Day 1
Tirana. Arrival in "Mother Teresa" International Airport in Tirana. Tirana is located on a plain on the site of a Byzantine fortress and has been the capital since 1920. City tour (Centrum, National Heroes Boulevard, Government Buildings) Accommodation to hotel (Sheraton Hotel 5*), welcome dinner from Albania Explorer at Sofra e Ariut, and overnight.

Day 2
Tirana - Berat. After breakfast we proceed to the beautiful museum town of Berat, Albania's second museum town, sometimes called "the city of a thousand windows" due to its particular architectural style with houses with lots of windows almost on top of each other. This is a town with 2400 years of history. Sightseeing in Berat: the Fortress, Onufri Museum and several churches and mosques. Onufri was an Albanian master painter of the 16th. Many of his wonderfully painted icons still remain in the museum while others can be found in churches in Albania and Greece where he worked. After lunch, in the downtown we visit the Leaden Mosque, the King's Mosque, the Bachelor's Mosque and the Alveti Tekke. Accommodation to hotel and overnight in Berat (Tomorri Hotel 3*).

Day 3
Berat - Gjirokastra - Saranda. After breakfast we drive to Gjirokastra, the birthplace of former dictator of Albania, Enver Hoxha. Gjirokastra is a picturesque town, perched on the side of a mountain above the Drino River. We visit the district museum housed in the building in which Enver Hoxha was born. We also visit the pre-Ottoman citadel with a weapons museum and former political prison. Than, after lunch, we continue on to Saranda, the southern town on the Albanian coast and only a few kilometers from Corfu. On the way we stop to visit to the 'Blue Eye", a fresh water spring in the shape of an eye, amongst dense vegetation. We enjoy lunch at the Lekuresi Fortress in Saranda with great views of the bay of Saranda and the Island of Corfu. Saranda became important in Roman times as a strategic point along the sea route between Italy and Greece. Accommodation to hotel and overnight in Saranda (Butrinti Hotel 5*).

Day 4
Saranda - Butrint - Saranda. After breakfast we visit ruins of Butrint antic city, Albania's most important archaeological site. Butrint dates from the 7th century BC, later becoming a Roman colony, then falling under the sway of the Venetians and Turks. Virgil claimed that the Trojans settled Butrint, but no evidence of this has yet been found. Within a century of the Greeks arriving, Butrint had become a fortified trading city with its own acropolis, the ruins of which we can still visit. The rediscovered city is a microcosm of almost 3,000 years of Mediterranean history, and its 6th century BC fortification evokes the city's military power and symbolizes the rich culture of the once thriving ancient city. After lunch, we return to Saranda. Accommodation to hotel and overnight in Saranda (Butrinti Hotel 5*).

Day 5
Saranda - Korca. After breakfast we depart for Korca through Kelcyra Pass, and the spectacular Vjosa canyons stretching to Permet, the mountains of Leskovik and the colourful fields of Erseka. Arrival and lunch in Korca. It is a historic place with rich cultural traditions and some interesting buildings from the Ottoman period, including one of the most important mosques in Albania. Our sightseeing includes the Museum of Medieval Arts where you can see works by Albania's most famous painters of the Middle Ages. Accommodation to hotel and overnight in Korca (Regency Hotel 3*).

Day 6
Korca - Voskopoja - Korca. After breakfast we depart for the town of Voskopoja which became one of the most developed and prosperous cities in the European part of the Ottoman Empire between the 17 and 18th centuries. Testament to this are the first Printing House in the Balkans in 1720, the Academia of Voskopoja founded in 1744, the famous Basilicas, the painted house walls by the famous Albanian painters including David Selenica and the Zeografi brothers. After lunch, we return to hotel and overnight in Korca (Regency Hotel 3*).

