes, entering directly the Adriatic Sea and covered with coniferous trees, this place is a house of exceptionally reach flora and fauna. Overnight in Llogora. /+breakfast+dinner/
Day 6: After breakfast we visit Vlora and then continue our drive to one of the highlights of the trip – Apolonia. In 585 BC Corinthians established the town of Apolonia, which was made afterwards a centre for trade with slaves. From this point the tour continues to Berat. The 2000 year old town of Berat is one of the oldest and most beautiful towns of Albania. The numerous houses set on the slopes of the mountains like chemists’ bottles were the reason the town to be named “the town of the thousand windows”. Here we visit the fortress of Berat and one of the seven churches St. Onufri, famous for its frescoes and icons. Overnight in Berat. /+breakfast+dinner/
Day 7: In the morning we visit the local Ethnographic Museum before heading further to Dures. After short sightseeing trip we have a transfer to Tirana. Overnight in Tirana. /+breakfast+dinner/
Day 8: Sightseeing trip in Tirana (if time available) and transfer to the airport for departure. /+breakfast/

Accomodation and food:   We stay in tourist class hotels 6 nights and in a pension in Ohrid for 1 night. All rooms are with en-suite facilities. Meal plan is based on HB (breakfast and dinner included). English speaking guide is available throughout the trip. The price includes also all ground transfers mentioned in the program and all entrance fees.

Included in the price:   All ground transportation, accommodation and boarding as mentioned above, english speaking guide, entrance fees

Excluded from the price:   Drinks, tips, personal expenses

Recommended travel period of the year:   June - September

 

Tour difficulty:   A 

No special experience is needed; everyone who is in condition to cope with long Saturday walks in the forest can also cope with these tours. As a rule, the trips are short and at a low altitude. Often, it is your choice to join or skip a day-tour. The routes follow a hilly terrain without steep ascents and descents. Normally we walk 3/5h a day.

Group Size:   Min. 6 persons

Vacation Extensions:
Best of Bulgaria, roundtrip
The Land Of Count Dracula (Romania)
Sozopol (Bulgaria)
Lozenets (Bulgaria)
Nessebar (Bulgaria)

Reservation System Code: ALBANIA

Gallery

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
•