8 Days Journey through Nature and Culture

On arrival at Tirana International Airport, you’ll be met by your professional local guide and begin your journey north towards the historic town of Kruja, dramatically set on a mountainside.

This evening sets the tone for the adventure ahead with a traditional Albanian dinner inside Kruja Castle, accompanied by a lively folk music performance – a memorable introduction to local culture.

After breakfast, explore Kruja Castle and the fascinating Skanderbeg Museum, dedicated to Albania’s national hero. Wander through the atmospheric Ottoman bazaar, where handmade crafts and antiques line cobbled lanes.

Continue north to Fishta, home to the celebrated Mrizi i Zanave farm and slow-food restaurant. Here you’ll enjoy a guided walk around the farm and learn about traditional produce. Following lunch, arrive in Shkodra, one of Albania’s oldest cities. Visit the Mask Factory, the panoramic Rozafa Castle, the Catholic Cathedral, and stroll along the lively pedestrian street in the historic centre.

This morning, journey into the heart of the Albanian Alps towards Thethi National Park. The scenic drive reveals wild rivers, open valleys, and rugged peaks. If you are travelling in June, expect to see the beautiful, aromatic lavender fields that rival those of Provence in France. As you climb to Qafa e Thores (1,700m), enjoy one of the most breathtaking viewpoints in the country.

Once in Theth, visit the historic stone church and the iconic Lock-In Tower, learning about centuries-old traditions that shaped mountain life.

Following breakfast, in the morning, you shall depart from Shkodra for the Lake of Koman, where you board a ferry for one of Albania’s most spectacular experiences. Cruise through narrow gorges and towering cliffs along the Drin River, often compared to the fjords of Scandinavia.

The ferry journey offers extraordinary scenery, towering cliffs plunge directly into emerald waters, narrow gorges open suddenly into wider basins, and remote villages cling to the hillsides. This is often described as Albania’s most beautiful boat journey and a truly unforgettable experience.

Disembark at Fierza, where lunch is served at a traditional restaurant before continuing by road to Bajram Curri and onwards into the Valbona Valley. The valley opens gradually, revealing alpine meadows framed by steep limestone peaks.

Arrive in Valbona with time to explore the village or simply relax as the mountains glow in the evening light.

After breakfast, begin a gentle exploration of Valbona National Park, one of Albania’s most pristine natural areas.

Visit a local family home, where you are welcomed with traditional Turkish coffee and homemade raki. This intimate visit offers insight into daily life in the Alps, where families have lived in harmony with the landscape for generations.

From the village, follow a shepherd’s path leading towards Kukaj, passing through remote alpine scenery rarely visited by outsiders. The walk reveals sweeping views of the eastern Albanian Alps, wildflower meadows, and traditional stone houses.

Returning to Valbona later in the day, enjoy a home cooked dinner prepared by a local family, using seasonal ingredients and recipes passed down through generations.

Depart Valbona after breakfast and cross into Kosovo, reaching the historic town of Gjakova. Enjoy a walking tour through the old town and traditional market area, one of the best-preserved Ottoman-era bazaars in the region.

Continue to Prizren, widely regarded as Kosovo’s most beautiful city. Explore the old quarter, stone bridges, mosques, and churches, and visit the League of Prizren Museum, a key site in Albanian national history.

In the afternoon, return to Tirana. Upon arrival, enjoy a guided city tour including Skanderbeg Square, the Clock Tower, the Palace of Culture, and a visit to Bunk’Art 2, the former nuclear bunker transformed into a museum documenting Albania’s communist era repression.

After breakfast, travel south through the peaceful Belsh Lake region, a landscape of small lakes and rural villages rarely visited by tourists.

Continue to Berat, one of Albania’s most beautiful and historic towns and a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. Known as the “Town of a Thousand Windows”, Berat is famed for its white Ottoman houses stacked along the hillside.

Explore the castle citadel, still inhabited today, visiting Byzantine churches, mosques, and the renowned Onufri Icon Museum. Descend into the historic quarters of Mangalem and Gorica, separated by the Osum River, and learn about the town’s unique religious harmony.

Dinner is served locally within the historic setting.

After breakfast, depart Berat and return to Tirana Airport for your onward flight, concluding your immersive Albanian journey.