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 Currila beach for approximately 30 minutes.
Some free time will be given in Currila beach for sunbathing or just to cycle a bit further on. Along the way Adriatic Sea will accompany us during all the time. You will return through the same way back to the city center of Durres where a visit will follow to the main sights of the old town such as the Venetian Tower, old castle, Roman ruins etc.
After finishing with the visit of the city center, you will cycle back towards the meetin we meet earlier in the morning.
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 Skanderbeg 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 to marvelous city of Berat - known as “the city of thousand windows”.
Visit the lovely painted Mosque of the Bachelors and the Tekke of the Helvetis with its beautiful portico. Visit to Onuphri Icon Museum that contains some of the finest examples of his work as well as other outstanding Albanian artists. Stop for the lunch at restaurant in the Fortress where you will enjoy a rustic lunch and a wine tasting of Berat cellar.
Drive back to Tirana.
After meeting with the guide and driver you will be transferred in Ohrid, Macedonia Ohrid, the so called Jerusalem of the Balkans, is a city in the Republic of Macedonia located in the Easter shores of Lake Ohrid. It has had a continuous inhabitation since its first settlements in 4th century BC from the Illyrian tribes of Enchelai and Dassaretae, mentioned as the city of Lychnidos. Since the first centuries of Christianity, here the faith set roots so much that once is has been noted that had 365 churches, one of each day of the year. The city and the area were colonized by the Slavs but the city continued its prosper under many Empires.
Due to the cultural inheritance from the centuries and being well preserved, Ohrid and the lake in 1978 were included in UNESCO World Heritage List. Today Ohrid is the jewel of Macedonia and the pearl of Lake Ohrid. Your visit will start to the old quarter of Ohrid. The traditional houses, build close to each other have created some cobbled narrow streets like a labyrinth. They will lead you to the churches of Ohrid where the most important and the most special one is St. Sophia Church, coming from 9th-10th century from Bulgarian Empire, housing important medieval art of paintings, icons and frescoes. Other special religious attractions are the churches of St. Bogorodica Perivlepta from 13th century, the St. Jovan Kaneo from 13th century, St. Pantelejmon Plaosnik Monastery from 10th century, etc. On the way up you will also see the Roman amphitheatre, a one of a kind in Macedonia coming since almost 2000 years ago. Up in the Saint Klement Pantelejmon Church, named after the saint patron of Ohrid, is one of the most beautiful mosaics of the Balkans, a Christian one, on the floor of the church.
Being in Ohrid, the best place to have lunch is, of course, by the lake. And before continuing the itinerary back to Tirana, you will have lunch in a fancy restaurant by the shores of Lake Ohrid. After lunch you will be transferred back to Tirana for 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.
Then, we will go on with a visit to the Castle, Skanderbeg Museum and Ethnographic Museum. After the visit of the castle, you can choose to explore Kruja’s old bazaar with authentic and antique shops.
After thatm we will drive back to Tirana.
After meeting with your guide you will be transferred for 1.5 hrs through a serpentine mountain road to Gjirokastra for a visit to the "City of Stones". Gjirokastra which is declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site is situated in the southern part of Albania, on the slope of the hills of (Mali I Gjere), overlooking river Drinos. It became an urban centre by the 13th century. Gjirokastra is mentioned for the first time in a document of 1336, under the name ARGYROPOLIHNE (the township of Argyro), derived, according to the legend. (Princess Argyro, who hurled herself to her death from a tower to avoid falling into the hands of the invaders. Later the town became known as ARGYROKASTRO. Gjirokastra played an important role as the cradle of the patriotic movement of the Albanians for freedom and independence. Gjirokastra or so called “the town of one thousand steps” or “the stone town” is of particular interest for its native architecture. Today we will visit the old bazaar with wood and stone carving shops, old typical houses and quarters protected by UNESCO, the fortress of Argjiro and the Ethnographic Museum of Gjirokastra.
After the visit of Gjirokastra you will be transferred back to Saranda. Along the way to Saranda, you will stop for a visit of the Mesopotam Monastery dedicated to Saint Nicholas. It is believed that was built in the 14th century. The remains in the area around the monastery indicate that there was a high defensive wall. One of the towers of this wall now serves as a bell tower.
The church of St. Nicholas is to be visited from outside as it is not opened to public due to reconstruction.
Once visited the Monastery, you will be transferred back to Saranda.
Your day starts with the transfer near the trail of Tomorri Mountain near the small village of Tomorri. The south summit is separated from the higher north summit - called Cuka Partizan - by a 10 kilometer long ridge. Mount Tomorri can be seen from far away, as long as the visibility is good and the summit is not shrouded in clouds.
Soon after we start walking we will stop for a short period on the Teke of the Iliaz Dervish which is a very important pilgrimage site of the Bektashi religion. We continue walking following the path through the beautiful pine forest and the meadows located at nearly 1800 m of altitude. Next we keep walking towards the Peak which goest up to 2400m with fantastic views of all the central Albania in a 360 degrees angle. After the climb, we descend down to the village following the same path.
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.
Your day will start with a transfer towards the Historic town of Kruja. The town of Kruja rises 560 meters above sea level, on the slopes of Sari-Salltiku Mountain. It provides to the visitors the great view of majestic landscape and a rich collection of historical and cultural objects. The most important is the castle of Kruja, which was built during the 5th and 6th centuries and has an elliptical shape.
Our tour will start with a walk through the old bazaar of Kruja where people still sell carpets or other hand-made souvenirs just like they did in the medieval times. Continuing through the old bazaar the road goes up to the entrance of the medieval castle, the main fort of Scanderbeg and the main stronghold of the struggle of the Albanians against the huge Ottomans. Once inside the Castle our visit will continue first to the Scanderbeg Museum dedicated to the Albanian National Hero and then to the Ethnographic Museum where you will learn the way people in this region used to live and work during the 17-18 century. Once the visit of the museum is finished, you will be given free time at the old bazaar to stroll by yourself and shopping.
After the visit of Kruja you will have lunch with traditional food and pies especially cooked for you in the old town of Kruja. After a tasteful lunch you will be transferred back to Shkodra.
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.
After meeting with the guide you will be transferred towards Apollonia archeological park, for approximately a one hour drive. Apollonia is one of the most interesting Archaeological Parks in Albania, coming today from 6th century B.C. as one of the many Greek colonies in the Illyrian coast of Adriatic Sea. Soon it became a city state self-governed and its importance grew in the area especially after the connection with Dyrrachium with Via Egnatia.
The city flourished under Roman rule becoming an important producer of olives, wine and was also home of an important philosophy school where Emperor Augustus studied. Its downfall came in 3rd century A.D. because of an earthquake. Still, from history many attractions remain such as the famous great Odeon, a Nymphaeum, and many other remains that speak about the development it had once upon a time. There is also a church in the area, the St. Mary Church, important for the villages around and its specialty is in its age, standing since 12th century, and its wall paintings.
After visiting the archaeological park you will drive back towards Vlore, for your next destination Zvernec & Narta Lagoon. Zvërnec Island is an island within the Narta Lagoon in southern Albania. The island is nearly all covered with tall pine trees and is just east of a much smaller island. It is 430m in length and has a maximum width of 300m. Zvërnec Island is connected to the mainland by a 270m long wooden bridge.
The island is a tourist attraction because it contains the well preserved 13th-14th century Byzantine Zvërnec Monastery which you are going to visit. Near the island lies the village that bears the same name. The island has an area about 9 hectares.
After Zvernec you will be transferred back to Vlore port for the end of your journey.