South Albania: 7-Day Outdoor Tour Exploring UNESCO Sites and Rural Nature

Embark on a 7-day outdoor tour in South Albania, exploring UNESCO sites and immersing yourself in rural nature. Experience Albanian hospitality, visit historic places, and enjoy the stunning Ionian coast and majestic mountains.

Duration: 7 days
Cancellation: 6 days learn more
Highlights

Tirane – Belsh – Berat (100 km)

Belsh - On the way, we stop at Belsh district and visit several karstic lakes that surround green nature.

Berat - We head to Berat, the city famous for its thousand windows, ancient history, and delicious food. On the top of the hill is built the castle since 4th century B.C, which has been continuously habited and today has around 200 characteristic houses inside. The walking tour strolls through narrow streets, medieval churches, mosques, and ruins of the ancient fortress. The views are enchanting surrounded by the high mountains of Tomorr and Shpirag, green hills covered with olive groves, and the Osum river.

Berat Castle - Explore the ancient castle of Antipatrea walking along the cobblestone streets, medieval walls, churches, and other historical ruins

Berat - Apolloni - Vlore(141 km)

Apollonia Archaeological Park - After a delicious breakfast, we head towards the Ionian coast. Our first destination Apollonia, a Greek colony with a strong Illyrian component, is a magical place. Its special atmosphere is created by a combination of unique monuments, archaeology, and landscape, difficult to find anywhere in the Mediterranean. The ancient city of Apollonia is one of the best-known and most important classical cities in the country.

Zvernec Monastery - A stop at Narta lagoon to visit Zvernec island is a must. The lagoon is rich with flora and fauna habitat like pelicans, flamingos, crabs, and Mediterranean pine forest.

Vlore - Later we transfer to the city of Vlore, remarkably known as the place where the independence of Albania from the Ottoman Empire took place. The city has a lot to offer with its beautiful coast. The walking tour with our guide will continue to Independence square and the promenade by the sea.

Albanian Riviera (90 km)

Dhermi - Through the coastal road, we continue to visit lots of villages with amazing vacation atmospheres and rich history. Dhermi village is one of the most famous for its beautiful beaches and the old town.

Qeparo - Qeparo is another unique village. The old houses built on the top of the hill look mysterious and stay grandiose facing the Ionian Sea.

Himare - Himare is a small town with friendly locals who host thousands of vacationers during the summer season.

Porto Palermo Castle - Porto Palermo castle is built as a defensive fortress by Albania ruler Ali Pashe Tepelena during the 18th century.

Saranda - This is the most visited place on the coast and the vibes are different. You can enjoy the nightlife, local seafood or walking in the city.

Butrint – Gjirokaster (106 km)

Butrint National Park - Today is dedicated to the history of the area. We will drive further south to visit the archeologic park of Butrint. The ruins found here date back to the 8th century B.C representing a long living history of the Illyrians, Greeks, Romans, and Byzantine empires. A walk inside the city guided by our knowledgeable guide, surrounded by beautiful nature and ruins will make you feel like you are in another past world.

Ksamil - Not far from the park are located Ksamil Islands which are so well-known for their sandy beaches and views of Corfu Island located only 4km across the sea.

The Blue Eye - On the way to Gjirokaster, we stop for a refreshment at the Blue Eye springs.

Gjirokaster - The next destination is the city of Gjirokaster, a site listed under UNESCO World heritage in Albania. The town hosts unique local architecture which has been nicknamed Stone City. The walking tour will include a visit to the old bazaar, the castle, the bazaar mosque, and Gjirokaster Obelisk.

Gjirokaster Castle - Argjiro castle stands with pride at the top of the hill and can be seen from all over the city and the valley.

Nivice – Permet (182 km)

Tepelene - Leaving behind popular destinations, we head to the more rural countryside. Today we drive to Nivice village, a place discovered lately and slowly be part of tour packages. On the way, we will stop at the birthplace of Ali Pasha, the city of Tepelene. The viaduct of Ali Pasha built in the 19th century is proof of development that received the area during his reign.

