After meeting with the guide, you will be transferred for 60 minutes towards Kruja.
As members of a prominent Albanian aristocratic family, the young George Kastrioti and his three brothers were taken hostage and brought up in the Sultan’s court where Scanderbeg attended military school and later fought in the Ottoman army. When the Ottomans were defeated by a multinational Christian army in the Battle of Nis in 1443, Skanderbeg and his troops defected and retuned to Albania where they re-took the Kastriotis’ family’s fortress at Kruje. In the following years, Scanderbeg successfully united the Albanian ruling families against the common enemy and managed to fight off the Ottoman armies until his death in 1468 thus effectively halting their invasion further into Western Europe.
Kruje was the center of the Albanian resistance against the Ottomans led by Skanderbeg. Driving along the winding mountain road, you will reach the town’s main square marked by the equestrian statue of Skanderbeg wielding his sword. Continuing uphill and above the town, you will reach the historic fortress and citadel which successfully withstood three Ottoman sieges led by Sultan Murat and later by his son Sultan Mehmed II – the conqueror of Constantinople (now Istanbul).
It was only after Skanderbeg’s death that the fortress finally fell and the Albanian resistance was suppressed. One you are in Kruja you will visit the castle and Ottoman-style covered bazaar. After the short visit of Kruja you will be transferred to city market to buy some fresh vegetables and some local products and than head to Restaurant Panorama.
After arrival, you will be welcomed inside the restaurant Panorama, meet the Chief learn about traditional Albanian cooking and food. Help the the chief inside the kitchen to prepare your tasteful lunch. Once finished lunch you will be transferred back at the meeting poing in Tirana for the end of your jorney.
Today after meeting with you guide, you will experience real Albania by off road cars. Once got in the cars you will start driving following the road Saranda - Bajkaj - Vergo - FusheBardhe - Kardhiq - Gjirokaster for a 3.5 hours’ drive mostly off road.
This exciting off-road excursion in search of adventure, will allow you to cover parts of southern Albania and appreciate sights that most visitors never get to discover. We’ll drive on dirt roads off the beaten track, through rivers and old plantations from the Ionian coast into the heart of the south part. We’ll leave the jeeps behind to engage in a 90 minute visit to the stone city part of UNESCO world heritage list, Gjirokastra. You will see a variety of birds, old rural villages and typical Albanian houses and families. Learn the real life of the rural part of the small but charming country of Albania.
Once arrived in Gjirokastra you will continue the visit for 1.5 hours. Gjirokastra which is declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site is situated in the southern part of Albania, on the slope of the hills of (Mali I Gjere), overlooking river Drinos. It became an urban centre by the 13th century. Gjirokastra is mentioned for the first time in a document of 1336, under the name ARGYROPOLIHNE (the township of Argyro), derived, according to the legend. (Princess Argyro, who hurled herself to her death from a tower to avoid falling into the hands of the invaders. Later the town became known as ARGYROKASTRO. Gjirokastra played an important role as the cradle of the patriotic movement of the Albanians for freedom and independence. Gjirokastra or so called “the town of one thousand steps” or “the stone town” is of particular interest for its native architecture. Today we will visit the old bazaar with wood and stone carving shops, old typical houses and quarters protected by UNESCO and the fortress of Argjiro overlooking the old and new quarters.
Your way back to Saranda will be from the normal asphalted national road for 1.5 hrs approximately
Your day starts with the transfer to the memorial tomb of Scanderbeg. The Memorial of Skanderbeg was inaugurated in 1981 in honor of Albania’s national hero, Gjergj Kastrioti. It was built at his burial place, over the ruins of the Church of San Nikolas in the town of Lezha. After the Ottomans invaded Lezha, they destroyed the church and the tomb of Skanderbeg. The church was later reconstructed in the beginning of the 20th century. Inside the memorial, there are displayed a copy of Skanderbeg’s sword and helmet, along with emblems of the Albanian feudal families during the period.
After the visit of Scanderbeg you will continue towards Winery Kallmeti, one of the best in Albania. Kallmeti Winery was legally created in 2007 thanks to the passion of three brothers for wine and for their home territory. In the very heart of Kallmet birth land, where the grape takes its name, the Gjini family aims to produce Kallmet wine at its best. From a production of 5.000 L, the winery has been growing to reach a production of 40.000 L. Wine is entirely produced with Kallmet grape, half grown by local producers in the Kallmet area half produced in our vineyards near the winery and in the Bukemire area.
The grape features different characteristics according to the place where it has grown, making the most of the soil and the climatic conditions. Kallmet is a stony area where the grape can express its full potential: from our 25 years old vineyards we produce grape for “Kallmet Prestige”, the excellence of our production. After the visit of the winery and Wine tasting, you will be transferred to the nearby Restaurant Mrizi i Zanave.
