Depart for Berat at 8:30 am and you will be transferred to this beautiful city for around 2.5 hours. This is one of the oldest cities and the pride of Albanian architecture. The three major neighborhoods of the old city are Mangalemi, Gorica, and Kala where the castle itself is located. You will start our tour with the castle area. Visiting the 'Kala' involves a steep walk up a cobbled path, but those who make it to the top will be rewarded with a fine view of the surrounding area. You will visit the Museum of Iconography 'Onufri' which bears the name of the renowned fresco and icon-painter Onufri, who has left a rich inheritance. This museum is located within the cathedral of St. Mary’s Assumption. You will also visit the Red Mosque, recognized by its lonely minaret and St. Trinity Church. After the fortress you will visit the Mangalemi quarter and the National Ethnographic Museum. This museum is located in one of the most characteristic and interesting houses of the town, a rich assemblage of traditional objects (more than 1000) and is one of the greatest examples of Berat’s long history and culture. Across the Osumi River lies the Gorica neighborhood, whose houses face those of Mangalemi. The arched bridge of Gorica, built in 1780, is a beautiful architectural monument constructed to link Gorica with Mangelemi. Enjoy some free time to stroll on the bridge. After the tour, there will be optional lunch in a restaurant with traditional cuisine (at extra cost) Return to Tirana.

Day 1: Sightseeing tour of Prizren & Prishtina We travel towards Prizren in the morning. Prizren, considered to be the cultural capital of Kosovo, this charming, vivacious town with mountains all around is a real treasure hidden in the heart of the Balkan Peninsula. We arrive in Prizren in about 2 hours and meet our local guide for a walking tour of the city entering the Sinan Pasha Mosque, The Church of Our Lady of Ljevis (Unesco), The Museum of Prizren League and the Ottoman Old Town known for its gold and silver filigree craftsmen. Enjoy free time for lunch in Prizren and leave the town for the capital of Kosovo, Prishtina. In the afternoon, have a walking tour of Prishtina to discover the city with its many mosques, cathedrals and markets. Day 2: Matka Canyon & Sightseeing Tour of Skopje This morning we head towards North Macedonia with our first stop at Matka Canyon known for its butterfly colonies. Here we embark on a private boat ride for a short exploration of the Vrelo Cave, one the deepest in the world, before enjoying free time for lunch with a great view. With a short drive we arrive in Skopje the capital of North Macedonia Have a walking tour of Skopje discovering the city with its highlight like Mother Teresa Memorial House, opened in 2009 to pay tribute to the life of the celebrated humanitarian, the old railway station and the Stone Bridge, which dates back to 1451. Enjoy a relaxing evening in Skopje. Day 3: Sightseeing tour of Ohrid (Unesco) Reach and take in all that the Unesco–recognized charming city of Ohrid has to offer 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-centrury 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. Day 4: Tirana via Saint Naum Monastery & Bay of Bones On our way to Tirana, visit the Bay of Bones Museum, a prehistoric settlement located on Lake Ohrid. A one of a kind in the region, it is an authentic reconstruction of a part of the pile-dwelling settlement, dating back between 1200 and 700 Bc. Then, continue exploring the medieval Monastery of Saint Naum. See the resident peacocks that roam the grounds Enter the monastery to view its intricate frescoes We drive towards the border of Albania to Pogradec, where you have free time to enjoy lunch on the shores of Lake Ohrid. Travel to Tirana in the late afternoon. (Hotel accommodation in Tirana is not included on tour)

You will begin your journey of the past at the Bunk’ Art Museum with a full immersion into Albanian history over the last 100 years. The ex–nuclear bunker, built to accommodate Communist Dictator Hoxha in the event of attack, tells a story of the dictator’s time as well as both world wars through photographs, items, and documents. Once you step out of the Bunk’ Art you will head for some local qofte (meat balls) complete with yogurt sauce, potato chips, and local beer, a combination of which comprises Tirana’s typical street food. You'll then walk towards Skanderbeg Square and learn about the historical buildings such as the Et’hem Bey Mosque and the clock tower, which surround the main square of Tirana. Following that, enter the National Gallery of Arts, which is home to socialist and realist art. There you will encounter powerful images which provide an insight into how “realistic” art was used to create propaganda throughout history. You can also behold the pyramid, the former Enver Hoxha Museum, whose once-white-marble walls are now crumbling and full of graffiti. Following the museum you'll take a break at the Komiteti-Kafe Museum for some raki, communist candy, and some optional coffee. You will then walk through the Blloku area, where you will discover the home of Enver Hoxha and other senior members of his regime. You'll stop at the Post Blloku Memorial, which honors former political prisoners, in an area which was once forbidden to enter.

