8 nights starting from
£1775
SKANDERBEG SQ TIRANA
Apollonia
Kruje
Kruja
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Kruja Bazaar
Apollonia
BERAT
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Butrint
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Butrint
GJIROKASTER
View from Lekursi castle
Skanderbeg museum
Restaurant Sarande
Ancient Butrint, a UNESCO World Heritage site hidden in a national park
The Roman site of Byllis
The Llogara National Park and the Albania Riviera
Gjirokaster - 'The City of Stone'
Berat – The City of a Thousand Windows'
Explore the fascinating history, archaeology and culture of Albania. This tour offers a heady mix of castles, monasteries, classical sites and historic UNESCO World Heritage towns, all set amidst spectacular scenery. Beginning in Kruje, we visit Tirana and then move gradually south visiting the classical site of Apollonia. A breathtaking scenic drive takes us through the Llogara National Park. We visit the impressive sites of Butrint and the historic towns of Gjirokastër, ‘the city of stone’, and Berat, ‘the city of a thousand windows’. This tour provides a fantastic insight into the history, both ancient and more recent, of this fascinating country.
Available Departures |
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| 24 - September - 2025 | £ 1775.00 | Travel Info Book Now |
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Provisional Timings London Heathrow Departing: 24th September 2025 at 08:35 Returning: 02nd October 2025 at 13:30 |
Day 1: Fly from London Heathrow to Tirana.
Transfer to Kruja, approximately 50 minute drive. Check-in at the Panorama Hotel for a two-night stay. This comfortable hotel is well-located for visiting the sites of Kruja on foot. Dinner at the hotel.
Day 2: Exploring Kruje.
Our first day is devoted to the story of Albania's great hero Skanderbeg, who led the resistance against the Ottomans in the 1400s. We will explore the sites of Kruje, visiting its castle, that houses the modern Skanderbeg Museum, the excellent ethnographic museum, and wander through the old bazaar.
Day 3: Tirana.
Our visit today is Albania’s lively capital, Tirana, which has positively blossomed since Albania left communism behind and today is a thriving modern city. Our visits here include the National Historical Museum, the early 19th century Ethem Bey Mosque and the secret nuclear bunker from the cold war era, known today as the Bunk’Art 1 Museum. This huge bunker, one of thousands built throughout Albania due Hoxer's paranoia of a nuclear attack, was built specifically for Hoxer and his political companions and remained secret for much of its existence. It's a fascinating place to visit, especially knowing it was built as recently as the 1970's. Check-in to the Hotel Opera or Hotel Oxford for a one-night stay. Dinner this evening at a local restaurant.
Day 4: Ardenica and Apollonia.
Leaving Tirana behind we travel south to a fine little monastery, Ardenica, where Skanderbeg was married in 1451. Then its on to the UNESCO listed site of Apollonia, one of the most well-known classical sites found in Albania, dating from the 6th century BC. It's a lovely site with the ruins scattered amongst an open nature. After our visit here, we continue to Vlorë, set on a beautiful bay, for a one-night stay. Check-in to the Hotel Bologna or Hotel Partner for a one-night stay. Evening at leisure. Restaurants can be easily reached on foot from the hotel.
Day 5: Vlorë to Sarandë.
We journey along the beautiful Radhima Bay to visit the recent excavations of the Roman site at Oricum. Continuing through the stunning scenery of the national park of Llogara, we find time to stop for lunch by the sea before a short visit to the Ali Pasha castle at Porto Palermo before reaching Sarandë for a two-night stay. Today we enjoy the scenery of what has, rightly become known as ' the Albanian rivieria'. Check-in to the Hotel Brilant of Hotel Agimi for a two-night stay. Dinner at a nearby restaurant.
Day 6: Full day Butrint and Sarandë.
