After meeting with the guide you will be transferred in Berat. Berat, with an ancient history from 2400 years ago, is located along the stream of river Osum and in the middle of the great mountains of Tomorr and Shpirag. It is located on the side of a rocky hill and in the same place was settled the ancient town from the Illyrian tribes. It has been conquered many times but its castle has always been famous of being very difficult to invade.
Today it has the name of the city of a thousand and one windows, coming from the panoramic view of the houses on the hill. It is a part of UNESCO World Heritage List with the well preserved houses of original Ottoman architecture. The trip in the city of one thousand and one windows starts in the old quarter which will send you back in time to the Middle Ages from the cobbled streets and the houses built in a special architecture and fanatically well preserved till the modern days.
From what you see Berat has gained it’s status as one of the cities of UNESCO World Heritage List. Next visit for you will be The fortress, located on the hill top, is the most special attraction there, offering an amazing panoramic view of everything surrounding Berat. And there you understand the reason why it was such an important stronghold. After the visit of the wonderful city of Berat you will have some cooking lessons with a local family and prepare your tasteful lunch in a restaurant inside the castle.
Finished the lunch you will be transferred back in Vlora for 2 hours drive for the end of your jorney.
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 the guide you will be transferred in Berat.
Berat, with an ancient history from 2400 years ago, is located along the stream of river Osum and in the middle of the great mountains of Tomorr and Shpirag. It is located on the side of a rocky hill and in the same place was settled the ancient town from the Illyrian tribes. It has been conquered many times but its castle has always been famous of being very difficult to invade. Today it has the name of the city of a thousand and one windows, coming from the panoramic view of the houses on the hill. It is a part of UNESCO World Heritage List with the well preserved houses of original Ottoman architecture.
The trip in the city of one thousand and one windows starts in the old quarter which will send you back in time to the Middle Ages from the cobbled streets and the houses built in a special architecture and fanatically well preserved till the modern days. From what you see Berat has gained its status as one of the cities of UNESCO World Heritage List. The fortress, located on the hill top, is the most special attraction there, offering an amazing panoramic view of everything surrounding Berat. And there you understand the reason why it was such an important stronghold. Next visit for you would be the Onufri Iconographic Museum, named after one of the greatest Albanian painters. There are best preserved Albanian icons from XVI century that were used in the many churches in the town.
After visiting the wonderful city of Berat you will have lunch in a restaurant inside the castle. Finished the lunch you will be transferred back in Tirana through Belshi area which is well-known for its lakes. Short stops on the way to make some photos of the amazing view. Once you arrived to Tirana you will be transferred at the meeting point for the end of your journey.
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.
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 Ksamil village for 1.5 hours passing first through Saranda city center, following the Burinti road. Along the way on our right side Ionian Sea will accompany us for half the trip, and the other half we will have perfect view of Butrint Lake and mussels farms. Once arrived in Ksamil village, you will have free time to relax in the beautiful sandy beaches of Ionian Sea. Possible pedal boat trip to Ksamil islands once there.
Next is our way back following the same way with a 30 minutes stop to visit the old Onchesmi and ruins of the Synagogue in Saranda city center. Saranda the gateway to the southern Albania, is a small town of about 33.000 inhabitants, situated on a beautiful horseshoe bay between the mountains and the Ionian Sea. The name Saranda derives from an early Christian monastery dedicated to Agioi Saranta (Forty Saints). In antiquity, Saranda was known as Onchesmus. Located opposite the Greek island of Corfu, Saranda is characterized by a Mediterranean climate and warm sea waters.
After meeting with the guide, you will be transferred for 75 minutes towards Tirana. Capital of the Republic of Albania, with a population of just over 700.000, lies at the foot of Dajti Mountain (1612 m) at the 110 m above the sea level. The region of Tirana has been inhabited since the Neolithic period.
Tirana was founded in 1614 when, under the care of Sulejman Pasha Mulleti, the first settlement was built. It consisted of a mosque, bath-house (Hamam), a bakery and some shops. Today Tirana is the main administrative, economical, art and culture centre. The visit of Tirana starts with the Scanderbeg Square, a monument dedicated to the National Hero of Albania.
