Meals

All breakfasts, four lunches and four dinners included. Three of these lunches are packed lunches. In the itinerary, we state which meals are included on each day. Under the leadership of Enver Hoxha (the communist leader of Albania from 1944 to 1985), Albania became a self-sustaining country due to its isolation to the world. With fertile valleys, fresh mountain springs and Mediterranean climate, Albania still has a subsistence culture and shows very little signs of changing. In the countryside, expect your food to have been grown not too far from your plate. Food in Albania is quite varied thanks to the many influences on the country, particularly Mediterranean, which combines Turkish and European tastes. Dairy products, especially milk and yoghurt are present in almost every meal, usually locally sourced. Meals are reasonably priced at around 550-750 leks (€5-€7) per dish for traditional dishes such as baked rice, casseroles, stuffed aubergine and jani meat (beef or lamb sautéed with onions, garlic and spices). Fresh fish is also plentiful, from the sea or lakes, and is an important ingredient in many dishes. Dishes that must be sampled are Tirana stew, Elbasan yoghurt and baked phyllo pie. For dessert, there are the classic cookies and puddings but most importantly the baklava is very popular. Drinks are reasonably priced with a bottle of local beer costing around 250 leks (€2.40) yet traditional drinks need to be tried as well, raki and Skenderbeu cognac for example (noted for its unique flavour and aroma). Your leader will recommend restaurants for each evening. Vegetarians are well-catered for in Albania as long as the hotels are advised in advance – please inform us before departure of any special dietary requests. If you follow a vegan diet, the variety of food may be limited on this trip. This diet is relatively uncommon in this region and we cannot guarantee the hotels and restaurants will provide meals that have the necessary variety.

Accommodation

On this walking adventure in Albania, we spend two nights in a mountain guesthouse, two nights in alpine hotels and two nights in three-star hotels (locally rated). Tirana: Sky 2 Hotel (night 1) The adventure begins at the 43-room Sky 2, a well-located spot in the heart of Tirana, just a 10-minute walk from the main plaza, Skanderbeg Square. There are restaurants, bars and shops nearby, while the hotel itself serves coffee, orange juice from the Albanian coast, and cold drinks. Theth: Shpella Guesthouse (nights 2-3) Enjoy a warm welcome at Shpella, a quaint guesthouse in the Albanian Alps. It’s ideally located to explore Theth National Park, with walks starting from the front door. Rooms have a mountain lodge feel, while the food is traditional local fare with ingredients plucked from the garden. Our groups often eat outside, allowing you to dine with views over soaring mountain peaks. Valbonë: Hotel Breezy/Hotel Margjeka (nights 4-5) In mountainous Valbonë, we stay at either Hotel Breezy or Hotel Margjeka (above), depending on availability. Breezy has 11 modern rooms with mountain views, plus a restaurant, bar and garden. The more traditionally styled Margjeka also has mountain-view rooms, plus a restaurant serving Albanian cuisine made from locally grown produce. Kruje: Hotel Panorama (night 6) Enjoy views over red rooftops to Krujë Castle and the bazaar with our stay at Hotel Panorama. The rooms, which are traditionally styled, also have vistas over the castle and old town. There’s also a casual restaurant, serving local and international cuisine, with mountain and sea views from the balcony. Berat: Hotel Mangalemi/Hotel Belgrad Mangalem In Mangalem, the historic quarter of Berat, our hotel is either Mangalemi (above) or Belgrad Mangalem, depending on availability. The former was the first hotel to open in Berat after the fall of communism in Albania and is built on the ruins of a mansion. It now offers traditional rooms, a stone courtyard and a restaurant-bar. The latter occupies two historic buildings, with traditional rooms and bar. Worth knowing It is possible to book additional accommodation in Tirana before and after the tour. For anyone looking to extend their stay, additional nights can also be arranged in Berat. Contact your sales representative if you wish to extend your trip. Single rooms are only available in Tirana, Valbonë, Kruje and Berat due to a limited number of rooms. Single rooms are not available during the two nights in Theth. Our two nights in the guesthouse at Theth are in double, triple and quadruple rooms, with shared bathrooms (rooms are not mixed sex).

Transport

For this trip, we use private buses. One transfer includes a short off-road section, for this journey we use local transport which will likely not have seatbelts.

