Start/End
Tirana
Duration
10 days
Hiking days
6 days
Activity Level
2 ( from 5 )
Travel time
April to November
Group size
4 to 12 Persons
Accommodation
Comfort 3 to 4 star Hotels
Overview
This ten-day tour of the Albanian south combines imposing landscapes with unique historical locations. With Butrint, Gjirokaster and Berat we visit three impressive places that have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but also leave us a lot of time for the fantastic southern Albanian coastal mountains - an exciting mix of culture and nature!
- Hiking in Voskopoje, the village of many churches
- Enjoy the good local cuisine
- Swim in the Ionian Sea
- Visit to Butrint and get to know centuries-old culture
Included
Excluded
– Difficulty level
– Technique – medium
No alpine difficulties, good surefootedness required. Our tour runs on good hiking trails without any technical difficulties. Individual passages run on narrow paths and in gravel terrain and require sure-footedness.
– Fitness – medium
Walking times of approx. 3 to 5 hours a day, ascents and descents up to a maximum of approx. 650 meters in altitude, usually less. Previous hiking experience and good physical condition is necessary and a prerequisite.
– Comfort – Hotels
We stay in good and clean 3 to 4 star hotels. Our hotels are centrally located, so you can easily reach everything on foot.
– Meals
We usually take a packed lunch with us on our hikes. Breakfast and dinner are eaten in the accommodations. Sometimes we have dinner outside, but the local guide will inform you about this.
– Transportation
During the whole trip we travel (depending on the group size) in a comfortable bus.
- Highlights
-
- Hiking in Voskopoje, the village of many churches
- Enjoy the good local cuisine
- Swim in the Ionian Sea
- Visit to Butrint and get to know centuries-old culture
- Services
-
Included
Excluded
- Infos
-
– Difficulty level
– Technique – medium
No alpine difficulties, good surefootedness required. Our tour runs on good hiking trails without any technical difficulties. Individual passages run on narrow paths and in gravel terrain and require sure-footedness.
– Fitness – medium
Walking times of approx. 3 to 5 hours a day, ascents and descents up to a maximum of approx. 650 meters in altitude, usually less. Previous hiking experience and good physical condition is necessary and a prerequisite.
– Comfort – Hotels
We stay in good and clean 3 to 4 star hotels. Our hotels are centrally located, so you can easily reach everything on foot.
– Meals
We usually take a packed lunch with us on our hikes. Breakfast and dinner are eaten in the accommodations. Sometimes we have dinner outside, but the local guide will inform you about this.
– Transportation
During the whole trip we travel (depending on the group size) in a comfortable bus.
- Gallery
-
- Dates and Prices
-
Itinerary
01
Welcome in Albania
After a short drive we come in to the capital Tirana. In the afternoon we take a city tour through Tirana (approx. 2 hours) where we are going to see the main sights such as Skanderbeg Square, EthemBey Mosque, the new Bazzar, the boulevard and the most famous district in Tirana, the Bllok district. Then we dinner in a restaurant in the Bllok district. Overnight in a hotel. ( – / – / D )
0.5 h
02
Hiking on the local mountain of Tirana Dajti – to Korce
After breakfast we take the bus to the cable car, which takes us about 15 minutes. At 1000m we start our first hike and climb the Tujani summit (1500m). After the hike we continue to Korce. Through the Shkumbini Valley we come to the Thana Pass and already we can see the Ohrid Lake. Pass the lake and finally reach Korce. Dinner together in a restaurant. Overnight in a hotel. ( B / – / D )
approx.3 h. 500m
approx. 3 h
03
Voskopoje, hike to Shipske – Permet
After a short transfer we come to Voskopoje, the former famous trading town. A shepherd’s path takes us to Shipske, a small, quickly deserted village. Here we visit the Georgskirche, one of the most beautiful surviving churches in Albania. We hike back to Voskopoje on a gravel road. A long drive through the beautiful countryside of the South East brings us to Permet. Overnight in a hotel. ( B / – / D )
approx.4 h. 400m
approx. 4 h
04
Hike to Sopoti Waterfall – Thermal Springs – Gjirokaster
We drive to the starting point of our hike in an all-terrain local bus. We hike along an old mountain path to the idyllic Sopoti waterfall and back. On the way back to Permet we stop at Benje thermal springs for a refreshing swim before continuing to Gjirokaster. The museum city is also called the City of Stone. Depending on the time we visit the old town. Dinner in a traditional restaurant. Overnight in a hotel.( B / – / D )
approx.3 h. 300m
approx. 2 h
05
Butrint Archaeological Site – Himare
Today the cultural assets of Albania are in the foreground. On the way to Butrint we stop at the Blue Eye, the outlet of an underground spring. Then we visit the archeological site of Butrint. Remains of various cultures such as the Illyrians, Greeks, Romans and Byzantines can be seen here. In the afternoon we drive to Himare. The rest of the evening is free time. Overnight in a hotel. ( B / – / D )
approx. 4 h
06
Hike to the most beautiful bay in Albania ‘Gjipe’
After breakfast drive to the ancient village of Dhermi. Here we visit the Church of St. Mary. This used to be the most important monastery in the village. From the main road we start our trek to Gjipe Bay. The clear water invites you to swim. After resting and swimming, we drive back to Himare. Dinner together in a restaurant. Overnight as the day before. ( B / – / D )
approx. 2.5 h. 200m 350m
approx. 1 h.
