Albania’s best: Nature and Culture

Arrive at your departure airport, ready for a flight* to Tirana, the capital city of Albania. Night on board.*If either your outbound or inbound flights depart in the early hours (before 4:00 a.m.) you must arrive at the airport the night before the indicated departure day.

Your adventure through Albania begins today! Upon arrival, you'll be transferred to your hotel and check-in. Enjoy your free time to relax or start exploring.Overnight stay in Tirana.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, you’ll be heading to Kruja, one of Albania’s most important historical cities for its resistance during the Ottoman invasions. Visit the Skanderbeg Museum, the castle, and the old bazaar.Later, return to Tirana for a guided tour of the city, exploring its history, architecture, and most iconic landmarks. Overnight stay in Tirana. Total transfer time: 50 miles approx.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, you’ll head to the historic city of Lezha to visit its hilltop castle, which offers panoramic views of the Adriatic coast and Bronze Age city walls. You’ll also visit the Skanderbeg Mausoleum, dedicated to Albania’s national hero, located in the former Saint Nicholas Cathedral. Enjoy lunch at Mrizi i Zanave, a renowned restaurant known for its traditional Albanian cuisine and surprise menu crafted from seasonal, locally sourced ingredients.Continue to Shkodra, passing through scenic mountain landscapes that mark the entrance to the Albanian Alps. Explore the historical center, stroll through the old bazaar and main square, and visit the Catholic cathedral and the city’s mosque. You’ll also ascend Rozafa Castle, where you can take in the views of Lake Shkodra and the rivers Drin, Buna, and Kir, surrounded by lush valleys. Overnight stay in Shkodra. Total transfer time: 65 miles approx.

Breakfast at the hotel. Continue your journey toward Durres, the oldest and most important port city in Albania, which played a key role in the Mediterranean during the Middle Ages. Explore the Roman Amphitheater, the largest in the region with a capacity of 20,000 spectators, built in the 2nd century. Then, visit the Byzantine Forum, the city walls, and the Roman baths.In the evening, head to Berat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, famously known as the city of a thousand windows. Visit the fortress, home to the Onufri Museum, and explore its ancient Orthodox churches, the Berat Mosque, and the Gorica Bridge, one of the city's oldest and most iconic landmarks. Overnight stay in Berat. Total transfer time: 124 miles approx.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, visit Ardenica Monastery, nestled in peaceful hills and known as the site of Skanderbeg’s wedding. Later, explore Apollonia, an ancient Roman city perched atop a hill. Wander through its evocative ruins, including the bouleuterion, medieval monastery, temples, columns, and stone roads that reflect its storied past.Finally, continue to the coastal city of Vlorë to admire its historic center, Independence Square, and the Independence Monument, commemorating Albania’s separation from the Ottoman Empire in 1912. Overnight stay at Vlorë. Total transfer time: 74 miles approx.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, you’ll head south, taking in the scenic views of the Bay of Vlorë, the surrounding mountains, and the Ionian coastline. Enjoy lunch in Ksamil, near Saranda, with free time to relax on the beach and admire the crystal-clear waters and nearby islands.In the afternoon, visit Butrint, Albania’s most important archaeological site, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore its acropolis, basilica, palace, and ruins, all set amid tranquil waters and lush vegetation. Overnight stay in Saranda. Total transfer time: 93 miles approx.

Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, you’ll head to Gjirokastër, with a stop at the Mesopotam Monastery, built over the ruins of an ancient fortress. Next, you’ll visit the Blue Eye National Park to admire its vibrant turquoise waters and lush surroundings.Once in Gjirokastër, the “City of Stone” for its unique stone architecture, traditional houses, and cobbled streets, you’ll take a city tour to explore the city, including the Castle, which holds the Arms Museum, and the Bazaar Mosque. Later, you’ll return to Tirana to enjoy the capital at your own pace. Overnight stay in Tirana. Total transfer time: 187 miles approx.