A short and picturesque journey takes us to the wonderful site of Butrint, whose classical remains lie hidden in woods beside an evocative lake, one of the most beautiful sites in Albania. After visiting the site, we head to Ksamil Village situated next in a beautiful setting next to the sea, and have time for lunch at a restaurant on the spectacular coastline of this area. Returning to Sarandë, we will climb up (with our bus) to Lekursi Castle that overlooks Sarandë town and the island of Corfu to enjoy the splendid views. Evening at leisure. Restaurants can be easily reached on foot from the hotel.
Day 7: Sarandë to Gjirokastër.
A wonderful drive takes us over hills and across mountains to the valley of Gjirokastër, with an en-route visit to the beautiful Blue-eye Lake, an exquisitely coloured natural fresh water pool. The old quarter of Gjirokaster is known as the 'City of Stone', because the tall houses here used solid stone slabs for roofing. Our visits begin with the impressive 8th century castle, formerly used as a prison. The castle has spectacular views across the town and its splendid traditional houses, one of which is now a fascinating folk museum and was the birthplace of Enver Hoxha, the Albanian Stalinist dictator. Check-in to the Rose Garden Hotel, Gjirokastër for a one-night stay. Evening at leisure.
Day 8: Gjirokastër to Byllis and Berat.
The final leg of our journey takes us through yet more beautiful scenery to the Hellenistic and Roman city of Byllis, an extensive site set within great Hellenistic walls in a spectacular mountainous region.Then its on to Berat, a UNESCO World heritage site known as the “city of one thousand windows”. Overshadowed to the east by Tomorr Mountain at 2415m, it was founded in the 4th century B.C. The old part of the city has a remarkable collection of fine traditional houses of great architectural importance, as well as Byzantine churches, a mosque, and a fortress. Overnight at either the Mangalemi Hotel or Hotel Onufri in Berat. Dinner at the Mangalemi Hotel.
Day 9: Transfer from Berat to connect with our homeward flight from Tirana to London Heathrow.
NB: Exact order of itinerary may vary according to local conditions and tour manager's discretion
The maximum group size on this tour is 25 passengers.
INCLUDED
NOT INCLUDED
• Single room supplement
• Holiday insurance
• Meals other than those stated
• Items of a personal nature such as drinks, laundry, telephone calls
• Porterage and gratuities
Excellent quality three and four star hotels are used throughout this tour, all offering a high standard of service, facilities and comfort in ideal locations for exploring the sites visited. Please note some of these hotels may change prior to departure as many of the hotels used on this tour are relatively small, especially in the historic UNESCO towns of Gjirokaster and Berat, they may on occasion be substituted for alternative hotels due to a limit on occupancy, which is why we state on booking confirmations two hotel names at some places. If it is necessary to change any of the advertised hotels, the alternative hotels used will be of the same high standard as the advertised hotel.
Hotel Panorama, Kruje
This excellent four-star hotel is well-situated in the centre of Kruje and enjoys beautiful panoramic views of the surrounding area. The hotel has a choice of two restaurants and has a bar area to relax in. Rooms all have private bathroom facilities with bath/shower, air-conditioning, TV, telephone and free wi-fi.
Hotel Panorama Website
Hotel Opera, or Hotel Oxford, Tirana
Situated in Tirana, both hotels are four-star centrally located hotels offering modern rooms with easy access on foot to the sites of Tirana. Rooms have private bathroom facilities with bath/shower, air-conditioning, TV, telephone and free wi-fi.
Hotel Partner or Hotel Kraal, Vlore
Modern four-star hotel located on the seafront in Vlore. Rooms all have private bathroom facilities, TV, minibar, air-conditioning, telephone and free wi-fi.
Hotel Brilant or Hotel Iliria, Sarande
Comfortable four-star hotels, just 100m from the main boulevard and 50m from the sea. Rooms all have private bathroom facilities, air-conditioning, minibar, telephone, TV and free wi-fi.
Hotel Brilant Website
In Gjirokaster and Berat the hotels are all quite small so it is necessary to use two hotels, the Mangalemi and the Hotel Portik, which sit within 100m of each other. Both hotels offer an equally comfortable standard for your stay.
