What’s better than exploring a new country? Doing it with new friends while raising money for a good cause! Join fellow donors of St. Louis Public Radio and Limitless Planet to explore Albania next spring. This area of the world is a unique blend of stunning natural beauty, rich history, vibrant local culture, and affordable prices, all while being less crowded than other popular European destinations. This trip is perfect for those seeking an authentic Balkan experience with diverse landscapes including stunning coastlines, rugged mountains, and charming towns. 

We’ll discover ancient ruins, medieval fortresses, and Ottoman-era architecture while experiencing the warm hospitality of local people, traditional cuisine, and unique customs and traditions of Albania.  

Depart your home city for Tirana International Airport. 

Meals: Welcome Dinner 

Upon arrival at Tirana Airport, we will meet our driver and transfer to our hotel in Tirana, the capital of Albania. Tirana, Albania's capital city, has a history spanning from the Iron Age to present day. The city's history includes periods of Illyrian, Roman, Ottoman, Italian, as well as communist rule. 

After checking into our hotel and some time for lunch at your leisure, we’ll meet our guide for a walking tour of the bustling city. On this tour we will see the colorful buildings of the capital, walk the main boulevard, visit Skanderbeg Square and Mother Teresa Square, pass by the National Library and Historical Museum, Tabake Bridge, and Piramida. We’ll end the tour at the Old Bazaar. 

Later this evening we will get to know our fellow travelers at a welcome dinner at a local restaurant.  

Overnight Tirana: Arté Boutique Hotel or similar 

Meals: Breakfast 

After breakfast at the hotel, we will visit the National Historic Museum in Tirana, offering an in-depth introduction to Albanian history from prehistory to present day. Afterwards, we will drive to Shkodra- the most important city in North Albania, set in a beautiful plateau in front of the largest lake in the Balkans, named after the town, with the Albanian Alps as a backdrop. On the way, we will stop at a village between Lezha and Shkodra, to dine at a small family-run restaurant built with sustainable agri-tourism in mind. We will taste some delicacies of this region such as pickles, local cheeses, olive oil, and several kinds of breads in their rustic form.  

Afterwards, we continue to the town of Shkodra- a town with Italian and Austrian architectural influences. A walking visit of the center of town is a great way to appreciate the city. Along the way we will have a chance to try one of the town’s famous delicacies- Shkodra Lake Carp baked in the oven Shkodra style. For those not so keen on carp, there are plenty of other choices. We will also visit the Venice mask factory in Shkoder before returning to Tirana.  

Overnight Tirana: Arté Boutique Hotel or similar 

Meals: Breakfast 

Today we will see examples of an age of unbounded creativity. Our morning tour begins with a visit to Kruja–one of the biggest cities in Northern Albania and known as the “city of history”. We will visit the Castle and the Skanderbeg Museum, then enjoy free time to explore Kruja’s old bazaar with authentic and antique shops, and lunch at leisure. 

After lunch, the route continues to Durres– the ancient Greco-Roman port city of Dyrrachium. Formerly Durrazzo, it is one of the oldest towns in Albania. The legend says that it was founded by Epidamnos, the Illyrian King of the area, who called it by his own name and named the port area after his grandson – Dyrrah. Visit the town including the Byzantine city walls, Roman amphitheater before driving back to Tirana.  

Overnight Tirana: Arté Boutique Hotel or similar 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

After breakfast at the hotel, we will check out and head to Berat - a UNESCO town known for its wonderful architecture, where houses look as if they were built on each other’s backs. Just before arriving, we will stop at Cobo winery to taste one of the best Albanian wines with some local specialties. Here we will visit the Onufri museum, in honor of the great Albanian Icon master painter of the 16th century. We will enjoy lunch in a traditional restaurant in Berat castle run by a family living in the castle. After lunch, we will have free time to further explore this charming town. 

To continue our cultural immersion, we will overnight in the old quarter at a traditional house turned small hotel, where we will also enjoy a traditional dinner with Berat specialties- a truly unique experience! 

Overnight Berat: Beratino Hotel or similar
 

Meals: Breakfast 

After breakfast at the hotel, we will leave Berat for the museum city of Gjirokastra, which is also one of the three  UNESCO sites in Albania. The city is overlooked by Gjirokastër Fortress. It is the birthplace of former Albanian communist leader Enver Hoxha and notable writer Ismail Kadare. Many houses in Gjirokastër have a distinctive local style that has earned the city the nickname “City of Stone” (most of the old houses have roofs covered with flat dressed stones). Gjirokastër features an old Ottoman bazaar which was originally built in the 17th century; it was rebuilt in the 19th century after a fire. There are more than 500 homes preserved as “cultural monuments” in Gjirokastër today.  

After lunch at leisure, we will depart for Saranda. On the way we will visit the Blue Eye (Albanian: Syri i kaltër). A natural spring and popular tourist attraction. The clear blue water of the river bubbles forth from a stunning, more than fifty-meter-deep pool. Divers have descended to fifty meters, but it is still unclear what the actual depth of the karst hole really is. 

Evening is at leisure in Saranda.  

Overnight Saranda: Porto Eda Hotel or similar 

Meals: Breakfast 

After breakfast we will proceed to visit the ancient city of Butrint (another UNESCO world heritage site) in Ksamil. The city was first settled by Greek colonists. It was continuously inhabited for centuries, forming archaeological layers of different civilizations and making it an important discovery in the Mediterranean. It is situated in a beautiful peninsula among dense vegetation, offering visitors more than just old ruins.   

Overnight Saranda: Porto Eda Hotel or similar 

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner 

A morning departure takes us down towards the Ionian Sea and the coastal town of Vlore. We will drive through the spectacular Albanian Riviera with its traditional villages. We will stop to visit the castle of Ali Pasha at Porto Palermo before continuing to the National Park of LLogara. 

Located on the slope of Mount Llogora, Llogor National Park has an altitude of 400-1300 meters from sea level covering an area of 1010 hectares. A magnificent horizon opens from the Llogora slope, providing a unique view of the lovely landscapes of the south Albanian Riviera, only available at this spot. It is a true natural masterpiece. The afternoon is free to explore Vlora. 

This evening, we will gather for a farewell dinner and toast to our adventure!  

Overnight Vlora: Maritim Marina Bay Resort 

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, we will drive to Tirana to the airport for departure flights home. 

Thank you for traveling with Limitless Planet!