Southern Albania: Culture and nature adventure
Overview
Available languages
168 hours
Mobile ticket
Discover Albania’s hidden paradise, where breathtaking nature meets rich culture. This journey takes you from stunning UNESCO sites to the untouched beauty of southern Albania’s countryside, offering authentic hospitality at every step. Perfect for friends, families, and couples, you’ll explore historic gems, walk through serene rural landscapes, and marvel at the dazzling Ionian coast and majestic Albanian mountains.
Highlights:
• Explore Berat and Gjirokaster old town (UNESCO city)
• Learn about ancient history in Apollonia & Butrint archeological parks
• Drive along the Albanian Riviera coastline
• Discover Qeparo and Voskopoje old villages
• Swim in the outdoor sulphur baths of Benje
• Walk in Nivica canyons and Peshtura waterfalls
Additional Info
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation Policy
If you cancel at least 6 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.<br>If you cancel between 2 and 6 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a 50% refund.<br>If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.
What To Expect
Tirane – Karavasta Lagoon – Berat
Accommodations
Accommodation in shared double/twin rooms
Laguna e Karavastase
Meet your expert guide at your hotel and embark on a journey to Berat, with a scenic stop in Karavasta, the largest lagoon in Albania. Take a boat tour to admire the serene beauty and diverse birdlife.
Berat
Continue to Berat's ancient castle, wander its charming cobblestone streets, and marvel at the blend of St. Mary church, King’s Mosque, Halveti Tekke, and enchanting views of the Tomorr mountain. End your day with a leisurely stroll along the Osum River, soaking in the vibrant local history of Mangalem and Gorica quartiers.
Berat - Apolloni - Vlore
Accommodations
Accommodation in double/twin rooms
Food and Drinks
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
Apollonia Archaeological Park
After a delightful breakfast, we journey to the ancient city of Apollonia, a rare blend of Greek and Illyrian heritage, surrounded by breathtaking landscapes unlike anywhere else in the Mediterranean.
Vlore
Later we transfer to the city of Vlore, remarkably known as the place where the independence of Albania from the Ottoman Empire took place. The city has a lot to offer with its beautiful coast. The walking tour with our guide will continue to Independence square and the promenade by the sea.
Narta Lagoon
To top off the day, we’ll visit the serene Narta Lagoon and Zvernec Island, home to stunning wildlife like Dalmatian pelicans and flamingos amidst the lush Mediterranean pine forest.
Albanian Riviera
Accommodations
Accommodation in shared double/twin rooms
Food and Drinks
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
Dhermi
Through the coastal road, we continue to visit lots of villages with amazing vacation atmospheres and rich history. Dhermi village is one of the most famous for its beautiful beaches and the old town.
Qeparo
Qeparo is another unique village. The old houses built on the top of the hill look mysterious and stay grandiose facing the Ionian Sea.
Himare
Himare is a small town with friendly locals who host thousands of vacationers during the summer season.
Porto Palermo Castle
Porto Palermo castle is built as a defensive fortress by Albania ruler Ali Pashe Tepelena during the 18th century.
Saranda
This is the most visited place on the coast and the vibes are different. You can enjoy the nightlife, local seafood or walking in the city.
Butrint – Gjirokaster
Accommodations
Accommodation in shared double/twin rooms
Food and Drinks
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
Butrint National Park
Today is dedicated to the history of the area. We will drive further south to visit the archeologic park of Butrint. The ruins found here date back to the 8th century B.C representing a long living history of the Illyrians, Greeks, Romans, and Byzantine empires. A walk inside the city guided by our knowledgeable guide, surrounded by beautiful nature and ruins will make you feel like you are in another past world.
Ksamil
Not far from the park are located Ksamil Islands which are so well-known for their sandy beaches and views of Corfu Island located only 4km across the sea.
The Blue Eye
On the way to Gjirokaster, we stop for a refreshment at the Blue Eye springs.
Gjirokaster
The next destination is the city of Gjirokaster, a site listed under UNESCO World heritage in Albania. The town hosts unique local architecture which has been nicknamed Stone City. The walking tour will include a visit to the old bazaar, the castle, the bazaar mosque, and Gjirokaster Obelisk.
