Introducing Albania Tour

Day 1 – Welcome to Albania
On arrival at Tirana Airport you will be met by your guide and we will set off for the town of Shijak. The half hour drive will take us to the Kronos Agrotourism site, where you can begin your tour of Albania by experiencing some of the areas best local produce. We then continue to Durres where we will stay overnight.
Overnight in Durres

Day 2 - Fishte and Kruje
This morning we will visit a small family managed farm, where the cow’s milk is used for the production of cheese. You will learn about the cheese making process as well as getting involved if you wish. We will then continue on to a the village of Fishte for a traditional Albanian lunch. The restaurant offers a peaceful and panoramic view the village. Experience one of the highlights of Albanian Culinary in this family managed restaurant, which provides traditional food prepared in  creativity and innovative ways. There is the chance to enjoy a walk through the village to explore before our transfer to Kruja.

This small and charming town is perched on a hill, and was the centre of Albanian resistance against the Ottoman Turks under the national hero Scanderbeg. Scanderbeg’s defence stopped the Ottoman Turks from crossing into Western Europe for 25 years and earned him the title “Champion of Christ” by the Pope of the time. We will visit the Castle of Kruja, a wonderful museum situated in an original 17th century house and the Old Bazaar.
Overnight in Kruja (BL)

Day 3 – Ardenica, Apollonia and Vlore
After breakfast, our tour leaves for Vlora. On the way we will stop at the Monastery of Ardenica. Inside you can admire the paintings from 1743-1745 by Albanian artists such as Konstandin and Athanos Zografi, as well as Konstandin Shpataraku. We then continue to the ancient city of Apollonia situated on the famous Via Egnatia, one of the most important cities in Roman times. The Roman Emperor Augustus Octavian studied here. Afterwards we continue to Vlora where we visit the Independence Museum, situated in the original house where the first Independent Albanian Government had its offices. The rest of the afternoon and evening are at leisure.
Overnight in Vlora (B)

Day 4 - Butrint and Saranda
Enjoy your breakfast before we start our drive to Saranda on the spectacular Albanian Riviera looking down at the Ionian Sea. Breath-taking vista await us at the Llogara Pass, one of Albania's most famous places with the road providing one of the most spectacular drives in Europe. We continue to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Butrint. It’s one of the most important archaeological sites in the country containing different artifacts and structures which date from the Bronze Age up until the 19th century. There are a number of major monuments including the city walls, late-antique baptistery, great basilica, the theatre and Venetian castles. In the afternoon, we will visit Lekursi Castle with its beautiful view of the bay of Saranda and Corfu island.
Overnight in Saranda. (BL)

Day 5 - Tangerines Farm, Blue Eye Spring and Gjirokastra
This morning we will visit a local farm in Xarre (a village near Saranda), an area famous for the production of tangerines and olives. You will be guided through the tangerine fields and olive groves, and can enjoy picking and tasting the local produce. Our trip continues to Gjirokastra but we stop on the way to visit at the Blue Eye Spring, a beautiful fresh water spring that is said to look like a human eye. We continue to Gjirokastra, another UNESCO site and museum town with beautiful and very distinct architecture. The town of Gjirokastra is built on the slope of a hill and is known for its characteristic and narrow coble stone streets. The city was besieged and captured by the Ottomans in the 15th century, but unlike many other towns in Albania it flourished under its new rulers. In the 17th century it had over 2000 houses and was a very important trading town. The castle itself stands like a balcony over the city and gives visitors a wonderful view of the local area.
Overnight in Gjirokastra (BD)

Day 6 -  Farm, Vineyards and Berat
A morning transfer to Berat and when we arrive in this old UNESCO town we head for lunch in local restaurant. This is a great introduction to Berat as it is located by the old town, in a traditional style building and serves a traditional Albanian menu. After lunch, it is about a 10 minute drive to reach a small village where will meet the locals and explore the fields of figs, grapes and olives. You are welcome to get involved in picking the figs, help with the packing, or even inserting the sugar for jam or dried figs! We end our afternoon with a visit to a local winery where we can enjoy a tasting before heading back to Berat.
Overnight in Berat (BL)

Day 7 - Tirana
We begin the day with a sightseeing tour of Berat. Berat forms a wonderful combination of eastern and western cultures, costumes and traditions. The architecture of the old houses, with large windows that overlook the town, is the first thing that impresses the visitors. Our first stop is the Citadel. It overlooks the river and the modern city as well as the old Christian quarter across the river. The citadel can be reached by a steep road and is still inhabited. Inside the walls, you can visit ruined mosques and several medieval Orthodox churches, all intact and with restored frescoes and icons. Onufri National Museum is located in the inner part of “Saint Mary Church” in the Castle of Berat. This Museum offers a collection of 173 belonging of the founders of Albanian Churches and Monasteries. Having explored Berat, we leave the town and visit a fruit and vegetable farm en route to Tirana. You can decide whether to spend time walking, feeding the animals or getting involved in the daily farm jobs; or have a walking tour of the city, to see the main attractions of the centre.
Overnight in Tirana (BLD)

Day 8 – Depart Albania
At a suitable time you will transfer to the airport for your return flight. If there is time you may want to stop for lunch in an agritourism site which offers a farm visit and wine tasting.