Classical Tour of Albania

Fly to Tirana and transfer to Kruja, the former capital when Skanderbeg led the resistance movement against the Turks, keeping them at bay for 25 years. Visit the Ethnographic Museum and the Skanderbeg Museum, within Kruja castle. Overnight at the 3-star Hotel Panorama.

Travel to Tirana to visit the National Archaeological Museum and Bunk'Art, a massive anti-nuclear bunker built for the communist dictator Enver Hoxha, now converted into a museum followed by a walking tour in Tirana focusses on the Bllok area, a former exclusive enclave of villas for the communist elite. Continue to Berat, a UNESCO World Heritage town, renowned for its 16th-century mosques and tiers of multi-windowed Ottoman houses. Two nights at the 3-star Hotel Mangalemi or the Hotel Plaza.
(B, D)

Visit Berat’s citadel castle, crowning the hill, and the Onufri Museum – a celebrated 16th century artist, Onufri’s work includes the interiors of many of Albania’s Orthodox churches. Enjoy a visit to a local home for Turkish coffee and raki.
(B)

 Travel to the ancient ruins of Roman Appolonia, where the Emperor Augustus Octavian studied, and visit the site’s old Orthodox monastery, now the museum. Continue along the superbly scenic Albanian Riviera to Llogara National Park. We will do a short hike to Ceasar’s Pass, named after Julius Caesar who marched down near the area in pursuit of Pompei. Overnight at 4-star Llogara Tourist Village, within the national park.
(B)

Continue crossing the Llogara Pass enroute to Porto Palermo’s Ali Pasha fort, for a short stop. Travel past Saranda to visit UNESCO listed Butrint, the ancient city nestled amid luxuriant greenery on its beautiful peninsula. First settled by Greek colonists, its ruins are evidence of many centuries of continuous inhabitation. Drive to the medieval ‘Museum City’ of Gjirokastra, its characterful tower-houses clinging to the mountain slope beneath its crowning castle. Spend two nights at the 4-star Hotel Fantasy or the 4-star Bineri Hotel (4 - Star City Street Hotel 19 May, 02, 16 June, 7 July Departures).
(B)

 Visit the Castle and Ethnographic Museum, which is the house where the Albanian dictator Enver Hoxha was born. Lunch at a village home in Dhoksat. Afternoon is free to explore the town with its characteristic houses, streets and shops.
(B, L)

Drive to the ancient site of Bylis, overlooking the timeless landscape from its hillside setting; and continue to the capital, Tirana. Visit the World Headquarters of the Bektashi liberal sect of Islam and enjoy a drink at Komiteti Communist Museum Bar. Overnight at the 4-star Hotel Opera (4 -Star Oxford Hotel 7 July 29 September , 13 October, 10 November )  Enjoy dinner at an organic farm.
(B, D)

 Transfer to the airport for return flight.
(B)

Fly to Tirana and transfer to Berat, a UNESCO World Heritage town, renowned for its 16th-century mosques and tiers of multi-windowed Ottoman houses. Two nights at the 3-star Hotel Mangalemi or similar.
(D)

Visit Berat’s citadel castle, crowning the hill, and the Onufri Museum – a celebrated 16th century artist, Onufri’s work includes the interiors of many of Albania’s Orthodox churches. Enjoy a visit to a local home for Turkish coffee and raki.
(B)

Travel to the ancient ruins of Roman Appolonia, where the Emperor Augustus Octavian studied, and visit the site’s old Orthodox monastery, now the museum. Continue along the superbly scenic Albanian Riviera to Llogara National Park. We will do a short hike to Ceasar’s Pass, named after Julius Caesar who marched down near the area in pursuit of Pompei. Overnight at 4-star Llogara Tourist Village, within the national park.
(B)

