Best of Albania Explorer 8 days Tour
Overview
Available languages
1 week 1 day
Mobile ticket
Tucked away in a little visited corner of Europe lie Albania, is a charming and delightful country that few people know much about. For years Albania was a closed society, ruled by the iron fist of Communism, but since the end of the Cold War it has been showing curious travellers its many charms, The location of Albania between some of Europe’s most important empires has left them well endowed with a wealth of attractions from the Greek, Roman and Ottoman eras. The region is home to a wealth of old Turkish architecture which sits side by side with elaborately decorated Orthodox churches and from more recent times the civic buildings of Communist era, as well as impressive Roman ruins and well preserved historic towns. This part of Europe is also blessed with incredible scenery with imposing mountains, pristine lakes and traditional villages tucked away in pretty valleys.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Specialized infant seats are available
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation Policy
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
What To Expect
Arrival - Tirane.
Accommodations
Overnight at Albanopolis 4* or similar.
Tirana
Pickup from Tirana International Airport and transfer to the city. Leisure day.
Kruje - Tirane
Accommodations
Overnight in Hotel Albanopolis 4*, or similar. (B)
Food and Drinks
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
Kruje
After breakfast we head to Kruja, one of Albania’s most important towns due to the part it played in resistance against the Ottomans. Visit the Skanderbeg Museum and castle as well as the old bazaar. Then heading to Tirana. City tour of Tirana, Albania's capital. Overnight at Freddy's 3* or similar. (B)
Lezhe - Shkoder.
Accommodations
Overnight at Tradita G & Tosk Hotel 4*, or similar. (B)
Food and Drinks
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
LUNCH
Lunch
Lunch break at the worldwide famous agritourism Mrizi i Zanave.
Lezhe
After breakfast, the next stop will be in Lezha city. In the ancient pelasgian period it was called Lis (in Roman era Lissus). Visit to its top hill castle where you enjoy the fascinating panorama of the Adriatic Riviera and bronze age ancient city walls, and visit the Mausoleum of Skanderbeg (Albanian National Hero). Lunch break at the worldwide famous agritourism Mrizi i Zanave. Afterward, we will continue to Shkodra.
Shkoder
A nice landscape with highland (Albanian Alps on the north) is a full contrast. City tour of Shkodra, Old Bazaar, Centrum, Cathedral and Mosque. Visit the Castle of Rozafa and we will enjoy wonderful views of mountains (Albanian Alps), Shkodra’s lake (the biggest in the Balkans), Drini, Buna and Kir rivers with the valleys around from the top of Rozafa castle. Shkoder overnight. Overnight at Tradita G & Tosk Hotel 4*, or similar.
Durres - Berat (UNESCO).
Accommodations
Overnight at Rezidenca Desaret 4* or similar. (B)
Food and Drinks
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
Durres
After breakfast we continue to Durres. This port city, is the most important ancient central mediterranean metropol until medieval time in the 15th century when it got occupied by ottomans until 1912 when Albania proclaimed its independence, and Durres became its capital until 1920. (Durres is also more than 3500 years old (mentioned first time in Odisea where Ulicsus spent part of his time in Taulantia (ancient Pelasgian-Illyrian name of Epidamn-Durrah-Durres) on his way back to Itaka after Troyan war. This city has the largest Roman amphitheater in the Balkan region (about 20,000 seats), dating back to the beginning of the 2nd century which we will visit with the ancient city castle wall and byzantine bazaar/forum, Roman public baths, etc.
Berat
Later we will continue to Berat, one of the oldest inhabited regions of Albania, more than 2400 years old, and with special status from UNESCO. Visit the castle of Berat with the Onufri museum and other churches inside; the Mosque of Berat and the old Bridge of Gorica, Onufri Museum and several churches and mosques. Onufri was an Albanian master painter of the 16th. Many of his wonderfully painted icons still remain in the museum while others can be found in churches in Albania and Greece where he worked. Overnight at Hotel Republika 4* or similar. (B)
Ardenica Monastery - Apollonia - Vlore.
Accommodations
Overnight Hotel Partner 4* or similar.
Food and Drinks
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
Ardenice
After breakfast we will continue to Ardenica Monastery. The monastery of Ardenica is known as a place where our National Gjergj Kastriori Skanderbeg got married with princess Andronika Arianiti. It is a Byzantine structure occupying a surface area of about 2,500 m². This monument consists of the Saint Mary Church, the Saint Triad chapel, the konake, the oil mill, the oven and the stall.
Apollonia Archaeological Park
We continue the tour to Apollonia, which was founded in 588 BC and taken by Aristotle as a model in his analysis of oligarchy, because of its distinct and separate Illyrian and Greek communities. It was a vital stronghold in Caesar's civil war with Pompey and also important in early Christian history with its bishop attending the councils of Ephesus and Chlalkis in 431 and 451 AD. We will visit its museum, Shen Meri Monastery and Church.
Vlore
Then departure to the coastal city of Vlora. Vlora is the city where Albanian independence from the Ottomans was proclaimed on November 28th, 1912. Visit to the Museum of Independence.
