Thirteen Day Tour, Exploring


Aeroport-Tirane-Kruje-Lezhe-Shkoder-Theth-Durres-Apolloni-Vlore-Sarande-Gjiroka ster-Korce-Voskopoje-Prespe-Pogradec-Elbasan-Berat-Tirane-Aeroport

Day One
Airport-Tirane. Meet and greet the group at the airport. Transfer to Tirana on comfortable air-conditioned bus to the hotel in Tirana. Pending on the arrival time and flight schedules, the program will include: bus tour of the City, coffee at one of the most lively neighborhoods of Tirana, full of very nice bars, full of youngsters. Dinner at a restaurant with live music, dancing and variety of food.

Day Two
Tirana City. After breakfast begin the Tour of Tirana City. It starts with a visit at the National History Museum followed by a stop at the Mosque of Et`hem Bey built in 1830. The Opera House (National Theater of Opera and Ballet) looks over the Scanderbeg Square. A walk in the main boulevard provides a close sight of the City Hall and a number of Governmental buildings, on both sides. You cannot miss the National Gallery of Arts along this walk. At noon, we take the cable car (built by the Austrians, European Masters in the business) to Dajti Mountain, 1200m above sea level. A short break for coffee (or lunch) at one of the most panoramic restaurants in Dajti, offers a wonderful view of Tirana lying at the foot of the mountain. �Panorama� Restaurants looks like a big balcony over the capital of Albania. Upon return to the city in the evening, a visit to the former Communist Residential area, with modern bars, restaurants and pubs where the populated by different age groups, especially Albanian youth. Overnight in hotel.More about Tirana

Day Three
Tirane-Kruje-Lezhe-Shkoder. After breakfast in hotel, departure by bus to the ancient town of Kruja. It is situated in a small mountain at more than 1200 meter above sea level. Kruja is the birthplace of Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg, a XV century Albanian leader who resisted the for 25 years Visit the Old Bazaar with its famous shops full of silver filigree jewelry, authentic folk costumes, woven rugs, and traditional felt hats Visit the t he most important sight of Kruja, the citadel. This fortress dates back to the 5th or 6th century Visit the Skanderbeg Museum, built to honor the National Hero of Albania, Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg. After a coffee pause, we continue to the antique city of Shkodra. A short visit to the city of Lezha known as Lissus since the IV-th century. Visit to "The Scanderbeg Memorial" that is situated in the "Shen Nikolla" cathedral etc. Lunch at a fish restaurant on the Buna river side. Early afternoon arrival in Shkoder. , Visit of the antique city of Shkoder, founded in the 4th Century BC, capital of the Illyrian state of the Ardian Tribe. Visit to the and its museum to learn about the history of the city and the legend of Rozafa, the woman sacrificed and buried alive at the foundation of the castle. The castle was built in the 12th Century AC. In the evening, the group takes a walking tour of the city center, a historical area. Visit of the Hamam, the Big Church, the Lead Mosque, the photography museum Marubi. Overnight at the Hotel in Shkoder. More about : More about: Kruja, Shkodra

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Day Four
Shkoder-Theth. After breakfast departure on an excursion to the National Park of Theth. The group will visit the surroundings of Theth, one of the most famous villages of northern Albania for its stunning nature and the traditional houses. The group will walk downhill from the house, and visit the attractions near by the village, including the Church, a tower house used in the past by men as a shelter against ongoing blood feud, the Theth Waterfall, and the Canyon of Grunas. The tour will proceed with a visit to the Cyclopean stone walled terraces dating from the late bronze era, discovered in 2007! Outdoor lunch will constitute of fresh bio dairy produce cooked in the traditional way of the local villagers. Return to Shkoder in the afternoon. Dinner. Overnight at the Hotel in Shkoder. More about : More about Shkodra

