Gjirokaster

Heading to Gjirokastra UNESCO Site Departing Tirana at the dawn of 8 o’clock, we shall journey towards Gjirokastra, a place 230 kilometers away, renowned for its remarkable preservation of the Ottoman architecture and its prominent agricultural land. We will traverse through the depths of Southern Albania, admiring the green fields that the countryside has to offer. Along our path, we shall be accompanied by the Vjosa River, one of the few untamed rivers of Albania and the surrounding Balkan region. Travel time is 3 hours

Gjirokastra Bazaar

Gjirokastra Bazaar Once we arrive in the city, you will soon recognize that this metropolis is unlike any other. At the heart of the city lies the main square, proudly named after the renowned Albanian Patriot of the 19th century, Cerciz Topulli. Here, the cobblestone streets culminate in a splendid spectacle, their journey from the castle’s lofty heights finally at an end. Dating back to the 17th Century, the Ottoman era saw the flourishing of a bustling epicenter that sent its vitality reverberating throughout the city. A hub of economic activity, this was the place where news, gossip and rumours were propagated with remarkable swiftness. All manner of transactions were conducted here, as well as leisurely gatherings over coffee. Countless unions were arranged here, providing the perfect milieu for families to come together. This day, the city proudly displays its history to all who visit, with a splendid array of souvenirs and stories shared by the affable inhabitants.

Gjirokaster Castle

Majestically, we tread through the bustling Bazaar to reach the grand Gjirokastra Fortress. Upon the hilltop’s natural defenses, it was the first settlement of the city, deeply rooted in the captivating legend of Argjiro, the young princess who sacrificed herself. Thusly, it is commonly referred to as the Crown of the City. Renovated significantly in the 19th Century, it has been used as a fortress and prison by countless regimes and political parties of the past. Undeniably, the Fortress holds great historical significance, yet its stony visage still provides a stunning view of the city, placidly spread along the hills.

The Blue Eye

We head to Blu Eye in Muzine around 40 minutes from Gjirokastra where we will have a visit in the National Park of Blue Eye and also visit the famous marvellous spring . You can walk for around 20 minutes to the spring or take the train which costs 3 euro per person per one way

Hiking , Fishing , Discovering the hidden Eremit Cave Churches We start hiking through the Valley at 8 in the morning and hike for about 1 hour to get to our destination “Ali Pasha Wall”, built by the ruler of 19th century and abandoned after not being able to gather the water of the spring that feeds the Vjosa River creating a beautiful blue like colour hidden into the nature forgotten by people. We throw the nets to the side of the river as a local fisherman helps us with the tools and shows us the local methods of river fishing, and meanwhile we prepare a small fire where we would cook the fish if we’re lucky enough or go with plan B and prepare a modest picnic meal. In the meantime we will head a couple minutes further to discover the Eremit Caves on the side of the valley.

Parku Kombetar Divjake-Karavasta

National Park Divjake-Karavasta Leaving Tepelena behind we will head to another National Park to learn more about the wild life of Albania and endemic animals living in the lagoon. Our first stop will be the Tourist Center where we will visit the exhibition wildlife of Karavasta room inside the facility used for the Lagoon Forest Ranger. We can see two pelicans saved from rangers that now ‘serve’ on the facility, the largest species of pelicans in the world : the Dalmatian Pelican native to the Lagoon and the only place in the world where they lay eggs. We can climb the tower to have a 360′ panoramic view of the whole lagoon reaching the Adriatic Shores. Possible to take a local boat and get into the lagoon bird watching towers, to closer inspect the wildlife of this protected nature park. Travel time is included on the total duration of the experience .