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Albania Highlights 5-Day Tour

Have two more days for the Alps and the Riviera? See the 7-day road trip →

5.063 Google reviewsStarts and ends in Tirana

Five days is the length most people have for Albania, and this is the itinerary we would give a friend. It does not try to do everything. It does the things that make the country make sense: the mountain fortress, one day in the north, the two stone towns, and the coast.

Itinerary

For reference only. Itineraries are subject to change.

  1. Day 1

    Tirana & Kruja

    Morning walking tour of Tirana, afternoon at Kruja Castle, the Ethnographic Museum and the bazaar. Night in Tirana.

  2. Day 2

    Komani Lake

    North to the Komani dam and the ferry up the gorge, with a stop at the Shala River. Night in Shkodra.

  3. Day 3

    Shkodra → Berat

    Rozafa Castle in the morning, then south to Berat for the castle quarter and a winery at sunset. Night in Berat.

  4. Day 4

    Berat → Gjirokastër

    Through the Drino valley to Gjirokastër: castle, tower houses and the bazaar. Night in Gjirokastër.

  5. Day 5

    Blue Eye, Ksamil, Riviera → Tirana

    The Blue Eye, lunch and a swim at Ksamil, then north along the Riviera and over Llogara. Back in Tirana late evening, or stay on in Saranda.

Experience & Highlights

  • Kruja Castle and the old bazaar
  • The Komani Lake ferry through the northern gorge
  • Nights in Berat and Gjirokastër
  • The Blue Eye and a swim at Ksamil
  • The Riviera road and the Llogara Pass

Full Description

Day one is Tirana and Kruja. Day two goes north for the Komani ferry through the gorge, the best boat trip in the country. Days three and four go south through Berat and Gjirokastër, sleeping in both. Day five is the Blue Eye, Ksamil, and the long Riviera road home over the Llogara Pass.

Groups are small, the hotels are family-run boutique places rather than chains, and the driving is spread so no day is longer than about five hours in the van.

What's included

  • All transport in an air-conditioned vehicle
  • 4 nights in boutique family-run hotels (breakfast included)
  • English-speaking guide for all five days
  • Komani ferry and Shala River boat
  • Winery tasting in Berat
  • Blue Eye park entry

Not included

  • Lunches and dinners (budget about €15 to €25 a day)
  • Castle and museum entries (about €20 in total)
  • Single room supplement (€120)
  • Travel insurance

Good to know

  • Departures every Sunday from April to October, and on request for groups of four or more.
  • The Komani ferry runs May to October. In April we swap it for Theth by road.
  • Ending in Saranda instead of Tirana is free. Tell us when you book.
  • Pack light: one medium bag per person keeps the vehicle comfortable.

Good questions, honest answers

Is five days enough to see Albania?

Enough to see the shape of it: a northern gorge, the two UNESCO towns, the southern coast and the capital. It is not enough for the Alps proper or real beach time, which is what the 7-day trip adds.

How much driving is there?

The longest day is the last one, about five hours in the vehicle with stops. The others are three to four hours, spread out with the stops in between.

Can the tour be done privately?

Yes, on any date for groups of two or more, with the same hotels and guide. Ask us for a private price; for four or more it is often close to the group rate.

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