Culture Trip in Albania

Arrival at Tirana Airport and meet with the driver and the guide. Take the coach to Tirana, for the overnight stay in a 4-star hotel in the center of town. Afternoon visits: Et’hem Bej Mosque (18th-century), Clock tower (19th-century), Bunker Art 2 (evidence of political persecution during the communist era), the Pyramid (Designed by Enver Hoxha’s daughter, 1988) and Bllok area, once the headquarter of the high communist Hierarchy – the Political Bureau – today an open area for everyone, full of coffee bars and pubs. Dinner at restaurant Piazza.

After breakfast, visit the National Art Gallery and the National History Museum. Lunch at restaurant Dreri, inside the Grand Park of Tirana. After lunch depart for Pogradec through the valley of Shkumbin – Via Egnatia (the river Shkumbin, historically, is considered to be the dividing line between the Tosk and Gheg dialects), with a visit stop in Elbasan (Hammam, King’s Mosque, Castle of Elbasan). Free afternoon (people can enjoy a walk along the promenade or have a local beer at the bars along it). Dinner and overnight at a 3-star hotel in the center of Pogradec, close to the promenade.

After breakfast, leave for Korce, a city well known for its colored carnivals, the traditional serenades, and delicious food, as well as for its own beer factory – Birra Korça. Visits: National Museum of Medieval Art, First Albanian School, the Cathedral and the old town with its characteristical houses. After the visits leave for Boboshtice, for lunch, in a county style restaurant (traditional food). After lunch, a visit at the Church of Christ Zoodotes (14th-century), in Mborje, approx. 15 minutes outside Korce. Return to Korce. Depending on the day we are here, we might be able to attend at the Carnival of Korce (held usually at the first Saturday of June, but there isn’t a fixed date and the municipality will usually put an ad 1 month before the event). Dinner at a local restaurant with traditional food, and overnight at 4-star hotel in the center of Korce.

After breakfast, depart with luggage to Gjirokaster, The City of Stone, a part of the UNESCO World Heritage List. On the way, a coffee break in Erseke, near the mountain of Gramoz, close to the borders with Greece. Lunch in Permet, at restaurant “Familjari”, an old building and family business, once a well-known restaurant for the communist party members during Enver Hoxha’s regime. After lunch, continue the trip to Gjirokaster, and afternoon, if possible, attend the National Fair of Crafts and Heritage, which is kept every year (held usually at the end of September). Afternoon visits: The old bazaar, the Ethnographic Museum, The Castle, former House of Enver Hoxha’s, the head of state of Albania during the communism Era. Dinner and overnight in Gjirokaster.

After breakfast, depart (with luggage) for Antigone, for a visit to the ancient city founded by Pirro of Epirus, 3rd century BC. Return to Gjirokaster for a traditional lunch, and afternoon we continue the trip toward Sarande, for the overnight stay at a 4-star hotel near the shore. On the way, a visit-stop at Hadrianopolis (Roman city, originally inhabited by the Greek tribe of the Chaonians and founded by Emperor Hadrian, in 125 AD). Continue our trip to Sarande, with another visit stop in the antique city of Phoenice, an ancient Greek city in Epirus and capital of the Chaonians. Dinner and overnight in Sarande.

After breakfast, leave with the coach to Butrint. Visits at the ancient city of Butrint, its museum, and the surroundings. Lunch in Butrint, and after it, continue our trip toward Vlore, through the Albanian Riviera. A coffee break in Borsh, a coffee bar called The Waterfall, because of its position near a waterfall. Short after that, a quick photo stop on a man-made terrace, on top of Llogara Pass, about 1050m above sea level, with an excellent panoramic view over the Albanian Riviera. Afternoon visits (if time permits) of the Mosque and the Independence Day monument. Dinner in a local restaurant near the shore, and overnight at a 4-star hotel in the center of town.

Continue our trip, after breakfast, toward Fier, for a visit to the ancient city of Apollonia and its museum. After the visits, lunch stop in Fier and we drive to Durres for the overnight stay. Afternoon visits: the archaeological museum and the amphitheater, the biggest in the Balkans, 2nd-century AD, with a capacity of 16000-23000 spectators. Dinner and overnight in a 4-star hotel in the center of the town.

After breakfast, leave with the coach to Kruje, the main strategic city of Skenderbeg, during the war against the Ottomans, until the second half of 15th-century. Visits: the old town, Skenderbeg’s Museum. Lunch in Kruje, restaurant Panorama, traditional food, and after that, drive to the airport.