Albanian Trip
Land of the Geg & Land of the Tosk – 13 Days in Albania (& Kosova)
This all-encompassing tour is designed for travelers who love culture, history, food and experiencing nature and stunning landscapes! It is our most popular tour for a reason.
Fully escorted, a fun and knowledgeable guide will be with you for the duration of the trip to impart the story of this fascinating country and will be your personal driver as you move from one destination to the next. Focusing mainly in Albania (with a brief sojourn into Kosovo), this two week tour is the most in-depth one we offer on purely Albanian heritage, geography and history. Get off the beaten path to discover some parts rarely visited by outsiders! Encompassing Albania’s two distinctive regions (the northern Geg and southern Tosk areas, which you can do as individual trips rather than a whole – see itinerary below), it will surely be an amazing experience.
We’ve designed this tour for English-speaking travelers with an itinerary that offers a pleasant lack of super-early starts – most departure times are around 9:00 in the morning. We have managed to avoid long drives – most days you will end up at the next destination with plenty of daylight hours left to explore, relax and eat. The tour allows a lot of flexibility (a good balance of guidance and freedom) and provides opportunities to experience and learn as much as possible from this surprising region of the Balkans!
We would recommend that visitors arrange to arrive in Albania the day before the tour – we will collect you at the airport and can assist you in making arrangements at a suitable hotel for that night. The tour arrangements on the final day are designed to get you back to Tirana in time to catch a late flight home. If you prefer, we can arrange for you to spend an extra night in Tirana and we will take you to the airport the next day. We can also arrange for you to stay longer should you wish to have more time to explore.
Being that there are two portions of the tour (the north and the south) you can definitely opt for only one part according to your timing and interests, but of course, we recommend taking the whole tour of Albania! Here is the itinerary and do contact us if you have any questions!
March 22nd 2025
April 14th 2025
May 03rd 2025
May 21st 2025
October 03rd 2025
October 11th 2025
Northern Albania & Kosovo – Geg Itinerary
Day 1: Shkodra – Gateway to the North
Meet your Albanian Trip representative and transfer to Shkodra (approx. 1.5 hours), a historic town near the Montenegro border. Explore Shkodra Castle and the lively town center.
For dinner, we recommend Restorant Tradita, known for its traditional Albanian dishes with a scenic view of the surrounding hills.
Overnight in a charming boutique hotel with a beautiful courtyard.
Day 2: Koman Lake – Valbona
Drive to Koman Lake (approx. 2 hours) for a breathtaking ferry ride through Albania’s stunning mountain landscapes (approx. 2.5 hours).
Transfer to Valbona (1 hour), passing through Bajram Curri.
For dinner, try Hotel Rilindja, offering local dishes such as “tava e krapi” (a fish specialty).
Overnight in a cozy family-run guesthouse in Valbona.
Day 3: Explore Valbona
Spend the day exploring Valbona and its surroundings. Hike to a traditional stan (shepherd’s hut) for a taste of local delicacies. For the more adventurous, a longer hike (600m elevation) through the forest is also available.
For lunch, enjoy fresh trout at a local eatery.
Evening at leisure.
Overnight in Valbona.
Day 4: Gjakova & Prizren (Kosovo)
Transfer to the Kosovo border (approx. 1 hour), and visit the historic town of Gjakova, known for its restored bazaar and the Hadum Mosque.
Lunch at Restorant Gjakova, where you can sample traditional Albanian and Kosovo cuisine.
Continue to Prizren (1 hour), a charming town full of history and stunning Ottoman architecture.
Overnight in a comfortable, modern hotel in the heart of Kukes in Albania.
Southern Albania – Tosk Itinerary
Day 5: Tirana – Gateway to the South
For those starting on Day 5, meet the group in Tirana.
Transfer from Shkodra to Tirana via the scenic Highway of the Nation (approx. 3 hours).
Walk through Skanderbeg Square, Ethem Bey Mosque, and explore the New Bazaar and hidden neighborhoods of the city.
For dinner, enjoy Albanian specialties at Ceni’s or Tiranditional restaurant, both offering a great variety of traditional dishes.
Overnight in Tirana.
