Archaeological Tour
8 Days / 7 Nights
Day 1: Airport - Tirana
Arrival in Tirana. Transfer to hotel. Afternoon tour of Tirana including visits to the Mosaics of Tirana, Skanderbeg Square, the Mosque of Et’hem Bej and the National Historical & the Archeological Museum.
Day 2: Tirana - Durres – Durres
Drive to Durres on the Adriatic coast. Here we will visit one of the largest amphitheaters in the Balkans located within the walls of the Roman castle. We will wander through the galleries of the amphitheater, explore the "Enigma of Durresi". A visit to the archaeological museum will give us a comprehensive view about the history of this 2700-year-old town. Later we will visit the Archaeological Museum situated near the sea and the archaeological site at Arapaj. Overnight in Durresi.
Day 3: Durres - Apolonia - Vlora – Saranda
After Breakfast we continue our drive, towards archaeological site of Apollonia, the second largest Greek colony in Albania. We visit the Odeon, the Pritaneon, the temple of Diana and the monastery next to the site, which is built with marble and stone taken from the temple and the old Greek theatre. As we leave Apollonia the landscape changes this is the posibility to enjoy the beautiful Albanian riviera. Overnight in Saranda.
After Breakfast we continue our drive, towards archaeological site of Apollonia, the second largest Greek colony in Albania. We visit the Odeon, the Pritaneon, the temple of Diana and the monastery next to the site, which is built with marble and stone taken from the temple and the old Greek theatre. As we leave Apollonia the landscape changes this is the posibility to enjoy the beautiful Albanian riviera. Overnight in Saranda.
Day 4: Saranda - Butrint - Ksamil Village – Saranda
After breakfast we drive to the ancient city of Butrinti, founded in the 7th century BC by the Corkirians, and a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1995. What began as a Greek colony became one of the most important towns in the Mediterranean and a Roman colony in the 1st century AD. We will visit the theatre, the temple of Asclepeon, the Baptisteries, the Gymnasium, the aqueduct, the largest Basilica in south Albania and the Venetian castle on top of the town, where a very interesting small museum hosts original artefacts discovered during the excavations. Before sunset we go to Lekuresi Castle located on top of the hill overlooking the bay of Saranda to enjoy the sunset with views of the Island of Corfu. Overnight in Saranda.
Day 5: Saranda – Gjirokastra
Destination of the day will be in the museum city of Gjirokastra, which is also one of the three UNESCO sites in Albania. Our visit in Gjirokastra starts from the 8th century castle, which is today a museum but, during the dictatorship, a prison. After the castle we visit the ethnographic museum, better known as the birthplace of the dictator, Enver Hoxha. We will wander through the old 18th century bazaar looking for souvenirs, later followed by a visit to Antingonea Archaeological Park, overnight in Gjirokastra.
Day 6: Gjirokastra- Bylis- Berat
Byllis is a very important archeological center in Albania, is one of ancient Illyrian city’s inhabited by the tribe of Bylliones. The surrounding wall of Bylis, built in the second quarter of the fourth century B.C., is very well-preserved. It is 2250 m long, 3.5 m wide and 8-9 m high and it surrounds an area of 30 ha. The city consisted of several quarters and objects, such as the agora, which sheltered the inhabitants of the villages and their wealth in the event of war. Church of Bylis was built on the IV-the century AD, the mosaics have Ilirian (Illyrian) motifs which for the church later where known as pagan ones. Overnight at Berat.
Day 7: Berat – Tirana
Berat is situated on a hill dominating the River Osum and its gorge. Our visit in Berrat begins from the 4th century BC castle where we will visit the Byzantine era icons in the Onufri Icon Gallery, located within the old cathedral of the town. Some of the icons date back to the 18th century, the downtown bazaar, the bachelor mosque and the old Town. Overnight in Tirana
Day 8: Tirana - Airport
Drive to Tirana International Airport.