Three beautiful and delicious dishes from Mrizi i Zanave, in the village of Fishte, near the city of Shkodra in Albania. This is a hidden gem in the countryside, a restaurant that cultivates its own produce or sources it from local farmers. The restaurant is very popular and it attracts a clientele from the capital. The chef has worked in Italy and decided to start his own place back home. The first two dishes are a selection of starters, including a pie with spinach and corn flower, feta cheese, grilled aubergines and deep fried flowers of courgette in batter, a selection of pickles with pickled peaches amongst others, homemade fruit syrup and cloves of garlic. The third dish is lamb shish kebabs, with potatoes and fresh porcini mushrooms from the mountains of Puka, further up north.
You will be amazed by the experience of the Village of Fishte, transferring back to your ship for 45 min drive with a smile on your face and with your mind back to Albania.
Your day starts with a short walk to Durres city center for approximately 2 hours. The ancient city of Durres is located on the shores of the Adriatic Sea.
It is one of Albania’s important ports and its second largest city. Durres was founded in the seventh century BC. The city has a varied and colorful history. It remained in the centre of action during the world wars and the Albanian struggle for freedom.
Post-independence, Durres has developed into a thriving industrial township with a population of around 114,000, and its contribution to the Albanian economy is significant. It has an important shipyard and various manufacturing industries, most notably leather, plastic and tobacco. Once arrived at the city center, your tour will start with the visit to the main historical touristic place of the city.
You will start from the Venetian tower, going up following the old byzantine walls of the old castle to enter to the most important site of the town, the Roman Amphitheatre.
The Roman Amphitheatre, which is the biggest, oldest and the most splendid monument in Durres, built in the second century BC, it can accommodate more than 1500 people. The amphitheatre is situated in the center of the city of Durres, the main port of Albania, at 35 km distance from the Capital.
Today, a part of the arena is occupied by contemporary houses. However, restoration and rehabilitation projects have been prepared in order to integrate this significant landmark in the overall city development. The next visit in Durres will be the newly restored Archaeological Site where you will see most of the evidences of a 2400 years of history of Durres.
After some free time at your leisure in the promenade of Durres, you will be walking back to hotel Arvie where we departed.
After grabbing your bicycles you will cycle around Ohrid Lake discovering two countries on a joyful ride. Your first stop will be the St. Naum Monastery just few minutes from Albanian border. Established in the 10th century, the frescoes of the small church will amaze you even today. After a visit of the monastery, you will continue cycling north towards Peshtani village for a visit of the ""Museum on water"". A recreation of pile-dwelling settlement dating back to 1200 BC. Continue cycling towards Ohrid Town for lunch in a centrally located Restaurant. After lunch and a short stop in Ohrid town, continue cycling around the lake up to Pogradec.
Today after meeting with the guide, we will choose our bicycles and for 15 minutes you will be given information about the road that we will follow and precautions along the way. After settling everything we will cycle towards Tabakeve Bridge for approximately 20 minutes. Some free time will be given to admire the old bridge in ottoman style.
After the bridge you will cycle toward the city center of Tirana where a visit will follow to the main sights as Scanderbeg square,Ethem Beg mosque,main boulevard etc. After finishing with the visit of the city center, you will cycle towards the Bllok area which have this name because it was the place where the ex communist dictator use to live for all his life,and the area was restricted to civilians.
Some free time at your leisure in Block Area before cycling back towards the meeting point.
After meeting with your guide you will start to visit Vlore. Vlore, the independency city, is picturesquely located on the Bay of Vlore. Vlore has a long history as it, not unlike other ancient towns along the coast, was first founded by Greek colonists in the 6th century BC. Later, it was an important port of the Roman and the Byzantine Empires. Changing hands several times over the centuries, Vlore finally fell to the Ottomans in 1417.
It was in Vlore that five centuries later - in 1912, during the First Balkan War, Albania declared its independence from the Ottomans, only to be occupied by the Italians a couple of years later. History speaks for itself in Vlore while visiting the city. In the centre is the Flag Square, where the people gathered to celebrate the raising of the flag. And in front of the square you will visit the building where the flag was raised and the Declaration of Independency was signed, now the Museum of Independence.
More from history that you will visit in Vlore is the Muradie Mosque, one of the oldest mosques in the whole country which survived communist oppression. After visiting Vlore you will be transferred to Uji i Ftohte along the Adriatic Sea. Enjoy some free time at your leisure where you can take in the amazing view that Uji i Ftohte offers, being the place where the Adriatic and Ioanian sea meet each other.
After some free time you will be transferred back to the port for the end of your journey.