Day 6: Kruja & Durrës
Transfer to Kruja (45 minutes) to visit the Skanderbeg Museum and Ethnographic Museum. Explore the citadel and the traditional bazaar.
Drive to Durrës (45 minutes), Albania’s ancient port town. Afterwards, visit the center of Durres and the Roman Amphitheater.
For lunch, we could propose a restaurant inside the fishing harbour or a great meal at our very special and secret Bunker Farm.
Transfer back to Tirana (30 minutes).
Overnight in Tirana.
Day 7: Bunk’Art & Korça
Visit Bunk’Art 2, an immersive exhibition on Albania’s communist history.
Transfer to Korça (approx. 3 hours), with a coffee stop at Lake Ohrid along the way.
For dinner, we recommend one of the delicious places in the shores of Lake Ohrid in the beautiful village of Tushemisht for traditional lake dishes.
Overnight in Korça.
Day 8: Korça to Gjirokastra
Visit the Museum of Medieval Art in Korça, which houses incredible Byzantine art and religious icons.
Drive to Përmet (approx. 3 hours) for a scenic journey with lunch along the way.
Continue to Gjirokastra (1.5 hours).
For dinner, enjoy local flavors at Restorant Kujtimi in Gjirokastra.
Overnight in Gjirokastra.
Day 9: Gjirokastra & Butrint
Explore Gjirokastra, a UNESCO World Heritage town known for its well-preserved Ottoman architecture. Visit the Gjirokastra Castle and the Ethnographic Museum.
Afterwards, drive to the Butrint Archaeological Site.
For dinner, enjoy the views and fresh seafood at Rrapi or Taverna Veranda, located in Qeparo Village.
Overnight in Qeparo Village.
Day 10: Qeparo & Porto Palermo
Explore Old Qeparo Village and enjoy a scenic drive to Porto Palermo to visit Ali Pasha’s Fortress.
Enjoy free time at the beach or a swim.
For lunch, consider Taverna Porto Palermo for fresh fish dishes by the coast.
Overnight in Qeparo.
Day 11: Llogara & Berat
Transfer to the Llogara Pass (1 hour 20 minutes) for panoramic views of the Albanian Riviera.
Stop at Apollonia Archaeological Park and visit the Monastery of St. Mary of Ardenica before continuing to Berat (approx. 2 hours).
For dinner, we recommend one of the traditional Albanian dishes like tavë kosi (lamb with yogurt) or pershesh typically served for family celebrations in Berat.
Overnight in Berat.
Day 12: Explore Berat
Tour the Berat Citadel, the 13th-century Cathedral, and the Mangalem and Gorica neighborhoods, known for their unique architecture.
Farewell dinner at a local family with specialities of the season.
Overnight in Berat.
Day 13: Departure
Visit the Karavasta Lagoon and Divjaka Natural Park, home to migratory birds like the Dalmatian Pelican.
For lunch, enjoy a relaxing meal at a lakeside restaurant.
Transfer back to Tirana for your return flight.
We are happy to assist with additional stays or transfers to neighboring countries.
Tour Price & Payment Information
Pricing: Tour pricing will be based on the number of participants and specific tour conditions.
Payment Options:
- Bank Transfers
- PayPal
- Debit/Credit Card (Visa/MasterCard) at our Villa with a Star Office (5% fee for card payments)
- Cash (where applicable)
Tour Includes:
- AC vehicle with professional driver
- Accommodation in 3-4 star boutique hotels (breakfast included)
- Breakfasts, welcome meal, and farewell dinner
- Entrance fees to museums and sites
- English-speaking tour guide for the entire journey
- Local taxes (VAT 20%)
Tour Excludes:
- Airfare
- Travel insurance
- Tips for guide and driver
- Any meals other than the ones mentioned (welcome & farewell dinners, and breakfasts)
- Any items not mentioned above
Pictures courtesy of our Godmother Jenn McLaughlin
What have guests thought of this tour!?
We’ve been delighted to have the crème de la crème of visitors take the tour! They’ve been interested (and interesting!) open-minded, tolerant, curious and perceptive.
