Active cultural tour through authentic Albania

Departure day! Today we land in the Albanian capital Tirana.
After settling into the comfortable rooms of the four-star hotel, we take a walk through the lively city centre. We explore Tirana’s new bazaar and, with Skanderbeg Square as a backdrop, the guide tells us about Albania’s turbulent history.
In the evening, we enjoy a delicious meal, followed by a drink on a terrace. You’ll notice that Tirana ‘by night’ is just as lively as during the day.
Overnight stay in four-star hotel in Tirana (Hotel Opera, Hotel Mulaj, Sky 2 Hotel or equivalent)
 

In Tirana, we visit a former bunker. In Bunkart, you’ll experience the history of the communist secret services that held Albania in their grip for so long.
We tour the historic centre of Tirana and sample the regional cuisine at lunch. In the afternoon, we take a long walk through Bllok, a district that was once accessible only to members of the communist party. The guide is happy to provide commentary, explanations and answers to all your questions about life under the communist regime.
Overnight stay in four-star hotel in Tirana (Hotel Opera, Hotel Mulaj, Sky 2 Hotel or equivalent)

After breakfast, we depart for the town of Gjirokastër. Along the way, we make a stop at the Archaeological Museum and Park of Apollonia. This is an ancient city that was built here around the 7th century BC. The city had an estimated 60,000 inhabitants and was only rediscovered in the 19th century. We stroll through this archaeological city, visit the museum and the courtyard of the monastery with a 13th-century church in Byzantine style.
In the afternoon, we arrive in Gjirokastër. Most travellers react spontaneously with What a beautiful city as we walk through the streets. You’ll quickly discover here where the nickname ‘city of stone’ comes from. Gjirokastër is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Overnight stay in Gjirokastër in a boutique hotel in the old bazaar (Hotel Kalemi 2) or Hotel Bineri or equivalent.
 
Photos: Liria Travel and Unsplash (incl. AbenteuerAlbanien)

Today we visit Butrint, but along the way we have to stop briefly at ‘The Blue Eye’ (Syri i kaltër). This incredibly azure-blue water spring is a unique natural phenomenon and a real feast for the eyes. While the damselflies buzz around your ears, you can feast your eyes on so much natural beauty. This place was once a source of inspiration for poets and writers. And for the photography lovers among us: capturing this phenomenon on camera is quite a challenge.
Butrint is a vast, very well-preserved archaeological site and the most visited place in Albania. This was once an important Roman fortress, and to this day you can see the walls of the various houses, shops and temples. Some beautiful mosaics make Butrint extra special. At the same time, it’s pure enjoyment of the nature and the panorama. Butrint, too, is on UNESCO’s World Heritage list.
Overnight stay in Gjirokastër in a boutique hotel in the old bazaar (Hotel Kalemi 2) or Hotel Bineri or equivalent.
 

After a hearty breakfast at the hotel, we make a steep climb through the city of Gjirokastër, as we visit the castle and admire the beautiful view from the roof. Afterwards, we visit the homes of two very striking figures from recent Albanian history: the house of communist dictator Enver Hoxha and the home of the most famous Albanian writer, Ismail Kadare.
After lunch, we depart from Gjirokastër for Berat. This castle town, too, rightly features on UNESCO’s World Heritage list. In ’the city of a thousand windows’, with its narrow cobblestone streets and overhanging façades, you’ll feel like an extra in a film from the last century.
Overnight stay in a four-star hotel in Berat (Hotel Portik, Hotel Colombo or equivalent)

