Travel Type
Guided Tours
Duration
12 Days/11 Nights
Country
Albania
Embark on a richly layered journey through Albania and Greece, beginning with the vibrant charms of Tirana before exploring the historic towns of Kruja, Lezha, Shkodra, Durres, and UNESCO-listed Berat, Apollonia, Butrint, and Gjirokaster. Travel along breathtaking coastal roads, savour traditional cuisine, and uncover ancient ruins, medieval castles, and colourful bazaars. Continue south to the turquoise waters of Ksamil and the serene Blue Eye before flying to Athens, where iconic landmarks, world-class museums, and a two-day excursion to Delphi and the awe-inspiring Meteora monasteries complete this unforgettable adventure.
Inclusions
– 11-night accommodation in 4* hotels
– 13 meals: 11 breakfasts, 1 lunch, and 1 dinner
– Combined shared half-day Athens’ sightseeing tour with English- or bilingual- (including English) speaking guide to the Acropolis Site and New Acropolis Museum
– 2-day excursion to Delphi and Meteora, including transportation, entrance fees, and English-speaking guide
– Visits and entrances per the itinerary in Albania
– English-speaking guide for the Albania portion of the tour
– Flight from Tirana to Athens in economy class*
– Airport transfers in Tirana and Athens (arrival transfer in Athens with English-speaking assistance)
*flight schedules and fares to be reconfirmed at moment of booking, subject to modification
Exclusions
International flights – Meals and drinks unless indicated – Gratuities – Optional excursions – City tax (paid locally at the hotels) – Travel insurance – Any other item not mentioned in the Inclusions.
1
DAY 1 ARRIVAL IN TIRANA
Arrival at Tirana Airport and transfer to your hotel to check in. The rest of the day is at leisure. Discover Skanderbeg Square, the lively heart of the city, and visit the Et’hem Bey Mosque and Clock Tower nearby. Walk over to Bunk’Art 2 for a quick and fascinating look into Albania’s communist-era history, then wander along the pedestrian Murat Toptani Street toward the colourful New Bazaar for a coffee or a snack. Optionally, head instead to the Grand Park and enjoy a relaxing stroll around the artificial lake.
Accommodation : Tirana for 2 nights
2
DAY 2 KRUJË – TIRANA
After breakfast at the hotel, head to Krujë, one of the most important towns. Here, you will visit the Skanderbeg Museum and castle, as well as the old bazaar. Then return to Tirana and enjoy a city tour of the highlights of Tirana.
Meals : Breakfast
3
DAY 3 LEZHË – SHKODER
Your first stop today will be in the city of Lezhë, call Lis in the ancient Pelasgian. Visit its hilltop castle, which offers a fascinating panorama of the Adriatic Riviera and the ancient Bronze Age city walls. Visit the Mausoleum of Skanderbeg (Albania’s National Hero). Stop for a lunch break at the world-famous agritourism restaurant, Mrizi i Zanave. Afterward, continue to Shkodra through beautiful landscapes featuring highlands and the Albanian Alps to the north. Experience a city tour of Shkodra: Old Bazaar, the city center, the Cathedral, and Mosque. Visit the Castle of Rozafa and enjoy wonderful views of the mountains, Lake Shkodra (the largest in the Balkans), and the rivers Drini, Buna, and Kir, with the surrounding valleys from the top of Rozafa Castle. Overnight in Shkoder.
Meals : Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation : Shkoder for 1 night
4
DAY 4 DURRËS – BERAT (UNESCO)
After breakfast, continue to Durrës, Albania’s capital until 1920. This port city is one of the most important ancient metropolises of the central Mediterranean. Visit the largest Roman amphitheater in the Balkans, the ancient city walls, Byzantine bazaar/forum, and Roman public baths. Later, continue to Berat, one of the oldest inhabited regions of Albania (over 2,400 years old) and a UNESCO Heritage Site. Visit the Castle of Berat with the Onufri Museum and other churches inside, the Mosque of Berat and the old Gorica Bridge. You will also visit the Onufri Museum, displaying works from this 16th century Albanian master painter. Many of his wonderfully painted icons remain in the museum, while others are found in churches in Albania and Greece where he worked throughout his life. Overnight in Berat.
Meals : Breakfast
Accommodation : Berat for 1 night
5
DAY 5 ARDENICA MONASTERY – APOLLONIA (UNESCO) – VLORA
Today, drive to Ardenica Monastery, a 13th century Byzantine site locally famed for hosting the wedding of the Albanian military leader, Skanderbeg. Continue to the ruins of Apollonia, an atmospheric set of Roman remains on a remote hillside and once an important city in the region. After, depart for the coastal city of Vlora. The city’s highlights include the Old Town, Independence Square, and the monument where Albanian independence from the Ottomans was proclaimed on November 28th, 1912.