Day Five
Shkoder-Durres. After breakfast at the hotel, we depart for Durres, 100 Km drive.
The coastal city of Durres was first known in 627 BC by the name of Epidamnus and later on as Dyrracium. It is now the second largest city to Tirana. The tour proceeds to the Archeological Museum, visit of the Fortress, with a prominent Venetian Tower dating back from the 4th and 5th Century BC; the Amphitheatre (one of the biggest, 120 hectares, in the Balkan Peninsula and most exquisite monuments that has survived from the ancient city. It was built in the 2nd century A.C during the Roman period. According to the records, the amphitheatre was very big and could sit 15.000 spectators). Dinner at a local restaurant, close to the seashore, with wonderful sea view and rich menu. Overnight at the hotel in Durres. More about Durresi

Day Six
Durres--Vlore. After breakfast, we drive about two hours to Apolonia, located 12km South of Fier, near the Village of Pojan. Apolonia was around 588 B.C. Tourists frequently visit its numerous objects, the Marvelous Fa�de of Bouleterion, the Theatre, the Odeon, Nympheum (monumental fountain), Stoa, canals structure, gymnasium etc, to mention some of them. There are many mosaics in the ancient city of Apolonia. The Monastery of Saint Mary, can also be visited within the premises of the complex of Apolonia, located the Museum of Apolonia. After a coffee we continue to Vlora. Lunch in Vlora end we begin with the visit Vlora. Vlora is one of the major cities of the country, an important seaport, and tourist site. Visit to the Historical Museum of Independence, hosted in the building where the independence of Albania was declared in November 28, 1912. A monument, commemorating this historic event, is set up at the Flag Square. In the evening the group arrives at the Hotel. Check in. Walk on the sea shore. Dinner at a restaurant on the seaside, overnight in Vlora.More about: Apollonia, Vlora

Day Seven
Vlora-Saranda. After breakfast at hotel, the trip proceeds along the Ionian seashore or as known Albanian Riviera is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful and unspoiled regions in Albania. Short visit to Oricum, which was established in the 7th - 6th century B.C. , stationed his troops

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in camps there for several months, until they were taken by (Pompeius Magnus). Stopover to Dhermi, a large and beautiful village with about 30 old churches picturesquely placed on the rough mountainside. Lunch in ancient city of . After lunch continue to Saranda, short visit to the bay of Porto Palermo to the castle of Ali Pasha and Borsh Castle built on the fourth century B.C., by Epirote- Illyrian tribes. Afternoon arrive to Saranda. Accommodation in hotel. In the evening, city tour in Saranda ( incl visit in the synagogue). Dinner at restaurant, overnight in Saranda.More about Saranda

Day Eight
Sarande�. After breakfast at hotel, the bus will drive you to the Antique City of Butrint, part of the UNESCO Cultural Heritage Fund, founded in the Century VIII, BC. In Butrint, you will visit: Century VIII, AC, the Sanctuary dedicated to Asclepius, God of Healing Century IV, BC. Visit continues to the Lake Gate Century IV, AC, the Roman Theatre Century III, AC., Agoraja, the City Centre and the Trade Centre. The Gymnasium of the city was a holy place, The Grand Basilica Century IV, AC., a civil Roman house, a fountain dating from Century II, the Venetian Castle and the Tower of Century XIV - XVI AC. Lunch in Ksamil, at a Restaurant on the seaside offering fresh sea food. After lunch return to Saranda. In the evening, visit to Lekursi Castle, drinks at the bar built over the ruins of the old castle, with an amazing view of Saranda and . Overnight in Saranda. More about Butrinti

Day Nine
Sarande-Gjirokaster-Korce. After breakfast we start to Gjirokaster, along the way a short stop to "Blue Eye" source, where you'll know about the legend of this amazing source. Continue to Gjirokastra city, a UNESCO World Heritage. In Gjirokastra the dwelling houses have the form of medieval towers constituting a building ensemble with a characteristic architecture. Visit to the Castle and the Museum of Weapons. We depart for Korca through Kelcyra Pass, and the spectacular Vjosa canyons stretching to Permet, the mountains of Leskovik and the colorful fields of Erseka. Arrival in Korca in the evening. Accommodation to hotel and overnight in Korca. More about: Gjirokastra, Korca