Nivice - The adventure is not over yet as we drive to the village of Nivice to enjoy the views of deep canyons and have a delicious lunch.

Permet - After lunch, we leave the mountains to get to the amazing valley of the Vjosa River. Permet is a lovely little town with friendly people and relaxed nature. It is known for great raki, gliko (typical fruit jam), and rose flowers.

Permet – Voskopoje (152 km)

Benja Thermal Baths - We will explore the area of the thermal baths, swim inside, and walk by Kadiu bridge

Voskopoje - Voskopoje is a small village with big history and culture. It used to be the center of civilization of southeast Albania during medieval times. Walking around the village, you will explore lots of orthodox churches and the spirit of the locals.

Korce – Tirane (186 km)

Korce - With the journey coming to the end, we will leave the mountains and get to the city of Korce. It is known as “The Little Paris” due to its mystic history of the First World war, old bazaar, and stylish houses.

Lake Ohrid - We make a stop to enjoy the Albanian shores of Lake Ohrid, the village of Tushemisht and Lin.

What's Included
  • Access to Porto Palermo Castle, Zekate’s House, and Gjirokaster Fortress
  • Visits to museums including the Museum of Weapons and the Iconographic Museum of Onufri
  • Entrance to the archeological sites of Butrint and Apollonia
  • Expert tourist guide services throughout the tour
  • Accommodation with breakfast in double/twin rooms
  • All transportation in a comfortable vehicle according to the itinerary
  • Inclusive of all fuel costs, taxes, and parking fees
What's Not Included
  • Lunch and Dinner
  • Tips (optional)
Additional Information

Albania is a haven that merges breathtaking landscapes with fascinating culture. This voyage leads you to renowned UNESCO locations and through the rustic southern regions of Albania.

Uncover authentic Albanian welcome as you discover historical sites and engage in brief rural walks. It is suggested for friend groups, families, and pairs who have a fondness for exploring rural adventures. You’ll cherish the azure Ionian coastline as well as Albania’s towering ranges.

Cancellation Policy

If you cancel at least 6 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.
If you cancel between 2 and 6 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a 50% refund.
If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.