After meeting with your guide you will be transferred for 1.5 hrs through a serpentine mountain road to Gjirokastra for a visit to the "City of Stones". Gjirokastra which is declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site is situated in the southern part of Albania, on the slope of the hills of (Mali I Gjere), overlooking river Drinos. It became an urban centre by the 13th century. Gjirokastra is mentioned for the first time in a document of 1336, under the name ARGYROPOLIHNE (the township of Argyro), derived, according to the legend. (Princess Argyro, who hurled herself to her death from a tower to avoid falling into the hands of the invaders. Later the town became known as ARGYROKASTRO. Gjirokastra played an important role as the cradle of the patriotic movement of the Albanians for freedom and independence. Gjirokastra or so called “the town of one thousand steps” or “the stone town” is of particular interest for its native architecture. Today we will visit the old bazaar with wood and stone carving shops, old typical houses and quarters protected by UNESCO, the fortress of Argjiro and the Ethnographic Museum of Gjirokastra.
After the visit of Gjirokastra you will be transferred back to Saranda. Along the way to Saranda, you will stop for a visit of the Mesopotam Monastery dedicated to Saint Nicholas. It is believed that was built in the 14th century. The remains in the area around the monastery indicate that there was a high defensive wall. One of the towers of this wall now serves as a bell tower.
The church of St. Nicholas is to be visited from outside as it is not opened to public due to reconstruction.
Once visited the Monastery, you will be transferred back to Saranda.
After meeting with your guide we will choose our bicycles and for 15 minutes you will be given information about the road that we will follow and precautions along the way. After settling everything we will cycle towards Rozafa castle for approximately 30 minutes.
The legend says that the wife of the younger brother of the three brothers that build the castle was sacrificed for the castle to build up strong but half of her body was left out of the wall to take care of her new born son. The Rozafa Castle was the most important stronghold of the Illyrian kingdoms of Ardians, located up the hill overlooking rivers Buna and Drin and the whole
plain fields.
After the visit of the castle you will return through the same way back to the city center of Shkodra where a visit will follow to the main sights, the city center, Ebu Beker mosque, catholic cathedral, the venetian style promenade etc.
After finishing with the visit of the city center, you will have 30 minutes free time at your leisure before the end of your journey.
After meeting with the guide you will be transferred toward Kruja. As members of a prominent Albanian aristocratic family, the young George Kastrioti and his three brothers were taken hostage and brought up in the Sultan’s court where Scanderbeg attended military school and later fought in the Ottoman army.
When the Ottomans were defeated by a multinational Christian army in the Battle of Nis in 1443, Skanderbeg and his troops defected and retuned to Albania where they re-took the Kastriotis’ family’s fortress at Kruje. In the following years, Scanderbeg successfully united the Albanian ruling families against the common enemy and managed to fight off the Ottoman armies until his death in 1468 thus effectively halting their invasion further into Western Europe.
Kruje was the center of the Albanian resistance against the Ottomans led by Skanderbeg. Driving along the winding mountain road, you will reach the town’s main square marked by the equestrian statue of Skanderbeg wielding his sword.
Continuing uphill and above the town, you will reach the historic fortress and citadel which successfully withstood three Ottoman sieges led by Sultan Murat and later by his son Sultan Mehmed II – the conqueror of Constantinople (now Istanbul). It was only after Skanderbeg’s death that the fortress finally fell and the Albanian resistance was suppressed. One you are in Kruja you will visit the castle,the Scanderbeg and Ethnographic museum and Ottoman-style covered bazaar. After the visit of Kruja you will have lunch at Restaurant Panorama.
After lunch your next destination will be Durres. Durres is the largest port of Albania. It also has the status of one of the oldest settlements in Albania being founded in 7th century BC from Greek colonists.
Being in such favourable position in the Adriatic Sea, Durres (named Epidamnum from Greeks and Dyrrachium from Romans) has always been envied and was a very influential city under the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman Empires as an important connection point. Its importance still lives today as being one of the most influential cities in country’s economy.
Arriving in Durres, the exploration of the city starts with a visit of the Roman Amphitheatre of Durres, the largest in the Balkans built since 2nd century BC. Roman influence here continues with the Trajan’s Baths and the Roman Forum. The famous road of Roman Empire, Via Egnatia, started from Durres as the gateway to the Balkans and hence the Romans fortified the stronghold in Durres which was later reconstructed again by Byzantine Empire and the Venetians, from which Durres inherited the Venetian Tower standing at the beginning of the boulevard.
Next follows a relaxing stroll along the boulevard alongside the shore of the sea. Colorful buildings on one side and the sea on the other offer a special pleasure. On the boulevard there are monuments like the Unknown Soldier, a tribute to the lost soldiers of the liberation army of WW2, etc.
After the visit in Durres, you will be transferred back to Tirana.