Albania between east and west region


Trip description

You will explore its capital Tirana to begin to understand the history of the country. Then, towards Lake Ohrid to admire the fishing villages and its rich flora.

You will continue your trip to the mountains and meet its inhabitants to live a local experience and taste traditional local cuisine.

Another magnificent landscape is the Langarica canyon where you will taste the joys of thermal waters and walks with your feet in the water.

You will also visit a rich heritage with churches dating back to the 18th century. Then, you will go to Girokaster, a UNESCO heritage village to admire picturesque architecture before heading to the magnificent Albanian coast and its turquoise water riviera.

You will go up through Llogara National Park to admire incredible landscapes and will pass through the village of Berat, another UNESCO heritage.

Finally return to the capital before taking your international flight.

Discover the agency :
monplanvoyage


22 days

From : €1,800*

Maximum recommended reservation date
30/03/2021

Day 1: International flight - Tirana

Day 2: Tirana

Day 3: TIRANA - TUSHEMISHT

Day 4: TUSHEMISHT

Day 5: TUSHEMISHT - OHRID

Day 6: TUSHEMISHT - VOSKOPOJA - REHOVA

Day 7: REHOVA

Day 8: REHOVA - PERMET

Day 9: PËRMET - LANGARICA CANYON - PËRMET

Day 10: PËRMET

Day 11: PERMET - GJIROKÄSTER

Day 12: GJIROKÄSTER - KSAMIL

Day 13: KSAMIL

Day 14: KSAMIL

Day 15: KSAMIL

Day 16: KSAMIL - QEPARO

Day 17: QEPARO

Day 18: QEPARO - LLOGARA NATIONAL PARK

Day 19: LLOGARA BERAT NATIONAL PARK

Day 20: BERAT

Day 21: BERAT - TIRANA

Day 22: International flight

Day 1 : International flight - Tirana

PLACE SKANDERBEG ©Andrii Lutsyk - Shutterstock.com


Welcome and transfer to your hotel




Day 2 : Tirana

La place Skanderberg, Tirana. ©truba71 - Adobe Stock


We will come to provide you with the car in the morning.

Then visit Tirana with a guide.

City of bright colours and nightlife, Tirana is the nerve centre of the country. A visit to the national museum will give you an overview of the history and your trip to Albania. A walk in Tirana to visit places of worship: Mosque, Orthodox and Catholic Cathedral, will teach you more about the religious harmony that reigns in Albania.  




Day 3 : TIRANA - TUSHEMISHT

Village de pecheurs sur les rives du lac de Ohrid. ©Julie Briard


Today you will discover the town of Pogradec on the shores of Lake Ohrid. This lake is the deepest and one of the oldest lakes in Europe (280 metres), it has a varied wealth of species of fauna and flora, and it is also a UNESCO protected site. During your trip to Pogradec you will discover the fishing village called Lin. In Lin you can visit the mosaic which belongs to the Paleochristian period.

Then drive to the village of Tushemisht, where you will spend the night.




Day 4 : TUSHEMISHT

Lin. ©Matthias Krüttgen - Fotolia


Today you will discover the village where one of the most famous Albanian films "Zonja nga qyteti" was shot with its main character "Ollga", after whom one of the guest rooms in Tushemisht is named today. A day dedicated to relaxing by the lake. You can have lunch in one of the lakeside restaurants offering local fish.




Day 5 : TUSHEMISHT - OHRID

Campagne de Përmeti. ©Céline CHAUDEAU


The town of Ohrid is situated along the Ohrid Lake which is protected by UNESCO. Ohrid is one of those Balkan cities where modernity is mixed with the past. Here you can take a boat trip to see the site of "St. John Kaneo" which dominates the vastness of the lake, also you can visit the old theatre and the Byzantine Cathedral named "St. Sophia" with its magnificent frescoes of the 11th century.

In the late afternoon return to the village of Tushemisht.




Day 6 : TUSHEMISHT - VOSKOPOJA - REHOVA



Day dedicated to the discovery of the village of Voskopoja. This village, which in the 18th century was one of the most developed towns in Albania, will open the doors of its beautiful Orthodox churches. On arrival in Voskopoja you will start your walk towards the church of "Saint Prodhom". Afterwards you can visit the village and its other churches.

At the end of the afternoon you will leave for the village of Rehova where you will spend the night in a local house.




Day 7 : REHOVA

Tour de l'horloge de Voskopoja à Moscopole. ©Ollirg - Fotolia


Renowned for its culinary expertise, its stone houses and its charming church. The midday is reserved for the exchange with the inhabitants and the visit of the village. In Rehova you will taste the warmth and hospitality of the southern Albanians who will come to meet you, to share food and words.

You can also take a 3-hour hike in the mountains of Gramoz.




Day 8 : REHOVA - PERMET

Campagne de Permeti. ©Céline CHAUDEAU


On the way to the town of Përmet on your way you can stop at Farma Sotira. Imagine beautiful landscapes surrounded by mountains inhabited by many species of birds. A fountain where the fresh and clear water flows through the rocks on the top of the mountain, secret passages through the forests. Here you can enjoy local food cooked in the traditional way (wood oven and barbecue) while enjoying a small glass of local wine or raki. You can also enjoy a

Horse riding or walking in the surrounding area.

