Visit Albania from Dubrovnik

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

Day 1
DUBROVNIK AIRPORT - DUBROVNIK (22 KM)
1 stop
1
Dubrovnik
At the Dubrovnik Airport you will meet our tour guide who will accompany you to the hotel. Depending on the time of arrival we enjoy a walking tour of the old town of Dubrovnik. The 'Pearl of the Adriatic', situated on the Dalmatian coast, became an important Mediterranean sea power from the 13th century onwards. Although severely damaged by an earthquake in 1667, Dubrovnik managed to preserve its beautiful Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque churches, monasteries, palaces and fountains. Damaged again in the 1990s by armed conflict, it is now the focus of a major restoration programme co-ordinated by UNESCO. Overnight in Dubrovnik.
2 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 2
DUBROVNIK – BUDVA - KRUJA – TIRANA (290 KM)
3 stops
2
Budva
After breakfast proceed to Albania through Montenegro. Continuing to Budva The Old Town of Budva is more than 2,500 years old, and this part of Montenegro is one of the oldest in Europe. Moreover, the Old Town is considered “the place to be seen” in the city. Throughout your tour of Budva you can find an array of items at the local stores - ranging from designer clothes to souvenirs to take with you as a memory. In the middle of the town you can discover the Citadel, the castle of Budva which offers outstanding views of the Riviera. Following that, move on to soak up the amazing views of Sveti Stefan, one of the most amazing islets of Budva. This town is one of the most attractive coastal cities of Montenegro, and the old part of the city is the jewel on the crown. As an illustration of that, encounter the Italian presence around the city through the Old Town's Venetian-influenced walls.
1 hour • Admission ticket free
3
Kruja Castle
Continue on into Albania and to Kruja. Rich in history and tradition, Kruja is home of the patriots and the epicenter of Albania’s independence from the Ottoman Empire. It was here that Gjergj Kastriot Skanderbeg, Albania’s greatest national hero, defended the country from the invasion of the Ottomans. The National Museum dedicated to the hero is housed in the famous Kruja Castle and shows both the legendary hero’s history and the traditional way of life of the city’s population. The city’s famous bazaar serves as a bridge between this glorious past and the present, offering a rich array of traditional products made from local artisans.
2 hours • Admission ticket included
4
Tirana
After the visits in Kruja we proceed to Tirana. Free afternoon in Tirana. Overnight in Tirana
1 hour • Admission ticket free
Day 3
TIRANA – APOLLONIA – VLORA (196 KM)
3 stops
5
Tirana
The tour start 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, Bunk’Art , 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).
2 hours • Admission ticket free
6
Apollonia Archaeological Park
Proceed to the ancient city of Apollonia situated on the famous Via Egnatia - one of the most important cities in Roman times. the ancient city of Apollonia, founded in the sixth century B.C. Situated in southwestern Albania, about 13 miles from the city of Fier, this city was built by Greek colonizers on the lands of the Taulantii Illyrian tribe. It was considered to be one of the most prominent cities at the time, selected from over twenty other cities throughout the Mediterranean, to receive the glorious name of Apollo, the god of music and poetry. Several beautiful ruins and important monuments, such as “Promenade B” with its 4th century B.C. Doric columns, the Nymphaeum’s magnificent fountains, and the largest preserved monument of the Park, the Gate of Temenos with the grand Obelisk sitting across from it.
3 hours • Admission ticket included
7
Vlore
Afterwards we continue to Vlora. Home to Albania’s independence in 1912, this city is at once home to the traditional polyphonic music, exquisite culinary delicacies, a vibrant nightlife, and some of the best beaches of the south, many of which are found in Vlora or right off the city’s coast. Beautiful waters, lush forests, and historic monasteries of the Zvërnec and Sazan islands, the popular Orikum beach, the spectacular island of Karaburun, and the Lagoon of Narta, housing the country’s richest flora and fauna are only some! For some fresh mountain air, you may leave Vlora and take on the intimidating Llogara Pass, where you will find the most delicious meats as well as freshly made yogurt and honey. On the other side of Llogara, countless historic villages, castles and churches
2 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 4
VLORA – ALI PASHA CASTLE - BUTRINT (UNESCO) – SARANDA (180 KM)
3 stops
8
Ali Pasha Castle
After breakfast we depart for Saranda. Drive on the spectacular Albanian Riviera looking down at the Ionian Sea. Breathtaking sceneries await us at the Llogara pass - 1000 m above sea level. We continue on to Saranda, make a short stop at the fortress of Ali Pasha a fortification used to control the sea trade routes. Ali Pasha Castle is the crown jewel of the Albanian Riviera. Built on the hill of an island, connected to the shore via a narrow man-made strip of land, this castle attracts everyone’s immediate attention thanks to its triangular shape and the three bastions built on each corner. The castle was built in 1814 at the request of Ali Pashë Tepelena, after the destruction of Justinian’s castle. During the same period, the church of St. Nicolas was built directly across the castle.
