Explore the ancient Greek, Roman, and medieval ruins at the Apollonia Archaeological Park on this day trip from Tirana. Take a tour of the Mangalem and Gorica neighborhoods in the UNESCO world Heritage town of Berat.  Be picked up from your accommodation in Tirana and sit back and relax on the drive to the ruins at Apollonia. Explore this 6th century BC Greek trade colony which is surrounded by soft, picturesque hills and rolling olive groves. Uncover the Greek, Roman, and medieval heritage of this ancient city. View monuments from the classical period such as Doric columns, an obelisk, and the Gate of Temenos. Admire a well-preserved 13th century monastery complex.  Continue to the ruins of the Castle of Berat which was built in the 13th century and has Byzantine and Ottoman influences. Learn about what daily life was once like in Berat at the Ethnographic Museum of Berat. See how local styles fused with Ottoman styles at the museum.  Head to the Mangalem neighborhood of Berat. Snap pictures of the layered houses with large windows that overlook the river. Uncover how this place earned the name 'town of a thousand windows' as you explore the neighborhood of Gorica. Return to your accommodation in the city of Tirana.

Embark on a cultural and artistic pilgrimage. See master painter Onufri's work in the churches of Berat. Visit Berat Castle, Onufri Museum, Mangalemi and Gorica neighborhoods, and Gorica bridge. Meet your guide at your hotel and start the tour of Berat city. Berat is one of the most visited and characteristic towns in Albania. It is under the protection of UNESCO and considered a World Heritage site due to its unique architecture. Visit Berat Castle and the Onufri Museum. The Berat castle is of particular interest because people still live within its walls in their traditional houses, just like their ancestors did for centuries. Explore this fortress overlooking the town of Berat and its many Byzantine churches. The castle used to have over 40 churches of which 7 still remain today, including the Church of the Dormition of St Mary. The latter was converted into Onufri Museum, honoring the 16th-century Albanian master painter who painted many orthodox churches in Albania and Greece. Witness some of the most beautiful shades of red and gold you have ever laid eyes on in the museum. Then, continue to your next stop in the old quarters of Mangalemi and Gorica that connect with each other by the Gorica Bridge over the Osumi River.

Following a pickup from your accommodation in Durrës or Tirana, embark on a guided tour of the charming city of Ohrid. Explore the charming city on a guided tour with a local guide. Pass by the glorious Church of Saint Sophia and the National Workshop for a handmade paper-making demonstration. Enter Samuil’s Fortress and walk along its historic 4th-century walls. Discover the Ancient Theatre of Ohrid, built in the Hellenistic style. Walk up to the cliff-top Church of Saint John at Kaneo for panoramic views of the lake and surrounding mountains. Enjoy free time for lunch and explore this pretty lakeside town before returning to Tirana in the late afternoon.

Meet at 9:00 AM at your hotel in Tirana. Head towards Shkodra and begin to explore its main attractions. Located at the entrance of the town, 3km south of the city center, Rozafa Castle (fortress of Shkodra) is located on a rocky hill. It's one of the biggest and most famous castles in Albania. The Rozafa castle has a fascinating history. Archaeological excavations have yielded finds extending from the early Bronze Age. Within its massive defensive walls stand the Church of St. Stephen, several Venetian administrative buildings, and some medieval rooms. On the border of Montenegro and Albania, you'll find Shkodra Lake, a former ocean bay that was cut off from the Adriatic Sea when the sea levels dropped thousands of years ago. The lake is the largest in the Balkans at 41km long and with a surface area between 370-530 km2. The bottom of the lake is well below sea level, making it what's known as a crypto depression. Shkodra Lake is also one of the largest bird reserves in Europe, having some 240 bird species inhabiting its shores, including some of the last pelicans in Europe. Thus, it's very popular with bird watchers.  See the Catholic Cathedral, one of the biggest in Balkans and dedicated to St. Stephen. After a reconstruction in 1991, the cathedral was inaugurated by Mother Theresa and two years later it was visited by Pope John Paul II. Inside the cathedral is a copy of the Shroud of Turin, bearing the negative image of a man, which some claim is Jesus of Nazareth. After visiting the cathedral, enjoy walking on the main boulevard in Shkodra.  You will arrive back in Tirana around 6:00 PM.

Depart in the early morning on a drive through Albania, known for its centuries of notable world history. Travel from the north to south of the ancient nation, where we will uncover pieces of archeological history that still stand today, including churches and castles.  Learn and understand how life was organized more than 2 millennia ago. We will visit notable people’s homes, including dictators and Nobel winners in the Palorto Neighborhood in our last stop, Gjirokaster, after visiting the beaches and basilicas in Saranda, Ksamil Beach, and Butrint. The drive will take us through the Albanian Riviera, where the natural beauty of the nation can be taken in before discovering the history of the ancient world’s architecture in the next stops. The journey will end in Tirana, with stops in between the three-hour return journey.