Day Ten
Korce-Voskopoje-Korca. After breakfast the group made a visit in Korca, the Museum of Medieval Arts and the Mosque of Mirahori one of the oldest in the country built in 1469, the Orthodox Church the old Bazaar and the Museum of the First Albanian School. Depart for the town of Voskopoja which became one of the most developed and prosperous cities in the European part of the Ottoman Empire between the 17 and 18th centuries. Testament to this are the first Printing House in the Balkans in 1720, the Academia of Voskopoja founded in 1744, the famous Basilicas, the painted house walls by the famous Albanian painters including David Selenica and the Zeografi brothers. After lunch, we return to hotel and overnight in Korca. A wok in the City end dinner at the restaurant with live traditional music of Serenades and traditional food. Overnight at the Hotel in Korce.

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href="index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=62:voskopoja&catid=62">More about Voskopoja

Day Eleven
Korce-Pogradec-elbasan. After breakfast at the hotel, proceed to Pogradec in a panoramic tour and visit Pogradec city, which is one of the most charming tourist resorts in Albania because of its position on Lake Ohrid which is distinguished itself for clear water and mountain views, and the alcoran fish, unique specific of this lake in the world. Pogradec which is known since the V century BC. Here you'll see what has remain from the buildings, the old patristic of V century BC and 4 monumental graves which dates since the III century BC. These monuments are found in Selca village that has been the residency of Illyrian king Klit.. Stopover to Elbasan, visit "Skampa" ancient Castle which belongs to 15'Th century. Excavations suggest that the walls of Elbasan were built in the first half of the fourth century AD. In 1466 Sultan Mohammed II rebuilt the walls and renamed the town El Basan �The Fortress� in Turkish. Diner in the Hotel. More about: Pogradec, Elbasan

Day Twelve
Elbasan-Berat-Tirane. In the morning, after breakfast we leave Elbasan end drive to Berat. As you approach the centre of the city you will be impressed by the period houses. Visit to the castle, built up on a rocky hill 260m above the sea level. Churches here have survived within its powerful stony walls. The church, which preserves wooden-engraved iconostasis and houses the Onufri Museum, is one of the highlights and of great interest of thousands of visitors over the years. Visit to the other sites: Lead Mosque, Bachelor�s Mosque, Gorica Bridge and many dwelling houses of the 18th and 19th centuries. Lunch end back to Tirana. Overnight in Tirana.More about Berati

Day Thirteen
Tirana-Airport. After breakfast in Hotel, depending on the flying time, walk in Tirana, gift shopping and transfer to the airport.

Prices in Euro per person.
Hotel 3* HB in twin / dubell room

� In a minimum of 6 participants is 975 �. Single supplement 195 �.
� In a minimum of 10 participants is 962 �.
� In a minimum of 20 participants is 950 �.
� In a minimum of 30 participants is 940 �.
� Best Time: April, May, June, September and October.
� Good Time: March, November
�Smaller groups and individuals are welcome with price available upon request

Includes:
� Transfers and transportation with AC coach
� Guide in German, English, French, Italian or Span speaking
� Accommodation in good 3 * Hotels with HB ( Breakfast + Dinner )
� All taxis

Excludes:
� Flight tickets
� Lunches
� Costs of entry
�Tips and Gratuitis
� Everything that is not specified in the �includes�

Entrance fees: about 45 Euro per person

�Tirana: the National Museum of History
� Kruja: Fortress, the Skanderbeg and Ethnographic Museum
� Shkodra: Fortress, the Museum
� Durres: the Amphitheater and Archaeological Museum
� Apollonie, the Orthodox Church and Vlora Museum
� Butrinti and the Blue Eye
� Gjirokastra: Fortress, the Museum of Ethnography
� Korca, Elbasan, Pogradec

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Museums
� Berat: Fortress and Onufri Museum

For more information please contact:

Attractive travel
Bardhok Biba str. Nr. 2
Tel: +355 (0) 42 244347
Mob: +355 682020013
Fax: +355 (0) 42 244347
e-mail: [email protected]
web: www.attractive-travel.com

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