Escorted Tours Albania

Albania Tour and Trip Ideas

Albania has a rich and complex history. It has been home to several different civilizations and peoples over the centuries, including the Illyrians, Romans, Byzantines, Ottomans, and Communists. The earliest known inhabitants of Albania were the Illyrians, a group of tribes that lived in the western Balkans. The Illyrians were skilled metalworkers and farmers, and they were known for their fierce resistance to foreign invaders. In the 4th century BC, the Illyrian king Bardylis defeated the army of the Macedonian king Philip II in battle, and his successors continued to resist Macedonian and Roman rule for centuries.

In the 2nd century BC, the Romans conquered Illyria and made it a province of the Roman Empire. They built roads, cities, and aqueducts and introduced Christianity to the region. Albania became part of the Byzantine Empire when the Roman Empire split in two in the 4th century AD. In the 7th century, the Slavs began to migrate into the Balkans and settle in what is now Albania. The Byzantine Empire struggled to maintain control over the region, and by the 11th century, several independent Albanian principalities had emerged.

In the 14th century, the Ottoman Empire expanded into the Balkans, and the country came under Ottoman rule in 1478. The Ottomans ruled Albania for over four centuries, and during this time, Islam became the dominant religion in the region. Despite Ottoman attempts to suppress Albanian identity and culture, the Albanian language and customs persisted, and a sense of national consciousness began to develop among the Albanians. In the 19th century, as the Ottoman Empire weakened, a movement for Albanian independence emerged. 1912 Albania declared its independence from the Ottoman Empire, and a constitutional monarchy was established. However, the country was soon caught up in the political turmoil of World War I and the Balkan Wars, and various foreign powers occupied it in the interwar period.

During World War II, Albania was occupied by Italy and then by Germany after Italy surrendered. The Albanian resistance, led by the Communist Party, fought against the occupiers and eventually liberated the country in 1944. In 1946, Albania became a Communist state under the leadership of Enver Hoxha, who ruled with an iron fist until he died in 1985. Under Hoxha's regime, Albania became one of the world's most isolated and repressive countries. After the fall of communism in Europe in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Albania underwent a period of political and economic transition. The country held its first democratic elections in 1992, and since then, it has made progress in building democratic institutions and integrating into the international community. Albania joined NATO in 2009 and has applied for membership in the European Union.

Albania is a small but proud country with a rich cultural heritage and a rapidly developing economy. Despite its troubled history, Albania has emerged as a resilient and forward-looking nation that looks to the future with optimism and hope. Contact Our Local Tour for whatever type of travel tour you are looking for in Albania. We can also combine our tours in Albania with a North Macedonia holiday or tour, covering more of this fantastic region.