07
Hiking in Llogara National Park to Qafa e Thelle pass
From the coast we drive up to the Llogara Pass at 1000m and start our hike. We go up through the natural forest to the Qafa e Thell pass. Here a magnificent view of the Ionian Sea awaits us. Along an old road we descend on the Llogara Pass. In one of the nice bars we refresh ourselves with a well-deserved drink. In the heart of the park we spend the night in a mountain hotel. ( B / – / D )
approx. 4-5 h. 650m 450m
1 h
08
High over the coast to the Dhjopuri Pass – museum town of Berat
A steep path leads from Llogara Pass up to Bhjopuri Pass (1500m). Beautiful views of the Ionian Sea and the highest peak on the coast (Cika mountain 2045m), will accompany us on our hike. After the hike we continue to Berat and before we reach the city we stop at a winery and and do a wine tasting. Overnight in a hotel. ( B / – / D )
approx. 3 h. 500m
approx. 3 h.
09
Discover Berat – Kruje
After breakfast we go to the fortress of Berat. Between the beautiful old houses there is also a beautiful museum dedicated to the famous painter Onufri. After the visit we drive to Kruje, the town of the hero of Albania. Kruje has been the symbol of the resistance and centum of our national hero Skanderbeg. We visit the Historical Museum dedicated to the hero. Dinner together at the hotel. Overnight in a hotel. ( B / – / D )
approx. 2.5 h.
10
Farewell to Albania
After an impressive week, we say goodbye to Albania and fly back home.( B / – / – )
0.5 h
- Day 1
-
01
Welcome in Albania
After a short drive we come in to the capital Tirana. In the afternoon we take a city tour through Tirana (approx. 2 hours) where we are going to see the main sights such as Skanderbeg Square, EthemBey Mosque, the new Bazzar, the boulevard and the most famous district in Tirana, the Bllok district. Then we dinner in a restaurant in the Bllok district. Overnight in a hotel. ( – / – / D )
0.5 h
- Day 2
-
02
Hiking on the local mountain of Tirana Dajti – to Korce
After breakfast we take the bus to the cable car, which takes us about 15 minutes. At 1000m we start our first hike and climb the Tujani summit (1500m). After the hike we continue to Korce. Through the Shkumbini Valley we come to the Thana Pass and already we can see the Ohrid Lake. Pass the lake and finally reach Korce. Dinner together in a restaurant. Overnight in a hotel. ( B / – / D )
approx.3 h. 500m
approx. 3 h
- Day 3
-
03
Voskopoje, hike to Shipske – Permet
After a short transfer we come to Voskopoje, the former famous trading town. A shepherd’s path takes us to Shipske, a small, quickly deserted village. Here we visit the Georgskirche, one of the most beautiful surviving churches in Albania. We hike back to Voskopoje on a gravel road. A long drive through the beautiful countryside of the South East brings us to Permet. Overnight in a hotel. ( B / – / D )
approx.4 h. 400m
approx. 4 h
- Day 4
-
04
Hike to Sopoti Waterfall – Thermal Springs – Gjirokaster
We drive to the starting point of our hike in an all-terrain local bus. We hike along an old mountain path to the idyllic Sopoti waterfall and back. On the way back to Permet we stop at Benje thermal springs for a refreshing swim before continuing to Gjirokaster. The museum city is also called the City of Stone. Depending on the time we visit the old town. Dinner in a traditional restaurant. Overnight in a hotel.( B / – / D )
approx.3 h. 300m
approx. 2 h
- Day 5
-
05
Butrint Archaeological Site – Himare
Today the cultural assets of Albania are in the foreground. On the way to Butrint we stop at the Blue Eye, the outlet of an underground spring. Then we visit the archeological site of Butrint. Remains of various cultures such as the Illyrians, Greeks, Romans and Byzantines can be seen here. In the afternoon we drive to Himare. The rest of the evening is free time. Overnight in a hotel. ( B / – / D )
approx. 4 h
- Day 6
-
06
Hike to the most beautiful bay in Albania ‘Gjipe’
After breakfast drive to the ancient village of Dhermi. Here we visit the Church of St. Mary. This used to be the most important monastery in the village. From the main road we start our trek to Gjipe Bay. The clear water invites you to swim. After resting and swimming, we drive back to Himare. Dinner together in a restaurant. Overnight as the day before. ( B / – / D )
approx. 2.5 h. 200m 350m
approx. 1 h.
- Day 7
-
07
Hiking in Llogara National Park to Qafa e Thelle pass
From the coast we drive up to the Llogara Pass at 1000m and start our hike. We go up through the natural forest to the Qafa e Thell pass. Here a magnificent view of the Ionian Sea awaits us. Along an old road we descend on the Llogara Pass. In one of the nice bars we refresh ourselves with a well-deserved drink. In the heart of the park we spend the night in a mountain hotel. ( B / – / D )
approx. 4-5 h. 650m 450m
1 h
- Day 8
-
08
High over the coast to the Dhjopuri Pass – museum town of Berat
A steep path leads from Llogara Pass up to Bhjopuri Pass (1500m). Beautiful views of the Ionian Sea and the highest peak on the coast (Cika mountain 2045m), will accompany us on our hike. After the hike we continue to Berat and before we reach the city we stop at a winery and and do a wine tasting. Overnight in a hotel. ( B / – / D )
approx. 3 h. 500m
approx. 3 h.
- Day 9
-
09
Discover Berat – Kruje
After breakfast we go to the fortress of Berat. Between the beautiful old houses there is also a beautiful museum dedicated to the famous painter Onufri. After the visit we drive to Kruje, the town of the hero of Albania. Kruje has been the symbol of the resistance and centum of our national hero Skanderbeg. We visit the Historical Museum dedicated to the hero. Dinner together at the hotel. Overnight in a hotel. ( B / – / D )
approx. 2.5 h.
- Day 10
-
10
Farewell to Albania
After an impressive week, we say goodbye to Albania and fly back home.( B / – / – )
0.5 h