Southern Albania Adventure

Fly to Corfu and transfer to the port for the 30 minute ferry across to Saranda (departures regularly throughout the day). From Saranda, transfer to your chosen coastal location; Ksamil (30 mins) or Himare (1hr25mins). Check in to your hotel for a 3 night stay.

Spend the day relaxing at your hotel or on the beach. (B)

You will be met at your hotel by your guide and transferred to spend the morning on a tour of the UNESCO heritage site of Butrint, a designated national park which includes well preserved archaeological ruins and unspoilt Mediterranean flora and fauna. The park has a lake which connects to the Ionian Sea by a small channel and the wetlands which surround the lake are a wonderful protected habitat for animals and aquatic species. During Roman times, Butrint was a popular holiday resort for the Roman aristocracy and the well preserved baptistery, with its richly decorated mosaic floor and the Great Basilica, date back to this period. Return to your hotel for a leisurely afternoon. (If staying in Himarë then this visit will be done on the last day.) (B)

Your private driver/guide will meet you at your hotel this morning. Head up along the coast making several stops to admire the views and surroundings. Drive up and over the breathtaking Llogara Pass to Vlore for a brief city tour. Continue on to the ancient archaeological site of Apollonia. Founded in 558 B.C, Apollonia was an important point along the route between Rome and Byzantium. End the day in the UNESCO Heritage town of Berat, one of Albania’s oldest cities and arguably one of the best-preserved Ottoman settlements in all of the Balkans. Attractive white houses wind their way up to the famous hilltop citadel, whose walls encircle a smattering of medieval orthodox churches and ruined mosques as well as a superb ethnographic museum. (B)

This morning, visit the excellent Onufri museum which contains a wonderful collection of Albanian icons, before heading on to Tirana. Often described as a cross between Istanbul and Naples with a pinch of Minsk, Tirana is a vibrant city with a fascinating history. Visit the unique Bunk'art 2, a museum located in a former nuclear bunker that offers a unique insight into Albania's Communist past. Continue with a walk through Skanderbeg Square, surrounded by key landmarks such as the National History Museum with its distinctive mosaic facade, the Opera and Ballet Theatre, the Clock Tower, and the Pyramid of Tirana. Visit the Et'hem Bey Mosque and the House of Leaves. Enjoy the city this evening and dine at one of its many excellent restaurants. (B)

Depart back down south to Gjirokaster. The town is another UNESCO heritage site known to many as the ‘City of Stone’ due to its hundreds of Ottoman-style tower houses with their distinctive stone roofs, wooden balconies and whitewashed stone walls. Spend time here walking around the ancient cobbled streets and visit the vast 13-century castle, which dominates the city. Continue on to the ‘Blue Eye’ water spring before ending the day back at your coastal hotel. Say goodbye to your driver/guide. (B)

Day at leisure to relax at the hotel or on the beach. (B)

Transfer to Saranda’s port for the ferry to Corfu Town. Transfer to the airport for the flight back to the UK. (B)