Customer Ratings
4.9
(10 Ratings)
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Hockleygal
Sep 12, 2023
fantastic authentic experience - Gezim from See Trips was great to work with. Professional and prompt with communication. Our driver Semet was accommodating and helpful. Would highly recommend going with See Trips and having a driver/car when looking for an authentic experience in Albania. Thank you!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Slakshmy
Aug 2, 2023
Albania - Customised Package - The entire experience with See Trip was nothing short of exceptional, and I felt compelled to share my positive feedback. First and foremost, the itinerary was well-planned and perfectly executed.From the initial communication till the momemt we reached back in our country Gezim showed his professionalism. Each destination was carefully chosen, and the activities provided a perfect blend of adventure and relaxation. No words will be enough to say Thank you to our Guide Saimir. He was knowledgeable, friendly, and enthusiastic. His passion for the destinations and willingness to go the extra mile to ensure our comfort and understanding were commendable. His insights and local knowledge made the trip more memorable. Overall, I am thrilled with the quality of service provided by See Trip. From the initial booking process to the final moments of the trip, everything exceeded my expectations. Thank you once again for an unforgettable experience!
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Mael_el_el
Jul 1, 2023
Fun and great adventure with friends - The views took my breath away. Mountins, fresh running water and beautiful green surroundings. Food and drinks every where is not only cheap but delicious. We had a great tour guide, Samet, which made everything easy and fun for us
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Haerb20
Jul 1, 2023
A must-see South Albania’s stunning views with high- quality services with Sam 👌💯 - Thanks to Gezim for making our South Albania trip planning easier and special mention to our tour guide, Sam 👋 ✋who provided exceptional services during the tour. Kudos to the team. We are a group of friends who want to immerse ourselves in nature and Sam exactly did how we want it to be. I am glad that he suggested to go to Peshtura waterfalls in Nivica Canyon which we enjoyed the place all to ourselves. Honestly, it is very hard to choose which is my most favorite part of the trip as all of them are remarkable. But, the roadtrip on the Albanian riviera- Llogara pass and seeing a very scenic route with good friends including Sam whom we felt was our friend and not a tour guide, good music, the air and our laughters during this trip is something that cannot be captured by the camera but will always leave a mark on my heart. Thanks to Sam for his warm welcome and making himself easily available and flexible to attend our wishes even after the tour timing. He has a superb driving skills whose top priority is our safety and enjoyment. The winding coastal road to Llogara pass is a windy, high elevated and narrow road but his driving is very smooth and I really enjoyed it. His dressing style is a plus point which inspires us to really dress up as well. He also brought us to delicious and affordable local restaurants. Thanks Sam for your warm personality and dedication as our guide. You are the best tour guide. ✋ Highly recommended for sure and will definitely book a tour with See trip requesting Sam as our guide on our next visit. Thank you Sam. We are rating this trip a perfect score as it exceeded our expectation with the place and the tour guide. We left some piece of our hearts in the places we have visited together with the memories we have all made.👌
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Marielanna2023
Jul 1, 2023
Exceptional Tour Service - Highly recommended. They exceeded our expectations. Our driver/ tour guide Sam makes us feel so comfortable and he's always on the go with everything we wanted to do/ to go. We feel like he's our friend too. We are already missing Albania because of him. We feel like we're home away from home 😊 We will surely come back and explore Albania and use their services again. I hope also See Trips will do other Balkans tour.
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Rajatpatel0510
Jul 1, 2023
Great Experience with SEE Trips.. - It was a Pleasure Trip with SEE Trips.. Mr.Gezim has arranged everything nicely as per Itinerary.. Our Guide was Elvis for North Tour and Denis for South Tour. It was Very Nice experience with Both Guides..
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Mehaziya
Jun 18, 2023
A fun and personalized experience - SEE trips is a safe, fun , relaxed yet adventurous experience for seeing Albania. Samet was our guide during the trip and he was helpful throughout, was flexible with our family’s needs especially since we are a family of 5 with the youngest being if age 9. The hikes were customized in a way where we could experience in the safest way possible and because of which it was one of the most adventurous trips we had ever gone on. To people who are concerned about safety , you don’t have to be, it was a very good group, we searched online nd found out about it and had our own concerns, but they were very responsive, respectful and booked really neat hotels close to the centre itself for an even more amazing experience. Me and my family thoroughly enjoyed the trip and would recommend it to anyone who is going for the experience and yes Albania is reaaalllyyy beautiful ❤️
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Kristel
Dec 18, 2022
Gezim is the best! - Gezim is the best tour guide! He is so knowledgeable and so funny, and made our trip amazing. We spent 2 weeks across all of Albania with Gezim and it felt like traveling with a local family member! We had a mix of native English speakers and Albanian speakers on our trip and Gezim’s perfect English helped with translating during the entire tour. We can’t wait to go back and use See Trips again!!
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Dhiraj97in
Apr 1, 2022
Albania.....a gem just waiting to be discovered - We had an amazing Trip with an awesome, friendly guide Gezim and covered Berat, Girokaster, Saranda, Blue Eye, Duress and Tirana in 7 days. Considering we were a group of 12 travelling with kids, we were fortunate to have a patient guide who stayed with us throughout the trip. He received us at the airport and took care of the stay, transport and even with restaurant bookings besides the guided tours through the various townships/cities.
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Mithun
May 22, 2022
Albanian retreat - Gezim is very informative, friendly and understands our requirements well. Was very comfortable as he managed the group well(especially the kids). His choices of hotels was apt with close proximity to key locations. His presence in the group helped us choose the right food and restaurants. Overall very happy with the trip.
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