Here’s what Jenn McLaughlin (Restaurateur and Writer) from Canada thought of our tour in Fall 2016
For anyone questioning whether or not to go on this tour, I tell you with utmost confidence to question it no further. The country and the people running this company are both fantastic. My mom and I did the cultural tour Land of the Geg & Land of the Tosk and experienced two weeks of eye-opening, jaw-dropping beauty.
First off, if you have extremely high expectations for luxury, this country may not be for you. While the hotels were all so unbelievably lovely that I felt grossly underwhelmed coming back to my own home with mix-matched decor and a bathroom that could surely use some updating (1970s purple bathtub, anyone?), the experience of going to Albania is not one filled with grandeur and opulence – thankfully, refreshingly so. It is a breath of fresh air.; a warm blanket on a cold day. You will regret not going.
Albania is honest, raw, sincere, naturally beautiful and has hospitality in places you’d least expect it. It is not perfect – and in some places it’s not even pretty -but the charms of this country-in-flux are ones that force you to love it. And you will love it in the purest way, not just on the surface. Albania creeps up on you. It moves its way into every pore of your body and starts imprinting itself on your mind and heart in ways you didn’t expect. It’s not like those touristy destinations where you feel removed and disengaged, shuffling from one in-your-face-beautiful
Albanian Trip is unequivocally the company with whom you should see Shqipëri. For one, the people running it are incredible. They offer a human side to the country and by no means do they partake in the “smiling guide who just wants your money” act. No, no. These people are genuine -they are everything missing from the world and from the ever-depersonalizing tourism industry.
Contact with Elton began in the winter and he was prompt and charming in his responses. Right away any trepidation I had with choosing an obscure online company was erased. I laughed out loud at some of our conversations and felt entirely sure that I should sign up. I wired my money off.
There were five of us on this particular tour. Although there may be more or less people when you might decide to go, the smaller size made for a unique and personal experience. Gjergji, another of the three owners, was our tour leader and we felt so thankful to have him. This is a growing company and not all will get to be directly with the owners but I can assure you that they carefully choose who works with them.
Gjergji is one of the sweetest, most sincere people I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting. He noticed how everyone was feeling, was able to gauge how to act in any stressful situations and he was careful to balance all of our needs (just imagine working with a group of people with varying personal preferences! It’s no easy task but he pulled it off with great skill.) The tour is designed to allow a good mix of guidance and freedom, and the behind-the-scenes work that goes into planning it makes it too easy to forget just how much they’ve done to make it so seamless. There were no terribly early starts and almost every day we got to the next destination by the afternoon in order to have time to rest and then explore. Gjergji’s driving was flawless and he handled the more strenuous mountain roads with care and expertise (as one who sometimes gets carsick, this was great!)
The choice of activities included on the itinerary is mixed and you will surely get something out of all it. It is designed to give you a well-rounded taste of the country – geographically, historically, gastronomically and culturally. I shall not provide too many details as I don’t want to spoil the surprise but in general, here is what you can expect:
1. Fresh, carefully crafted, mouth-wateringly delicious food.
Everything we ate was above standard. Albanian specialties and meals with either Turkish, Greek or Italian influence were all cooked with precision (and some, in my opinion, were in fact better renditions than their countries of origin due to the high standard of ingredients.) It is obvious that those at Albanian Trip are “foodies” because of the places they pick and suggest to eat at. Not one of them disappointed me. Don’t expect to only get served meat – while the meat dishes my travel partners ate were raved about (whether it was goat, wild boar, fish, veal, lamb, etc.) there are so many kinds of wholesome foods to indulge in like roasted vegetables, salads, cheese, bread, olives, yogurt, savoury pies (byrek), fried spinach, zucchini or rice balls, etc. Be prepared for surprises, too. If you are a vegetarian like me, you will not once be forced to settle nor will you ever have to be a pain to someone. There is so much to eat -so much that you end up rolling home in blissful agony. (And do try the desserts. And also the wine and raki if you like a drink!)
2. Excellent hotels, all with character and some with historical significance.
They had first-class amenities: beautiful decor, hot showers, wifi, TVs with fun satellite channels to browse, comfortable beds, high standards of cleanliness, extra blankets and many had balconies with great views. A couple had wifi reception that was quite finicky but when you see where you are it is completely understandable. In the end, if you check about availability the day before, it’s nothing that can’t be planned around.
