Explore Southern Albania
HIKING & CULTURE
8 Days/ 7 Nights
8 Days/ 7 Nights
Overview:
With a rich heritage that can trace its influences back to the Macedonians, the Greeks and the Ottoman Turks, Albania is one of the most fascinating and least known countries in Europe. It is also blessed with some of the Adriatic’s wildest landscapes as well as possibly the continent’s least developed tourism infrastructure, not to mention some captivating history.
In this trip you will explore the coastal charms of the ‘Albanian Riviera’, admire the famed Ottoman town of Gjirokastër, and of course visit the fascinating ancient ruins of Butrint, located in the beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Site of Butrint National Park, and standing as one of the most unique archaeological sites anywhere in Europe.
Highlights
- Walk Along of Albanian Riviera’s most fascinating and rewarding costal and inland paths
- Explore the stunning UNESCO World Heritage sites – Butrint Archeological Park, Gjirokastra & Berat towns
- Enjoy a culinary experience by trying the traditional local cuisine
Berat
Day 1: Arrival at Tirana International Airport – Rradhima
Upon landing at Tirana International airport you will meet the guide and drive alongside the Adriatic and Ionian coast where you would get the first impressions on the country. Check- in at the hotel in Radhima, located very close to the seashore. Dinner and overnight in Hotel.
Upon landing at Tirana International airport you will meet the guide and drive alongside the Adriatic and Ionian coast where you would get the first impressions on the country. Check- in at the hotel in Radhima, located very close to the seashore. Dinner and overnight in Hotel.
Day 2: Radhime – Hiking in Llogara National Park – Himara
After breakfast at the hotel, the program resumes with short transfer to Llogara pass. At the top of Llogara you can enjoy a gorgeous view over the Riviera. The hiking trail is stretched along steep and rocky terrain, mainly used by local shepherds. After the lunch break, we drive back to the next hotel accommodation, in Himara. In the afternoon, a dive into crystal clear water on a beautiful gravel beach will be quite refreshing and make your day even more. Dinner and overnight in Himara.
Walking : ↑600m ↓400 m ↔ 7km 4 hrs
Accommodation – Hotel (Breakfast /Picnic Lunch /Dinner)
After breakfast at the hotel, the program resumes with short transfer to Llogara pass. At the top of Llogara you can enjoy a gorgeous view over the Riviera. The hiking trail is stretched along steep and rocky terrain, mainly used by local shepherds. After the lunch break, we drive back to the next hotel accommodation, in Himara. In the afternoon, a dive into crystal clear water on a beautiful gravel beach will be quite refreshing and make your day even more. Dinner and overnight in Himara.
Walking : ↑600m ↓400 m ↔ 7km 4 hrs
Accommodation – Hotel (Breakfast /Picnic Lunch /Dinner)
Day 3: Himara – Hiking in Kudhes – Himara
After breakfast we drive through olive groves and reach the village of Kudhes. We start hiking into steep streets till we reach the center of the Old Qeparo village. The path is dominated by oleander bushes and terraces. After a light lunch in local restaurant, we will return hiking towards the coast. We transfer for a visit to Porto Palermo, the fortress of the famous Ali Pasha, an Albanian ruler of a vast territory during Ottoman time, The splendid bay of Palermo also served as an important submarine base during the communist regime days. Dinner and overnight in Himara.
Walking: ↑570m ↓480 m ↔ 11km 5-6 hrs
Accommodation – Hotel (Breakfast / Lunch /Dinner)
Day 4: Himara – Dhermi – Hiking in Vuno - Gjipe – Himara
The program for this day foresees a visit to the pretty village of Dhermi, which bears a natural decoration of fragrant citrus groves. Following a maze of small alleys we climb up to the Panagia Monastery. Upon reaching the peak, an exemplary view of tiled roofs and white walls of a quite village appears. After a short transfer, we reach the start of the hike above the gorge of Vuno. The trail leads to the secluded beach of Gjipea, where we can enjoy a picnic lunch. The evening will conclude with a dinner accompanied by a local folk band playing polyphonic songs.
Walking: ↑250m ↓350 m ↔ 6km 3 hrs
Accommodation – Hotel (Breakfast / Picnic Lunch /Dinner
Day 5: UNESCO World Heritage Butrint and Gjirokaster
Today we drive further through the Albanian Riviera, heading south to visit The Butrint archaeological site, an UNESCO world heritage site.
The city was first settled by Greek colonists and was continuously inhabited for centuries forming archaeological layers of different civilizations, making it an important discovery in the Mediterranean, rich in ancient sites. It is situated in a beautiful peninsula among dense vegetation, offering visitors more than just old ruins.
We proceed to Gjirokastra, another UNESCO site and museum town with beautiful and very distinct architecture. Along the way we stop to visit the park of Blue Eye Springs. Overnight in Gjirokastra.
Day 6: Gjirokaster – Berat
After breakfast, morning program resumes with a visit to the Castle, the Museum of Weapons, the Ethnographic Museum and we will take a walk along the stone paved alleys of the town. Gjirokastër is one of Albania’s most beautiful historic towns, with a citadel dating from the 13th. century. From the walls of the castle, one can admire the view of its districts and the large valley of river Drinos. Walks along the stone paved streets will bring you to discover its charming Albanian traditional architecture. This is the hometown of Enver Hoxha (the infamous Albanian dictator) and Ismail Kadare (the internationally recognized Albanian writer). After lunch the we head towards Berat, for overnight.
Day 7: Berat – Tirana
After breakfast, the trip continues towards the historic town of Berat, another asset of Unesco World Heritage in Albania. We will walk to the neighborhood “Mangalemi” where we visit the Ethnographic museum. Then we will hike up to visit the citadel district of Berat, its splendid orthodox churches and the Onufri Icons museum – named after the famous 16th century master painter of icons and murals. The building where the museum is housed shows the important architecture values of Berat’s buildings. After a lunch break in one of the restaurants serving local cuisine, we will drive back to Tirana. Overnight in a Tirana.
Day 8: Departure
After breakfast, the program foresees a brief city tour, mainly in the downtown area. It comprises the main attractions such Skanderbeg Square's 1789 Et'hem Bey Mosque, the 1830 Sahat-Kulla (Clock Tower), the National Museum of History. In addition to admiring historic buildings and mixed architecture styles, you may also explore the “BLLOKU ”,once the living quarter of high-ranking communism élite, nowadays transformed into a luxurious neighborhood, full of fancy cafés, restaurants and shopping places. After the city tour we head to airport for a return flight.
Gjipe