After meeting with the guide and embarking on the jeeps you will be transferred to Theth, a small village in the heart of the Albanian Alps. Theth is a community in the Shalë municipality, Shkodër District, northern Albania. The community is at the centre of the Theth National Park, an area of outstanding natural beauty which covers an area of 2,630 hectares and is located along the Theth River. The main attractions in the park are the Grunas Waterfall.
This exciting off-road excursion in search of adventure, will allow you to cover parts of northern Albania and appreciate sights that most visitors never get to discover. We’ll drive on dirt roads off the beaten track, through mountains into the heart of Albanian Alps, learning the real life of the rural part of the small but charming country of Albania. Once arrived in Theth, you will firstly visit Grunas waterfall, the canions of Theth and the lock in tower.
After the visits you will have lunch a guest house and enjoy the wonderful view that the wild nature in Theth offers to you. After lunch you will drive back towards Shkodra for 135 minutes for the end of your jorney.
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 drive for approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes towards Cetinje. Montenegro is a small country in the western Balkans, now growing up as a leading country in the beach tourism.
The history of Montenegro as a state is not so old but the lands where Montenegro is today once were parts of the Illyrian kingdoms and inhabited by Illyrian tribes of Labeatis and Ardians, most notably by King Agron and Queen Teuta. They were part of Roman Empire and Byzantine Empire until the Slavic tribes settled in this area. They created small kingdoms in the area.
Montenegro was not noted for much during the past until in the beginnings of 20th century when became part of Yugoslavia and for the rest of the century had very close relationships with Serbia. It was declared independent in 2006. Cetinje is a city and Old Royal Capital of Montenegro. It is also a historical and the secondary capital of Montenegro with the official residence of the President of Montenegro. It had a population of 13,991 as of 2011. It is the centre of Cetinje Municipality.
The city nestles on a small karst plain surrounded by limestone mountains, including Mt. Lovcen, the Black Mountain from which Montenegro gets its name. Cetinje is a town of immense historical heritage, founded in the 15th century. It became the center of Montenegrin life and both a cradle of Montenegrin culture and an Orthodox religious center. It is because of its heritage as a long-term Montenegrin capital that it is today the honorary capital of Montenegro.
Among other you will visit the old town city center, Serbian Orthodox Monastery, the palace of king Nikola which today is a museum etc. After the visit of Centinje you will drive toward Kotor where you will have lunch. After lunch you will be transferred in Shkodra, for approximately 2.5 hours drive for the end of your journey.
After meeting with the guide and embarking on the jeeps, you will be transferred first to Tirana for about 1 hour drive, for then continuing towards Shengjergj village which is located behind the Dajti Mountain. In Shengjergj you will make a short stop to stretch your legs before continuing towards Elbasan for 3.5 hours of off road drive.
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 central Albania. 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 Elbasan, you will have lunch in a very special restaurant located inside the old castle of Elbasan. After lunch you will drive towards Durres for 1.5 hours of time.
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.
You will meet with the guide and you will be transferred south 40 minutes drive towards the biggest and most important archaeological site in Albania. The ancient city of Butrint, which is declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was first inhabited by Illyrians. Butrint is a special archaeological site – a microcosm of Mediterranean history from the age of the archaic Greeks until the Venetians. The ancient city of Butrint is much preferable to be visited as an archaeological center, where antiquity and beauty intertwine.
The archaeological excavations show that Butrint has been an important center of the Kaonian Illyrians, one of the big tribes of southern Illyria. According to discoveries made in the area, it has been proved that the site was inhabited as early as Paleolithic period. In the 6-th century BC Greeks from Corfu settled here, alongside with Illyrians and the new colony prospered as the result of the trade. By the fifth century BC, Buthroton was an Illyrian fortified city. In the fourth century BC Butrint had fallen to Epirus, and in 167 BC it was taken by Rome. Butrint was captured by the Normans in eleventh century and passed to Venice from 1690 to 1797, when Ali Pasha Tepelena captured it. With the fall of the Pashallek of Janina, in 1822, Butrint passed under Ottoman rule until 1913. Several excavations dating from the 1-st and 4-th centuries AD and today, we will visit, among them the Old Amphitheatre, the temple of Asclepiads or Aesculapius, the Baptistery, Nymphaeum and the ancient city walls.
