The Spectacular Central Albania

The Spectacular Central Albania

5 Days Starting and ending in Tirana, Albania

Visiting: Tirana, Lezhë County, Shkodër, Kruje, Durrës, Berat

Tour operator:

Albania Explorer

Tour code:

736044

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

1 - 26

Physical rating:

Medium, Low, EASY

Age range:

12-89

Special diets catered:

Vegetarians, Gluten Free

Tour operated in:
English
Activities:

Sightseeing, Walking

Private Available:

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From:
$347
$332 Exclusive Tourhub Members Discount: -$16

NB: Prices correct on 20-May-2024 but subject to change.

This tour is no longer available, please see similar tours below or send an enquiry

Tour Overview

Tucked away in a little visited corner of Europe lies Albania, a charming and delightful country that few people know much about. For years Albania was a closed society, ruled by the iron fist of Communism, but since the end of the Cold War it has been showing curious travellers its many charms. Explore the crossroads of Europe’s East and West mosaic to cultures inherited in millenniums starting from Illyrians-Pelasgians (which Albanians are their direct descendants), and also Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Slavic and Ottoman inheritance (part of famous ancient via Egnatia road connecting rome with Istanbul via Durres-Ohrid-Bitola-Thessaloniki, etc.) Visits in fascinating historical cities such as Durres, Tirana, Lezhe, Shkoder. This part of Europe is also blessed with incredible scenery with imposing mountains, pristine lakes and traditional villages tucked away in pretty valleys.

Highlights

  • Tucked away in a little visited corner of Europe lies Albania, a charming and delightful country that few people know much about

  • Explore the crossroads of Europe’s East and West mosaic to cultures inherited in millenniums starting from Illyrians-Pelasgians (which Albanians are their direct descendants), and also Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Slavic and Ottoman inheritance (part of famous ancient via Egnatia road connecting rome with Istanbul via Durres-Ohrid-Bitola-Thessaloniki, etc

  • For years Albania was a closed society, ruled by the iron fist of Communism, but since the end of the Cold War it has been showing curious travellers its many charms

  • ) Visits in fascinating historical cities such as Durres, Tirana, Lezhe, Shkoder

  • This part of Europe is also blessed with incredible scenery with imposing mountains, pristine lakes and traditional villages tucked away in pretty valleys

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1 : Arrival - Tirana.

Location: Tirana

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Overnight at Freddy’s Hotel 3* or similar.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Pickup from Tirana International Airport and transfer to the city. After arrival and check in the hotel. We start exploring Albania’s capital. We will visit Skanderbeg Square, dedicated to Albania’s national hero, the Mosque of Ethem Bey, one of the oldest buildings in Tirana, and the Archaeological Museum among other sites. Visit the Skanderbeg Square, Mosque of Et’hem Bey (1824), the Clock Tower (1822), the National Museum, Grand Park and government buildings, and BunkArt. Overnight at Freddy’s Hotel 3* or similar.

Day 2 : Lezhe - Shkoder - Tirana

Location: Lezhë County, Shkodër, Tirana

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Overnight at Freddy’s Hotel 3* or similar.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Pickup from Tirana International Airport and transfer to the city. After arrival and check in the hotel. We start exploring Albania’s capital. We will visit Skanderbeg Square, dedicated to Albania’s national hero, the Mosque of Ethem Bey, one of the oldest buildings in Tirana, and the Archaeological Museum among other sites. Visit the Skanderbeg Square, Mosque of Et’hem Bey (1824), the Clock Tower (1822), the National Museum, Grand Park and government buildings, and BunkArt. Overnight at Freddy’s Hotel 3* or similar.

Day 3 : Kruje - Durres - Tirane

Location: Kruje, Durrës, Tirana

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Overnight at Freddy’s Hotel 3* or similar.

Meals Included: Breakfast

 After breakfast we head to Kruja, one of Albania’s most important towns due to the part it played in resistance against the Ottomans. Visit the Skanderbeg Museum and castle as well as the old bazaar. Then heading to Durres. This port city, is the most important ancient central mediterranean metropol until medieval time in the 15th century when it got occupied by ottomans until 1912 when Albania proclaimed its independence, and Durres became its capital until 1920. (Durres is also more than 3500 years old (mentioned first time in Odisea where Ulicsus spent part of his time in Taulantia (ancient Pelasgian-Illyrian name of Epidamn-Durrah-Durres) on his way back to Itaka after Troyan war. This city has the largest Roman amphitheater in the Balkan region (about 20,000 seats), dating back to the beginning of the 2nd century which we will visit with an archeological museum, ancient city castle wall and bizatine bazaar/forum, Roman public baths, etc. Return to Tirana for overnight. Overnight at Freddy’s Hotel 3* or similar. (B)

Day 4 : Berat (Unesco) - Tirane

Location: Berat, Tirana

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Overnight at Freddy’s Hotel 3* or similar. (B)

Meals Included: Breakfast

After breakfast we continue to Berat where we have a short visit in Elbasan city and Belsh Lake (part of Dumrea group of carstic lakes in central Albania, also so-called little-Toscana). Then we will continue to Berat, one of the oldest inhabited regions of Albania, more than 2400 years old, and with special status from UNESCO. Visit to its castle of Berat with Onufri museum and other churches inside; Mosque of Berat and the old Bridge of Gorica, Onufri Museum and several churches and mosques. Onufri was an Albanian master painter of the 16th. Many of his wonderfully painted icons still remain in the museum while others can be found in churches in Albania and Greece where he worked. Lunch at traditional restaurant. Then continue to tirana for overnight. Overnight at Freddy’s Hotel 3* or similar. (B)

Day 5 : Departure

Location: Tirana International Airport

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast

Transfer to Tirana Airport for departure. End of services. (B)

What's Included

- Airport transfers and all other transfers as per itinerary.

