After meeting with the guide you will be transferred in Berat. Berat, with an ancient history from 2400 years ago, is located along the stream of river Osum and in the middle of the great mountains of Tomorr and Shpirag. It is located on the side of a rocky hill and in the same place was settled the ancient town from the Illyrian tribes. It has been conquered many times but its castle has always been famous of being very difficult to invade.
Today it has the name of the city of a thousand and one windows, coming from the panoramic view of the houses on the hill. It is a part of UNESCO World Heritage List with the well preserved houses of original Ottoman architecture. The trip in the city of one thousand and one windows starts in the old quarter which will send you back in time to the Middle Ages from the cobbled streets and the houses built in a special architecture and fanatically well preserved till the modern days.
From what you see Berat has gained it’s status as one of the cities of UNESCO World Heritage List. Next visit for you will be The fortress, located on the hill top, is the most special attraction there, offering an amazing panoramic view of everything surrounding Berat. And there you understand the reason why it was such an important stronghold. After the visit of the wonderful city of Berat you will have some cooking lessons with a local family and prepare your tasteful lunch in a restaurant inside the castle.
Finished the lunch you will be transferred back in Vlora for 2 hours drive for the end of your jorney.
After meeting with your guide you will start to visit Vlore. Vlore, the independency city, is picturesquely located on the Bay of Vlore. Vlore has a long history as it, not unlike other ancient towns along the coast, was first founded by Greek colonists in the 6th century BC. Later, it was an important port of the Roman and the Byzantine Empires. Changing hands several times over the centuries, Vlore finally fell to the Ottomans in 1417.
It was in Vlore that five centuries later - in 1912, during the First Balkan War, Albania declared its independence from the Ottomans, only to be occupied by the Italians a couple of years later. History speaks for itself in Vlore while visiting the city. In the centre is the Flag Square, where the people gathered to celebrate the raising of the flag. And in front of the square you will visit the building where the flag was raised and the Declaration of Independency was signed, now the Museum of Independence.
More from history that you will visit in Vlore is the Muradie Mosque, one of the oldest mosques in the whole country which survived communist oppression. After visiting Vlore you will be transferred to Uji i Ftohte along the Adriatic Sea. Enjoy some free time at your leisure where you can take in the amazing view that Uji i Ftohte offers, being the place where the Adriatic and Ioanian sea meet each other.
After some free time you will be transferred back to the port for the end of your journey.
After meeting with the guide, you will be transferred for approximately 2 hours to the Museum city of Berat. The town of Berat is one of the most ancient towns of Albania, 2400 years old. Lying on the banks of the Osumi river, and overshadowed to the east by the Great Tomorr mountain 2415m,is an ancient Illyrian settlement founded in the 4th and 5th centuries B.C. on the territory of the Illyrian tribe of Desaretes. Its innumerable monuments and the beautiful and characteristic architecture of its houses have proclaimed Berat, a “Museum Town”. The houses on the fortress have typically two stories, with the upper storey slightly overhanging and rich wood carving within. With their wide facades and large windows, they seem to be built almost on top of one another, giving Berat its name of “The City of One–Thousand Windows”.
Your visit will start with a walk from the Gorica old bridge for some 20 minutes to come back to Mangalemi quarter from the new bridge. A walk in the newly built boulevard will follow the tour before you continue the visit to the Castle of Berat located on top of the hill overlooking Berat town. You will embark back on the Bus to continue the tour in the Castle of Berat which involves a bit of walking in uneven surfaces, cobblestone streets and a bit of inclination. Once inside the Castle first we will continue towards the Museum of the Icons for a visit.
National Museum Onufri is located in the center of the inhabited quarter in Berat medieval castle. It is organized in Virgin Mary cathedral, built in 1797 on the foundation of an older church with the same name. It bears the name of the most remarkable Albanian painter, Onufri, who left a very rich fund of iconographic creation.
Finishing the visit at the museum, a traditional lunch from Berat is a must after a tiring day. You will be welcomed in one of the restaurants located in the old quarter of the castle to try different specialities cooked in a traditional way from the local house family especially for you. After lunch, a short walk to the view point of 15 minutes will follow to have some nice views of all the quarters of Berat before your transfer back to Durres for another 2 hours’ drive.
After meeting with the guide, you will be transferred for 120 minutes towards Tirana. Tirana is the capital of the Republic of Albania, with a population of just over 700,000, lies at the foot of Dajti Mountain (1612 m) at 110 m above sea level. The region of Tirana has been inhabited since the Neolithic period. Tirana was founded in 1614 when, under the care of Sulejman Pasha Mulleti, the first settlement was built. It consisted of a mosque, bath-house (Hamam), a bakery and some shops. Today Tirana is the main administrative, economical, art and culture centre.
The visit of Tirana starts with the National historical museum, which shows everything about Albania history, from ancient times to the modern. Next the visit will continue on foot with the Scanderbeg Square, a monument dedicated to the National Hero of Albania. From the center you will be able to see the main boulevard, main administrative buildings, National Bank of Albania and the Et'hem Bey mosque that is one of the most beautiful mosques in Albania which is located nearby the Museum.
Finishing the visits Tirana, you will continue on foot entering the "Block area" towards Sky Tower Restaurant where you will have lunch overlooking all Tirana from the 15th floor of the Restaurant. With nice memories on your head, you will be transferred back to Shkodra for the end of your journey.
Today after meeting with the guide, we will choose our bicycles and for 15 minutes you will be given information about the road that we will follow and precautions along the way. After settling everything we will cycle towards Tabakeve Bridge for approximately 20 minutes. Some free time will be given to admire the old bridge in ottoman style.