Himare - Ksamil - Butrint (UNESCO) - Saranda.
Accommodations
Overnight in Havana Hotel 4* or similar. (B)
Food and Drinks
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
Himare
After breakfast, we continue to the south of Albania, where we enjoy spectacular views of Vlora Bay, the mountains and the Ionian Riviera.
Butrint National Park
Arrival in Sarande. Where we visit ruins of Butrint antic city, Albania's most important archaeological site, part of UNESCO heritage list since . Butrint dates from the 7th century BC, later becoming a Roman colony, then falling under the sway of the Venetians and Turks. Virgil claimed that the Trojans settled Butrint, but no evidence of this has yet been found. Within a century of the Greeks arriving, Butrint had become a fortified trading city with its own acropolis, the ruins of which we can still visit. The rediscovered city is a microcosm of almost 3,000 years of Mediterranean history, and its 6th century BC fortification evokes the city's military power and symbolizes the rich culture of the once thriving ancient city. Exploration of amphitheater, Venetian tower, Mosaic, Lion gate, etc. We will return for accommodation at the hotel. Dinner at the Lekuresi Fortress in Saranda with great views of the bay of Saranda and the Island of Corfu.
Ksamil
Continue via some picturesque seaside villages to Saranda in Ksamil, where we stop for lunch break, with the possibility to enjoy the beach and cristal azure sea and the views.
Mesopotam - Blue Eye - Gjirokaster (UNESCO) - Tirane.
Accommodations
Overnight at Albanopolis 4* or similar.
Food and Drinks
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
Mesopotam
This morning we will continue to Gjirokaster. En route we will make a stop in Mesopotam monastery, built over the ancient temple inside the fortress.
The Blue Eye
In the morning, we continue to “Blue Eye” National Park. The Blue Eye is a water spring with extremely light blue water bubbles in a more than 50-metre deep pool. You’ll be mesmerized by how clear the water is, to the point that you’ll be able to see straight to the bottom.
Gjirokaster
Then proceed to Gjirokaster part of (UNESCO) heritage since 2005. City tour, than visit to the Castle, Weapons Museum. The main characteristic of Gjirokastra is the intensive use of stone in building the houses, which look like small fortresses, the streets of cobblestone, which all lead to Bazaar. You can also visit the Mosque of Bazaar here, built in 1557. Due to all these features, Gjirokastra is also known as the “The Stone City”.
Airport Transfer.
Food and Drinks
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
If the pick-up time is early in the morning, the breakfast may not be served.
Transfer to Tirana Airport for departure. End of services. (B)
What‘s Included
Entry fees for all 12 itinerary sites are included, covering every cultural, historical, and scenic visit planned throughout the trip.
Lunch
English speaking guide/tour leader
Hotel: Accommodation 4* hotels on double occupancy in good location.
Transportation: Air Conditioned modern van/minibus and other transportation listed in itinerary.
Tips and personal expenditures
International airfare and airport taxes
Local city/tourist tax (to be paid upon check in hotel)
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Options
Shared Tour Single Supplement
Single Supplement: Experience the tour at your own pace with the privacy and comfort of a room all to yourself. Pickup included
Shared Tour
Pickup included
Reviews
22 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
EXCELLENT TRIP TO ALBANIA, SHORT BUT WELL PLANNED ITINERARY
Travel Addict 2307,May 10, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I booked the trip to Albania through Exoticca, the land tour was run by Albania Explorer April 21 to 26 2026, my tour guide was Mentor and driver was Alex for the whole duration. Many places you come to visit, some places you would come home to! It was a surprise that our group had 28 people, a big group for a less popular destination. However, this tour was so good, the location was amazing with friendly people and beautiful scenery that made you want to come back. Everyone in our group stayed in the same hotels, so we did not have to deal with different drop off and pick up. The hotel in Tirana, a bit corky, new and homey, was a walking distance to everything, about 10 min. Exoticca was fairly good at picking downtown hotels, as in this one. It depends on the flight schedule arrival, but the first day was schedule-free so I took a walking tour of the city on my own. The next day we got right into it. The itinerary was jam-packed daily. The first day we toured a nearby location and the city and returned to Tirana. The next day we hit the road and for the next four days we stayed in a different hotel each night in different cities. It may sound very hectic, and it was, but all and all very pleasant and fulfilling. We were fortunate to have a decent group of people who are appropriate and respectful.( I had traveled with Exoticca to South Africa in Dec 2023 and the group dynamic was wrecked by a few disrespectful and ill-mannered individuals.) We also had a mild-manner, sincere and approachable tour guide. Mentor did not make a big deal of anything. Small details such as setting the daily departing time at 830am to allow people time for breakfast and getting ready without having to rush was one example. Mentor was also flexible to adjust the schedule according to weather and logistics of the day to maximize the experience for guests. After day one, Mentor was already everyone's best friend. It would not be fair to praise our lovely driver Alex. Alex was rather quiet, but a skilled and safe driver. Alex was effective, on time and hard-working. He communicated well with Mentor to ensure everything was done right. A mini excursion up the hill to watch the sunset was not listed in the itinerary but added on courtesy of Mentor and Alex as a gift to our group. Thank you Mentor and Alex. (We were freezing to death on top of the windy hill but absolutely loved it) I personally would like to thank Exoticca, Mentor and Alex for making the trip a pleasant memory. A few feedback for improvement. I was worried about the currency prior to the trip and messaged Albania Explorer for information. The responses were not as helpful and reassuring, once I found the answer myself on location. I asked the currency accepted in Albania and was told Euro or USD only. This was not accurate at all. Exchange offices were everywhere, even smaller cities. And most major currencies widely accepted, British pounds, Canadian and even Australian dollars. I should have brought my Canadian dollars instead of converting them to Euro and USD then had to convert again to Lek.
