ARRIVAL IN ALBANIA – TIRANA (17 KM)

Tirana - Meeting at the airport with our representative and transfer to the hotel. Start the tour from Skanderbeg Square and National Museum, then you continue to see other important buildings: Palace of Culture, Opera House, National Library, Mosque of Ethem Bey, the Clock Tower, Tirana Castle, Parliament, Ura e Tabakeve, National Art Gallery, mean government buildings, catholic and orthodox cathedrals, the Pyramid, Prime Minister building, Palace of congresses, Mother Teresa Square, Archaeological Museum (there are presented many archaeological discoveries since the Stone Age up to the Medieval), Presidential palace, Ex-Blloku (which used to be the most beautiful and protected zone were the ex-communist leaders families lived). Visit the Cold War corner (one Bunker, part of famous Spac Political Prison, and a piece from Berlin Wall). Overnight in Tirana.

TIRANA – SHKODRA – THETH (180 KM)

Shkoder - After breakfast we will drive to Shkodër. Shkodra is the cradle of the most important Albanian poets, like Migjeni, painters like Kol Idromeno and Edi Hila, and photographers, the Marubi Family. Shkodra houses the haunting Marubi National Photography Museum, which displays the first photo taken in Albania, and the Venice Art Mask Factory, where a local master produces the same intricate masks used in the Venice carnivals and Las Vegas shows. A city of myths and legends, the foundations of the famous Castle of Shkodra are said to be held by the body of Rozafa, the beautiful young mother who sacrificed herself for it. You will find that this naturally beautiful city has an abundance of mirrors in the Adriatic Sea, the Lake of Shkodra and the Buna River. Otherwise called the “city of bicycles,” the city’s views are best admired while pedaling in the open air.

Theth - Our journey continues into the breathtaking Albanian Alps and Theth National Park, an area admired for its rich flora and fauna. After checking into our quaint guesthouse in Theth, we set off on a gentle walk through the valley nestled between the wonderful surrounding peaks, gaining an insight into agricultural life as we pass locals going about their day. We continue to the Roman Catholic Church of Theth, built in 1892, which was once used as a health center during the communist regime. The highlight, however, is a visit to the shutting tower (or lock-in tower) of Theth, known locally as ‘Kulla’. These historic stone ‘lock-in towers’ were used for protection of families that were involved in blood feuds and this is one of the few that remains today. Overnight on Theth.

THETH

Theth National Park - After breakfast we will visit Theth Valley which is predominantly an agricultural region, where age-old farming practices and horse-drawn carts are still used today. We observe rural life as we begin walking to Grunas Waterfall. From here we continue on to Nderlyse where we find a string of natural water pools and a feature known as the ‘Blue Eye of Kapre’. There is an opportunity to swim here, so don’t forget your swimming things. Overnight in Theth.

THETH – VALBONA (6 hr walking)

Valbona - After breakfast we walk through some of the wildest scenery into the Tropojë District, known as the home of Albanian folk culture. We firstly ascend through forests and alpine pastures to reach the Valbonë Pass (1800 m), from where we take a few moments to enjoy the spectacular views down Valbonë and Theth Valleys. We then follow a trail which brings us alongside the Valbonë River, passing some beautiful waterfalls along the way. We finish at the quaint village of Rragam, where the minibus will wait for us to transport us to our hotel. Overnight in Valbona.

VALBONA – KOMAN LAKE – KRUJA (200 KM)

Komani Lake - After breakfast, we drive to Koman. The cross-lake trip from Koman to Fierza lasts for less than three hours and is hailed as one of the top travel experiences in Albania. The ferry ride offers the most wonderful moving panorama of the untouched landscape surrounding the lake. At times narrow and surrounded by canyons and at others wide and expansive, the view on the ferry is full of gorgeous twists. With the exception of the winter months, the Koman ferry runs for the majority of the year, as locals also use it for regular transportation needs. However, the best time to visit this area and experience the magical “fairy” ride across the lake is in the summer.

Kruje - We then drive for another 2.5 hrs to Kruje, the center of Skanderbeg’s resistance to the Ottoman invasion in the 15th century. This afternoon we walk to Kruje mountain, at the top we will be rewarded with fantastic views of Kruja and of the Adriatic sea. Overnight in Kruja.

KRUJA – BERAT (UNESCO) (135 KM)

Berat - After breakfast we travel to Berat. On arrival, we enjoy a guided tour around the old district of Berat, with its pretty white buildings perched on the hill amid pine forests. Our tour includes a visit to the Ethnographic Museum (a 18th-century Ottoman house) and the King Mosque. We walk through the narrow cobbled streets to finally reach Berat Castle on the slopes of Mount Tomorr, where we are rewarded with breathtaking views. Within the castle walls are dwelling houses and the Onufri Museum (Museum of Iconography). There is free time to enjoy the other sites of Berat or to perhaps absorb the relaxed cafe culture on the promenade. Overnight in Berat.

BERAT (UNESCO) – TIRANA AIRPORT (120 KM)

Tirana - After breakfast we drive to the Airport. End of our Service.

• In-vehicle air conditioning
• Horses for luggage
• Driver/guide
• Breakfast
• Lunch

• Food and drinks, unless specified
• All fees and/or taxes

This intriguing, yet relatively unexplored Mediterranean nation boasts an immaculate, robust, and untamed terrain that’s ripe for exploration. Its secrets remained veiled until the fall of the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania in 1991. Our journey takes us to the secluded Albanian Alps in the north, a region steeped in old clan rivalries and traditional legends. We trod the isolated terrains of Theth and Valbonë, places where farming customs have stayed the same over the years. After that, we visit the historic settlements of Berat and Krujë, delving into the intriguing past of this friendly nation.

• 18+

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.