Page 79 - European-Tours-23-24

Albania – a hidden gem

in southern Europe

9 DAYS | 8 NIGHTS

Isolated for many years, Albania is now emerging as a tern, and houses the Weapons Museum. The museum exhibits captured artillery and
sought-after destination for European cultural tours. memorabilia of the Communist resistance against German occupation. Continuation
to Vlore where you stay for the overnight.
Day 1: Arrival in Tirana (-/-/D)
Upon arrival your tour escort and driver will await you at the airport Tirana. Check in at Day 8: Apollonia – Tirana (B/-/D)
your 4 hotel in Albanias capital. Remainder of the day at leisure, dinner at the hotel. Morning ride to Apollonia. Founded in 585 BC and dedicated to the god Apollo, the
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city achieved fame and wealth before being incorporated into the Roman Empire to
Day 2: Tirana (B/-/D) become Caesar’s stronghold during the civil war with Pompey. The most impressive
After breakfast you meet a local guide for a 3 hour city tour. Tirana is a mix of new feature of the site is the bouleuterion - a facade with six Corinthian columns which
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and old. Whilst in Albania you’ll have the opportunity to sample the delicious cuisine, are thought to date back to the 2 century. Afterwards you continue to Tirana where
which is a real mix of Turkish, Greek and Italian influences, like Byrek - a spinach you stay for the night.
and feta stuffed filo pie, and in the more rural mountainous areas barbequed lamb
and ‚earthy’ vegetables such as griddled aubergines and mushrooms are particularly Day 9: Departure (B/-/-)
popular. Afternoon free to discover the colourful city at your own pace. Dinner and Transfer to the airport Tirana according to your schedule.
overnight.
Our prices include:
Day 3: Ohrid lake – St. Naum monastery – Ohrid (B/-/D) • Deluxe motor coach as per itinerary
This morning you drive to Pogradec at the shores of famous lake Ohrid with clear • English speaking tour escort throughout
water and mountain views. After crossing the Macedonian border you will visit St. • 3 overnights at 4 hotel in Tirana
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Naum monastery, a refuge of tranquility at the very southwestern corner of the • 1 overnight at 4 hotel in Ohrid
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Macedonian Republic. The monastic complex and church of St. Naum were built • 2 overnights at 4 hotel in Vlore
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originally at the turn of the 10 century by the monk that beared the same name; • 2 overnights at 4 hotel in Sarande
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Macedonians believe you can still hear the saint’s heartbeat by pressing an ear to his • 8 breakfast, 8 dinners
stone coffin inside the church. Continuation to Ohrid, a picturesque village in the north • city tour in Tirana, Ohrid, Berat, Gijrokastra
of the lake. Dinner and overnight. Optional: Boat ride at Ohrid lake. • Admission to the following sights:
∙ St. Naum monastery
Day 4: Berat – Vlore (B/-/D) ∙ UNESCO site in Butrint
Morning drive to Berat “The City of a Thousand Windows” which is one of the ∙ UNESCO castle in Gijrokastra
oldest continuously inhabited regions in the world. Geographically beautiful, Berat was ∙ the ruins of Apollonia
built around a precipitous river gorge, leading up to pine forests. Its UNESCO-listed • Porterage at hotels in / out
historic centre reveals cobbled streets, ancient churches and mosques, a fascina- • All taxes and charges
ting ethnographic museum and very pretty white, Ottoman buildings tumbling down
steep slopes. In the afternoon you continue to Vlore, located at the so called Albanian
Riviera. Vlore is a Greek city founded in the 6 century BCE. The Albanian Declaration
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of Independence was proclaimed here in 1912. Dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Butrint – Saranda (B/-/D)
Wow – you should look forward to the ride you can expect today. You take the coastal
road from Vlore to Butrint which provides stunning views. This afternoon you visit PACKAGE PRICE PP
UNESCO listed Butrint, which is one of the great archaeological sites in the Balkans. IN DOUBLE ROOM FROM
With a long and colourful history dating back to the early Neolithic age, Butrint has
been occupied and fought over until the Ottoman period when it lay abandoned. More 815 €
recently, excavations have taken place and all periods of Butrint’s history have been
revealed including its Roman theatre, Roman house and thermal baths as well as a
fine baptistery with fabulous mosaic floors. The setting is idyllic with the ruins nestling based on 30 persons
in the bend of the Vivari River. After spending time exploring this fascinating site, you
continue to the shores of the Mediterranean and Saranda for the night.

Day 6: Free day in Saranda (B/-/D)
Saranda is the unofficial capital of the Albanian Riviera, and come the summer
months it seems like half Tirana relocates here to enjoy the busy beach and busier
nightlife along its crowd-filled seaside promenade. What was once a sleepy fishing
village is now a thriving city, and while Saranda has lost much of its charm in the past
two decades, it has retained much of its charisma.
Day 7: Gijrokastra – Vlore (B/-D)
After breakfast at the hotel in Sarande you approach Gijrokastra Gjirokastra where we
take a walking tour through the cobbled streets of its UNESCO listed historic centre
and visit Gjirokastra Castle. The castle sits at a height of 336 metres and is one of
the most magnificent structures in the city with views over the hilly countryside, river
valley and city. There have been extensive renovations to the building since it was
constructed in the 12 century and it now possesses five towers, a church, a cis-
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