After the bridge you will cycle toward the city center of Tirana where a visit will follow to the main sights as Scanderbeg square,Ethem Beg mosque,main boulevard etc. After finishing with the visit of the city center, you will cycle towards the Bllok area which have this name because it was the place where the ex communist dictator use to live for all his life,and the area was restricted to civilians. Some free time at your leisure in Block Area before cycling back towards the meeting point.
Your day starts with the visit of the Museum town of Berat. Berat, with an ancient history from 2400 years ago, is located along the stream of river Osum and in the middle of the great mountains of Tomorr and Shpirag. It is located on the side of a rocky hill and in the same place was settled the ancient town from the Illyrian tribes. It has been conquered many times but its castle has always been famous of being very difficult to invade. Today it has the name of the city of a thousand and one windows, coming from the panoramic view of the houses on the hill. It is a part of UNESCO World Heritage List with the well preserved houses of original Ottoman architecture.
The trip in the city of one thousand and one windows starts in the old quarter which will send you back in time to the Middle Ages from the cobbled streets and the houses built in a special architecture and fanatically well preserved till the modern days. From what you see Berat has gained it’s status as one of the cities of UNESCO World Heritage List. The fortress, located on the hill top, is the most special attraction there, offering an amazing panoramic view of everything surrounding Berat. And there you understand the reason why it was such an important stronghold.
Another specialty of Berat is the Onufri Iconographic Museum, named after one of the greatest Albanian painters. There are best preserved Albanian icons from XVIth century that were used in the many churches in the town.
Your day starts with the transfer to Voskopoja village. Moscopole was a cultural and commercial center of the Aromanians, and now a small village in Korçë County, Albania. At its peak, in the mid 18th century, it hosted the first printing press in the Balkans outside Istanbul, educational institutions and numerous churches. The remaining churches in the region are among the most representative of 18th century ecclesiastical art in the Balkans. Characteristically, their murals are comparable to that in the large monastic centres at Mount Athos and Meteora in Greece. The architectural design is in general specific and identical: a large three-aisled basilica with a gable roof.
Not only history but also traditional cooking from the locals! Today you will experience one of the best meals of the region. Immerse yourself in the kitchen and learn about the recipe and the local cooking. Do it yourself, do it better!
Vlore, the independency city is picturesquely located on the Bay of Vlore. Vlore has a long history as it, not unlike other ancient towns along the coast, was first founded by Greek colonists in the 6th century BC. Later, it was an important port of the Roman and the Byzantine Empires. Changing hands several times over the centuries, Vlore finally fell to the Ottomans in 1417.
It was in Vlore that five centuries later - in 1912, during the First Balkan War, Albania declared its independence from the Ottomans, only to be occupied by the Italians a couple of years later. History speaks for itself in Vlore while visiting the city. In the centre is the Flag Square, where the people gathered to celebrate the raise of the flag. And in front of the square is the building where the flag was raised and the Declaration of Independency was signed.
More from history that you will visit in Vlore is the Muradie Mosque, one of the oldest mosques in the whole country which survived the communist suppression. Also you will walk towards Kuzum Baba hill where you can visit the Bektashi teke located in the top of the hill and enjoy the wonderful panorama Once finished all your visits, you will be walking back to your ship for the end of your journey.
After meeting with the guide and driver you will start the tour in Shkodra. Shkodra, also internationally known as Scutari and Skadar, is the largest city of the Northern Albania and administrative centre of the region. It is located surrounded by mountains on one side and on the shores of the largest lake in the Balkans on the other. The city was well known through history, since the time of the Illyrian kingdoms.
Agron, Teuta and Gent had Shkodra (named Skodra by that time) as their capital. Many other strongholds stood in the area but the Castle of Rozafa is the dominating one. The city lived through ages as always being an important city in the area for the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman Empire and as well during the 20th century.
Your journey starts with the famous Castle of Rozafa. The legend says that the wife of the younger brother of the three brothers that build the castle was sacrificed for the castle to build up strong but half of her body was left out of the wall to take care of her new born son. The Rozafa Castle was the most important stronghold of the Illyrian kingdoms of Ardians, located up the hill overlooking rivers Buna and Drin and the whole plain fields.
After the visit of the city you will go in downtown Shkodra, in the main promenade, famous for a delightful walk for which Shkodra is known. During the walk you can see the main sights of Shkodra including the Democracy Square, the many fountains and monuments in the city, etc. The Ebu Beker Mosque, the Orthodox Cathedral and the Catholic Cathedral of Shkodra are as well good places to visit in Shkodra, as being one of the cities with the best combination of religions in Albania. After the visit of Shkodra city center and the castle your next destination will be the Museum of Memories. A museum in honor of the victims of the communist regime.
30 minutes free time at your leisure before the end of your jorney.
Your morning city tour begins from Skanderbeg Square, named after the Albanian hero the main landmark of the city.
Pilgrims from far and wide reach the Et'hem Bey Mosque to offer prayers. The Clock Tower next to the Et'hem Bey Mosque, National Museum- north of Scanderbeg Square, The Palace of Culture, The monument to Mother Albania and The National Historical Museum are the significant spots that catch up the attention of one and all who make a visit to the city.
The route continues through Kruja–one of the biggest cities in Northern Albania is the “city of history” and the best known as hometown of Albanian’s National Hero Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg.
Visit to the Castle, Skanderbeg Museum and Ethnographic Museum. After the visit of the castle, is free for you to explore Kruja’s old bazaar with authentic and antique shops.
Drive back to Tirana.