Hotel Rose Garden and Hotel Kalemi 2, Gjirokaster
Excellent four-star hotel situated just below the Old Castle at Gjirokaster. Built in the typical and attractive traditional design of Gjirokaster, hotel facilities include a bar, garden, lounge and seasonal swimming pool.Rooms all have private bathroom facilities, telephone, air-conditioning, hairdryer, TV and free wi-fi.
Hotel Rose Garden Website
Hotel Kalemi 2 website
Hotel Mangalemi, Berat
Charming historic hotel set in the old Mangalemi quarter in the heart of Berat. The hotel has a restaurant serving traditional Albanian cuisine, and a terrace which offers a beautiful panoramic view of the city and mountains. Rooms all have private bathroom facilities, hairdryer, TV, air-conditioning/heating, minibar, telephone, safe and free wi-fi.
Hotel Mangalemi Website
Hotel Onufri, Berat
The four-star traditional style Hotel Onufri is situated in the heart of Berat, and just a two minute walk from the Osum river. This attractive hotel, offers spacious rooms featuring dark woods and high windows with views to the historic centre. The bedrooms have private bathroom facilities with shower, as well as air-conditioning, TV, wi-fi and telephone.
Hotel Onufri website
Travelling Information
In order to see the highlights of the country, this tour covers quite a large part of Albania, which does mean moving hotels quite often, so we recommend travelling relatively light as you will be packing and unpacking several times during your stay. The hotels are all relaxed places with very relaxed (or no) codes of dress for dinner so casual dress is fine. Please note, this is only offered as advice based on our experience of this tour with the idea that it might help you when it comes to deciding what to pack. Please also note the luggage allowance for this tour does provide a maximum of 23kgs for hold luggage.
Walking Advice
We have graded this tour moderate because mostly the walking is this level, ‘Walking between sites and lots of standing for viewings’ but please note in Kruja, Gjirokaster and Berat, cobble roads will also be encountered.
Our Albanian tour guide, Julian, was very enthusiastic and knowledgeable. He gave us an excellent insight into Albania's past and present. We would have liked a second night in either Gjirokaster or Berat. We were also disappointed that we didn't get to visit Oricum, but understand that this is often not possible.
Review by Bathe who travelled 26-September-2024
Travel Editions feedback:
We are pleased that the tour was such a success and sorry that you were not able to visit Oricum on this occasion.
Words cannot convey how excellent the local tour guide Julian was. One of the very best I’ve encountered, full of information about everything, warm, witty and reliable.
Review by Anonymous who travelled 26-September-2024
Very well organised with an excellent leader, guide and driver (essential on some of the precipitous roads.One if the best hotels was Hotel Panorama at Kruje 5* location and service. A great experience ! (NB care needed selecting dishes from local restaurants especially in Sarande as unfortunately I got food poisoning)
Review by Ashurst who travelled 26-September-2024
Travel Editions feedback:
We are delighted that the tour was such a success but sorry to hear you were unwell and hope you are fully recovered.
10/10 and another Gold Star.
Review by Anonymous who travelled 26-September-2024
We had a really great trip and would definitely recommend travelling to Albania with Travel Editions. Both Julian, our local guide and Angela the tour manager, deserve to be commended for their care and attention to detail - could not fault them. Our driver, Eddy, was also as steady as a rock. We were fortunate to be travelling with a thoroughly delightful group of fellow guests. Albania is a country experiencing rapid change. It is worth noting that we received a warm welcome everywhere and the local people we met could not have been more accommodating. The food was great and we found some real gems when it came to eating out independently. All in all a super trip to an incredible country.
Review by Scott who travelled 26-September-2024
Excellent tour. Guides and Tour Manager very professional and friendly and everything worked well.