1 hour • Admission ticket included
9
Butrint National Park
Butrint is an archaeological site that provides valuable evidence of ancient and medieval civilizations on the territory of modern Albania.The site, on a hill next to a lake connecting to the sea by a canal, has been inhabited since prehistoric times. A Greek colony was founded there in the late 7th century BC, when the city (called Buthros) was surrounded by fortifications. Roman occupation prompted the development of the city and, during the Christian era, it became the seat of a bishopric. Many religious structures were built by the Christians. The city's last era of prosperity was under Byzantine administration (Epirus). After a short period of occupation by the Venetians (late 14th century), the city under Ottoman administration was threatened by the marshes that formed around the lake, and was abandoned by the population. Legend associates this city with Trojan settlers who fled Troy under the leadership of Aeneas.
2 hours • Admission ticket included
10
Saranda
In the evening we reach the beach town of Saranda, the unofficial capital of the Albanian Riviera, this resort town comes to life in the evenings on its bustling promenade. Overnight in Saranda.
1 hour • Admission ticket free
Day 5
SARANDA – GJIROKASTRA (UNESCO) – BERAT (UNESCO) (215 KM)
2 stops
11
Gjirokaster
After breakfast we drive to Berat. On our way we will stop in Gjirokastra. One of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites, this gorgeous, carefully preserved, peculiar-looking city is built on steep slopes where stone-roofed houses seem to be built on top of one another. The spirit of Gjirokastra has been captured in many novels written by the city’s most illustrious son, the renowned author Ismail Kadare. His home along with the childhood home of Enver Hoxha, Albania’s former communist leader, are only some of the many attractions of this city. Alongside Albania’s most beautiful traditional houses and the city’s famous limestone and shale paved roads, the city houses the Castle of Gjirokastra, one of the oldest in the Balkans! The “city of stone” offers a number of authentically rich culinary delights and memorable panoramas of the surrounding mountainous.
3 hours • Admission ticket free
12
Berat
It is the distinctive traditional architecture of this so-called “City of 1000 windows” that has placed Berat in UNESCO’s list of world Heritage Sites. Beautifully split by the Osum River into two historic neighborhoods, the city is joined by the grandiose bridge of Gorica. The characteristic windows of the traditional houses mirror one another beautifully from across the river. Flanked on both sides by Tomorr and Shpirag, two of the most mythical mountains in Albania, Berat is also a nature lover’s paradise. Mountain climbing, cycling, hiking, rafting and kayaking are only some of the preferred outdoor activities around this city. The medieval Castle of Berat houses old churches, museums and iconography by the greatest Albanian artists as well as old bazaars, cafes, and a surprisingly vibrant local life.
3 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 6
BERAT (UNESCO) – SHKODRA (190 KM)
1 stop
13
Shkoder
This multifaceted city has had a traditionally rich artistic life and an enormous contribution to Albanian culture. 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!
2 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 7
SHKODRA – KOTOR (UNESCO) – DUBROVNIK (195 KM)
2 stops
14
Kotor
From here we start a scenic drive that will bring us to one of the true highlights of the Adriatic coast -the Bay of Kotor. The bare mountains plunging into the dark water have caused it to be compared with a Norwegian fjord and then we drive to Kotor. Our walking tour here will include visits to the Cathedral of St. Tryphon, St. Luka Church, and the St. Mihail Church. Our tour will take us through some of Kotor’s spacious squares, lined with beautiful palaces, various impressive religious buildings and the fortifications, for a glimpse of the city from above. Later in the afternoon we will continue on the spectacular drive to Dubrovnik.
2 hours • Admission ticket free
15
Dubrovnik
After the visits we proceed to Dubrovnik. Start your tour at the iconic Clock Tower in the Old Town before heading up the famed old steps leading to the Northern Outer Wall fortification (Predziđe), the "Hidden Walls". Imagine Tyrion’s escape through the tunnels here, Cersei watching the Mountain train, and Tommen and Cersei’s talk about love and power. Next, head to the nearby Pile Gate to see where Jaime Lannister’s return and the riots in King’s Landing took place. Take photos of the scenic Pile Bay, the setting for Princess Myrcella leaving for Dorne and Sansa’s plotting with Lord “Littlefinger” Baelish. Then take a stroll down Dubrovnik’s historical main street, Stradun, while your guide tells you about other movies and series that have chosen to film here. You will find the Jesuit Steps at the end of this street, where Cersei began her famous ‘Walk of Shame’.
2 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 8
DUBROVNIK - DUBROVNIK AIRPORT (22 KM)
1 stop
16
Dubrovnik
After breakfast we will transfer to the airport. End of our service.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free

Additional info

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

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