TRAVEL TO ALBANIA

Tirane – Lezhe = 1h 20min

Today, departure for the town of Lezha, one of the oldest Albanian towns with its proximity to the port of Shëngjin as well as its location on the national road between the Montenegrin border to the north and Tirana to the south. Lezhë is the city where Skanderbeg united the Albanian princes in the fight against the Ottoman Empire. Today we will visit the place where Skanderbeg is buried, the Lezhë Cathedral which was dedicated to Saint Nicholas and later used as the Selimie Mosque.

Lezhe– Shkoder = 45min

Then, our journey will take us towards the city of Shkodra, "where the Drin goes", if we are to believe the etymology of the name of this city, inhabited since prehistoric times and today a symbol of a profound harmony between religious faiths, since this city is home to places of worship from varied backgrounds (Muslim, Catholic and Orthodox). Visit to Lake Shkodra. Afterwards, a visit to the Marubi Photo Library will allow us to explore the Balkans as they were from the end of the 19th century to the beginning of the 20th century. The King's Mosque and the Catholic Cathedral (the largest in the Balkans) will also be part of our route.

Overnight in Shkodra. 3* hotel

Shkoder – Koman lake = 1h40

On our way, we will have the opportunity to cross Lake Koman by ferry. A two-hour journey during which we will immerse ourselves in the nature of the region, which looks like a Norwegian fjord! Local life and alpine landscapes combine with the birds that inhabit these places.

Once on the other side of the lake at Fierza, we will continue our route to reach the village of Valbona.

Valbona Valley National Park is a national park located in the Albanian Alps in northern Albania. The Valbona river, alpine landscapes, glacial springs, deep depressions and various rock formations are among the riches of this park. The virgin ecosystems are the centerpiece of what has been called the miracle of the Albanian Alps.

We will be able to explore the village and its surroundings.

Overnight in Valbona. In a guest house

Valbone - Prizren, 2h15

Visit to Prizren, a museum city of Kosovo, a city which observed “the league of Prizren” in 1878, where nearly 300 representatives from the various Albanian territories met, protesting against the Ottoman oppression which had already lasted for more than four centuries. The city is home to an architectural heritage of exceptional richness and diversity.

Prizren -  Kruje, 2h15

Departure for the town of Krujë located on the heights near the Albanian capital. In the 15th century, this city was the scene of numerous battles between the Ottomans and the Albanians. The Albanians resisted the Ottomans for 25 years under the command of Skanderbeg who was later the national hero of the Albanians. You will learn more about this character, one of the best known in Europe of this time, by visiting this city. The old bazaar is worth a nice visit.

Overnight in Kruje. 4* hotel

Kruje - Berat, 2h10

Today we will visit the town of Berat in the south of the country. This city was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008. Otherwise known as “the city of a thousand windows”, Berat is one of the best preserved characteristic cities in Albania. In this city, we will have the opportunity to visit the castle, Orthodox churches, and among other things, a museum which bears the name of the great Albanian painter of the 16th century “Onufri”. This museum brings together some of the icons of this painter and other anonymous ones. In the monastery which houses the Onufri museum, two Codexes dating from the 6th and 9th centuries AD were found during the communist era. JC, today preserved in Tirana and classified as a UNESCO world heritage site.

Overnight in Berat. 3*+ hotel

Berat- Elbasan = 1h 30min 

Today we will stop in the town of Elbasan to visit one of the rare citadels in the Balkans to have been built on the plain..

Elbasan – Lin = 1h 15min

Then departure to Lake Ohrid. Stopover in the village of Lin. This small village attracts visitors for its mosaics and the small church it houses. Let's take the time to walk there.

Lin – Tushemisht = 40min

We will then continue towards Tushemisht. This village is located on the shores of Lake Ohrid, near Macedonia. This same lake is classified by UNESCO for the richness of flora and fauna, and also being one of the oldest and deepest lakes in the world. During the time of the communist regime, Tushemisht served as an example of the prosperity of the Albanian communist village, this village served as a setting for the filming of some of the greatest films of our country.

Overnight in Tushemisht. 3* hotel

Tushemisht – Korce = 50min

Departure for the town of Korçe, renowned throughout the country for its historical attachment to France and the French-speaking world, since this town hosted a French high school from 1917 to 1939, for Albanian students. The national medieval museum, the cemetery of French soldiers from the First World War, and the Orthodox cathedral represent the key monuments to discover and visit in this city.

Korce – Voskopoje = 30min

Then we will head towards the village of Voskopoja. This village, which in the 18th century represented one of the most developed cities in Albania, will open the doors of its beautiful Orthodox churches to us. Upon arrival we will begin our walk towards the church of “Saint Prodhom”. This walk will last 3 hours. In the afternoon, we will have the opportunity to visit the village and other churches.