An excellent tour of Albania with Exoticca.
soonteo,May 10, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our guide, Mentor is exceptionally great. He is very knowledgeable with the places, history, developments of each and every town and sites that we visited and we gained lots of knowledge from him. Mentor is also very service minded and caring for his group. He ensures that no one is left behind at every stop. He also provides great tips on the good restaurants and brought us to some excellent ones too. He is also a great entertainer and we enjoyed his passionate singing of some Albania songs. Overall our trip has been made very enjoyable by him and our driver, Alvin (hope I hit his name correctly)
Fun & professional Albania guide
Christa P,May 10, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We tour a lot and some guides are better than others…. Mentor was outstanding, he knew so much about his country and his passionate shows. He answered our questions and made sure those that couldn’t walk on some of the more difficult parts of the tour were well looked after in a coffee shop nearby, no one was overlooked. He was very kind and caring and best of all very easy-going which is important for a Tour Guide. We had a fantastic time touring with him & give him high marks!!!
Full on and tiring but despite the distance travelled have felt I got to know Albania.
Yvonne P,May 10, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00So varied from castles to bazaars to museums to churches , a beach and historic ruins from all eras. Mentor our guide was very knowledgeable, maybe needs to be a little shorter with information and Adi, our driver was competent and safe. Downside, this trip is full on, very little downtown hence very tiring. A new hotel everyday, I should have read the description in more detail. Soo draining. All in all Mentor was a kind and very compromising guide and did everything with a smile. You couldn’t ask for a better guide.
Amazing experience, go now before it gets touristy while it's still cheap!
stevensC3658RI,May 9, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had an amazing experience with a very knowledgeable tour guide (Edmond), who was able to give us first hand experiences and accounts from the days of the communist regime. We left earlier than we were supposed to everyday and not only beat the crowds everyday, but we were able to make the most of each day. A lot of places we were one of the only people there (again, we left earlier than the itinerary and beat the crowds), which made for a nice quiet experience and some great photos. The progression of the trip and sights we saw made sense, and it just kept getting better and more picturesque. All the people were so friendly and welcoming, and it was so safe everywhere. They treat every person as just that, another human being, they don't care where you're from or who you worship, they treat everyone with kindness and respect and it was so refreshing. This was a challenging trip in terms of lots of steep hills and stairs/uneven surfaces. I am SO glad I started going to the gym a few months prior. Unbelievable mountainous views every single day. It was insane being among 7th century BC ruins from the Ottoman and Roman empires.
Fantastic trip to Albania
cattybags24,May 4, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We have just returned from an amazing 7 day trip to Albania. Our tour guide Edmond was fantastic, nothing was too much trouble, he showed us a side of Albania that we would not have seen on our own. From Beautiful mountains and lakes to ancient castles. We sampled really tasty local cuisine and natiinal drink Raki. I would thoroughly recommend this Albanian experience and we would certainly return in the future. Our only thought for future reference would be to reduce the amount of places visited in a day as we did feel we did'nt have any free time to relax in between trips. Many Thanks once again to the wonderful Edmond, our Driver and Exoticca for making our trip so special. Regards Catherine, Steve, Graham and Pat.
A wonderful 8 days in Albania
Graham W,May 4, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had the most fantastic week exploring Albania, made truly special by our incredible tour guide. He was so knowledgeable and passionate, sharing fascinating insights at every stop, and always went out of his way to make sure we were comfortable and enjoying ourselves. Thanks to him, we got to see and understand so much more than we ever would have on our own. The driver was very good and looked after us all loading and unloading the bus at the various hotels. All the hotels were of a very good standard.
Great historical tour
775estrellitag,May 3, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00We had a great time with our tour group and our tour guide Mentor. This tour does a good job showing you around the different regions of Albania. It is heavy on history, old world castles, and ruins.
Excellent tour exploring Albania in a week
josefb742,May 2, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Comprehensive tour itinerary exploring what Albania has to offer. Berat and Butrint the real highlights. We had a brilliant driver and Mentor the guide who managed a very mixed physical ability group. Would definitely recommend this tour.
Discovering Albania
matraveller2014,Mar 6, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great introduction to Albania. Nice pace, very informative and great fun. Our tour guide, Edmond was very good, especially enjoyed hearing about his own experiences during the communist era.
From €1,345.00
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