What To Expect
Day 1: Tirana / Berat
Arrival at Tirana Airport. Meet with the guide and depart for Berat, followed by free time for lunch. Berat is known as the “city of a thousand windows,” divided into the “upper city,” dating back to the 14th century and rich in Byzantine churches, and the “lower city,” adorned with numerous ancient mosques. Its famous neighborhoods include the Castle, Mangalem, and Gorica. Even today, more than a thousand families live within the castle’s walls. Countless points of interest can be found in and around the fortress, including paleo-Christian churches, the Cathedral of Saint Mary, and several mosques built between the 14th and 16th centuries. Return to Tirana. Free time. Overnight in hotel.
Day 2: Tirana
Breakfast at the hotel. Guided tour of Tirana, including a visit to Bunk’Art. Continue to Mount Dajti. Lunch at a restaurant inside the beautiful Dajti National Park. Return to Tirana. Free time. Overnight stay.
Day 3: Tirana / Apollonia / Vlora / Durres / Tirana
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure for the archaeological site of Apollonia, founded in 588 BC in an area inhabited by Illyrian tribes. The city flourished during the Roman period and became home to a renowned school of philosophy. Its decline began in the 3rd century AD when, among other factors, an earthquake destroyed its port. Cicero, the famous Roman orator, was fascinated by the city’s beauty, describing it in his Philippics as “magna urbs et gravis,” meaning a large and important city. Archaeological excavations show that Apollonia reached its peak between the 4th century BC and the 3rd century AD; sources depict a vibrant culture and a very active port during its golden age, and the city even had its own mint, with coins found as far as the Danube. Continue to Vlora for a city visit. On the way back, stop in Durres, the largest port in Albania. Return to Tirana.
Day 4: Tirana / Shkoder / Tirana
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure for Shkoder, located on the shores of the lake with the same name. Visit the ancient city, inhabited since the Bronze Age and, like other Albanian cities, composed of several layers of construction (Illyrian, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman periods). Stop at the city’s Cathedral. Shkoder is the spiritual center of Albania’s Catholic Church and the city that most warmly welcomed Pope Francis during his recent visit. Enjoy a walk through the pedestrian area of Rruga Kol Idromeno; recently restored, this charming district with its delightful two-story houses and lively cafés is the locals’ favorite place for an evening stroll, known in Albanian as “xhiro.” Return to Tirana. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 5: Kruja / Airport / Departure
Late breakfast at the hotel. Depart for the historic town of Kruja, located northeast of Tirana at 560 meters above sea level. Kruja has been inhabited since the 3rd century BC and was first recorded as a Christian religious center in the year 879. The famous English painter Edward Lear, who visited Kruja in 1848, wrote: “Kruja, a charming little town resting in the sky.” Visit the castle, its traditional Ottoman bazaar, the Skanderbeg Museum, and the Ethnographic Museum. Free time. Lunch in Kruja with live music performed by a local folk group. Transfer to the airport for your departure flight.