From the center you will be able to see the main boulevard, main administrative buildings, National Bank of Albania and the Et'hem Bey mosque that is one of the most beautiful mosques in Albania which is located nearby the Museum. Next the visit will continue on foot towards the National Art Gallery. It has a fund of over 4,000 works of art by Albanian and foreign authors, spanning seven centuries of Albanian cultural heritage. Finishing the visit of the National Gallery, you will continue on foot entering the "Block area" towards Sky Tower Restaurant where you will have lunch overlooking all Tirana from the 15th floor of the Restaurant.
Some free time for you before departure. With nice memories on your head, you will be transferred back to the pier.
After meeting with your guide you will drive towards Ulcinj (Montenegro) for approximately 90 minutes. Ulcinj is an ancient seaport. The wider area of Ulcinj has been inhabited since the Bronze Age, based on dating of Illyrian tombs found in the village of Zogaj, in the vicinity of Ulcinj. The town is believed to have been founded in the 5th century BC by colonists from Colchis, as mentioned in the 3rd century BC poem by Apollonius of Rhodes.
Illyrians lived in the region at the time as there are traces of immense Cyclopean walls still visible in the old citadel. In 1867, Ulcinj became a kaza of the Iskodra sanjak of Rumeli veyalet. After the Congress of Berlin in 1878, borders between Montenegro and the Ottoman Empire were redrawn, with Ulcinj becoming part of Montenegro.
Although prepared to cede Plav, Gusinje and the Albanian villages of Grude, Hoti and Kastrati, Turkey still wanted to retain Ulqinj. Ultimately Montenegro, supported by Gladstone and others from western Europe, resisted and on 30 November 1880 the town became de jure part of the Montenegro which achieved recognition, but de facto only in 1880 after Great Powers occupation.
Once arrived in Ulcinj you will visit the old town, the castle and the city center. Finished in Ulcinj you will be transferred in Ada Bojana Park where you will admire the beautiful nature, excellent food and sea view panorama.
After lunch you will be transferred back to Shkodra for the end of your journey.
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.
Your day starts with the transfer to the Museum City of Berat Berat, with an ancient history from 2400 years ago, is located along the stream of river Osum and in the middle of the great mountains of Tomorr and Shpirag. It is located on the side of a rocky hill and in the same place was settled the ancient town from the Illyrian tribes. It has been conquered many times but its castle has always been famous of being very difficult to invade. Today it has the name of the city of a thousand and one windows, coming from the panoramic view of the houses on the hill. It is a part of UNESCO World Heritage List with the well preserved houses of original Ottoman architecture.
The trip in the city of one thousand and one windows starts in the old quarter which will send you back in time to the Middle Ages from the cobbled streets and the houses built in a special architecture and fanatically well preserved till the modern days. From what you see Berat has gained its status as one of the cities of UNESCO World Heritage List. The fortress, located on the hill top, is the most special attraction there, offering an amazing panoramic view of everything surrounding Berat. And there you understand the reason why it was such an important stronghold.
Another specialty of Berat is the Onufri Iconographic Museum, named after one of the greatest Albanian painters. There are best preserved Albanian icons from XVI century that were used in the many churches in the town.
Your day starts with the transfer to Voskopoja village. Moscopole was a cultural and commercial center of the Aromanians, and now a small village in Korçë County, Albania. At its peak, in the mid 18th century, it hosted the first printing press in the Balkans outside Istanbul, educational institutions and numerous churches. The remaining churches in the region are among the most representative of 18th century ecclesiastical art in the Balkans. Characteristically, their murals are comparable to that in the large monastic centres at Mount Athos and Meteora in Greece. The architectural design is in general specific and identical: a large three-aisled basilica with a gable roof.
Not only history but also traditional cooking from the locals! Today you will experience one of the best meals of the region. Immerse yourself in the kitchen and learn about the recipe and the local cooking. Do it yourself, do it better!