Explore Albania's top attractions in the hands of an expert tour director during a 4-day, 3-night sightseeing tour. Sample authentic Albanian food and visit Unesco World Heritage Sites such as Berat, Gjirokastra, and Butrint. Day 1: Sightseeing tour of Berat via Durres Travel to Berat, stopping in Durres for a short walking tour of the City Walls, Byzantine Forum, Roman Thermal Baths, the Venetian Tower, and the Amphitheater. Transfer to Berat passing through suggestive hills full of olive trees. Then, get settled in the hotel and head out for a guided tour admiring the citadel/castle of Berat with the Red Mosque, recognized by its solitary minaret, and the many Byzantine Churches like the Holy Trinity Church and the St. George Church. Finally, step inside a local home inside the castle of Berat for a coffee, raki, and dessert break. Enjoy the rest of the day wandering in the two main districts of Mangalam and Gorica. Day 2: Sightseeing tour of Gjirokastra After breakfast, admire small villages during your transfer to Gjirokaster. Once you arrive in this “city of a thousand steps,” settle into your hotel before soaking up the rich history of the castle and enjoying the view of the “city of stone” from above. Next, see the Ottoman Bazaar and historic wooden houses. Visit the Gjirokastra Obelisk dedicated to the first school of Gjirokastra and enjoy the 360º view from there. Next, stop for lunch in a small local restaurant for a taste of the city’s authentic dishes. Step into Skenduli house, the nicest Ottoman tower house, and listen to its history and details from the 10th generation of the Skenduli family. Spend a relaxing evening in the streets of Gjirokaster. Day 3: Sightseeing tour of Butrint & the Blue Eye spring Travel to the “Blue Eye” spring. Admire the shades of blue and surrounding nature before heading to Butrint. There, marvel at 2,500 years of history on a guided tour with a local guide. See the highlights, such as the amphitheater, castle, churches, and Lion Gate. Drive to Ksamil and enjoy lunch by the lake at the Mussel House. Spend your afternoon in Ksamil before heading to Saranda via Lekursi Castle, which overlooks the city. Day 4: Tirana via Vlore and Riviera Road En route to the city of Vlore via the scenic Riviera road, and explore the Ali Pasha Castle with your Tour Director. First, head to the Llogara “balcony” for a stunning view of the South Coast beaches before indulging in lunch at Llogara National. Next, visit a park surrounded by pine trees and a fresh mountain breeze. Marvel at the architecture and listen to entertaining legends about the man who built it, Ali Pashe Tepelena. Then, stop for lunch at a rustic local restaurant along Shushica river. After lunch, visit the city of Vlore, the hometown of the National Independence movement. visit Flag Square with its Independence Monument in the center, the Muradie Mosque, and Vlore Lungomare. Transfer to Tirana. (Hotel accommodation in Tirana is not included on the tour).

After being collected from your accommodation, you will begin your day exploring the port city of Durres. Discover a mixture of modern and ancient features, with this town having many interesting stories to tell. We will walk around its City Walls, Byzantine Forum, Roman Thermal Baths and around these ancient monuments we will enjoy Durres now famous street-art. Visit the Amphitheater and the Archeological Museum. Afterwards we head for our local winery to enjoy wines, cheeses and local food. Visit the vineyards and the winery and get acquainted with the wine production process and their Applied Agriculture. Tasting of wine varieties includes 3 glasses - 125 ml (Wset level 2) and Raki accompanied by appetizers.

Participate in this cooking class and learn more about Albanian traditions. This country is a rich table of delicious dishes and there is no better way than to learn how to cook them from the locals. Your guide will explain everything you have to know about the recipes and prepare yourself to cook with your tour leader. Learn how to cook “Tave Kosi” a traditional dish that consists of the cooking of yogurt with meat. This dish holds its own history behind it. Your guide will tell you why this dish is also called the “independence dish. You'll also learn how to cook Byrek (Albanian for pie), but Albanian pie is special and you will learn the methods of preparing it. To make this meal complete, you'll also be introduced to Albanian traditional desserts. At the end of the tour, try the local alcoholic drinks, Raki, and homemade wine.

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.

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.

Departing from Tirana, travel north to cross the border into the Stone Age city of Pristina. Visit and tour a medieval Orthodox monastery before continuing to the architectural marvel of the National Library in Pristina, home of 15th-century material literature. In Pristina, a city tour will also explore 14th-century mosques. Leaving Pristina we will head toward Prizren, sometimes called the cultural capital of Kosovo. The city played a major role in Albanian history and politics of the 19th century. Continue to Prizren, where the UNESCO World Heritage Church of Our Lady Ljevis resides. Visit the House of the Prizren League, one of the most important buildings of the 19th century in Albanian history. End the day with a relaxing journey back to Tirana.

Begin your day tour with a transfer from Tirana. Once there, visit the medieval bazaar and the Ottoman-style houses in the old part of the town. Witness artisan women making handmade doilies, carving wood or silver and other guild shops in the narrow cobbled stone streets of this suburb. While visiting people in their homes, traditional coffee (ground in stone) and mountain tea will be served.  You will also visit Gjirokastra city, the castle and much more. Later, you will have the chance to taste the typical local food cooked by local women. You will also visit the Skenduli House, you'll most likely be shown around by Mr Skenduli himself. The house was built around the year 1700 and has many fascinating features. Later, you will visit the Ethnographic Museum. In the end, you will enjoy free time around the city.