After visiting Ancient Buthrotum, you will be transferred to the Saranda city center for a visit of the Old Onchesmi and the Old Synagogue. 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.
Your morning city tour begins from Skanderbeg Square, named after the Albanian hero the main landmark of the city. Pilgrims from far and wide reach the Et'hem Bey Mosque to offer prayers. The Clock Tower next to the Et'hem Bey Mosque, National Museum- north of Scanderbeg Square, The Palace of Culture, The monument to Mother Albania and The National Historical Museum are the significant spots that catch up the attention of one and all who make a visit to the city.
The route continues through Durres– the ancient Greco-Roman port city of Dyrrachium. Formerly Durrazzo is one of the oldest towns in Albania. The legend says that it was founded by Epidamnos, the Illyrian King of the area, who called it by his own name and named the port area after his grandson - Dyrrah.
Visit the town including the Byzantine city walls, Roman amphitheater and the Archaeological Museum. The route continues through Kruja–one of the biggest cities in Northern Albania is the “city of history” and the best known as hometown of Albanian’s National Hero Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg. Then, visit the Castle, the Skanderbeg Museum and the Ethnographic Museum.
After the visit of the castle, is free for you to explore Kruja’s old bazaar with authentic and antique shops. Drive back to Tirana.
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 meeting with the guide, you will be transferred for approximately 2 hours to the Museum city of Berat. The town of Berat is one of the most ancient towns of Albania, 2400 years old. Lying on the banks of the Osumi river, and overshadowed to the east by the Great Tomorr mountain 2415m,is an ancient Illyrian settlement founded in the 4th and 5th centuries B.C. on the territory of the Illyrian tribe of Desaretes. Its innumerable monuments and the beautiful and characteristic architecture of its houses have proclaimed Berat, a “Museum Town”. The houses on the fortress have typically two stories, with the upper storey slightly overhanging and rich wood carving within. With their wide facades and large windows, they seem to be built almost on top of one another, giving Berat its name of “The City of One–Thousand Windows”.
Your visit will start with a walk from the Gorica old bridge for some 20 minutes to come back to Mangalemi quarter from the new bridge. A walk in the newly built boulevard will follow the tour before you continue the visit to the Castle of Berat located on top of the hill overlooking Berat town. You will embark back on the Bus to continue the tour in the Castle of Berat which involves a bit of walking in uneven surfaces, cobblestone streets and a bit of inclination. Once inside the Castle first we will continue towards the Museum of the Icons for a visit.
National Museum Onufri is located in the center of the inhabited quarter in Berat medieval castle. It is organized in Virgin Mary cathedral, built in 1797 on the foundation of an older church with the same name. It bears the name of the most remarkable Albanian painter, Onufri, who left a very rich fund of iconographic creation.
Finishing the visit at the museum, a traditional lunch from Berat is a must after a tiring day. You will be welcomed in one of the restaurants located in the old quarter of the castle to try different specialities cooked in a traditional way from the local house family especially for you. After lunch, a short walk to the view point of 15 minutes will follow to have some nice views of all the quarters of Berat before your transfer back to Durres for another 2 hours’ drive.
After meeting with your guide you will be firstly transferred towards Shkodra. Shkodra, also internationally known as Scutari and Skadar, is the largest city of the Northern Albania and administrative centre of the region. It is located surrounded by mountains on one side and on the shores of the largest lake in the Balkans on the other. The city was well known through history, since the time of the Illyrian kingdoms.
Agron, Teuta and Gent had Shkodra (named Skodra by that time) as their capital. Many other strongholds stood in the area but the Castle of Rozafa is the dominating one. The city lived through ages as always being an important city in the area for the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman Empire and as well during the 20th century.
Once you are in Shkodra you will visit Rozafa castle located in the top of the hill and one of the oldest castles in Albania. 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 visit the city center of Shkodra, the promenade in Italian style, Ebu Bekr mosque, Catholic cathedral etc. Finished the visit of Shkodra you will be transferred in Shengjin, for the next destination of the day: 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 birthland, 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 transfer back to the pier.