- Accommodation on standard double occupancy rooms in 3*/4* hotels (as indicated, or similar)

- Transportation with modern AC car/minibus/bus, etc.) during all tour itinerary.

- English speaking guide during all tour itinerary, and local guides (as applicable)

What's Not Included

- International airfare and airport taxes

- All museums and other sites entry tickets as per itinerary.

- Tirana National Museum

- Skanderbeg Mausoleum in Lezha

- Rozafa Castle in Shkodra

- Skanderbeg Museum in Kruja

- Amphitheater in Durres

- Onufri Museum in Berat

- Driver/guides tips,

- Gratuities and individual daily expenses and porterage

- Everything not mentioned in “Inclusions”

- Travel insurance

- Trip/tour cancellation

- No show

Please Note

Price assumes the itinerary is purchased "as it is". Minor changes to hotels or hotel add-ons to the beginning or the end of the existing itinerary can be made at no extra charge. Prices are shown in Euro and may or may not include administrative fees, taxes, meals, airfare (where applicable) and Single Supplements. Cancellation penalties, blackout dates and other restrictions may apply.

Check out our Q&As

  • Do I need Travel insurance?

    We do not offer insurance packages but we highly recommend travel protection, it’s important to protect your trip investment and loved ones. We will offer you the best option for your vacation.

  • Do you book group travel ?

    Yes, we book group travel all the time! We specialize in helping groups of all sizes plan their dream trips. From family reunions to corporate retreats, we can take care of all the details so you can relax and enjoy your time away.

  • How do I set up the consultation with the Albania Explorer agent ?

    To set up a consultation with Albania Explorer's travel expert, you can contact us directly via phone or email us at contact@albaniaexplorer.com. You can even reach us on Whatsapp at +355 68 399 9480 . local operation working hours during week monday to friday : 08.00-18.00 , saturday 09.00-14.00 , Sunday - off.

  • Will you available while I am on my vacation?

    Yes, we will be available to answer any questions or address any concerns that you may have. You can get in touch with us anytime. We are committed to providing the best possible service and helping our clients create memorable vacations that they will always remember.

Reviews of this operator

meir shabtai mazar (Google Reviewer)  

as a 50 years experience...

05-Sep-2019

as a 50 years experience as guide myself i can said that the 7 days of tour in Albania was orgenized perfectly by the travl company was perfect. the guide Dashi did more then we could expect to introduce his country to us.. the cost more then fair.

CARMEN DOGARU (Google Reviewer)  

It was a better experience...

16-May-2024

It was a better experience than I expected. The guide was very knowlegeble and ready to help us

Jawad Mohammed (Google Reviewer)  

I visited Albania, Montenegro, Kosovo...

13-Aug-2019

I visited Albania, Montenegro, Kosovo and the Republic of North Macedonia with this company. We had a wonderful time and a trip full of adventure and beautiful memories. Before the visit, I had a lot of doubt about the safety and the tourism potential of those countries compared to other countries that I visited in western, northern, central and eastern Europe. I started contacting a number of tour agencies in the Balkan region for the arrangements. The moment I dealt with Albania Explorer, I felt very comfortable because of their professional dealing and prompt responses. Moreover, their price was reasonable and competitive compared to other agencies. All the arrangements were perfect. Ms.Alma, the booking/ arrangements manager was very helpful. In addition, the tour guide and driver, Mr. Stive, was very professional, friendly and knowledgeable about all the countries we visited with him. Moreover, we found all the above mentioned countries to be very charming, safe and full of tourist attractions and places worth visiting. I highly recommend dealing with this agency for visiting Albania and the surrounding Balkan countries. You can rely on their professionalism and expertise to have an unforgettable trip

Karmen Louis  

Review

23-May-2020

Albania Explorer helped me during my trip to Albania. Being an outsider, this place was unknown for me. But they helped me very well and made my trip awesome. Thanks.

Ziad S. Abdul Majid (Google Reviewer)  

I recently used Albania Explorer...

25-Apr-2023

I recently used Albania Explorer Tour for my vacation and I was blown away by their amazing service! From start to finish, the team was incredibly helpful, knowledgeable, and accommodating. They took the time to listen to my needs and preferences, and created a personalized itinerary that exceeded my expectations. Throughout my trip, everything ran smoothly thanks to the excellent planning and attention to detail. The accommodations were top-notch, the activities were well-organized, and the guides were friendly and informative. Overall, I had an unforgettable experience thanks to Albania Explorer Tour and I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for a stress-free and enjoyable vacation. Thank you to the entire team for their exceptional service!