Overnight in Voskopoja. 3* hotel

Voskopoje – Rehove = 50min

Today you will head towards the village of Rehove. This village, which is located on the border with Greece, is renowned for its culinary expertise and its stone houses. In Rehove we will taste the warmth and hospitality of the Southern Albanians who will come to meet us to share food and words. This afternoon in-depth discovery of the best that Albania has to offer you will end with a night at a local's home.

Overnight stay with locals in Rehova.

Rehove – Benje = 3h

On your route today, you will cross a region rich in magnificent landscapes and can even make a detour to the thermal waters of Benja, renowned for treating various ailments but just as pleasant for the magnificent walks that this natural site offers along its canyon.

Benje – Gjirokaster = 1h 30min 

Your path will continue towards the town of Gjirokastra, or “the stone town”. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005, Gjirokastra is the birthplace of the great Albanian writer “Ismail Kadare” and on less literary notes, the hometown of the former communist dictator Enver Hoxha. This city is full of typical neighborhoods and its shaded terraces, but above all it is home to the ethnographic museum and its fortress, witnesses to a large part of Albania's history. Gjirokastra has managed to preserve its picturesque and typical architecture of ancient Albanian residences.

Overnight in Gjirokastra. 3*+ hotel

Gjirokaster – Butrint = 1h 30min

It is for the town of Butrint and on the road to the Albanian Riviera that we will then head. The archaeological site of Butrint has been listed as a UNESCO heritage site since 1992 and offers an ancient open-air city declining from several centuries of human occupation. Did you know that Racine refers to this place in his work Andromaque?

The Lion Gate is well hidden, but still standing.

Butrint –  Sarande = 15min

Departure for Sarandë, a seaside town opposite the island of Corfu. Sarandë is fortunate to be located in one of the most beautiful regions of Albania, the Albanian Riviera. This city was known in antiquity as Onhezmi and its small port was a communication bridge between Corfu and the Epirote tribes.

Visit of the city, walk by the sea, and the numerous terraces located by the sea.

Overnight in Saranda. 3* hotel

Sarande – Himare = 1h 20min

Beach day in Himara.

Today we will discover the Albanian Riviera. This region is considered one of the most beautiful in Albania. The mountains meet the sea, the landscapes are splendid. On the way you will pass through the small and typical villages of the south. Possibility of stopping for short visits to the different villages of the Riviera such as Qeparo, Borsh, Dhermi.

Overnight in Himara. 3* hotel

Himare – Llogora = 1h

This day will be dedicated to visiting the Llogara National Park with its unforgettable landscapes along the Riviera, between sea and mountains.

This hike in the Llogara National Park will allow us to discover the crest of a mountain with its plunging views of the turquoise water of the Ionian Sea and the Karaburun peninsula.

Parc national de Llogora= Vlora ,1h00

Then drive to Vlora, a coastal town, known to be one of the most important ports in the country. It is also an important place for the Albanian nation, because it was in Vlorë that the country's independence was proclaimed on November 28, 1912 by Ismaïl Qemal. The Bay of Vlora has always been a strategic point of great importance. Italy is located just opposite Vlora. The beautiful, recently restored seaside promenade offers a magnificent view of the treasures of this bay.

Overnight in Vlora. 3* hotel

Vlore– Apollonia  = 40min

Our next stop is the archaeological site of the town of Apollonia, in the Fier region. Inhabited by Illyrian tribes, the city was colonized in the 4th century BC. BC by Greek settlers from Corinth and Corfu, Apollonia was also a very important city during the Roman era. The Agora, the Theater and its Museum, very rich in objects, bear witness to the importance of this archaeological site.

It is notably in this city that the Roman emperor Octavian Augustus carried out his studies.

Apollonia è Divjake ,1h 10min

Then direction the Divjakë-Karavasta national park. Here, we may have the chance to see different migratory birds, which make their nests during the warm season. Among these birds, we find a rare species, present only in fine weather: the Dalmatian pelican. One of them found refuge at the park house. The Karavasta lagoon nature reserve is also home to many endemic plant species, as well as salt marshes.

A 1h30min walk around the park will give us the opportunity to observe all its riches and we will be able to taste fresh fish caught that morning.

Divjake è Tirane ,1h 50min

Late afternoon return to Tirana to spend the night and visit the city the next day.

Overnight in Tirana. 3* hotel

Today after breakfast visit the capital. Tirana is otherwise known for its painted and multicolored building facades, the creation of which symbolized the end of a “colorless” way of life under the communist dictatorship. The National Museum, a Catholic cathedral and another Orthodox one, as well as the “Et`hem Bey” mosque considered a pearl of Muslim worship, will be part of the cultural visits planned in this city.

The evening will take us to the former Bllok district, formerly reserved for the communist nomenklatura, and today a trendy district of the capital and the heart of nightlife where all the youth of the Albanian capital meet in the evening around a drink, to the melodies of modern and varied music.

Overnight in Tirana. 3* hotel

Tirana è Aéroport de Tirana, 25 min

Departure for Tirana airport.

Return flight.