Albania Last Minute Holiday
Itinerary
Day 1 – Welcome to Albania!
On arrival at Tirana airport you will be met by our local partners, where you’ll receive your detailed itinerary with travel tips and get assistance for the rental car pick-up. Then you’ll be whisked to your hotel in the city centre.
Spend the rest of the day exploring Tirana. In recent years it has grown from a grey concrete city to a colourful capital with a mix of architecture: from Ottoman to communist and postmodern. This mix cannot be more evident than on Skanderbeg Square. Artworks on the street provide colour and surprise, while in the Blloku district you will encounter more hip and happening hangouts with designer cafés, boutique hotels and galleries.
Day 2 – Back in time in Berat
After collecting your hire car, your first journey will be a short two hour drive to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Berat. Settle in to your centrally located hotel and take a stroll. The Ottoman houses are piled up against the mountains and the streets are narrow, winding and like a maze. For the most beautiful views, walk to the Gorica bridge or to the castle of Berat. Especially around sunset you have a great view of the city and surroundings from here.
Familiarise yourself with driving in Albania: it’s safe, but different from home. There aren’t always clear traffic rules, roads, or signs, but there’s a communal sense of looking out for one another. Feeling a bit uncertain? We can arrange this road trip with a private driver for added peace of mind.
Day 3 – Get to know Albanian cuisine
This morning you will learn about Albanian cuisine, which is characterised by Italian and Ottoman influences. Sweets and pastries are popular throughout the country and each region has its own specialties. Drive to a restaurant just outside the city. Here you will not only learn to cook some of Berat’s traditional dishes, but the restaurant’s chefs will also tell you stories about the cuisine of the Berat region. After your hard work, it is time to taste your own creations. Once home, you will put the most delicious dishes on the table when friends or family come over.
The rest of the day is free to explore Berat and its surroundings further.
Days 4 & 5 – Ottoman villas in Gjirokastër
The next stop on your road trip is one of Albania’s cultural highlights: Gjirokaster. You will spend two nights in an atmospheric hotel in the historic centre. On arrival you can explore the maze of streets lined with white mansions, the old bazaar and the castle complex that towers above the city. If you want to purchase an Albanian carpet – this is the place!
Days 6 – 8 – Riviera life
No trip to Albania will be complete without a few days by the coast and today you’ll head towards the seaside. Stretching over 100 miles along the coast and washed by the warm waters of the Ionian sea, the Albanian Riviera is the best place to slow down, recharge and enjoy the sun. You’ll spend a few days in one of the coastal towns dotted along the shoreline, lazing around on the beaches or exploring the coastline. You’ll stay in a locally run guesthouse with welcoming hosts and lovely atmosphere.
Gjipe Beach & Pirate Cave boat tour
There is no better way to discover the beauty of the Adriatic Sea than from the water. Hop on a boat and sail along the coast. You’ll disembark on a white sandy beach, where the narrow Gjipe Canyon starts from. Gjipe Beach is a great spot for lunch – you can get some snacks and drinks from the handful of beach bars, or take a little picnic lunch with you. Then you’ll continue your adventures to the mysterious pirate cave.
Day 9 – Charming Kruja
Following another scenic drive through Albania’s countryside, you’ll arrive at Kruja. This quaint town was the birthplace of Skanderbeg, Albania’s legendary hero, and of course there is a fortress sat atop a hill. With stunning views and a very impressive museum shedding light on Skanderbeg’s life and deeds, it’s well worth a visit. Otherwise, you can easily spend hours wandering around the 500-year-old bazaar with its stalls and tiny shops. You’ll spend your final night in Albania in a charming local hotel in the heart of the town.
Day 10 – Farewell to Albania
Today you will have your final drive to Tirana airport (around 1 hour) where you will drop off your hire car and board your international flight back to the UK.
Accommodation
