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Budva
1h
After breakfast proceed to Albania through Montenegro. Continuing to Budva The Old Town of Budva is more than 2,500 years old, and this part of Montenegro is one of the oldest in Europe. Moreover, the Old Town is considered “the place to be seen” in the city. Throughout your tour of Budva you can find an array of items at the local stores - ranging from designer clothes to souvenirs to take with you as a memory. In the middle of the town you can discover the Citadel, the castle of Budva which offers outstanding views of the Riviera. Following that, move on to soak up the amazing views of Sveti Stefan, one of the most amazing islets of Budva. This town is one of the most attractive coastal cities of Montenegro, and the old part of the city is the jewel on the crown. As an illustration of that, encounter the Italian presence around the city through the Old Town's Venetian-influenced walls.
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Kruja Castle
2h · Admission ticket included
Continue on into Albania and to Kruja. Rich in history and tradition, Kruja is home of the patriots and the epicenter of Albania’s independence from the Ottoman Empire. It was here that Gjergj Kastriot Skanderbeg, Albania’s greatest national hero, defended the country from the invasion of the Ottomans. The National Museum dedicated to the hero is housed in the famous Kruja Castle and shows both the legendary hero’s history and the traditional way of life of the city’s population. The city’s famous bazaar serves as a bridge between this glorious past and the present, offering a rich array of traditional products made from local artisans.
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Tirana
1h
After the visits in Kruja we proceed to Tirana. Free afternoon in Tirana. Overnight in Tirana
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Tirana
2h
The tour start from Skanderbeg Square and National Museum, then you continue to see other important buildings: Palace of Culture, Opera House, National Library, Mosque of Ethem Bey, the Clock Tower, Tirana Castle, Parliament, Ura e Tabakeve, National Art Gallery, mean government buildings, catholic and orthodox cathedrals, the Pyramid, Prime Minister building, Palace of congresses, Mother Teresa Square, Bunk’Art , Presidential palace, Ex-Blloku (which used to be the most beautiful and protected zone were the ex-communist leaders families lived). Visit the Cold War corner (one Bunker, part of famous Spac Political Prison, and a piece from Berlin Wall).
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Apollonia Archaeological Park
3h · Admission ticket included
Proceed to the ancient city of Apollonia situated on the famous Via Egnatia - one of the most important cities in Roman times. the ancient city of Apollonia, founded in the sixth century B.C. Situated in southwestern Albania, about 13 miles from the city of Fier, this city was built by Greek colonizers on the lands of the Taulantii Illyrian tribe. It was considered to be one of the most prominent cities at the time, selected from over twenty other cities throughout the Mediterranean, to receive the glorious name of Apollo, the god of music and poetry. Several beautiful ruins and important monuments, such as “Promenade B” with its 4th century B.C. Doric columns, the Nymphaeum’s magnificent fountains, and the largest preserved monument of the Park, the Gate of Temenos with the grand Obelisk sitting across from it.
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Vlore
2h
Afterwards we continue to Vlora. Home to Albania’s independence in 1912, this city is at once home to the traditional polyphonic music, exquisite culinary delicacies, a vibrant nightlife, and some of the best beaches of the south, many of which are found in Vlora or right off the city’s coast. Beautiful waters, lush forests, and historic monasteries of the Zvërnec and Sazan islands, the popular Orikum beach, the spectacular island of Karaburun, and the Lagoon of Narta, housing the country’s richest flora and fauna are only some! For some fresh mountain air, you may leave Vlora and take on the intimidating Llogara Pass, where you will find the most delicious meats as well as freshly made yogurt and honey. On the other side of Llogara, countless historic villages, castles and churches
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Ali Pasha Castle
1h · Admission ticket included
After breakfast we depart for Saranda. Drive on the spectacular Albanian Riviera looking down at the Ionian Sea. Breathtaking sceneries await us at the Llogara pass - 1000 m above sea level. We continue on to Saranda, make a short stop at the fortress of Ali Pasha a fortification used to control the sea trade routes. Ali Pasha Castle is the crown jewel of the Albanian Riviera. Built on the hill of an island, connected to the shore via a narrow man-made strip of land, this castle attracts everyone’s immediate attention thanks to its triangular shape and the three bastions built on each corner. The castle was built in 1814 at the request of Ali Pashë Tepelena, after the destruction of Justinian’s castle. During the same period, the church of St. Nicolas was built directly across the castle.
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Butrint National Park
2h · Admission ticket included
Butrint is an archaeological site that provides valuable evidence of ancient and medieval civilizations on the territory of modern Albania.The site, on a hill next to a lake connecting to the sea by a canal, has been inhabited since prehistoric times. A Greek colony was founded there in the late 7th century BC, when the city (called Buthros) was surrounded by fortifications. Roman occupation prompted the development of the city and, during the Christian era, it became the seat of a bishopric. Many religious structures were built by the Christians. The city's last era of prosperity was under Byzantine administration (Epirus). After a short period of occupation by the Venetians (late 14th century), the city under Ottoman administration was threatened by the marshes that formed around the lake, and was abandoned by the population. Legend associates this city with Trojan settlers who fled Troy under the leadership of Aeneas.
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Saranda
1h
In the evening we reach the beach town of Saranda, the unofficial capital of the Albanian Riviera, this resort town comes to life in the evenings on its bustling promenade. Overnight in Saranda.
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Gjirokaster
3h
After breakfast we drive to Berat. On our way we will stop in Gjirokastra. One of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites, this gorgeous, carefully preserved, peculiar-looking city is built on steep slopes where stone-roofed houses seem to be built on top of one another. The spirit of Gjirokastra has been captured in many novels written by the city’s most illustrious son, the renowned author Ismail Kadare. His home along with the childhood home of Enver Hoxha, Albania’s former communist leader, are only some of the many attractions of this city. Alongside Albania’s most beautiful traditional houses and the city’s famous limestone and shale paved roads, the city houses the Castle of Gjirokastra, one of the oldest in the Balkans! The “city of stone” offers a number of authentically rich culinary delights and memorable panoramas of the surrounding mountainous.
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Berat
3h
It is the distinctive traditional architecture of this so-called “City of 1000 windows” that has placed Berat in UNESCO’s list of world Heritage Sites. Beautifully split by the Osum River into two historic neighborhoods, the city is joined by the grandiose bridge of Gorica. The characteristic windows of the traditional houses mirror one another beautifully from across the river. Flanked on both sides by Tomorr and Shpirag, two of the most mythical mountains in Albania, Berat is also a nature lover’s paradise. Mountain climbing, cycling, hiking, rafting and kayaking are only some of the preferred outdoor activities around this city. The medieval Castle of Berat houses old churches, museums and iconography by the greatest Albanian artists as well as old bazaars, cafes, and a surprisingly vibrant local life.
