Discover Albania

Albania, discover this 8-day trip

Beach Mountain Nature Culture Historical

Trip Description

Albania, the new country to discover... A 3,000-year-old history, a culture where ethnic and religious tolerance coexist in an exemplary way, Albania invites you to come and discover the beauties of a new land, still untouched by mass tourism. Birthplace of Mother Teresa, Mehmet Bay Kavalla (founder of modern Egypt), Castriot Skanderbeg, glorious defender of Europe against Islamization, and Ismaïl Kadaré, whose literary works have been translated into more than 40 languages, Albania is a country with a discreet identity, inhabited by a people developing its history, its culture, and its openness to the world. With its 440 km of coastline, its wild beaches and coves, its mountain landscapes and typical villages, Albania still resembles in some places a virgin country where time stands still, in the shade of a village square. The remains of contemporary and ancient history will undoubtedly appeal to enthusiasts. The flora and fauna, of great diversity, will offer a multitude of satisfactions to nature lovers, while the beaches of the Adriatic Sea will invite you to come and enjoy its summer softness. Albania is just waiting for your visit... Please find the time to visit it!

Accomodation

No accomodation information available

Stay program

day 1
Discover the capital of the country.
Our guide is waiting for us at Tirana airport. The program for visits on this first day is as follows: visit to the national museum overlooking Skanderbeg Square, passing by the Grand Palace of Culture, visit to the Hethem Bey mosque which dates from 1793, the best in all of Albania. Heading north to visit the new Bazaar, then a pedestrian walk in the Albanian Champs-Élysées, in the old Bolk district to visit the former villa of the dictator Enver Hoxha (1944-1990). A visit to a French bakery and pastry shop. We finish our program by also visiting the new Orthodox church built on the occasion of the first centenary of our National Independence. Overnight in Tirana.
day 2
To the north of the country
In the morning, we head towards the former capital of our national hero, George Castriot Scanderbeg, to visit his museum, the city's ethnographic museum, a tekke, then free time before lunch. We have lunch in Kruja. Our destination is the Catholic city of Shkoder, or the capital of Northern Albania, to visit the Rozafa citadel, the churches, and the mosque in the city center. Overnight in Shkoder.
day 3
To the Adriatic coast
After the meal, we head towards the coastal city of Durrës, the largest port in the country. There, we visit the richest archaeological museum in Albania and the largest amphitheater in the Balkans, which dates back to the 2nd century AD, with a capacity of 22,000 spectators. Along the way, we stop to taste Albanian wines at the COBO cellar, in the Berat region. Berat is the best site in the country, with its thousand stacked windows, listed by UNESCO for its two outstanding neighborhoods of Mangalem and Gorica. We visit the Onufri museum, the churches of the castle, not forgetting the splendid mosques of Berat. There is also a night walk along the city's main avenue to admire the well-lit neighborhoods of the city. Overnight in Berat.
day 4
The Albanian Riviera
In the morning, we head to the archaeological site of Apolonia, founded by the Greeks in the 6th century BC. On this site, we also visit an Armenian-style church, the monastery, a Roman villa, and the archaeological museum. Next, our journey leads us to the city of our National Independence, which was also visited in 1924 by a former French deputy, Justien Godart. In this coastal city, we visit the Independence Museum. After the meal, we cross the Albanian Côte d'Azur. Numerous stops are planned to take photos. Late in the day, we arrive in Sarande to attend the show of local songs and dances in the Lekures castle, which overlooks the city of the Forty Saints. Overnight in Sarande.
day 5
Butrint and the homeland of Enver Hoxha and Ismail Kadare.
In the morning, we head towards the archaeological site of Butrint, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1992. The Blue Eye is a peaceful and unmissable place at the same time. Our program continues with the discovery of the museum-city of Gjirokaster, also listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Gjirokaster is also the hometown of two great Albanian men who dominated the second half of the 20th century: ENVER HOXHA and ISMAIL KADARE. In this stone city, we visit the castle that overlooks the city, as well as the ethnographic museum (the former birthplace of the dictator). Free time in the cobbled streets of the city. Late in the afternoon, we arrive in a small provincial town. Overnight in Parmet.
day 6
The little Albanian Paris
In the morning, we head towards the east of the country. Our route winds between mountains, rolling hills, and still untouched landscapes, following the mythical Vjose river. In Korce, we visit the museum of the first Albanian school, the new cathedral, pass by the first high school in all the Balkans, which dates from 1917, and visit the French military cemetery from the Great War. A small beer in the dictator's summer residence, then afterwards, check-in at our hotel on the shore of Lake Ohrid.
day 7
On the trail of the ancient Egnatia road
In the morning, we head towards the fishing village overlooking the turquoise waters of the lake. Our street follows the ancient Egnatia road, which connected Rome and Constantinople in antiquity. We arrive in Tirana to visit the international center of the Bektashis (of the same importance as Mecca and Jerusalem for this branch of Islam). Overnight in Tirana.
day 8
Day of departure
Back home