Review by Riddell who travelled 26-September-2024
Fascinating trip to Albania to appreciate the country in it's present traditional state before it completes a transition to a tourism based economy within the next few years. Local tour guide excellent, UK based tour manager Angela who also accompanied us was very helpful and friendly. The tour was well planned, with plenty of time to explore the places visited once the organised part of the day was over. The one exception was the last stop in Berat. We arrived late afternoon and after a tour around the castle it was getting dark and there was not much time to see the city itself. I sacrificed breakfast the following morning to give myself the opportunity to get out and explore and take photographs - it was a sacrifice well worth making. Your brochure description is a bit out of date and needs to be revised e.g. no trip to Oricum possible as it is not easy to gain access to it being within a naval base. Some of the hotels also need to get some of the basics right e.g. no glasses in the room to use for having something to drink (Rose Hotel, Girokaster). Overall though, I enjoyed the tour and I was glad to have the opportunity to see the country in its current condition before it transforms itself into yet another Mediterranean holiday beach destination. Thanks Travel Editions!
Review by Burns who travelled 23-September-2023
The tour guide Julian was really great - very inofrmative and entertaining. And our driver "Happy" was excellent too - very steady at all times especially on very sttep mountain roads. It was an excellent and ivery nteresting tour all round. We did NOT have enough time to look round Berat which was a big pity - we arrived at dusk and had to be ready to leave at 9.15 am. I would recommend putting in another day so that there would be time to look round both the old town and a few shops!
Review by Brewer who travelled 23-September-2023
Review by Anonymous who travelled 23-September-2023
A thoroughly enjoyable holiday
Review by Tweed who travelled 23-September-2023
Review by Allen who travelled 23-September-2023
This was a lovely holiday. Excellent Tour Guide and Manager (Julian and Angela) and excellent coach driver (Happy). The group of 21 mixed very well. The tour could have done with being 1 day longer as we had little time in Berat. The accommodation was variable, some excellent, some good and one not so good in Seranda. The excursions were very good but some were pretty hard going over cobbles and steep climbs for some of the party. Some places were quite stunning. Overall a very enjoyable holiday. I would advise people to go to Albania within the next 2-3 years before it becomes too touristic and the coastal places concreted over with large hotels. The Albanian people were extremely friendly and helpful and it felt a very safe place to visit.
Review by Anonymous who travelled 23-September-2023
What a terrific holiday. Special mention to Julian our Albanian guide and Angela who looked after us so well. Would like to comment on the two substitute hotels, Hotel Kareem in Gjirocaster and Villa Alexander in Berat,full of character and by far my favourites of the hotels we stayed in. We did run out of time and didn’t see much of Berat. Should it be one day longer? There is so much to take in and experience. Thank you it was a truly memorable trip
Review by Jeater who travelled 23-September-2023
Angela (tour admin), Julian (tour leader and expert in Albanian history, politics and culture) and 'Happy' (terrific bus driver) were all tip top, always smiling and couldn't do enough for us. Re accommodation, my room was great everywhere with terrific views and a balcony, though I believe from some of the others in our group that rooms varied in ameniities. Fod was very good. The one thing I had not anticipatedr, though I am a good walker, was the often precipitous nature of the perilous cobbled sreets, especially getting to our last two hotels and, being a group of mostly 70 and 80 year olds, it was fortunate that no-one fell. We were all very careful! Also the sites often required quite strenuous walking. This is why I only rated the brochure description 'good' rather than excellent along with my other ratings. For a large group of 21 including I think 3 married couples, 3 single males and the remainder lone women, several of whom were widowed, everyone mixed very well. All in all an excellent holiday enjoyed by all. I think everyone agreed that one extra day would have been desirable, since the final day in Berat was very crowded and didn't allow any free wandering time.
Review by Livingston who travelled 23-September-2023
Local tour guide, Julian, was superb. The guide can make or break a tour and Julian made the tour. Driver also excellent.
Review by Anonymous who travelled 23-September-2023
