Local Food & UNESCO Heritage tour | 7 Days

Day 1: Travel Day & Tirana

Stop At: Tirana, Tirana, Tirana County
Airport pick-up service available throughout the day (included). Welcome to Albania!

Welcome to Albania!
Transfer to Tirana and settle in to your hotel. For those of you not too tired, there is a guided walking tour of the city center, including Skanderbeg Square, Et’hem Bey Mosque, the Pyramid and the Blloku area.

Then, meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers at tonight’s welcome dinner.

Meals included:
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in Tirana, a 3-star Hotel

Day 2: Kruja, Preza Castle & Durres

Stop At: Kruje, Kruje, Durres County
We start our journey from Tirana, directly to the city of Kruja.

Set off on a guided tour of Dollma Bektashi Teqe , the surroundings and the Castle itself, the Skanderbeg Museum and the National Ethnographic Museum.
You will have free time to wander around the Old Bazaar, with beautiful cobblestone alleys and lovely old architecture.
Duration: 3 hours

Pass By: Preze, Preze, Tirana County
Now we head for lunch in a restaurant in Preza Castle, with a tremendous view of the city and valley of Tirana and Kruja and Tirana International Airport. ( Fresh ingredients guaranteed ).

Stop At: Durres, Durres, Durres County
After lunch, we travel to Durrës for our last “digestive” stop.
Set off on a guided tour of the City Walls, Byzantine Forum, Roman Thermal Baths, the Venetian Tower and the Amphitheater and enjoy the city’s street art around the ancient ruins.
Duration: 2 hours

Pass By: Berat, Berat, Berat County
Transfer to Berat passing through striking hills full of olive trees. Get settled in the hotel and enjoy a free evening in the city of “A Thousand and one windows”.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight in Berat, a 3-star Hotel

Day 3: Walking Tour & Wine Tasting in Berat (UNESCO)

Stop At: Berat Castle, Rruga Mihal Komnena, Berat 5001 Albania
This morning set out for a walking guide through the Unesco – recognized old town with our local guide.

Admire the White Mosque, the Holy Trinity Church, Gorica Bridge and the Berati citadel/castle.
Step in the Onufri National Iconographic Museum, built in 1986. The Museum’s name honours the Albanian master painter of the 16th century, Onufri, who is responsible for a rich legacy of iconography in the country. The museum contains an immense collection of one-hundred and seventy-three select objects from Albanian churches and monasteries.
Head for lunch in a local restaurant facing the city.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Kantina e Veres Alpeta., Berat 4002 Albania
This afternoon, head to Roshnik wine region and visit Alpeta Winery.

The tour of the facilities includes a complete view of the process of vinification and detailed explanations by a member of the family. Follow him on a short walk through the vineyard to see "Pules" and "Merlot" grapes that are used to create the winery’s signature red and white wines.
After the visit to the cellar and vineyard, sampe some of the wines and raki, and exchange stories with a member of the Alpeta family while enjoying a variety of homemade Albanian cheeses and locally grown olives.
Return in Berat for a free evening.
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight in Berat, a 3-star Hotel

Day 4: Sightseeing tour of Gjirokaster (UNESCO)

Pass By: Gjirokaster, Gjirokaster, Gjirokaster County
Transfer to Gjirokaster to discover the city of “a thousand steps”, driving through small villages.

Get settled in the hotel and head out for lunch in a small, local restaurant for a taste of the city’s authentic dishes.

Stop At: Skenduli House, Rruga Sokaku i Te Mareve, Gjirokaster Albania
Step into Skenduli house, the nicest Ottoman tower house and listen to its history and details from the 10th generation of Skenduli family.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Gjirokaster Castle, Gjirokaster Albania
Soak up to the rich history of the castle and enjoy the view of the “city of stone” from above.
Duration: 1 hour

Pass By: Gjirokastra Bazaar, Old town, Gjirokaster Albania
Pass by the Ottoman Bazaar and historic wooden houses and visit Gjirokastra Obelisk dedicated to the first school of Gjirokastra and enjoy the 360º view from there.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight in Gjirokastra, a 3-star Hotel

Day 5: Typical food from Rural Gjirokastra

Stop At: Gjirokaster County, Gjirokaster County
Drive to a village close to Gjirokaster and experience a day in an Albanian countryside cottage.

Step inside and learn about food, life and traditions of an Albanian family. Start cooking with three generation of Albanian ladies or drink raki with cheese and olives with “Grandpa” and listen to Commie stories.
In the evening, transfer back to the city but not without visiting a bunker on the road. Enter and see what it feels like inside a Communist thick, concrete bunker.
Duration: 5 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight in Gjirokastra, a 3-star Hotel

Day 6: Blue Eye Spring & Butrint National Park (UNESCO)

Stop At: The Blue Eye, Vlore 9706 Albania
Travel to the Blue Eye and marvel at the spring’s shades of blue and nature around it.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Butrint National Park, SH81, Butrint Albania
Set off on a guided tour of Butrint National Park where a local guide explains 2500 years of history embedded in the Amphitheater, the castle, the churches and the Lion Gate.
Duration: 2 hours

Pass By: Ksamil, Ksamil, Saranda, Vlore County
Drive to Ksamil and enjoy a treat of a lunch at The Mussel House.

Stop At: Saranda, Saranda, Vlore County
On the way to Saranda, stop for coffee-break Lekursi Castle for a view from above of the city of Saranda.
Get settled in the hotel and enjoy free evening in this typical seaside city.
Duration: 30 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight in Himara, a 3-star Hotel

Day 7: Vlore via Porto Palermo & Llogara National Park

Stop At: Ali Pasha Castle, Sh8 Porto Palermo, Porto Palermo Beach, Vlore Albania
En route to the city of Vlore, explore the Ali Pasha Castle with your Tour Director

Marvel at the architecture and listen to entertaining legends about the man who build it, Ali Pashe Tepelena.
Duration: 1 hour

Pass By: Llogara National Park, Llogara National Park, Vlore County
Stop at Llogara “balcony” for a stunning view from above of the South Coast beaches and then head for lunch to Llogara National Park freshened by the mountain breeze and pine trees.

Stop At: Vlore, Vlore, Vlore County
Visit the city of Vlore in the afternoon, hometown to the National Independence movement.

Visit the Flag Square with its Independence Monument right in the center, the Muradie Mosque and Vlore Lungomare.
Transfer to Tirana and get settled in the hotel.
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight in Himara, a 3-star Hotel

Day 8: Departure Day

Pass By: Tirana, Tirana, Tirana County
Please note that the airport drop off is not included on tour. If you want to include this service, you can book it during the process of reservation.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.

Departure Point :

Traveler pickup is offered
Tirana City Center ( Airport/Hotel Pickup) TiranaDurres City Center ( Hotel Pickup) DurresAirports

• Rinas Airport, Tirana Albania

Departure Time :

9:00 AM

Return Detail :

-

Hotel Pickup :

You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.