Allison Ford (Google Reviewer)  

I booked Albania explorer’s Dajti...

22-Jun-2023

I booked Albania explorer’s Dajti cable care experience and had the loveliest time! Maybe not for people who are scared of heights but also a good opportunity to conquer that fear! Edmond was our tour guide and he was such a delight! He made us feel very comfortable and cared for, he really went above and beyond! Edmond also had a lot of knowledge and personable stories to share, I would recommend him and this company to anybody visiting Albania / Balkan region!

Sam Parkin  

Review

15-Apr-2021

It was great experience to travel in Albania. This is my second trip of albania with this agency and its wonderful.

JULIE MUNDAY (Google Reviewer)  

We went on the 7...

15-Apr-2022

We went on the 7 day Illyrian Route tour in April 2022. From the start the communication with the company was excellent. They were quick to respond and very helpful. We were fully expecting to join a small group tour but when we were picked up we found out it was just us two and our excellent guide Saimir. We were very lucky to have such an informative and friendly guide and to enjoy such a personal tour. We would never have been able to discover so much of this beautiful country by ourselves. We saw so much and were able to visit places you just couldn’t reach by public transport. The tour was a good pace and we were able to be flexible with times for setting off every day and we had time to ourselves in each place in the evenings. We learnt so much about the history and culture of Albania and have Saimir to thank for this. The hotels varied between traditional and modern but most also had a great buffet breakfast. The food in Albania is excellent and we ate very well. I would definitely recommend this tour to others and also Saimir as a very friendly, helpful and informative guide.

Olesea Alexandra (Google Reviewer)  

When you consider a trip...

14-Apr-2024

When you consider a trip and get to know a country, the first thing you want is safety and then satisfy your curiosity, get to know another culture, live experiences and rest from the routine life of your place of origin. Companies that work in the travel sector work with hopes and expectations. Clients make a significant financial effort and many sacrifices to be able to have a few pleasant days/weeks, in this case in Albania. A single person can ruin the work of an entire team. When you hire an agency like this, the visible face of the company is the tour guide who is the coordinator and the person who spends the most time with you. For a travel agency, this figure should be carefully selected because behind that choice there are many other people involved, in the selection of hotels, in the chosen itinerary, in administration, in the purchase of tickets and flights (in many cases). , drivers etc. In our case, the person chosen, Florian xhekaj, was a total mistake and nightmare, horrible experience. His knowledge of Spanish was level A2 (lower intermediate), to be generous. He didn't understand you nor did we understand him in the explanations. When I asked him the first day how long he had been a tour guide, the first lie came and he told me 6 years which was not true. Their lack of knowledge of the history of Albania was proverbial (without being experts in history, their disorientation in dates, centuries and historical people was obvious) their lack of interest in explaining important things was absolute (He did not even explain to us that we could not drink tap water) He did not announce the meeting times nor did he tell if we were all there (we organized ourselves among the people in the group) he did not know the Orthodox liturgy (my partner is Orthodox and had to correct him on numerous occasions for giving wrong information) and also the Muslim one. He boasted of knowing Spain and its history, of having studied philology and a master's degree in tourism, but we really came to the conclusion that either he was the worst in the class or the level of demand in Albania is limited. On the last day he didn't even say goodbye to the group after having been together for 10 days. That is a sign of very serious lack of respect for the company and for us as clients or people, but even though it is serious, it was worse that he vented his frustration every day with the driver (Uzur, who was an excellent and professional driver) speaking badly about the group (we called aristocrats ) spoke badly about the agency and its salary conditions, selected itineraries and in general everything bothered him and he took it on the bad side. We sat next to the driver and the new mobile phones with artificial intelligence translate everything from Albanian to Spanish or English in real time, so we couldn't believe what the phone was translating to our endless surprise. I don't know if the guides in Albania have this profile, if they are not used to tourism or if they take us for ignorance but in the end they play with illusions and with a lack of respect and there is only one person in charge and it is the agency that hires this type of people who are not prepared to perform a function as beautiful as teaching your country, your culture and your history. Please don´t day this person not worked for Albanian explorer and please don´t send us a template message of apologies because it is too late. You should know at this point who you work with and who represents your company.

Anthony Peters (Google Reviewer)  

Horrible experience with tour guide...

14-Apr-2024

Horrible experience with tour guide in Spanish called Florian. He has not an attitude to be a guide, to coordinate anything or to explain elementary things about culture or history about Albania. He looks to be more interested in video games or stuff like that. He looks to be another tourist rather than a person that organizes times, schedules or meetings. His level of Spanish is so poor as his knowledge of history. This type of persons ruins a company.

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Book with Confidence

  • Low Deposit

    Albania Explorer requires a minimum deposit of 10% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 30 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of albania explorer charges.

    At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.

    At 15 days before tour starts: Forfeit 70% of booking price.

    At 7 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.

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