After meeting with the guide, you will be transferred for 75 minutes towards Tirana. Capital of the Republic of Albania, with a population of just over 700.000, lies at the foot of Dajti Mountain (1612 m) at the 110 m above the 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 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. Next the visit will continue on foot towards the National Art Gallery. It has a fund of over 4,000 works of art by Albanian and foreign authors, spanning seven centuries of Albanian cultural heritage. Finishing the visit of the National Gallery, 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.
Some free time for you before departure. With nice memories on your head, you will be transferred back to the pier.
Your day starts with the transfer to the memorial tomb of Scanderbeg. The Memorial of Skanderbeg was inaugurated in 1981 in honor of Albania’s national hero, Gjergj Kastrioti. It was built at his burial place, over the ruins of the Church of San Nikolas in the town of Lezha. After the Ottomans invaded Lezha, they destroyed the church and the tomb of Skanderbeg. The church was later reconstructed in the beginning of the 20th century. Inside the memorial, there are displayed a copy of Skanderbeg’s sword and helmet, along with emblems of the Albanian feudal families during the period.
After the visit of Scanderbeg you will continue towards Winery Kallmeti, one of the best in Albania. Kallmeti Winery was legally created in 2007 thanks to the passion of three brothers for wine and for their home territory. In the very heart of Kallmet birth land, where the grape takes its name, the Gjini family aims to produce Kallmet wine at its best. From a production of 5.000 L, the winery has been growing to reach a production of 40.000 L. Wine is entirely produced with Kallmet grape, half grown by local producers in the Kallmet area half produced in our vineyards near the winery and in the Bukemire area.
The grape features different characteristics according to the place where it has grown, making the most of the soil and the climatic conditions. Kallmet is a stony area where the grape can express its full potential: from our 25 years old vineyards we produce grape for “Kallmet Prestige”, the excellence of our production. After the visit of the winery and Wine tasting, you will be transferred to the nearby Restaurant Mrizi i Zanave.
Three beautiful and delicious dishes from Mrizi i Zanave, in the village of Fishte, near the city of Shkodra in Albania. This is a hidden gem in the countryside, a restaurant that cultivates its own produce or sources it from local farmers. The restaurant is very popular and it attracts a clientele from the capital. The chef has worked in Italy and decided to start his own place back home. The first two dishes are a selection of starters, including a pie with spinach and corn flower, feta cheese, grilled aubergines and deep fried flowers of courgette in batter, a selection of pickles with pickled peaches amongst others, homemade fruit syrup and cloves of garlic. The third dish is lamb shish kebabs, with potatoes and fresh porcini mushrooms from the mountains of Puka, further up north.
You will be amazed by the experience of the Village of Fishte, transferring back to your ship for 45 min drive with a smile on your face and with your mind back to Albania.
After meeting with your guide you will be firstly transferred towards 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.
Once you are in Shkodra you will visit Rozafa castle located in the top of the hill and one of the oldest castles in Albania. 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 castle you will visit the city center of Shkodra, the promenade in Italian style, Ebu Bekr mosque, Catholic cathedral etc. Finished the visit of Shkodra you will be transferred in Shengjin, for the next destination of the day: the memorial tomb of Scanderbeg. The Memorial of Skanderbeg was inaugurated in 1981 in honor of Albania’s national hero, Gjergj Kastrioti. It was built at his burial place, over the ruins of the Church of San Nikolas in the town of Lezha. After the Ottomans invaded Lezha, they destroyed the church and the tomb of Skanderbeg. The church was later reconstructed in the beginning of the 20th century. Inside the memorial, there are displayed a copy of Skanderbeg’s sword and helmet, along with emblems of the Albanian feudal families during the period. After the visit of Scanderbeg you will continue towards Winery Kallmeti, one of the best in Albania.
Kallmeti Winery was legally created in 2007 thanks to the passion of three brothers for wine and for their home territory. In the very heart of Kallmet birthland, where the grape takes its name, the Gjini family aims to produce Kallmet wine at its best. From a production of 5.000 L, the winery has been growing to reach a production of 40.000 L. Wine is entirely produced with Kallmet grape, half grown by local producers in the Kallmet area half produced in our vineyards near the winery and in the Bukemire area. The grape features different characteristics according to the place where it has grown, making the most of the soil and the climatic conditions. Kallmet is a stony area where the grape can express its full potential: from our 25 years old vineyards we produce grape for “Kallmet Prestige”, the excellence of our production.
After the visit of the winery and transfer back to the pier.
The day starts in the morning with a hike up to Renci Mountain. There are amazing views towards the town, Albanian sea shore and the mountains. Mali i Rencit is a mountain and is located in Shengjin, Lezhë district, Albania. The estimate terrain elevation above sea level is 299 metres. Once made our way down toward Gjader, you can have some photos of the military airport built during the communism time and the hangars inside the mountain.
After the photos you will be transferred by bus to Fishta village, at Mrizi i Zanave restaurant for a delicious lunch. Three beautiful and delicious dishes from Mrizi i Zanave, in the village of Fishte, near the city of Shkodra in Albania. This is a hidden gem in the countryside, a restaurant that cultivates its own produce or sources it from local farmers. The restaurant is very popular and it attracts a clientele from the capital. The chef has worked in Italy and decided to start his own place back home. The first two dishes are a selection of starters, including a pie with spinach and corn flower, feta cheese, grilled aubergines and deep fried flowers of courgette in batter, a selection of pickles with pickled peaches amongst others, homemade fruit syrup and cloves of garlic. The third dish is lamb shish kebabs, with potatoes and fresh porcini mushrooms from the mountains of Puka, further up north.
You will be amazed by the experience of the Village of Fishte, transferring back to your ship for 30 minutes drive with a smile on your face and with your mind back to Albania.
Your day will start with a transfer for 60 minutes 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.
You will meet your guide again just at the entrance of the bazaar to enjoy an refreshment, wine taste different, try Albanian original home-made Rakia with traditional food and pies especially cooked for you in the old town of Kruja.
After a tasteful refreshment, you will be transferred back to your ship in a 60 minutes drive towards Shengjin.
After meeting with the guide and embarking on the jeeps, you will be transferred to Theth,a small village in the heart of the Albanian Alps. Theth is a community in the Shalë municipality, Shkodër District, northern Albania. The community is at the centre of the Theth National Park, an area of outstanding natural beauty which covers an area of 2,630 hectares and is located along the Theth River.
The main attractions in the park are the Grunas Waterfall. This exciting off-road excursion in search of adventure, will allow you to cover parts of northern Albania and appreciate sights that most visitors never get to discover. We’ll drive on dirt roads off the beaten track, through mountains into the heart of Albanian Alps. Learn the real life of the rural part of the small but charming country of Albania.
Once arrived in Theth, you will firstly visit Grunas waterfall, the canions of Theth and the lock in tower. After the visits you will have lunch a guest house and enjoy the wonderful view that the wild nature in Theth offers to you.
After lunch you will drive towards Shengjin and the Port for 3 hours of time.