From Tirana to Corfu - A Cultural Journey Tour

This new tour offers two destinations in one package and provides a real contrast of flavours, both historic, cultural and scenic. Beginning in Albania, we uncover some of the country’s rich heritage at a carefully chosen array of sites that represent both historic events and cultural influences on people that were suppressed by communism right up to the early 1990’s. In Corfu, Homer’s ‘beautiful and rich land’, separated from Albania by only 3 nautical miles at its narrowest point, we experience a vastly different culture and an equally rich historic heritage that has been shaped by Byzantine, Roman, Venetian and British influences, which are particularly evident in lovely Corfu Town, that is always a delight to visit.

ITINERARY

Day 1: Fly from London Heathrow to Tirana
Transfer by coach (approx 45 minutes drive), and check-in to the five-star Lot Boutique Hotel, Tirana for a two-night stay. Dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 2: Explore Tirana and Bunk Art 1 museum
Albania’s lively capital, Tirana, 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 a 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 to Enver Hoxer’s paranoia of a nuclear attack, was created specifically for Hoxer and his political companions and remained secret for much of its existence. A fascinating place, especially knowing it was built as recently as the 1970s. Evening at leisure.

Day 3: Apollonia and Berat
Leaving Tirana, we head to the UNESCO 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 it’s on to Berat, also a UNESCO listed site, and known as the “city of a thousand windows”. Towered over to the east by Tomorr Mountain at 2415m, Berat 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. Dinner at a traditional restaurant. Overnight at the Mangalemi, Onufri or Portik Hotel in Berat.

Day 4: Gjirokaster and Sarande
Depart Berat for another delightful historic town, Gjirokaster. The old quarter is known as the ‘City of Stone’, due to the tall houses here using 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. From Gjirokaster it’s on to seaside Sarande where we check-in to the Hotel Agimi or Hotel Brilant for a two-night stay. Evening at leisure.

Day 5: Butrint and Lekursi Castle
Our visits start today at the archaeological site of Butrint, also a UNESCO listed site.  Inhabited since prehistoric times, sprawling Butrint has been the site of a Greek colony, a Roman city and a bishopric. Following a period of prosperity under Byzantine administration, then a brief occupation by the Venetians, the city was abandoned in the late Middle Ages after marshes formed in the area. The present archaeological site is a repository of ruins representing each period in the city’s development. After our visit here we will take a short drive back to and above Sarande to visit the Lekursi Castle, where we can enjoy incredible views all the way to Corfu. Afternoon and evening at leisure.

Day 6: On to Corfu
We depart on a morning hydrofoil from Sarande to Corfu, journey time approximately one hour. On arrival in Corfu, we will enjoy a break for coffee at a lovely viewpoint just outside the town followed by a guided walk of historic Corfu Town, a fascinating and attractive town that owes its character to its extensive history and the influence of the various occupiers of the island who left a beautiful architectural legacy, including its grand Venetian fortress which sits proudly on a promontory next to the town.
There will be free time to enjoy the town at leisure before checking-in to the five-star Kontokali Bay Hotel, situated next to a beautiful bay. Dinner included at the hotel this evening.

Day 7: Day at leisure or join an optional tour to the Achilleion Palace Gardens and Paleokastritsa.
Today is an opportunity to relax and enjoy the facilities of the lovely beach side Kontokali Bay Hotel or, if you would like to see a little more of Corfu, join an optional tour (dependent on minimum numbers) visiting the Achilleion Palace Gardens built by Elisabeth of Austria (known as ‘Sissi’)  who adored Corfu, Greece and its culture, and seaside Paleokastritsa, described as the 'jewel of Corfu'.  Dinner is not included this evening, giving you the opportunity to try one of the hotel’s speciality restaurants or return to the buffet restaurant (at a supplement) or perhaps return to Corfu Town for dinner, which is very atmospheric in the evening.  

Day 8 Corfu to London Heathrow
Coach transfer (approx. 25 minutes) to Corfu Airport for return flight to London Heathrow

NB: Exact order of itinerary may vary according to local conditions and tour manager's discretion.

Please note the maximum group size on this tour is 25 passengers.

Tour grading: This tour has been graded as moderate due to standing time at attractions. Some access to sites may be via uneven steps with no handrail, and some paths may be gravel or pebbled. The tour is fairly active, and on day 4 there is a steep hill up to the castle in Gjirokaster. Visit the mobility section of our website, or call our team for further information.

INCLUDED

• Flights from London Heathrow to Tirana, and Corfu to London Heathrow
• Five nights' bed and bed and breakfast at good standard minimum 4-star hotels, based on shared occupancy of a twin/double room. Two nights in Tirana, one night in Berat, two nights in Sarande
• Two nights' accommodation at the five-star Kontokali bay Spa hotel, based on shared occupancy of a twin/double bay view room
• Two dinners in Albania (days 1 & 3) and one HB dinner at the Kontokali Hotel (day 6)
• Return transfers from airport to the hotel
• Touring itinerary throughout
• Tour manager throughout and local guide at all historic sites

NOT INCLUDED

• Single room supplement - from £325
• Sea view supplement - from £20 per person (Kontokali Bay Hotel only)
• Optional tour
• Holiday insurance
• Meals other than those stated
• Items of a personal nature such as drinks, laundry, telephone calls
• Porterage and gratuities

HOTELS

Lot Boutique Hotel, Tirana
Centrally located in Tirana and just 14kms from Tirana Airport, the five-star Lot Boutique Hotel offers comfortable modern rooms as well as easy access on foot to the sites of Tirana. Rooms have private bathroom facilities with bath or shower, air-conditioning, TV, telephone and free wi-fi. 
Lot Boutique Hotel 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. 
Mangalemi Hotel website  

Hotel Onufri and Hotel Portik 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 four-star Hotel Portik is equally well located, offering a modern design. Both hotels offer comfortable spacious bedrooms with private bathroom facilities with shower, as well as air-conditioning, TV, wi-fi and telephone. 
Hotel Onufri website     Portik Hotel

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. 
Brilant Hotel website     Hotel Iiliria website

Kontokali Bay Hotel
The five-star Kontokali Bay Spa Hotel, located on the lush Kontokali Peninsula, offers comfortable rooms and a magnificent setting. The included rooms in the tour are all bay view rooms, all of which have private bathroom facilities, safe, hairdryer, TV, free wi-fi, air-conditioning, telephone, minibar and tea/coffee making facilities. Sea view rooms are available at a small supplement. Facilities at the hotel include a pool, private beach, two speciality restaurants, bar/cafe, and spa. 
Kontokali Bay website