Albania and Kosovo

What a better way to spend 10 days than experiencing all that this tour has to offer? Designed for the travelers who would like to discover these two unknown destinations. Albania with an incredible hospitable culture and its own traditions of courtesy, and Kosovo the newest state in the word. You will be surprised, amused and thrilled as you discover the delights of these two countries.

Overview

Day 01: Airport – Tirana

Day 02: Tirana – Pristina

Day 03: Pristina – Prizren

Day 04: Prizren – Gjakova – Decan – Peja

Day 05: Peja – Durres

Day 06: Durres – Berat

Day 07: Berat – Gjirokastra

Day 08: Gjirokastra – Permet – Korca

Day 09: Korca – Voskopoje – Pogradec

Day 10: Pogradec – Airport

Day 01: Airport – Tirana (18 km, 30 min driving time)

Meet and greet at the airport with our representative, heading towards the capital of Albania, Tirana. Depending on your arrival, after hotel check in we visit the main sights of the city.

To visit:

• Skanderbeg Square
  • the Clock Tower
  • Et’hem Bey Mosque
  • National Historical Museum
  • National Gallery of Arts

After the tour we have dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Tirana.

Day 02: Tirana – Pristina (251 Km, 3 hours driving time)

On the second day we’ll be headed to Pristina, the capital of Kosovo. After nearly 4 hours driving, we’ll reach the Newborn city for a walking tour around the city:

To visit:

• The statue of the national hero Skanderbeg
• The Grand Mosque
• The Ethnographic Museum
• City Museum

Then, we’ll taste a traditional lunch in the city and in the late afternoon, free tour to explore Pristina and its shopping centers. Overnight in Pristina.

Day 03: Pristina– Prizren (82.6 Km, 1 hour driving time)

Today we drive towards Prizren, the pulsing heart of Kosovo. Here we will take a tour around the city.

To visit:

• Bridgestone
• The Castle
• Sinan Pasha Mosque
• Hamam (Turkish bath house)
• Museum House of the Albanian League of Prizren
• Sinan Pasha Mosque

We will also stop at the Stone Castle Winery, the largest winery in the region. Overnight in Prizren.

Day 04: Prizren – Gjakova – Decan – Peja (72.6 Km, 1.5 hours driving time)

In this busy day we will explore 3 other traditional places; the 500 year old Gjakova, the stunning Decan and the mountainous Peja. From Prizren driving towards Gjakova, we will enjoy the visit in the Old Bazaar, the 16th century Mosque of “Hadum Aga”, the old bazaar, Ethnographic Museum and the grain market with handicrafts. Afterwards, a special opportunity to visit the Bektashi “Tekke” where you can hear the spiritual stories of the leader (Sheh) of the Tekke. After lunch, arrival in our next destination – Decan. Here we visit Decan Monastery, which still preserves beautiful 14th-century frescoes. Drive and overnight in Peja.

Day 05: Peja – Durres (279 Km, 3.5 hours driving time)

After breakfast at hotel a city tour in in Peja, before we head to Durres the second largest and the oldest Albanian city.

To visit:

• The Old Market
• Museum of Peja
• Carshi Mosque

Dinner with seafood and good wine, near the beach area. (Optional) Overnight in Durres.

Day 06: Durres – Berat (98 Km, 1.5 hours driving time)

After an early breakfast we leave behind the sea and drive towards the city that is a Must for those who come to Albania – Berat, the “Town of a Thousand Windows, where we will visit:

• The Ancient city of Dimal
• Ardenica Monastery
• The Saint Triad Church
• The Gorica Quarter

Afternoon at your own leisure. Dinner at hotel. Overnight in Berat.

Day 07: Berat – Gjirokastra (171 Km, 2 hours driving time)

Today we head to “The city of a thousand steps” or “the stone city”, Gjirokastra taking the inland road, and journey about 3 hours south to the "Museum City" of Gjirokastra. Lunch at a local restaurant. Visit the fortress, which stands high above the city for a panoramic view of the beautiful mountainous landscape and Ethnographic Museum. We leave Gjirokastra and pass by the "Blue Eye," a natural spring near an old trout farm and an ideal spot for a picnic by the deep blue natural spring. We arrive in Saranda for dinner. Overnight in Saranda.

Day 08: Gjirokastra – Permet – Korca (193 Km, 3.5 hours driving time)

This morning we drive towards the small town of Permet, also called the city of flowers due to its many gardens. Where we will also have our lunch, before we proceed to Korca, known as the “cradle of Albanian culture”.

To visit:

• National Museum of Medieval Art
• Archaeological Museum
• National Museum of Education
• The first Albanian School
• Mosque of Iliaz Bej Mirahorit

The group then is left at leisure free for shopping. Dinner at hotel, overnight in Korca.

Day 09: Korca – Voskopoje – Pogradec  (78 Km, 1.5 hours driving time)

After breakfast we drive toward the village of Voskopoje. This is the day we’ll explore the churches of Voskopoja. Twenty-six churches were built between 1630 and 1780, and today only five of them remained. Lunch will be in Voskopoje.  In the afternoon we’ll drive to Pogradec town. Pogradec is one of the most charming tourist resorts in Albania because of its position near the Ohrid Lake.

To visit:

• Art Gallery
• MUSEUM
• The Church of “Saint Maria
• Pogradec Mosques

We will enjoy dinner at local restaurant in Drilon (nice spot not far from Ohrid Lake which has been a preferred holiday place for the exdictator Hoxha) – decorated with willow trees, and streams flowing down to the lake. (Optional) Overnight in Pogradec.

Day 10: Pogradec – Airport (146 Km, 2.5 hours driving time)

After breakfast, transfer to the airport. End of our Service.

Km traveled: 1390