In the afternoon you will arrive in Përmet and settle in the hotel.




Day 9 : PËRMET - LANGARICA CANYON - PËRMET



Early morning departure to Langarica Canyon. The road to Langarica offers us beautiful natural scenery. A beautiful valley, high mountains, one of the few rivers in Europe still preserved in its pure state, Vjosa will be on the menu for the first part of this day. You will then discover the magnificent Canyon of Langarica.

For two hours you will wet your feet in the water and enjoy the beautiful natural scenery of this Canyon. The thermal waters of Bënja and the old Ottoman bridge are the jewels of this discovery.




Day 10 : PËRMET

Le port de Saranda. ©Aleksandar Todorovic - Adobe Stock


In Përmet, go and visit the Church of Saint Mary of Leusa which is a monument that belongs to the cultural heritage of the country. This church was built during the 18th century, but the first building dates back to the time of Emperor Justinian in the 6th century. Përmet is also known as the flowery town, a real agrotouristic stopover in the country. The landscape that accompanies you on this day is fabulous. You will also have the opportunity to take a closer look at the know-how of the local craftsmen and their local products such as jams, wine, raki, embroidery, etc.




Day 11 : PERMET - GJIROKÄSTER

La ville de Gjirokaster, ou est ne l ecrivain Ismail Kadare. ©Lev Levin - Shutterstock.Com


From here, head in the direction of Gjirokastra. Gjirokastra was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005 and is the birthplace of the great Albanian writer "Ismail Kadare" and on less literary notes, the home town of the former communist dictator Enver Hoxha.

The city is full of typical neighbourhoods and shady terraces, but above all it is home to the Ethnographic Museum and its fortress, witnesses of a large part of Albania's history. Gjirokastra has preserved its picturesque architecture, typical of the old Albanian houses.




Day 12 : GJIROKÄSTER - KSAMIL

Plage de Ksamil. ©Aleksandar Todorovic - SHutterstock.Com


On your way to Ksamil, you can stop to visit the Blue Eye, an eye shaped water source and then Saranda, the seaside town which offers a beautiful promenade.

These days will be dedicated to relaxing on the beach. Ksamil is the only sandy beach of the Albanian Riviera, this small village is famous for its turquoise water and its four islands facing the Greek island of Corfu.




Day 13 : KSAMIL

Baie de Ksamil. ©Céline CHAUDEAU


Free day.

Close to Ksamil is also the Butrint National Park which you can visit one of these days. Butrint is a UNESCO listed ancient town, built in an exceptional natural environment, a town that Jule Cesare turned into a residential town for his war generals, and an aristocratic cultural centre. Butrint has also been a true inspiration for various Greek authors and philosophers, who described it as the garden of democracy 2000 years before.

OPTIONAL- On these days at the beach you can rent boats to explore the motherland and the islands, and many opportunities to experience water sports.




Day 14 : KSAMIL

Baie de Ksamil. ©Céline CHAUDEAU


Free day




Day 15 : KSAMIL

Plage de Ksamil. ©upslim - Adobe Stock


Free day




Day 16 : KSAMIL - QEPARO

La riviera albanaise. ©lukaszimilena - Shutterstock.com


Morning departure to the beautiful Albanian Riviera. Throughout your journey you will be accompanied by the Ionian Sea and an impressive panorama. Today you will have the opportunity to discover and explore the small villages of Borsh and Qeparo, the fortress of Ali Pasha on the shores of the splendid bay of Palermo, the city of Himara with its lively evenings full of joy or the famous bays of the Riviera like Gjipe, Jala, Livadh and Dhërmi where you can stop for a beach break and dive into the turquoise waters of the Riviera.




Day 17 : QEPARO

Parc national de Butrint. ©Aleksandar Todorovic - Adobe Stock


Free day




Day 18 : QEPARO - LLOGARA NATIONAL PARK

Le Parc National de Llogara, près d'Orikum. ©Brykaylo Yuriy - Shutterstock.com


Route to the Llogara National Park. Once in the park you will be surrounded by incredible landscapes between different species of trees and plants. You will be able to go on hikes of different levels, but above all you will be able to admire the Ionian coast which will surely whet your appetite.




Day 19 : LLOGARA BERAT NATIONAL PARK

Eglise de la Sainte-Trinité, Berat. ©aterrom - Adobe Stock


You are going to discover the town of Berat, a city classified by UNESCO. "The town with a thousand windows", known and recognised for its facades and its adjoining houses, is the best preserved town in the country. The small streets of the ''Kala'' district and the Museum of the famous 16th century painter "ONUFRI" will leave you with some unforgettable memories.




Day 20 : BERAT

Chateau (Kalaja) de Berat. ©Céline CHAUDEAU


Free day




Day 21 : BERAT - TIRANA

Rivière traversant Tirana. ©Céline CHAUDEAU


Once you arrive in the capital you can spend your evening in the former Bllok district, a district dedicated to the communist government and where you can even look at the villa of the dictator Enver Hoxha today, or you can visit "Pazari i Ri" or the New Bazaar.

Both places are really lively and full of restaurants and bars.

The car will be picked up at the hotel in Tirana.




Day 22 : International flight



Transfer from the hotel to the airport.




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