3. Natural beauty that will astound you.
The mountains- oh, the mountains! I’ve been to places with rugged landscapes before but this country could top the rest due to the diversity in these tectonic phenomena and also, where the roads are constructed! Never have mountains had personalities. It sounds crazy, but you’ll see when you get there.
4. Lovely, kind people.
Sure, not every experience going into a store to buy a bottle of water will be life-changing. But in almost all cases the servers are extremely happy you are there and go out of their way to speak English and care for you properly. The real surprise is the warm welcome you get from average people going about their day-to-day lives. Be open and communication will happen, even with a hilariously obvious language barrier. Also, if you have a chance to stop at random food markets and the like, do so. I am still teeming with the warmth I experienced from people.
5. Ever-changing identities.
Each pocket of Albania feels different from the one you were at before. This is due to several things: the climate, the flatness or elevation resulting in differing agricultural practices, the language, the proximity to neighbouring countries and absorption of some of their cultural particularities and what body of water is near (whether it’s a river, a lake or a sea greatly changes who’s there and what they are doing.) You will get cosmopolitan stuff: cafe culture, shopping, high heels and energetic youth; and you will rewind and get the idyllic: elderly folk walking hand-in-hand in traditional clothing while cows and goats are herded by a man in a gorgeous field.
6. A great tour company with diverse activities.
Albanian Trip will show you ruins, churches, mosques (don’t underestimate Albania’s religious diversity), natural wonders, historic buildings and places from all periods of Albanian history (Illyrian, Roman, Greek, Ottoman, Communist, present.) You will learn about the people, languages, food, musical styles, national heroes, national symbols and a whole bunch more you can only know about if you sign up. Gjergji was great at teaching about what was around us and often shared personal stories to make it seem more intimate.
All in all, this could very well have been the best trip of my life. At the risk of sounding pretentious, I have traveled a fair bit for someone my age but the unexpected beauty in Albania (again, the pure kind) is something that made it very hard to leave. Also, Gjergji is the type of person you wish lived closer to so you could go catch a Football match together from time to time. He is a guide, yes, but he acts more like a caring friend. He is an exemplary human being and I am a better person for knowing him.
If I have one complaint it’s that Gjergji promised to find my mom an Albanian husband but failed, tragically. If you are looking for matchmaking services, perhaps there is a better choice out there. Albanian Trip was too busy providing an awesome tourist service to find my poor mother a suitable mate. Perhaps we’ll have to go back again to find him.
If you have any more questions regarding the experience I had and what you might expect, ask Elton, Gjergji or Vilma for my email address and I will gladly chat with you! I am a Canadian if that helps – perhaps you might be further interested in a Canadian’s expectations and experience in this little Balkan enigma.
JM, October 2016
Here’s what Jeffrey Nakar (Business Analyst) from London thought of our tour in Spring 2015:
If anybody has any doubts about whether Albania is worth visiting, I can assure you that it is. I have just come back from a most wonderful tour of the whole country, provided by Gjergji and Elton, who are two of the nicest and most knowledgeable guides I have ever been with.
It is a beautiful country, and no longer looks poor. It has excellent roads. The countryside is green and is filled with agriculture, much of it traditional. Attractive new houses are being built. The older buildings in many towns are being restored to a very high standard, involving traditional craftsmen in recreating their interiors, so crafts such as woodcarving etc. can stay alive.
There is a great variety of scenery with mountains and rivers and lakes and coastline all of which are accessible and are visually stunning.
The people are friendly. The food is fresh and healthy and is amongst the best I have had anywhere. Standards of cleanliness and hygeine are high. Portions are large.
Tirana is a fine, modern capital that is well worth visiting for a weekend break. It is an attractive city that is walkable in safety with parks and shops and excellent restaurants. It has a long history with much to see from before and during Communism. It is not just like any other city. It has a history and a character of its own. It is still half the price of most cities, and is a good place to buy cheap clothing.
The country has many historical sites, Ottoman castles, Roman ruins, national heroes (ancient and modern), museums.
