Highlights of Albania

Route

Tirana → Durrës → Berat → Apollonia → Vlora → Saranda → Gjirokastër

Day-by-day itinerary

1. 1
   Airport – Tirana

   Airport transfer to Tirana. Free day to rest or explore the city on your own.

   Overnight in Tirana
2. 2
   Tirana – Durrës – Berat

   Drive to Durres and visit:

   • Roman Amphitheatre of Durrës, built after the 2nd century B.C., one of the most majestic of the ancient world and among the ten most beautiful Roman amphitheatres.
   • Venetian Tower

   Drive to Berat for the evening:

   • Enjoy a relaxed stroll on the Mangalemi and Gorica quartiers.

   Overnight in Berat
3. 3
   Berat – Bogovë – Berat

   Eat breakfast at the hotel and begin tour of Berat.

   • Berat UNESCO Heritage: Castle of Berat a living castle, from antiquity to the present day
   • Church of the Holy Trinity – Byzantine church next to the Castle of Berat, with painstaking internal organization of space and luminous and decorative systems with pyramidal forms are typical Byzantine features.
   • Church of St. Michael – Small church built on a rock to the south of the Castle. Made up of red stones.
   • Church of St. Mary of Vlacherna dates back to centuries XIII- XIV. Nikolla Onufri painted the church in 1578.
   • Red Mosque is also located within the restraints of the castle.
   • National Iconography Museum, made up of 200 objects selected from the funds of different churches.

   Depart for Bogovë.

   Return to Berat and visit the winery and enjoy a tasting of fine wines.

   Overnight in Berat
4. 4
   Berat – Ardenica – Apollonia – Zvërnec – Vlora

   Eat breakfast at the hotel.

   Depart for Ardenica.

   After visiting the monastery and learning a bit more on the Byzantine influence,travel to Apollonia, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

   Drive to and arrive in Zvërnec where you enjoy a late traditional lunch prepared by the villagers of the area, with fresh vegetables, olives, cheeses and grilled meat.

   Afterwards visit the Monastery of St. Mary, thought to be built in the fifth century, which you pass by crossing a bridge on the lagoon. Before driving to Vlora for the rest of the day.

   Overnight in Vlora
5. 5
   Vlorë – Llogara Pass – Porto Palermo Castle – Saranda

   Eat breakfast at the hotel. Drive southwards by the seaside.

   Drive to Llogara Pass

   Stop and visit Porto Palermo Castle.

   Visit also Butrint. It was under Hellenic, Chaonite, Roman and later Venetian influence. With the development of marshes in the area, Butrint was abandoned in the Middle Ages.

   Drive to Saranda.

   Enjoy a seaside stroll in the evening in Saranda.

   Overnight in Saranda
6. 6
   Saranda – Gjirokastër

   Eat breakfast at the hotel before departing.

   Drive to Gjirokastra (UNESCO)

   Visit:

   • Castle of Gjirokastra
   • Skenduli House
   • Ethnographic Museum

   Drive to Church of St. Mary in Leusa, and drive back.

   Overnight in Gjirokastër
7. 7
   Gjirokastër – Tirana

   Eat breakfast at hotel before starting the trip.

   When in Tirana, visit:

   • Clock Tower, built in 1822 as a monument of culture of the first category
   • Palace of Culture
   • Et’hem Bey Mosque
   • Pyramid of Tirana

   Overnight in Tirana
8. 8
   Tirana – Airport

   Airport transfer. End of services.

This programme is a proposal: hotels, activities, guides and the order of visits can be adjusted to your clients.