Day 1
Pick up at Tirana airport and transfer to Vlora. On the way we stop to the ancient city of Apollonia situated on the famous Via Egnatia – one of the most important cities in Roman times. The Roman Emperor Augustus Octavian studied here. Afterwards we continue to Vlora, the town of Albania’s Independence for overnight.
Day 2
After breakfast we depart for Saranda. Drive on the spectacular Albanian Riviera looking down at the Ionian Sea. Breathtaking sceneries await us at the Llogara pass – 1000 m above sea level. On the way we visit the Ali Pasha Castle in Panormi bay a.k.a Porto Palermo, name given by the Fascist Italian soldiers during WWII. We continue on to Saranda, to visit the ancient city of Butrint a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city was first settled by Greek colonists and was continuously inhabited for centuries forming archaeological layers of passing civilizations. It is situated in a beautiful peninsula among dense vegetation. Overnight in Saranda.
Day 3
After breakfast we drive to Berat. We stop in Gjirokastra a UNESCO site and museum town with beautiful and very distinct architecture. We will visit the Fortress which is used as the venue for the National Festival of Folk Song and Dance and has an Arms’ Museum with weapons from WWII. Next we visit the Ethnographic Museum which is also the house and birthplace of our ex-dictator, Enver Hoxha. We depart for Berat, the city of 1001 windows, one of the most attractive and characteristic towns in Albania and protected by UNESCO as a world heritage town. In the afternoon explore the city of Berat independently, especially by night the views of the two old neighborhoods Gorica and Mangalemi are magical. Overnight in Berat.
Day 4
After breakfast we visit the Castle and the Onufri Museum. Berat castle is of particular interest as people still live within its walls in their traditional houses, as have their ancestors for centuries. The castle used to have over 40 churches of which 7 still remain, including one turned into Onufri Museum. Onufri was an Albanian Icon master painter of the 16th century who painted many orthodox churches in Albania and Greece. After this interesting experience we depart for Durres one of the oldest and most important cities in Albania founded in 627 B.C. We take a sightseeing tour of the Archaeological Museum and the Amphitheatre situated in the middle of the modern city in an inhabited area. Continue to Tirana and take a sightseeing tour of the city and its most important attractions, Et’hem bey mosque, Clock Tower, boulevard “Martyrs of the Nation”, the Pyramid, Bunkers in the central area of the city and much more. Overnight in Tirana.
Day 5
After breakfast, free to explore until time of transfer to Airport.
End of our services.