Gjirokaster Castle
Argjiro castle stands with pride at the top of the hill and can be seen from all over the city and the valley.
Nivice – Permet
Accommodations
Accommodation in shared double/twin rooms
Food and Drinks
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
Tepelene
Leaving behind popular destinations, we head to the more rural countryside. Today we drive to Nivice village, a place discovered lately and slowly be part of tour packages. On the way, we will stop at the birthplace of Ali Pasha, the city of Tepelene. The viaduct of Ali Pasha built in the 19th century is proof of development that received the area during his reign.
Hidden in the mountains is located Peshtura Waterfall. It takes only a short walk from the village of Progonat to explore these karstic springs and those adventurous spirits can dive in the blue clear waters.
Nivice
The adventure is not over yet as we drive to the village of Nivice to enjoy the views of deep canyons and have a delicious lunch.
Permet
After lunch, we leave the mountains to get to the amazing valley of the Vjosa River. Permet is a lovely little town with friendly people and relaxed nature. It is known for great raki, gliko (typical fruit jam), and rose flowers.
Permet – Voskopoje - Korce
Accommodations
Accommodation in shared double/twin rooms
Food and Drinks
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
Benja Thermal Baths
We will explore the area of the thermal baths, swim inside, and walk by Kadiu bridge
Germenj
The route encircles around green valleys, deep forests, and rural mountains. This is a part of Albania less habited, yet a dream to be. We will stop at a small local farm to try some local fresh products and play with horses.
Voskopoje
Voskopoje is a small village with big history and culture. It used to be the center of civilization of southeast Albania during medieval times. Walking around the village, you will explore lots of orthodox churches and the spirit of the locals.
Korce – Tirane
Accommodations
Accommodation in shared double/twin rooms
Food and Drinks
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
Korce
With the journey coming to the end, we will leave the mountains and get to the city of Korce. It is known as “The Little Paris” due to its mystic history of the First World war, old bazaar, and stylish houses.
Lake Ohrid
We make a stop to enjoy the Albanian shores of Lake Ohrid, the village of Tushemisht and Lin.
What‘s Included
Entrance fee Porto Palermo Castle
English speaking tourist guide/driver
Entrance fees Gjirokaster fortress and Museum of Weapons
Accommodation in shared rooms. If you are booking together, you will be paired with your partner.
Entrance fee Iconographic Museum of Onufri
Transportation with comfortable car/minivan
Entrance fee Butrint archeological site
Entrance fee Skenduli’s house in Gjirokaster
Entrance fee St. Nicholas church in Voskopoje
Entrance fee Apollonia archeological site
Entrance fee Medieval Art Museum
Lunch and Dinner
Tips (optional)
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Options
Tour in shared twin room
Standard 3* hotels
Pickup included
Reviews
11 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Relaxing and cultural trip
I3315CFsteffis,,Oct 21, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00It was a really nice trip. A lot of cool places with beautiful nature and really nice historical places . The guide knew a lot about every city . I really would recommend this trip to everyone who wants to have a relaxing time and see a lot of cool places .
fantastic authentic experience
Hockleygal,,Sep 12, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Gezim from See Trips was great to work with. Professional and prompt with communication. Our driver Semet was accommodating and helpful. Would highly recommend going with See Trips and having a driver/car when looking for an authentic experience in Albania. Thank you!
Albania - Customised Package
Slakshmy,,Aug 2, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The entire experience with See Trip was nothing short of exceptional, and I felt compelled to share my positive feedback. First and foremost, the itinerary was well-planned and perfectly executed.From the initial communication till the momemt we reached back in our country Gezim showed his professionalism. Each destination was carefully chosen, and the activities provided a perfect blend of adventure and relaxation. No words will be enough to say Thank you to our Guide Saimir. He was knowledgeable, friendly, and enthusiastic. His passion for the destinations and willingness to go the extra mile to ensure our comfort and understanding were commendable. His insights and local knowledge made the trip more memorable. Overall, I am thrilled with the quality of service provided by See Trip. From the initial booking process to the final moments of the trip, everything exceeded my expectations. Thank you once again for an unforgettable experience!
