8-Day Albania and Greece Heritage Tour with Meteora and Butrint

• Meet your Albanian tour guide at the airport upon arrival.

• Transfer to Tirana to visit the Et'hem Bey Mosque, built in 1789, and the Clock Tower, built in the 1830s.

• On the central boulevard, see the government buildings, an art gallery, and the university.

• In the neighbourhood of the former Communist bloc, have a drink at a bar in Sky Tower, located on the 15th floor of the building.

• Have dinner and stay overnight in Tirana.

• In the morning, depart for Pogradec, one of the most beautiful tourist spots in Albania because of its proximity to Ohrid Lake.

• Continue to the centre of Drilon, 5 km away, which is surrounded by numerous flowers.

• Here, go for a boat ride on a local lake and taste the unique flavour of the Koran fish.

• Depending on the time, visit Saint Naum, which is very interesting.

• In the evening, arrive in Korçë.

(Accommodation in the 3-star Grand Hotel; dinner and overnight)

• After breakfast, visit the Museum of Medieval Art.

• See the Old Bazaar in Korçë, which is one of the most interesting places to visit in the city.

• Continue to Përmet, the city of flowers, to behold the natural beauty of Hotova National Park.

• Travel along the Vjosa River to see the beautiful canyons of Këlcyra. The road passes through Tepelenë, the birthplace of Ali Pasha, and the royal castle built in his name.

• In the evening, arrive in the stony town of Gjirokastra, whose old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

(Dinner and overnight in Gjirokastra)

• After breakfast, visit a 4th-century castle, the Nderkombatar Museum of Arms, and the old bazaar church.

• In the middle of the day, transfer to Ioannina, Greece.

• Cross the border through Kakavi and continue to Ioannina.

• First, visit the cave of Perama, a marvel of nature, over 1.5 km long and about 685 m deep.

• Then visit Ali Pasha's castle in Ioannina and, depending on the weather, also visit the island with Ali Pasha's museum.

• After settling in, spend the night in the beautiful northern town of Ioannina, with free dinner.

• After breakfast, head to Meteora, where the group will visit the famous Meteora monasteries, followed by lunch in the stone town of Metsovo.

• Returning across the border through Kakavi, continue to Saranda, from where you will also visit the Blue Eye.

• En route, visit the Blue Eye to learn the legend of the fountain and see the stunning Mesopotomit Monastery.

• Check in at 3-star accommodation in Saranda.

• Visit Lëkurësi Castle, a site with panoramic views of its surroundings.

  Have dinner and stay overnight in Saranda.

• Explore the ancient city of Butrint, a UNESCO World Heritage Site dating back to the 8th century BCE. With your Butrint guide, visit:

  • the 8th-century BC Acropolis and the Asklepit shrine dedicated to the god of healing.

  • the 4th-century BC Fourth Gate of the Lake.

  • the 3rd-century BC Roman theatre.

  • the Agora, the civic and commercial centre of the city, and the Gymnasium.

  • the 6th-century AD pagan shrine of the Basilica.

  • the ancient remains of a Roman citizen's house.

  • a 2nd-century fountain.

  • the Venetian castle and tower of the 14th-16th century.

• In the evening, check in at Himarë, at a 3-star hotel accommodation, for dinner and an overnight stay.

• Continue along the Albanian Riviera and visit the fortress of Ali Pasha in Porto Palermo, as well as Himarë Castle.

• In the morning, after breakfast, start the tour through Vlora to explore the ancient city of Apollonia. The highlights of this tour include the Buleuterion, Acropolis, Odeon, Monastery, Church of Saint Mary, and a visit to a museum.

• After Apollonia, arrive in Berat, a very interesting old city.

• Transfer to the city in the afternoon to visit the Onufri Museum, the Holy Trinity Church, and the Cathedral of Saint Nicholas.

• See the Castle of Berat, Mangalemi, and Gorica.

• Accommodation is in a 3-star hotel in the centre of the city.

• In the morning, enjoy a half-day tour in Durrës to get familiarised with the 3,000-year-old history of this port city, depending on your flight time. Here, observe a 4th-century fortress, a Roman amphitheatre with a capacity of 20,000 spectators, and a Venetian tower.

• In the afternoon, transfer to the harbour or airport for your departure.