Continue crossing the Llogara Pass enroute to Porto Palermo’s Ali Pasha fort, for a short stop. Travel past Saranda to visit UNESCO listed Butrint, the ancient city nestled amid luxuriant greenery on its beautiful peninsula. First settled by Greek colonists, its ruins are evidence of many centuries of continuous inhabitation. Drive to the medieval ‘Museum City’ of Gjirokastra, its characterful tower-houses clinging to the mountain slope beneath its crowning castle. Spend two nights at the 3-star Hotel Fantasy or similar.
(B)

Visit the Castle and Ethnographic Museum, which is the house where the Albanian dictator Enver Hoxha was born. Lunch at a village home in Dhoksat. Afternoon is free to explore the town with its characteristic houses, streets and shops.
(B, L)

Drive to the ancient site of Bylis, overlooking the timeless landscape from its hillside setting; and continue to the capital, Tirana. Visit the World Headquarters of the Bektashi liberal sect of Islam and enjoy a drink at Komiteti Communist Museum Bar. Overnight at the 4-star Hotel Opera. Enjoy dinner at an organic farm.
(B, D)

Visit to the National Archaeological Museum and Bunk'Art, a massive anti-nuclear bunker built for the communist dictator Enver Hoxha, now converted into a museum followed by a walking tour in Tirana focusses on the Bllok area, a former exclusive enclave of villas for the communist elite. Travel to Kruja, the former capital when Skanderbeg led the resistance movement against the Turks, keeping them at bay for 25 years. Visit the Ethnographic Museum and the Skanderbeg Museum, within Kruja castle. Overnight at the 3-star Hotel Panorama.
(B)

Transfer to the airport for return flight.
(B)

Fly to Tirana and transfer to Berat, a UNESCO World Heritage town, renowned for its 16th-century mosques and tiers of multi-windowed Ottoman houses. Two nights at the 3-star Hotel Plaza. (D)

Visit Berat’s citadel castle, crowning the hill, and the Onufri Museum – a celebrated 16th century artist, Onufri’s work includes the interiors of many of Albania’s Orthodox churches. Enjoy a visit to a local home for Turkish coffee and raki. (B)

Travel to the ancient ruins of Roman Appolonia, where the Emperor Augustus Octavian studied, and visit the site’s old Orthodox monastery, now the museum. Continue along the superbly scenic Albanian Riviera to Llogara National Park. We will do a short hike to Ceasar’s Pass, named after Julius Caesar who marched down near the area in pursuit of Pompei. Overnight at 4-star Llogara Tourist Village, within the national park. (B)

Continue crossing the Llogara Pass enroute to Porto Palermo’s Ali Pasha fort, for a short stop. Travel past Saranda to visit UNESCO listed Butrint, the ancient city nestled amid luxuriant greenery on its beautiful peninsula. First settled by Greek colonists, its ruins are evidence of many centuries of continuous inhabitation. Drive to the medieval ‘Museum City’ of Gjirokastra, its characterful towerhouses clinging to the mountain slope beneath its crowning castle. Spend two nights at the 3-star Hotel Bineri. (B)

Visit the Castle and Ethnographic Museum, which is the house where the Albanian dictator Enver Hoxha was born. Lunch at a village home in Dhoksat. Afternoon is free to explore the town with its characteristic houses, streets and shops. (B, L)

Drive to the ancient site of Bylis, overlooking the timeless landscape from its hillside setting; and continue to the capital, Tirana. Visit the World Headquarters of the Bektashi liberal sect of Islam and enjoy a drink at Komiteti Communist Museum Bar. Overnight at the 4-star Oxford Hotel. Enjoy dinner at an organic farm. (B, D)

Visit to the National Archaeological Museum and Bunk'Art, a massive anti-nuclear bunker built for the communist dictator Enver Hoxha, now converted into a museum followed by a walking tour in Tirana focusses on the Bllok area, a former exclusive enclave of villas for the communist elite. Travel to
Kruja, the former capital when Skanderbeg led the resistance movement against the Turks, keeping them at bay for 25 years. Visit the Ethnographic Museum and the Skanderbeg Museum, within Kruja castle. Overnight at the 3-star Hotel Panorama. (B)

Transfer to the airport for return flight.
(B)