Itinerary
- Intro
Introduction
- Day 1
Tirana
Tirana- Meals
- Dinner (Hearty welcome dinner)
Included Activities
- Transfer from Tirana center (14:00) or airport (15:00) to Peshtan
- Walk to nearby viewpoint (if time permits)
Landmarks Vjosa River - Day 2
Zagoria Valley - Peshtan to Limar
Zagoria Valley - Peshtan to Limar- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch box), Dinner (Delicious dinner with fresh ingredients from the garden)
Included Activities
- Guided hike through Zagoria Valley (approximately 11 km, 5 hours walking time)
- Possible meeting with local beekeeper and honey tasting
- Cross Ottoman arch bridge
- Overnight stay in village teacher's house in Limar
Landmarks Strakaveci - Day 3
Zagoria Valley - Stone Villages
Zagoria Valley - Stone Villages- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch box), Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided hike through stone villages (approximately 14.5 km, 5.5 hours walking time)
- Interactions with local residents
- Visit Orthodox Church of the Holy Apostles with frescoes viewing
Landmarks Orthodox Church of the Holy Apostles Doshnice Waterfall - Day 4
Nivan - Sheper
Nivan - Sheper- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Packed lunch), Dinner
Included Activities
- Hiking along shepherds' trails and dirt roads
- Visit to Nivan village square dedicated to William Tilman
- Exploration of Byzantine, Ottoman, and Stalinist heritage sites including concrete bunkers and partisan monuments
- Hiking through holm oak forests and meadows to Sheper
- Visit to village museum with Lenin and Marx quotes
Landmarks Cajupi Nivan village square Sheper village museum - Day 5
Zagoria Valley - Dhembeli Pass to Permet
Zagoria Valley - Dhembeli Pass to Permet- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch box), Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided hike across Dhembeli Pass (approximately 12.5 km, 7.5 hours walking time)
- Visit church of Leuse with 17th-century frescoes
- Hotel accommodation in Permet
Landmarks Dhembeli Pass Pindos Mountains Vikos-Aoos National Park Church of Leuse - Day 6
Permet - Vjosa, Sopot Waterfall & Benje Thermal Pools
Permet - Vjosa, Sopot Waterfall & Benje Thermal Pools- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided hike to Sopot waterfall (approximately 6 km, 2 hours walking time)
- Access to Benje thermal pools
- Accommodation in traditional Ottoman house in Gjirokaster old town
- Evening exploration of bazaar atmosphere
Optional Activities
- Relax in sulphurous thermal water at Benje
- Explore Langarica Gorge on foot
Landmarks Vjosa River Nemercka Mountains Sopot Waterfall Langarica Gorge Benje Thermal Pools - Day 7
Gjirokaster to Tirana
Gjirokaster to Tirana- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Exploration of Gjirokaster old town and labyrinth of streets
- Transfer to Tirana (3.5 hours)
Optional Activities
- Visit Ottoman mansion
- Climb Gjirokaster castle
- Excursion to Butrint (requires splitting from main group)
- Excursion to Blue Eye karst spring (requires splitting from main group)
- Excursion to Albanian Riviera beaches (requires splitting from main group)
Landmarks Gjirokaster Old Town Gjirokaster Castle Skanderbeg Square Bloku Blue Eye Butrint Albanian Riviera - Day 8
Tirana
Tirana- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Morning walking tour of Tirana
- Transfer to airport (30 minutes)
Optional Activities
- Visit New Bazaar for edible souvenirs
- Tour Bunkart 2 communist museum
- Tour The House of Leaves
- Walk Skanderbeg Square and boulevard
- Explore Bloku nightlife district
- Visit green city park
Landmarks New Bazaar Bunkart 2 The House of Leaves Skanderbeg Square Bloku
