Visiting Korce, Tirana, Shkoder, Kruje, Gjirokaster, Berat

Dates: 12 to 19 August

Price per person:

€ 1200 sharing triple room
€ 1250 sharing a twin room
€ 1450 per single room
€ 1000 per child sharing with 2 adults

Price Includes:

• Flights Malta – Skopje – Malta
• Airport transfers & 20 kilos luggage
• 1 nights 4*hotel in Skopje with breakfast
• 1 nights 4* hotel in Korce with breakfast
• 1 night 4*hotel in Tirana with breakfast
• 1 night 4*hotel in Shkoder with breakfast
• 2 nights 4*hotel in Berat with breakfast
• 1 night 4* hotel in Ohrid with breakfast
• All excursions & entrance fees included to Korce, Tirana, National History museum in Tirana, Bunkart, boat trip on Shkoder, entry tickets to Rozafa Castle, Kruja Castle, Skanderbeg museum, berat castle, onufri museum, gjirokastra castle.
• English speaking local guide
• Maltese group leader
• Protection by insolvency fund.

Itinerary:

Day one: Meet your group leader at 20:15 hrs flight departs 23:15 and arrive at Skopje airport at 00:55. Transfer to hotel in Skopje for accommodation.

Day two: travel to Korce – the cradle of the Albanian culture
Breakfast at the hotel. Travel towards Korca (around 4 – 5 hours’ drive from Skopje), located in the southeast of Albania. Pass the border and proceed towards Korca, a city which continues to reflect its strong relation with education, literature and arts. Visit the building of the first Albanian School and the largest Orthodox church of the area. The rest of the day is reserved for visiting the charming “Old Bazaar”, with its narrow streets, nice small cafes, and colored buildings. Following the restoration of the Bazaar, this area has become the true heart of the city, buzzing will people and energy all day long. Here you can enjoy a Turkish coffee or drink one of the most famous beers, called “Korca” like the city itself. Overnight in Korca.

Day three: discover the buzzing capital of Albania/ Tirana
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure towards Tirana, capital of Albania and the biggest city in the country. Known for its colorful combination of fascist, ottoman and modern area buildings, it has become one of the most visited cities in all the Balkans. Arrival and start the sightseeing of Tirana from the Skanderbeg square. Visit from outside Opera house, E`them Bey Mosque, Clock Tower etc. The walking tour can continue then to the main boulevard, the Pyramid building, the Block area etc. Optional visit to BunkArt2, an ex-communist bunker which was turned recently into a museum showing the history of the country during the communist period. Overnight in Tirana.

Day four: visit Shkoder – the most important center of the north
In the morning travel from Tirana to Shkodra. Arrival and visit the castle of the city, in a beautiful position, on top of the hill, overlooking the entire area. The castle was founded since the Illyrian period and used continually over the centuries. Get to know also the sad legend connected to the construction of this castle. Then time for a boat trip in the waters of Shkodra/ Skadar lake, the biggest lake in the Balkan Peninsula. In the afternoon walking tour of the pedestrian street with the numerous religious buildings and where the cohabitation of the old and the new can be noticed. There you can find venetian style buildings combined with narrow alleys paved with stones. Accommodation in Shkora.

Day five: Kruja medieval town
In the morning departure to Kruja medieval town. This is one of the most visted places in Albania because its history is closely related to the national hero Skanderbeg, who succesfully fought against the Ottoman invasion in the 15th century. Visit in the castle housing the national Historical museum and the Ethnographic museum to get more info about the history and the traditions of the area. After that, some free time at the typical bazaar where you can find unique handicrafted items, silver jewelry, loomed carpets etc. Late afternoon, transfer to Berat, a Unesco protected town. Accommodation in Berat.

Day six: travel to the south – get “lost” in Gjirokastra (day trip from Berat)
In the morning travel towards Gjirokastra. A Unesco World Heritage Site, the old town of Gjirokaster is famous for being a well-preserved Ottoman town. With its huge fortress overlooking the entire town, the old houses leaning against the slopes of the hills with their beautiful old wooden facades, this place is a must for all visitors. First, visit the castle which provides a possibility of great views over the city, which stores some old armory and a recovered US Air force jet from communist time Albania. Then visit one of the traditional houses of the town, which is turned into a museum and belongs to “Skenduli” family. Get to know here the story of the family and their efforts to preserve this building. Spend the rest of the day wandering about the cobbled narrow streets and the shops. Back in Berat for overnight.

Day seven: visit the city of 1000 windows/ Berat
After breakfast at the hotel visit Berat, a Unesco protected town. First visit the the lower part of the town. Pass the stone bridge of Gorica built in the 18th century, which connects the two historical neighborhoods of Berat, Gorica which was traditionally a Christian quarter and Mangalem where the Muslim population of the city lived. Next stop will be in the castle built on top of the hill at a strategic position. Inside the castle visit “Onufri” museum, located in the cathedral “Dormition of St. Mary”. Enjoy a very well-preserved iconostasis and a dedicated area with Icons from Onufri and other icon-painters. In the afternoon transfer to Ohrid, in North Macedonia, for overnight.

Day eight: visit Ohrid – transfer to the airport
Breakfast at the hotel. If there is time visit Ohrid, the city of 365 churches, one for every day. Sightseeing of Ohrid including St. Sophia church, Kaneo, old medieval city etc. Departure to Skopje airport.
Flight depart Skopje airport at 20:55, flight arrive Malta at 22:40 hrs