Fun and great adventure with friends
Mael el el,,Jul 1, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The views took my breath away. Mountins, fresh running water and beautiful green surroundings. Food and drinks every where is not only cheap but delicious. We had a great tour guide, Samet, which made everything easy and fun for us
A must-see South Albania’s stunning views with high- quality services with Sam 👌💯
haerb20,,Jul 1, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Thanks to Gezim for making our South Albania trip planning easier and special mention to our tour guide, Sam 👋 ✋who provided exceptional services during the tour. Kudos to the team. We are a group of friends who want to immerse ourselves in nature and Sam exactly did how we want it to be. I am glad that he suggested to go to Peshtura waterfalls in Nivica Canyon which we enjoyed the place all to ourselves. Honestly, it is very hard to choose which is my most favorite part of the trip as all of them are remarkable. But, the roadtrip on the Albanian riviera- Llogara pass and seeing a very scenic route with good friends including Sam whom we felt was our friend and not a tour guide, good music, the air and our laughters during this trip is something that cannot be captured by the camera but will always leave a mark on my heart. Thanks to Sam for his warm welcome and making himself easily available and flexible to attend our wishes even after the tour timing. He has a superb driving skills whose top priority is our safety and enjoyment. The winding coastal road to Llogara pass is a windy, high elevated and narrow road but his driving is very smooth and I really enjoyed it. His dressing style is a plus point which inspires us to really dress up as well. He also brought us to delicious and affordable local restaurants. Thanks Sam for your warm personality and dedication as our guide. You are the best tour guide. ✋ Highly recommended for sure and will definitely book a tour with See trip requesting Sam as our guide on our next visit. Thank you Sam. We are rating this trip a perfect score as it exceeded our expectation with the place and the tour guide. We left some piece of our hearts in the places we have visited together with the memories we have all made.👌
Exceptional Tour Service
marielanna2023,,Jul 1, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Highly recommended. They exceeded our expectations. Our driver/ tour guide Sam makes us feel so comfortable and he's always on the go with everything we wanted to do/ to go. We feel like he's our friend too. We are already missing Albania because of him. We feel like we're home away from home 😊 We will surely come back and explore Albania and use their services again. I hope also See Trips will do other Balkans tour.
Great Experience with SEE Trips..
rajatpatel0510,,Jul 1, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00It was a Pleasure Trip with SEE Trips.. Mr.Gezim has arranged everything nicely as per Itinerary.. Our Guide was Elvis for North Tour and Denis for South Tour. It was Very Nice experience with Both Guides..
A fun and personalized experience
mehaziya,,Jun 18, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00SEE trips is a safe, fun , relaxed yet adventurous experience for seeing Albania. Samet was our guide during the trip and he was helpful throughout, was flexible with our family’s needs especially since we are a family of 5 with the youngest being if age 9. The hikes were customized in a way where we could experience in the safest way possible and because of which it was one of the most adventurous trips we had ever gone on. To people who are concerned about safety , you don’t have to be, it was a very good group, we searched online nd found out about it and had our own concerns, but they were very responsive, respectful and booked really neat hotels close to the centre itself for an even more amazing experience. Me and my family thoroughly enjoyed the trip and would recommend it to anyone who is going for the experience and yes Albania is reaaalllyyy beautiful ❤️
Gezim is the best!
Kristel T,,Dec 18, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Gezim is the best tour guide! He is so knowledgeable and so funny, and made our trip amazing. We spent 2 weeks across all of Albania with Gezim and it felt like traveling with a local family member! We had a mix of native English speakers and Albanian speakers on our trip and Gezim’s perfect English helped with translating during the entire tour. We can’t wait to go back and use See Trips again!!
Albanian retreat
Mithun S,,May 22, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00Gezim is very informative, friendly and understands our requirements well. Was very comfortable as he managed the group well(especially the kids). His choices of hotels was apt with close proximity to key locations. His presence in the group helped us choose the right food and restaurants. Overall very happy with the trip.
From €1,200.00
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