Best of Albania Group Tour (12 Days)

DURRES, ELBASAN AND OHRID
Drive to Durres on the Adriatic coast and visit the Roman amphitheatre and the Archaeological Museum. Continue to Elbasan with its beautiful St Mary Orthodox Church. After lunch, cross the border into Macedonia and follow the ancient Via Egnatia alongside Shkumini River and through the Domosdova Plateau to Ohrid. Check in at Hotel for 2 nights.

OHRID
Full day in Ohrid with visits to St Kaneo and St Clement churches and the highlights of the pretty lake town. Lunch in local restaurant.

ST. NAUM, KORCA AND MBORJE VILLAGE
After breakfast, drive to St Naum and enjoy a visit to the renowned Monastery before stopping in Pogradec for a typical lunch of Koran fish. Arrive in Korca and visit the Museum of Medieval Arts; opened in 1980, the museum covers the period from the 5th to 19th century and displays works by Albania's most famous painters of the Middle Ages. In the afternoon, reach the village of Mborje to visit the Church of Ristozi, one of the oldest in Albania (14th century). Check-in hotel for 2 nights in Korca.

VOSKOPOJA AND LAKE PRESPA
Morning visit to a local beer factory, Birra Korca, before driving through stunning mountain landscape to reach Voskopoja, one of the most important towns in the European part of the Ottoman Empire during the beginning of the 18th century. It is here that the first printing house in the Balkans was established in 1720. There are also some outstanding examples of Orthodox Christian Churches, which escaped the destruction of the communist regime. After lunch, drive to Prespa Lake and National Park, (areas of outstanding natural beauty). The centre of the lake marks the border between Albania to the west, Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south.

GJIROKASTRA AND SARANDA
Drive to the museum city of Gjirokastra, birthplace of the former dictator of Albania, Enver Hoxha.
Gjirokastra is a strikingly picturesque town, perched on the side of a mountain above the Drino River. The city tour includes the district museum, housed in the building in which Enver Hoxha was born and the pre-Ottoman citadel, a former political prison and now a weapons museum. Continue to Saranda, check-in hotel for 2 nights.

BUTRINTI
Morning excursion to the Greek and Roman ruins of Butrinti, Albania's most important archaeological site. This rediscovered city is a microcosm of almost 3,000 years of Mediterranean history. Its 6th century BC fortification evokes the city's military power and the 3rd century BC amphitheatre symbolizes the rich culture of this once thriving ancient city. Lunch is at Lekuresi Castle. Return to Saranda and afternoon at leisure to either relax by the pool or explore Saranda.

DHERMI AND VLORA
Drive to Vlora, along the mountain road of the Albanian Riviera with its stunning views of the Ionian coastline. En route, visit the Ali Pasha Fortress at Porto Palermo bay and have lunch at Dhermi or Himara. Continue to Vlora, once known for its olive groves and vineyards, through the Llogara Pass. Check-in hotel for overnight stay.

BERAT TO TIRANA
Morning sightseeing tour of Berat, Albania's second most important museum town and called 'the city of a thousand windows' for the many windows in its red-roofed houses. The tour of Berat includes the fortress and Chapel of St. Marina of Blachemae, as well as the Leaden Mosque, the King's Mosque, the Bachelor's Mosque and the Alveti Tekke, a smaller shrine where the Dervishes once practiced. Drive back to Tirana for overnight.