This morning after breakfast we drive to Kruja. Kruja a small characteristic town perched on a hill, centre of Albanian resistance against the Ottoman Turks under our national hero Scanderbeg. He kept them from crossing into Western Europe for 25 years, thus earning the title “Protector of Christianity” given by the Pope of the time. We will visit the Castle of Kruja, Scanderbeg Museum, one of the best kept museums in the country, a very rich Ethnographic Museum situated on an original house of the 17th century and the Old Bazaar.
Have a characteristic Albanian lunch in Kruja(optional). Return to Durres.
Overnight in Durres, Hotel 4*
We depart for the Monastery of Ardenica. Ardenica Abbey (church) it was built in the Middle ages as argued by a stone in entrance dating back to the 1417. Today inside the church you can admire pictures of 1743-1745 years, by Albanian artists such as Konstandin and Athanos Zografi, as well as Konstandin Shpataraku. Our national Hero Gjergj Kastrioti Scanderbeg married at the chapel of this monastery. Lunch in a traditional restaurant (optional).
After the lunch we depart for the ancient city of Apollonia one of the most important ancient centers in Roman times on the famous Via Egnatia. A testimony to the development of this city in general and its cultural importance in particular is that the Roman Emperor Augustus Octavian himself studied here. We will be able to visit the ruins, including the library as well as a nearby Monastery of the 14th century turned into the archaeological museum where objects from the excavations are displayed. After the visits we go to Vlora. Overnight in Vlora, Hotel 3* Superior.
After breakfast a visit at the independence museum and later on drive to Radhima beach for a day of relax by the Ionian sea. Overnight in Vlora, Hotel 3* Superior.
Early in the morning we depart for Saranda. Drive on the spectacular Albanian Riviera looking down at the Ionian Sea. Lunch Independently in the town of Saranda. In the afternoon beach relaxation at the Ksamil Islands with some of the most beautiful
beaches. Return for dinner at Saranda at a local restaurant. Overnight in Saranda, Hotel 4*
This day after breakfast we will visit the ancient city of Butrint, a world heritage site. The city was first settled by Greek colonists and was continuously inhabited for centuries forming archaeological layers of passing civilizations. It is situated in a peninsula among dense vegetation. Lunch at Butrint or Ksamil ( Optional ). Afternoon relax at Saranda Beach. Dinner and overnight in Hotel 4*
Early in the morning we depart to visit Finiq(Phoenike) the ancient capital of Epirus. Afterwards drive to Gjirokastra a UNESCO site and museum town with a unique and very distinct architecture. On the way visit the natural spring called the blue eye. In Gjirokastra we will visit the Fortress which is used as the venue for the National Festival of Folk Song and Dance and has an arms museum with weapons from WW I. Next we visit the Ethnographic Museum which is also the house the Albanian dictator was born in. Afterwards we check in at the hotel and the group is then left at leisure to explore Gjirokastra. Dinner and overnight in Gjirokastra, Hotel 3*
Today we drive to Berat. Being more than 2400 year old the town it is one of the most attractive towns in Albania. Established in the 3rd century B.C by an Illyrian tribe of central Albania with a protective castle, it was known as the fortified city of Antipatrea. In 1417 the town was occupied by the Turks who build quite a few mosques in the area below the town’s old castle. Berat is situated at the foot of Tomorri Mountain and on the shores of River Osum. It is famous for its white-washed houses with their many windows which, seem to have been build on top of each other, that give it the nickname “town of a thousand windows”. The castle is the only one in Albania and perhaps one of the few in the World that still has houses and inhabitants within its walls. We will visit the Fortress, Onufri Museum and several churches and mosques. Onufri was an Albanian master painter of the 16th century who painted many church icons in Albania and Greece and is famous for its red colour named after him. After visits we will have lunch inside castle, where we will sample the delicious cuisine of this town. Overnight Berat Hotel 3*
We will depart for Tirana where we will be driving to see the main government buildings, the colorful apartment blocks, work of the Mayors ingenuity. Then we will visit the Ethem Bey Mosque and Clock Tower which have become the postcard symbols of Tirana’s city center.
Afterwards we will visit the National Historic Museum with artifacts and testimony of our history from prehistoric times to present day. Afterwards we take a walk in the area
known as the Blloku where the Communist elite used to have their villas. Now it is one of the trendiest areas of Tirana full of stylish bars, and clubs for the younger generations. Overnight at Hotel 4*
Transfer to Tirana International Airport.