8-Day Albania Towns Tour from Tirana with Riviera and UNESCO Sites

• You will be picked up by our representative from Tirana International Airport and escorted to your hotel.

Stay the night at a hotel in Tirana.

• Start your day by visiting the main attractions at Tirana Square.

• In the second half of the day, visit Kruja, where you will be introduced to traditional Albanian cuisine and culinary skills.

• After a visit to the old town of Kruja, drive north towards the town of Shkodra and check in at your hotel. Explore the town, especially the areas that have rich historical relevance.

Stay the night in Shkodra.

• After breakfast, visit Rozafa Castle, located on a hill overlooking the lake of Shkodra and the Albanian Alps. It was built in the 4th century BC and was named after the legend of Rozafa.

• In the second half of the day, drive towards Durres, the capital of Albania from 1272-1920 and one of the biggest Greek colonies on the Adriatic Sea coast.

• Later, visit the Ardenica Christian Orthodox Monastery, which is famous for its church with walls covered in colourful frescoes and wooden carved altars.

• In the evening, drive towards the town of Vlora and relax at your hotel.

Stay the night in Vlora.

• Start your day with a long drive along the Albanian Riviera on the Ionian seaside. Drive through the forest of Llogara National Park, where you can make a stop at about 1025 meters above sea level. From this spot, you can admire the whole coastline and the Greek islands in the Ionian Sea.

• After a visit to a hidden gem in the village of Dhermi, see amazing views of Gjipe canyon overlooking the Ionian Sea.

• Later, continue towards Himara and take a short break before heading to your next destination. Ali Pasha Castle, located in the middle of Palermo Bay, also known as Porto Palermo, was built in the first decade of the 19th century under the supervision of French engineers and is an example of French military architecture in Albania.

• After exploring the bay, visit the Borshi water springs.

• In the evening, check in at a hotel near the sea in Saranda.

Stay the night in Saranda.

• Start your day by visiting Butrint National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995. Founded in the 7th century BC, it became one of the most important Greek colonies in the Ionian Sea. Nowadays, it is the best-preserved archaeological site in Albania.

• Take a short break by the sea on the white beach of Ksamil and then continue east towards Gjirokastra, a UNESCO World Heritage town.

• On the way, do not miss visiting the Blue Eye water springs natural park. In the evening, continue towards Gjirokastra, where you can relax at your hotel.

Stay the night in Gjirokastra.

• After breakfast, explore the old town of Gjirokastra, a UNESCO World Heritage town since 2004.

• Next, start your trek to a 14th-century Ottoman fortress and visit the old bazaar.

• In the afternoon, take a tour of the Apollonia Archaeological Park, which was built in the 7th century BC as the ancient town of Apollonia. As the second-largest Greek colony in Albania, Apollonia became one of the most important towns in the region in the 4th century BC. Nowadays, it is one of the biggest archaeological parks in Albania.

• In the evening, drive towards Berat and check in at a traditional accommodation.

Stay the night in Berat.

• Start your day by visiting the medieval centre of the old town of Berat, known for its Sunni and Helveti mosques. Next, continue your tour with a visit to the 4th-century BC fortress located on the hill overlooking the Osumi valley. The fortress is known for its old Christian Orthodox cathedral, where the Onufri Icon Gallery is located.

• Admire some of the most beautiful and oldest icons in Albania, dating from the 14th century. The Berat tour will end with a pleasant visit to a local winery, where you can taste some of the best Albanian wine. You can also taste Raki, the traditional Albanian drink that is a local favourite.

• In the second half of the day, drive to Elbasan to see the old fortress. Continue towards Tirana to complete your round trip and stay the night in Tirana.

• After breakfast, start your journey towards the airport for departure.