South Albania
1st day
Arrive at the airport in Tirana where you meet our guide and driver
(English speaking and a lot of experience in both guiding and driving).
Visit the National History Museum in Tirana and the city center full of
memories from the last 200 years and mostly from the period when
Mussolini (the Italian dictator of the 2nd world war) was preparing the
invasion of Albania. A lot of memories from the Communist regime as well
as a new downtown reconstructed by the Municipality of Tirana during
2010 – 2011. Transfer from Tirana to Berat with a nice stop for lunch or
dinner (depends on arrival time at airport) with a fish and local sea
fruit menu. Arrival in Berat in the evening. Check in a local romantic
B&B where we also taste some of the local delicious food and the
traditional Albania raki (equivalent of the Italian Grappa or French Eau
de vie).
2nd day
Wake up in the morning and visit the beautiful fortress of Berat and
its marvelous museum of Onufri situated in a stunning Orthodox
Cathedral dedicated to the Assumption of the Holy Virgin. Take a tour of
the traditional neighborhoods of Berat: Gorica (traditionally
christian) and Mangalem (Muslim) which give Berat the name of the “Town
with 1001 windows”. Lunch on the way while drive to Gjirokastra where we
will visit the Argjiro Castle with its Weapon Museum as well as a
private visit of one of the most spectacular houses of Gjirokastra (the
town is part of the UNESCO List of Humanity Heritage Sites, just because
of its strange and beautiful architecture).By visiting this house we
will also contribute in the preservation of some of this gems which are
in a desperate need of some funds for reconstruction and maintenance.
The visit is not part of any classical tours or guides so we will really
enjoy something very original.
On the way to Saranda we will also stop to visit some of the 700 000
bunkers, Enver Hoxha the communist dictator of Albania built in the
60ies, 70ies and 80ies in a diabolic attempt to keep the Albanian nation
under a constant threat of a “imperialist attack aiming to destroy the
wealth and happiness of Albania, and transform the Albanian workers as
poor and oppressed as the American ones”. Another short visit in the
natural spring of the Blue Eye and then transfer to Saranda where we
will drive on top of the Lekuresi Castle for a drink and a beautiful
view of the Bay of Saranda and the Corfu Island.
3rd day
We will start after breakfast our drive to the Archaeological and
Natural Park of Butrint. With a history starting back to at least 2700
years ago Butrint is one of the most beautiful sites of this kind not
only in Albania but probably in the hole Mediterranean Basin and is also
since a few years a proud member of the UNESCO List of Humanity Heritage
Sites. We will organize the visit so that we can also take a nice tour
of the Lake Butrint, famous for its Mussel farms which we also propose
to taste in one of the local restaurants on the coast. Then we’ll start
driving North through the spectacular Albanian Riviera, composed of
these ancient Akrokeraune Mountains which peak on the bluest part of the
Mediterranean, the Ionian Sea. We’ll visit through this area a
spectacular and romantic Castle which Ali Pasha of Tepelena, a rich and
powerful administrator and diplomat of the period when Albania and
Greece were under the Ottoman Empire in the 18th century, built to honor
his young wife Vasiliqia. We’ll also drive through the fantastic Pass of
Llogara which hosts a very green Natural Park and the history of Caesar
who camped here with his armies in the year 38 B.C. while traveling to
central Albania where he successfully fought against Pompeus for the
throne of Rome.
Depending on schedule we will overnight in Vlora, Tirana or drive to
airport, harbor or elsewhere.
Minimum participation : 2 persons
Price starting from 249.0 euros per person including:
Accommodation in nice AC, 3 standard boutique hotels
Driver and guide – experienced and English, German, French, Italian speaking
Fuel and car rental
Entry in museums and national parks
Taxes