Discover the beauty of Shkoder and Skadar Lake on a private day tour from Tirana. See the famous castles, churches, natural beauty, and lakes of Albania with a professional guide. Depart from Tirana and head towards the north of Albania to see the famous Castle of Rozafa. Built on a hill overlooking the city, the castle is the most important monument of Shkoder. Uncover the fascinating facts and know its historical importance from your professional guide.  Next, travel towards the city of Shkoder, the third-largest town in Albania. Marvel at the beauty of the Catholic Church, Orthodox Church, and Muslim Mosque. Stroll through some of the most famous lanes and notice the diverse religious elements of the city. Afterward, drive away from the city crowd and enjoy tranquility on the shore of Skadar lake. Relax and soak in the magnificent views of Albanian nature. Apart from the crystal waters of the lake, the place is also famous for its “Karp” fish specialties.  Finally, drive back to Tirana after a long and unforgettable experience.

Gjirokastër gives a special feeling to all the tourists and after visiting it, you won’t need to wonder why. It has been under UNESCO protection since 2005. Located in southern Albania, Gjirokastër is where you will find a perfect mixture of wild territories and archeological sites. You will first visit the old city center where the bazaar is located. At the bazaar you will see the traditional artisan shops and the cafes in the old style. Then you will continue with a visit to Gjirokastër castle. This fortress was an existing building from the 1200 BC and rebuilt XII century by Ali Pashe Tepelena. You will have the possibility to see the defensive towers, the Clock tower, The church, and the Cistern. Inside the castle, are placed the military objects and monuments from the resistance of the Albanian partisans against the German Nazis in a very interesting museum. The rest of the day will be dedicated to visiting the old neighborhoods of Qafe and Bazaar and learn more about it. You shouldn't miss the Skenduli House. Between the ottoman houses, we will also find the house of Ismail Kadare the great Albanian writer, and the house of Enver Hoxha, the Albanian politician who ruled from 1944 to 1985, that is now the ethnographic Museum of Gjirokastër.

Berat is today one of the main cultural centers in Albania, protected by UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008 This tour takes you to the most important spots in the city. You will start your tour by visiting the city center. Then you will move forward to the top of the hill at “Kalaja e Beratit” or the castle of Berat. This castle has been the fortress that overlooked the city for more than 2000 years. Your guide will tell you all about the ancient city of Berat. The tour will countinue with a visit to Onufri Museum where you will find old icons, paintings, and documents that date way back in time. After the museum, you will visit the Ottoman Bridge that is built over the Osum river and connects two parts of the city. Before returning to Tirana you will visit some of the neighbors of Gorrica and Mangalem.

Discover Gjirokastër and its imposing castle on a guided day tour from Tirana. Explore the charming streets of the town, the local bazaar, a typical house in the town, as well as the fortress itself. Begin the day with pickup from your hotel in Tirana and travel by car south towards Gjirokastër. Admire the vast rolling fields in one of the most fertile agricultural regions of Albania, passing along a section of the Vjosa River. Upon arrival in the town, be enchanted by its beautiful stone architecture all around you. Start your tour from Cerciz Topulli Square and stroll along the cobblestone streets which flow from the castle at the elevated heart of the town. Make your way to the buzzing Gjirokastër Bazaar, the traditional hub of all activity in town. Watch locals buy and sell at the many shops and stalls. Spot many local cafés where locals of all ages meet and discuss the latest gossip and news while sipping some coffee. Next, continue towards Gjirokastër Castle, with its fantastic views of the town. Enter the castle and explore the grounds as you hear the legend of Princess Argjiro, the supposed founder of the city. Learn more about the many uses of the castle throughout the years under various regimes and rulers. Afterward, head back down into town to the Palorto District. Explore the most exclusive neighborhoods of the city, which was once home to famous Albanian figures such as Communist Leader, Enver Hoxha, and his neighbor, writer Ismail Kadare. Head along the locally-named "Path of Mad People” and visit a typical house of the neighborhood, Skenduli House, notable for its fortress-style design. Finally, hop back into your transportation for the journey back to Tirana, with drop-off at your hotel.

Welcome to Albania! Transfer to Tirana and settle into your hotel. For those of you not too tired, there is a guided walking tour of the city center, including Skanderbeg Square, Et’hem Bey Mosque, the Pyramid and the Blloku area. Drive to Gjirokaster to discover the city of “a thousand steps”. Pass by the Ottoman Bazaar and have a free time for lunch in one of the local restaurants for a taste of the city’s authentic dishes. Step into Skenduli house and listen to its history and details from the 10th generation of Skenduli family. Visit the castle and enjoy the view of the “city of stone” from above. Pass by the Ottoman Bazaar and historic wooden houses before transfer in Saranda in Late afternoon. Travel to the Blue Eye and marvel at the spring’s shades of blue and nature around it. Set off on a guided tour of Butrint National Park where a local guide explains 2500 years of history embedded in the Amphitheater, the castle, the churches and the Lion Gate. Enjoy free time in the idyllic beach of Ksamil before transfer in Saranda. Enjoy your beach town in the unspoiled sand backed by rolling hills covered in olive groves, the grilled meats and cold beers, or add an excursions like: Jeep Safari, Mussel Tour with a boat, Diving Lessons, Corfu day tour In the afternoon transfer to Tirana, get settled in the hotel and in the evening gather with your group to celebrate your trip at a farewell dinner. Transfer to Berat passing through striking hills full of olive trees. On this Unesco – recognized old town with our local guide, you will admire the White Mosque, the Holy Trinity Church, Gorica Bridge and the Berati citadel/castle. Wander around this pretty town with free time for lunch. Transfer to Tirana in the late afternoon.