Day 7
Korca - Pogradec - Elbasan - Durres. This morning we proced to Pogradec next to lake Ohrid, the deepest in the Balkans. We stop at the Drilon village for a visit of the villa of the former Albanian dictator, Pogradec city tour and coffee break. Afterwards we precede with a stop at Elbasan Castle, site of ancient Skampa. Excavations suggest that the walls of Elbasan were built in the first half of the fourth century AD. In 1466 Sultan Mohammed II rebuilt the walls and renamed the town El Basan ('The Fortress') in Turkish. Lunch. Than, we continue to Durres, Albania's second largest city. Durres is one of the oldest towns in the country. Legend says that it was founded by Epidamnos, the Illyrian King of the area, who called it by his own name and named the port area after his grandson, Dyrrah. It was for centuries the largest port on the Adriatic, and the start of the Via Egnatia to Constantinople. We visit the Roman amphitheatre and the Archaeological Museum, situated near the sea and rich in objects excavated in Durres. Accommodation to hotel and overnight in Durres (Adriatic Hotel 5*).

Day 8
Durres - Kruja - Tirana. After breakfast we travel to Kruja, a small town perched high on the face of a hill and the centre of the Albanian resistance against the Ottoman Turks under the leadership of national hero, Scanderbeg. We visit the fortress of Kruja, the Scanderbeg Museum, Ethnographic Museum, and the old bazaar full of souvenirs, including hand made articles. Lunch. Afterwards we depart for Tirana. We take a tour of the capital including Ethem Bey Mosque, Clock Tower. Late afternoon we accommodate in hotel and vernight in Tirana (Sheraton Hotel 5*).

Day 9
Departure. Departure from "Mother Teresa" International Airport of Tirana.

Inclusions:
- Airport transfer
- Accommodation at 3*, 4* or 5* hotels (as indicated)
- Modern A/C private car/ bus or mini van with driver on tour, all parking costs and road tolls
- English-French-German-Italian-Russian-Turkish, or Spanish speaking local guide during the all itinerary of tour (accordingly with the nationality and composition of participants)
- Museums and other tour sites entry tickets (as indicated).
- Breakfast, and other meals (as indicated).

Exclusions:
- International airfare and airport taxes
- Meals (lunch and dinners), unless otherwise indicated
- Departure and custom fees
- Gratuities and individual daily expenses and porterage
- Travel insurance
- Me Medical and luggage insurance are recommended for coverage against all unforeseen circumstances
- Trip/tour cancellation
- Visas (if required)

PRICES 2008
September, October, November, December 2008
€650 per person, double occupancy.
€180 single supplement
€1350 solo traveler

PRICES 2009
May, June, October, November, December 2009
€720 per person, double occupancy.
€200 single supplement
€1390 solo traveler
July, August, September 2009
€780 per person, double occupancy
€230 single supplement
€1510 solo traveler

Important Note
These trips are priced assuming ten travelers. Surcharges for solo travelers and discounts for groups, if any, will be applied. Prices assume itinerary is purchased "as is". Minor changes to hotels or hotel add-ons to the beginning or the end of the existing itinerary can be made at no extra charge. Any customization requiring us to start with a new base itinerary will require a non-refundable upfront planning fee of €250 that is creditable towards the final trip price. Prices displayed are based on the lowest season base price and assume double occupancy. Prices are shown in Euro and may or may not include administrative fees, taxes, meals, airfare (where applicable) and Single Supplements. Cancellation penalties, blackout dates and other restrictions may apply.

Group Discounts
Earn Discounted Travel on all Albania Explorer Exclusives.

Albania Explorer appreciates that adventurous travelers often enjoy traveling with their friends or family. We want to reward you for inviting them on your next adventure vacation, by making you the Expedition Leader on any Albania Explorer Exclusive trip. The more people you bring, the cheaper your trip becomes.
Keep this discount to yourself, or you can share it with your Expedition Team.

Group Size
(including you) Expedition Leader Credits
6 50% of your Tour Cost
7 60% of your Tour Cost
8 70% of your Tour Cost
9 80% of your Tour Cost
10 90% of your Tour Cost
11 YOUR TOUR IS FREE

* Cannot be combined with any other offers.
* Group Leader is responsible for placing reservations for entire team at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it in order to track and award credits.
* Be sure to mention that you are the Expedition leader, to apply for credit in Albania Explorer's Group Travel program.