In the morning, we stay in and around the beautiful Berat. Among other things, we visit the magnificent Berat Castle, which is actually a walled castle village and still densely inhabited, the Onufri Museum with historical icons, and the narrow & steep winding streets of the Mangalem district.
For lunch, we settle in at an authentic restaurant in the middle of the castle village and once again enjoy a delicious traditional meal.
After lunch, we depart for the beautiful agritourism estate Mrizi i Zanave. On this farm, everything is produced locally and organically. From sun-dried tomatoes to delicious wine, but also fresh vegetables, olive oil, cheeses, honey, jam, meat and even soap.
Everything is grown, harvested, processed and prepared by the family, together with the residents of the village, with great passion and love for the products. By welcoming visitors to the estate, they want to put Albania’s culinary heritage and ancient crafts on the map. Their motto? Think Globally, Eat Locally.
So it will be an afternoon where tasting, smelling, looking, discovering and experiencing take centre stage. In the evening, we get to sit down to an unrivalled gastronomic meal. Their restaurant works exclusively with local products and is almost always fully booked. So we’re in luck!
This is a wonderful agritourism project with passionate people that we love to visit to give you a taste of the real Albania.
We stay overnight with the local population. With the help and coaching of the family that runs Mrizi i Zanave, a number of villagers have built lovely guest rooms with excellent beds and bathrooms. Our group is divided among the different host families, so you’ll experience Albanian hospitality up close.
Overnight stay in lovely guest rooms with the local population.
All photos below: copyright Mrizi i Zanave
 

Today we drive towards Shkodër and make a long stopover along the way in the seaside town of Durrës. We pay little attention to the commercial coastline. What interests us here is the Roman amphitheatre and the new archaeological museum. For lunch, a table is set for us at the very tip of the pier. For a moment, you’ll feel as if you’re on a luxury ship.
After the meal, we set course for Shkodër. This is the city of the ‘shkodranve’, which translates as ‘residents of the state’. Throughout Albania, Shkodër is known for its humour, culture lovers, artists and beautiful nature. The authentic city dwellers are often shaken up by the younger generation. It is, after all, a lively student city.
Overnight stay in a four-star hotel in Shkodër (Hotel Rozafa or equivalent)
 

In the morning, the remarkable Rozafa Castle is on the programme. The castle appears to lie amid the arms of the river, and from the top of the castle you can enjoy a magnificent view of the region, the city and its turbulent character: rough buildings and wild nature, intersected by capricious waterways.
The guide tells you the legend of Rozafa on the spot, because the story has even more cachet when you’re actually standing there. Afterwards, we walk along the largest lake in the Balkans (Liqeni i Shkodrës) to Shirokë. There, a table is set for us for a lunch with a view of the lake. After lunch, you can visit the city museum and the new Marubi photography museum.
Overnight stay in a four-star hotel in Shkodër (Hotel Rozafa or equivalent)
 

Up early today for a trip described in the travel guides as one of the world’s most beautiful boat journeys. For two hours, our ferry boat sails across the mirror-smooth water surface of Lake Koman, past steep mountain walls, towering waterfalls and straight through narrow rock formations. In Tropojë, we set foot ashore, perfectly in time for lunch.
After taking a few more photos and casting an admiring glance at the magnificent mountain peaks, we set course for Kosovo.
In the evening, we stay overnight in Prizren: a charming little Kosovar town with cobblestone streets. There, we sample the fine combination of old and new. You’ll notice that a whole range of languages is spoken, and you’ll sense that the young people are bursting with zest for life.
Overnight stay in a four-star hotel in Prizren, Kosovo (Hotel Centrum or equivalent)
 

Now that we’re in this region of Kosovo, a visit to the Dečani Monastery is a must. It is one of the best-preserved religious buildings in the Balkans, with murals dating back to 1360. The fact that a Serbian priest gives us a tour here makes our visit extra special.
We have a delicious lunch at the source of the Drin river.
After the midday meal, we stop at the Peja Monastery and the old bazaar of Gjakova, after which we travel back towards Prizren.
Overnight stay in a four-star hotel in Prizren, Kosovo (Hotel Centrum or equivalent)
 

Whoever wishes can sleep in a little longer today. We take a walk through historic Prizren and get ready for a long drive (3 hrs) back to Albania. Destination: Krujë!
This town was once the Albanian capital. National hero Skanderbeg held out here against the Ottoman occupation for no less than 25 years. The town’s old bazaar and the castle of Krujë are our final sights of the trip.
Of course, we also enjoy one very last traditional dinner in Albania, because tomorrow we already head back home!
Overnight stay in a four-star hotel in Krujë (Hotel Panorama, Hotel Dior or equivalent)
 

Return journey to Brussels, farewell to Albania, our fellow travellers and the guide.
Until we meet again, Albania!
 
Minor changes may occur in the programme.