Albania went through hell in the twentieth century. Now it is recovering remarkably quickly. It really deserves to be on the map of countries to visit and Albanian Trip deserves to be successful in putting it there. I cannot praise them highly enough for the quality or variety of the tour that they provided. Their knowledge and dedication are exceptional. They provided excellent hotels in different styles and went to places and introduced people that no ordinary tour company would know about. Their tour is built around a love and knowledge of Albania and a sensitivity to its history and to their customers, not a list of standard tourist sites and profit margins. I am really glad that I chose to go with this company.
Communism has gone. The eagles are free in the land of the eagles. They are flying and are almost ready to soar. I wish Albania and Albanian Trip well. They deserve it.
Here’s what Allan Wild (Spacecraft Project Manager) thought of our tour in Autumn 2014:
My impression of Albania, and also of Kosovo, was of beautifully varied landscapes and friendly people. I am happy that I made the choice to explore both countries, and even more happy that I chose to travel with an organization which not only knows the right places to go, but also the people within those places who can provide the best hotel services, the best food, and access to the most interesting galleries, museums, churches and mosques.
It was clear to me that both guides (for the Southern Cities and the North Albania extension) were known and respected in all the places we visited. As a result, many doors were opened to us which had not been accessible to the general public for a long period, due to refurbishment, etc. The small group arrangement also permitted flexibility in the itinerary to take advantage of such access, or to add extra options so that we could enjoy each location to the full. Every city, town or village was a new experience, each quite different to the rest in terms of historical heritage and even food. The only common factor was the friendliness of the people I met, and their wish to talk to me and to share whatever they could with me. This was particularly evident in the Albanian Alps where the few people are scattered over greater areas, but all are welcoming to those travelling through. It has truly been a wonderful experience and I would have been happy to extend my stay if that had been possible.
Here’s what Sue Barber (Museum Curator) thought of our tour in Autumn 2014:
I hadn’t thought of visiting Albania until talking to your friend at Destinations. I normally think quite hard about where to go, and research which company to go with but didn’t on this occasion, having made a spontaneous decision to go with AlbanianTrip. Since returning, I have looked at one or two other tours (there aren’t many) to see how they compare – and I feel even more pleased that I went with you.
I liked the fact that the itinerary went awry at times! This is because we did extra, spontaneous, things, such as visiting the history museum in Vlora and being shown round the Socialist Realist art exhibition in Korca. I doubt that these things could happen on a tour with a larger firm where guides would have less flexibility.
I did like the fact that we dined together. Apart from enjoying the company, we were able to benefit from your knowledge of where and what to eat. The hotels were all good, though some were better than others. I hadn’t known what to expect and, to be honest, thought that they might be less good than they were. The traditional ones in Girokastra and Korca were the best.
I thought that visiting Kruja on our first full day was a good idea as it combined spectacular scenery with diverse elements of Albanian history – specifically Skanderbeg, his fight against the Ottomans and the interpretation of this story in the communist period museum. Combining it with Durres brought in ancient history too, as well as being practical as they’re both near Tirana. I only mention this because I noticed that other tours go there last, on their way back to the airport – your way round is better. I very much enjoyed visiting the cobbler’s, baker’s and blacksmith’s shops and meeting the old man in Permet and even the sozzled general in the bar in Korca. People were very friendly and, clearly, tourists are still a novelty. I also enjoyed the tour of the National Art Gallery in Tirana with the local artist, as you wouldn’t normally meet such a person.
Finally, thank you for leading the tour so well. You have great knowledge about your own country as well as an obvious interest in the wider world and in other people. And a great sense of humor so we had a lot of fun. I particularly appreciated the fact that you were prepared to discuss some of the more negative things about Albania, such as corruption in the judiciary and petrol adulteration. I’m not sure that many tour guides would be as open as this. I felt I got an honest and well rounded view of the country, which might not have been the case with another leader. Absolutely finally, your friend at Destinations captured my attention by describing the countryside and the historical sites but I didn’t realize how good the hotels and food would be, or how friendly the people. Albania is also kind to the pocket as food and drinks are cheap compared with Britain and your single supplement was surprisingly low (good news for solo travelers who resent high supplements.)