Meals : Breakfast
Accommodation : Vlora for 1 night
6
DAY 6 KSAMIL – BUTRINT (UNESCO) – SARANDA
In the morning, continue your journey to the south of Albania, enjoying spectacular views of Vlora Bay, the mountains, and the Ionian Riviera. Continue through picturesque seaside villages to Ksamil, where you will stop for a leisurely lunch and the opportunity to enjoy the beach, crystal-blue sea, and breathtaking views. After lunch, visit the ruins of Butrint, Albania’s most important archaeological site and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Dating from the 7th century BCE, Butrint later became a Roman colony, and then came under Venetian and Ottoman rule. Explore numerous buildings, including an acropolis, basilica, and palace. The site’s location is especially beautiful, surrounded by trees and water. After your visit, head to Saranda for the night.
Meals : Breakfast
Accommodation : Saranda for 1 night
7
DAY 7 MESOPOTAM – BLUE EYE NATIONAL PARK – GJIROKASTER (UNESCO) – TIRANA
Today, continue your Albanian journey toward Gjirokaster. En route, stop at the Mesopotam Monastery, built over an ancient temple inside the fortress. Then travel to the Blue Eye National Park, known for its natural beauty and peaceful setting, before reaching the UNESCO-listed town of Gjirokaster, recognised for its distinctive traditional stone architecture. Enjoy a city tour, visit the Castle and its Weapons Museum, before proceeding Tirana for your last night in Albania.
Meals : Breakfast
Accommodation : Tirana for 1 night
8
DAY 8 DEPARTURE FROM TIRANA – ARRIVAL IN ATHENS
Breakfast at the hotel, then transfer to Tirana Airport for your flight to Athens. Upon arrival, meet your driver and transfer to the hotel. Take the rest of the day to discover this ancient city.
Meals : Breakfast
Accommodation : Athens for 2 nights
9
DAY 9 HALF-DAY ATHENS CITY TOUR WITH NEW MUSEUM
In the morning, meet your guide and take a half-day tour of Athens. Depart for a photo stop at Panathenaic Stadium, where the first modern Olympic Games took place in 1896. Proceed past the Zappeion and the Temple of Olympian Zeus. Continue past the Athens Trilogy: the University of Athens, the Academy of Athens, and the National Library. On your visit, you will also pass such sites (amongst others) as the National Garden, Hadrian’s Arch, St. Paul’s Church, the Parliament, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and finally the Acropolis. At the Acropolis, you will be able to visit the Propylaea, Temple of Athena Nike, Parthenon, and the Erechtheion with its Porch of the Maidens. Continue your tour with a pleasant walk past Herodion and the Theater of Dionysus to visit the New Acropolis Museum, featuring votives, everyday artifacts, statues from the Archaic period, the Caryatids, and of course the Parthenon exhibits.
Meals : Breakfast
10
DAY 10 2-DAY EXCURSION TO DELPHI AND METEORA
Today, you will travel to Delphi, “the navel of the world”, arriving around noon. This ancient site and modern town are famous for its theater, ancient ruins, and Temple of Apollo, renowned for its oracle. After a leisurely lunch in the afternoon, drive through Central Greece and the cities of Lamia (short stop) and Trikala, crossing the Thessalian plain to Kalambaka, for a short stop to shop for souvenirs. A small town at the foot of the majestic grey rocks, Kalambaka is crowned by the Meteora Monasteries. Dinner and overnight in Kalambaka.
Meals : Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation : Kalambaka for 1 night
11
DAY 11 METEORA – ATHENS
In the morning, depart for Meteora to tour the clifftop monasteries where you will be able to visit two different Byzantine monasteries built atop the rock towers, offering fantastic views over the plain. On the return, there is an optional visit to a factory of Byzantine-style icons (+$). Then, return to Athens, passing by the heroic monument of Leonidas, King of Sparta, in Thermopylae, for a short photo stop). You will arrive in Athens in the late afternoon. The evening is at your leisure to enjoy your final night in this remarkable city.
Meals : Breakfast
Accommodation : Athens for 1 night
12
DAY 12 DEPARTURE FROM ATHENS
Breakfast at the hotel, then transfer to the airport for your return flight home or extend your stay in the Greek islands!
Meals : Breakfast
HOTEL OPTIONS OR SIMILAR:
Tirana – Hotel Albanopolis 4*
Shkoder – Hotel Tradita 4*
Berat – Hotel Republika 4*
Vlore – Hotel Partner 4*
Saranda – Hotel Havana 4*
Gjirokaster – Hotel Bineir 4*
Korce – Hotel MIK 4*
Athens – Hotel Titania 4*
Kalambaka – Hotel Amalia 4*
| Rates in CA$, per person, starting from | |
Departure Dates – 2026 (Mondays) | Double Occupancy |
| April 20, 27 May 4, 11, 18 June 1, 29 September 7, 14 October 19 | 6315 |
| August 3, 17 | 6760 |
| Supplement | |
| Single Occupancy | On request |
Product Code: AE
**Prices in this document are for information only; they were issued at press time, for the current year. Please note that due to exchange rates and temporary promotions, they can increase or decrease at any time. Contact your travel agent for the price and promotion of the moment. Prices include the contribution of customers to the Compensation Fund for clients of Quebec travel agents.
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Greece and Albania – detailed itinerary
Greece and Albania – detailed itinerary
