The Best of the South and East

Arrival at Nene Tereza Airport (Mother Teresa), where you will be met with your name displayed for the transfer to your accommodation. After checking in at the hotel, you can visit the following places in Tirana: The renovated, modern Skanderbeg Square with the statue of Skanderbeg, the Et’hem Bey Mosque, the clock tower next to the Et’hem Bey Mosque, and a few of the government buildings built on the south side of the square. This square is also home to the National History Museum and the Tirana Opera House. You can also visit the trendy part of Tirana, Blloku. You could also visit Bunkart 1 (a nuclear bunker with more than 70 rooms) and take the cable car up the mountain (dajti ekspres) where you have a beautiful view of Tirana and the mountains.

After breakfast, you will receive your rental car at 9 a.m. at your accommodation and can drive to Berat, the first city on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Berat is also known as the “city of a thousand windows.” After checking in at the hotel, you can take a walk through the old neighborhood of “Mangalem.” After this visit, you can continue on to the castle and the Onufri Museum. People still live within the walls of the castle, just as their ancestors did. Onufri was an Albanian artist who lived during the 16th century. He painted many Orthodox churches in Albania and Greece.

Today you have the whole day in Berat to enjoy this beautiful place, but you could also do an activity such as a river hike through the Osumi Gorge, a 4×4 ride to Mount Tomorri followed by a beautiful walk and a picnic lunch in nature, or an e-bike tour, or a cooking workshop. You could also go wine tasting at one of the excellent wineries around Berat.

Today, you will drive to the coastal town of Vlora in about 2-3 hours. On the way, you could visit Ardenica and Apollonia. Ardenica is an Orthodox monastery, built in the 13th century. People say that the famous Skanderbeg got married here in the 15th century. About 45 minutes from Ardenica is the archaeological park of Apollonia, located on the famous Via Egnatia. Apollonia was founded by the Greeks at the beginning of the 7th century BC and during Roman times it was a large and thriving city, with 50,000 inhabitants in the 2nd century BC. It is located near the Aos River (now Vjosa). The monastery garden (where the museum is located) houses a 14th-century Byzantine church.

Today, you will be driving along the Albanian Riviera! At Llogara, you can choose to drive over the pass or take the tunnel. Along the way, you can also stop at the beautiful coastal towns of Dhermi and Himara.

A beach day today, but you could also take a wonderful boat trip across the Ionian Sea (and visit various beaches).

After breakfast, you will drive to another UNESCO site, namely Gjirokastra. On the way, you could stop at the Blue Eye and at Butrint, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This city was founded by the Trojans during the first millennium BC and was inhabited for centuries. Afterwards, you could have lunch on the beautiful islands of Ksamil, with a view of Corfu. Gjirokastra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is said to be one of the most beautiful historic cities in Albania and is also known as the “museum city.” Afterwards, you will have the whole day in Gjirokastra to stroll around and visit various sights, including Albania’s largest fortress, built in the 4th century, which houses the National Arms Museum. Afterwards, you can visit the Ethnographic Museum, located in the birthplace of Albania’s former dictator, Enver Hoxha. It is also possible to visit one of the most beautiful buildings in Gjirokastra, namely the house of “Skendulli,” where you will be given a tour by the owner of the house. It is also possible to visit the large nuclear bunker under the castle.

Today you’ll drive for about four hours along beautiful roads and gorges to the provincial town of Korca. Along the way, you could stop at the Benje thermal baths. In Korca, the magnificent icon museum (Museum of Medieval Arts) is a must-see.

After a delicious breakfast, you will drive to Lake Ohrid, to the town of Pogradec, in about an hour. Here you can take a nice walk along the boulevard in the afternoon and eat at one of the delicious restaurants.

Today is a day off in Pogradec to enjoy the lake and go swimming, but it is also possible to cross the border into North Macedonia and visit the beautiful town of Ohrid. A green insurance card for the car to enter North Macedonia costs 15 euros.

After breakfast, you will have the whole day to enjoy the beach at Pogradec before driving back to the capital via Elbasan. You can park the car at your accommodation and hand in the keys at reception; they will be collected automatically.

Today you have the whole day in Tirana to visit the places or do the things you didn’t have time for yet. You will be picked up at your accommodation 3 hours before departure.