Unveiling Albania: Self-Driven Adventure & Ancient Charms

Albania is still one of the least explored countries in Europe, though it has much to offer to the adventurous traveler. On this self-driven tour, you will get to dive deep in the country’s history as you explore its ancient sites and charming old towns. You will be dazzled by its beautiful nature as you drive through the magnificent Ceraunian Mountains or chill by the Albanian Riviera with its crystal clear blue water.

Highlights:

♦ Tirana – also known as Also known as the “colourful capital of Albania”

♦ Llogara – a scenic national park in the Ceraunian Mountains

♦ Blue Eye – a natural phenomenon, spring with clear blue water coming from a depth of more than 50 m.

♦ Berat – a declared museum city, also known as “the city of thousand windows”, UNESCO World Heritage Site

Itinerary:

Day 1. Tirana Airport - Tirana
Today a representative will be waiting for you at the airport and will take you to your hotel in Tirana. After your check in you can walk around and visit the main sites of Tirana like the Statue of Skanderbeg on the new Skanderbeg Square, the Et'hem Bey Mosque at the south east corner of Skanderbeg Square, The Clock Tower next to the Et'hem Bey Mosque and some of the government buildings at the south end of Skanderbeg Square. You can also visit the Pyramid of Tirana and the Blloku area, the area which was closed for the “normal” people during Communism and see the house of Enver Hoxha.

Day 2. Tirana - Durres - Berat
Your car will be dropped off at your hotel around 09:00. After you checked the car you get the keys and you can start driving towards Berat, but before you arrive here you can make a quick stop in Durres to visit the amphitheater. After this stop you can continue to Berat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city is also known as “the city of thousand windows”. After the check in into the hotel you can have a walk in the neighbourhood called “Mangalem” and continue to the Castle and the Onufri museum. People are still living within the walls of the castle, just like their ancestors did. Onufri was an Albanian Icon master painter of the 16th century who painted many orthodox churches in Albania and Greece. (2 hours driving time)

Day 3. Berat - Ardenica - Apollonia - Vlora
After breakfast there will be some time to stroll along the streets of Berat before heading to Vlora, but before you arrive here, you can pay a visit to Ardenica, which is an Orthodox monastery built in the 13th century. It is thought that it was in this idyllic place that the marriage of the Albanian national hero Scanderbeg was celebrated in the 15th century. After Ardenica you can make a stop at in Apollonia, situated on the famous Via Egnatia. Apollonia was founded at the beginning of the 7th century BC by the Greek colonists and in Roman times, it was a large and flourishing city (with 50.000 residents in the second century BC) near Aos river (today Vjosa). The monastery (which houses the museum) courtyard enclosed a Byzantine church dating back to the 14th century. From here it is around one hour to the coastal town of Vlora. (2-3 hours driving time)

Day 4. Vlora - Llogara National Park - Himara - Porto Palermo - Saranda
This day you will only be driving along the Albanian Riviera overlooking the Ionian Sea to Saranda. After around 45 minutes you will have a stop to enjoy the view from the Llogara Pass. From here you drive to the villages of Dhermi and Himara where you can enjoy a coffee or a lunch break and dive into the crystal clear waters. After this you can continue to Porto Palermo, where the Ali Pasha Castle stands like a barrier in front of the blue rocky sea as a protection for the country. The bay of Porto Palermo once served as an important secret submarine base during the regime days. The semi abandoned base and the tunnel are still visible. From here it is around 60 minutes to your hotel in Saranda. (2,5 hours driving time)

Day 5. Saranda - Butrint - Ksamil - Blue Eye Spring - Gjirokastra
After breakfast you can depart for Gjirokastra, but before you arrive here you will visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Butrint. The city was founded by the Trojans during the first millennium BC and was continuously inhabited for centuries. After this you can make a stop at the Islands of Ksamil to enjoy a coffee (or lunch) overlooking the islands and the Greek island of Corfu. After this break you will drive to the blue eye spring, formed by underground springs and from here it is around 45 minutes to the UNESCO town of Gjirokastra, and is said to be one of the most beautiful historical towns in Albania and known as “museum city”. Here you can visit the biggest fortress in Albania, built during the 4th century and house of the National Museum of Weapons. You can also pay a visit to the Ethnographic Museum, which is located in the house where the Albanian dictator (Enver Hoxha) was born. (2 hours driving time)

Day 6. Gjirokastra - Tirana
Today you have the whole morning to walk around the streets of Gjirokastra where you can visit the places which you didn’t visit the day before (also possible to visit the house of Skenduli in front of the Ethnographic Museum and the nuclear bunker of Hoxha under the castle) and enjoy the tranquility of the old town of this city. After these visits you can drive back to the capital of Tirana, around 3-4 hours away. (4 hours driving time)

Day 7: Tirana - Tirana Airport
Depending on your departure time you have time to walk around Tirana before driving to the airport.

Price Includes:
Transfer from the airport to your hotel in Tirana on day 1
Rental car from day 2 until day 7
accommodation in standard hotels (B&B)

Not Included:
Entrance fees
food and drinks not mentioned in the program

Additional Services:
Price for single traveler: on request

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