9 Days Albania Heritage and Hidden Gems

On arrival at Tirana International Airport, you are met by a representatives and transferred to your centrally located hotel.

After time to settle in, enjoy a traditional Albanian evening meal in a local restaurant. This relaxed introduction allows you to unwind after your journey while sampling regional flavours and getting to know your fellow travellers.

After breakfast, begin a guided walking tour of Tirana, Albania’s lively capital. Explore Skanderbeg Square, the symbolic heart of the city, and visit the elegant Et’hem Bej Mosque, one of the finest surviving examples of Ottoman religious architecture.

Continue to the National Archaeological Museum, where artefacts trace Albania’s history from prehistoric times through the Illyrian, Greek, Roman, and Byzantine periods – an excellent foundation for the journey ahead.

Later, travel north to the historic town of Kruja, dramatically positioned on a mountainside. Stroll through the beautifully preserved Ottoman bazaar, where local artisans sell handmade crafts, carpets, and traditional souvenirs.

After your free time in Kruja, visit Skanderbeg Castle, home to the national museum dedicated to Albania’s most celebrated hero. Return to Tirana in the evening for dinner at the hotel.

Depart Tirana after breakfast and begin a scenic drive south along the Bay of Vlora. Pass through the Cold Water Tunnel and alongside the former seaside residence of dictator Enver Hoxha, offering insight into Albania’s recent past.

Continue through the coastal village of Radhima, where the landscape changes as the road climbs into the forests of Llogara National Park. Ascending to approximately 1,100 metres above sea level, enjoy cooler air and panoramic views before stopping at the mountain pass for photographs overlooking the Ionian Sea.

Descend along the newly rebuilt Strada Bianca road, travelling through the seven traditional villages of the Himara region, an area rich in natural beauty and cultural heritage. Along the way, pass Llamani Beach, the springs of Borsh, and admire the distant silhouette of the 18th-century Ali Pasha Castle.

Arrive in Saranda in the late afternoon. Dinner this evening is served at a local fish restaurant overlooking the sea.

Following breakfast, depart for a full-day visit to Butrint, one of Albania’s most important archaeological sites and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995.

Founded in the 7th century BC as a Greek colony, Butrint later flourished under Roman, Byzantine, and Venetian rule. During your guided visit, explore the ancient theatre, Temple of Asclepius, Roman baths, baptistery, gymnasium, aqueduct, and the impressive early Christian basilica, the largest in southern Albania.

Climb to the Venetian castle, which now houses a small but fascinating museum displaying original artefacts uncovered during excavations.

After breakfast, leave the coast and travel inland towards the mountainous interior of southern Albania. Stop at the mesmerising Blue Eye (Syri i Kaltër), a powerful freshwater spring where crystal-clear water bubbles up from deep underground in striking shades of blue and turquoise.

Continue to the historic town of Gjirokastra, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its distinctive stone-roofed houses. Begin with a visit to the imposing Gjirokastra Castle, perched high above the town. Once a prison, the castle now serves as a museum documenting the region’s military history.

Visit the Ethnographic Museum, also known as the birthplace of Enver Hoxha, offering insight into traditional Albanian domestic life. Enjoy free time to explore the atmospheric 18th-century bazaar, lined with stone buildings and artisan shops.

In the late afternoon, visit the nearby Antigonea Archaeological Park, founded in the 3rd century BC by Pyrrhus of Epirus.

After breakfast, begin the journey north through the scenic Vjosa River valley, one of Europe’s last wild rivers. Pass through Tepelena, set against dramatic mountain backdrops.

Continue to the remote archaeological site of Byllis, spectacularly situated on a hilltop overlooking the valley. Once an important Illyrian and later Roman city, Byllis offers sweeping views alongside impressive ruins, including theatres, basilicas, and city walls.

Later in the afternoon, visit Alpeta Winery, where you’ll enjoy a guided tour and learn about Albania’s emerging wine culture, followed by a tasting.

Arrive in Berat in the evening.

Spend the day exploring Berat, one of Albania’s most iconic towns and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008.

Begin in the castle citadel, still inhabited today, visiting its Byzantine churches, Ottoman mosques, and historic homes. Learn about Berat’s unique social structure, where Muslim and Christian communities lived side by side for centuries.

Explore the lower town along the Osum River, walking through the historic quarters of Mangalem and Gorica, famous for their white Ottoman houses with rows of windows — the origin of the nickname “Town of a Thousand Windows.”

Return to your hotel for dinner in the evening.

After breakfast, depart Berat and travel to the ancient city of Apollonia, the second largest Greek colony in Albania, founded in the 7th century BC.

Explore the extensive archaeological site, including the Odeon, Prytaneion, Temple of Diana, and the monastery complex built using stones from the ancient city. The setting offers a powerful sense of antiquity amid rolling countryside.

Continue to Durres, Albania’s second-largest city and former capital. Visit the vast Roman amphitheatre, one of the largest in the Balkans, located within the old city walls. Walk through the underground galleries and enter the arena where gladiatorial contests once took place nearly 2,000 years ago.

Enjoy free time for coffee or shopping before returning to Tirana for your final evening.

After breakfast, enjoy free time at leisure before your transfer to Tirana International Airport for your onward flight home.