Albania is a country on the shores of the Adriatic and Ionian Seas part of the Mediterranean; therefore this product is aimed at those who would like to combine a relaxing holiday on the beach with some cultural visits. The visits have been left on alternate days in order to give you the chance to relax after an intensive day tour before taking the next daytrip.
Location: Albania
Duration: 7 days - 6 nights
You will be met at the airport by our representative and transfer to hotel by the beach. Afternoon relax on the beach.
This is a day of relaxation by the beach or pool.
After breakfast we drive to Kruja – a small characteristic town perched on a hill, centre of Albanian resistance against the Ottoman Turks under our national hero Scanderbeg. He kept them from crossing into Western Europe for 25 years, thus earning the title “Protector of Christianity” given by the Pope of the time. We will visit the Castle of Kruja, Scanderbeg Museum, one of the best kept museums in the country, a very rich Ethnographic Museum situated on an original house of the 17th century and the Old Bazaar. Then we have a characteristic Albanian lunch in Kruja. After lunch we depart for Tirana where we will be driving to see the main government buildings, the colourful apartment blocks, work of the Mayors ingenuity. Then we will visit the Ethem Bey Mosque and Clock Tower which have become the postcard symbols of Tirana’s city centre. Afterwards we will visit the National Historic Museum with artefacts and testimony of our history from prehistoric times to present day. Afterwards we take a walk in the area known as the Blloku where the Communist elite used to have their villas. Now it is one of the trendiest areas of Tirana full of stylish bars, and clubs for the younger generations. After having a coffee in this trendy atmosphere you will drive back to your hotel.
This is a day of relaxation on the Adriatic beach.
After breakfast we depart for Berat one of the most fascinating Albanian towns with a mixture of cultural influences and a UNESCO Heritage Site. Built almost all, in white on a slope of green with the river at its feet, it offers a striking view as soon as it becomes visible. It is famous for its white-washed houses with their many windows which seem to have been build on top of each other, that give it the nickname “town of a thousand windows”. The castle is the only one in Albania which still has houses and inhabitants within its walls. We will visit the Castle, Onufri Museum and several churches and mosques. Onufri was an Albanian master painter of the 16th century who painted many church icons in Albania and Greece and is famous for its red colour named after him. After visits at the castle we will sample the delicious cuisine of this town. After lunch drive to Apollonia, one of the most important ancient centres in Roman times on the famous Via Egnatia. The famous Roman orator Cicero, astonished by the beauty of Apollonia named it in his Philippics, magna urbs et gravis - a great and important city. Augustus Octavian was sent to study here by his uncle Julius Caesar, which confirms the importance of this city at the time. Visit the city and an Orthodox monastery turned into archaeological museum. After the visits return to your hotel.
Day of relaxation at hotel.
After breakfast relax until departure to airport.
Best months: March, April, May, June, September, October, November
Note: The above dates are for orientation purposes, to help people book on the same dates, and pay the cheaper price. However we will run this tour on other dates as per clients’ requests.
Von einer sehr schönen und interessanten Reise nach Albanien wieder daheim, bedanken wir uns recht herzlich für Ihre Organisation und besonders auch bei unserem Reiseleiter und Fahrer Herrn Ivy, der uns viel Information über Land, Kultur und Geschichte vermittelt hat. Besonders möchten wir auch seine umsichtige und rücksichtsvolle Fahrweise hervorheben. Auch hat er uns noch Durres mit einer Rundfahrt am 3.Tag gezeigt, da dies am Tag 7 offensichtlich laut Programm von Vlora aus nicht gut möglich gewesen wäre. Die Hotels waren sehr gut, allerdings befindet das Hotel Partner in Vlores mitten in der lauten Stadt und war nicht wirklich für einen Erholungstag geeignet. Ein Hotel außerhalb der Stadt am Strand wäre schöner gewesen. Mit freundlichen Grüßen..