Guide

There will be a local leader, driver, plus a second support guide and horsemen during the trek (to help with luggage transportation from one village to the next, although their English may not be as good as the leader’s). Our local partner, Dorien, was born and raised in the Albanian Alps and has been walking in the region since he was a child.

Not included:

Others

— Travel insurance — Visas and vaccinations — Single supplement

Insurance

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Day 1 Day 1: Start Tirana
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Start Tirana

The tour starts at our centrally located hotel in Tirana, the trendy capital of Albania. Settle into the hotel and relax, we rise early tomorrow. Accommodation: Sky 2 Hotel (or similar)
Day 2 Day 2: Drive Via Shkodër And Rozafa Castle To Theth; Short Walk Around The Village (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Drive Via Shkodër And Rozafa Castle To Theth; Short Walk Around The Village (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

We have an early start this morning and drive to Shkodër (approximately three hours), where we visit the Rozafa Castle and the city centre of one of the oldest places in Albania. Our journey continues into the breath-taking Albanian Alps and Theth National Park (approximately three hours), an area admired for its flora and fauna. After checking into our quaint guesthouse in Theth, we set off on a gentle walk through the valley nestled between wonderful peaks, gaining an insight into agricultural life as we pass local people going about their day. We continue to the Roman Catholic Church of Theth, built in 1892, which was used as a health centre during the Communist regime. The highlight, however, is a visit to the shutting tower (or lock-in tower) of Theth, known locally as Kulla. These historic stone lock-in towers protected families involved in blood feuds and this is one of the few that remain. Accommodation: Shpella Guesthouse (or similar)
Day 3 Day 3: Walk To Theth Waterfall, Nderlyse And The Blue Eye Of Kapre (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Walk To Theth Waterfall, Nderlyse And The Blue Eye Of Kapre (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

Theth Valley is predominantly an agricultural region, where age-old farming practices and horse-drawn carts are still used today. We observe rural life as we begin walking to Theth Waterfall. From here, we continue to Nderlyse, where we find a string of natural pools and a feature known as the Blue Eye of Kapre. There is an opportunity to swim here, so don’t forget your swimming costume and towel. Accommodation: Shpella Guesthouse (or similar)
Day 4 Day 4: Trek Over Valbonë Pass To Rragam Village; Transfer To Valbonë, Home Of Albanian Folk Culture (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Trek Over Valbonë Pass To Rragam Village; Transfer To Valbonë, Home Of Albanian Folk Culture (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

We walk through some of the wildest scenery around into the Tropojë District, known as the home of Albanian folk culture. First, we ascend through forests and alpine pastures to reach the Valbonë Pass (5,905ft/1,800m), where we take a few moments to enjoy spectacular views down Valbonë and Theth valleys. This is the highest point of the trek and a major highlight. It is also a popular spot for taking photos and soaking in the magnificent scenery. We then follow a trail that brings us alongside the Valbonë River, known for its crystal-clear, blue-green waters. We finish at the quaint village of Rragam, where the minibus is waiting to transport us to our hotel. Expect some rocky mountainous terrain today, particularly as we descend. Accommodation: Hotel Breezy/Hotel Margjeka (or similar)
Day 5 Day 5: Follow A Route Below Rosi Peak, Passing Through Forest To The White Circle (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Follow A Route Below Rosi Peak, Passing Through Forest To The White Circle (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

Our route takes us through beech and pine forests down Rosi Peak and leads us onto the White Circle, where we enjoy panoramic views of the peaks and valleys of the Albanian Alps. We may walk the full length of the White Circle and then back down the valley but note that how far the group walks up into the valley is dependent upon weather conditions, timings, and the condition of the group – the decision is taken by the local guide who walks with us in the national park. For those who wish to opt out of the White Circle walk, you can instead walk independently in the area. Please note, the total ascent/descent is 3,280ft (1,000m) if doing the full length. Accommodation: Hotel Breezy/Hotel Margjeka (or similar)
Day 6 Day 6: We Take A Boat On Koman Lake; Continue To Kruje (Breakfast)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: We Take A Boat On Koman Lake; Continue To Kruje (Breakfast)

After breakfast, we drive to Fierza (approximately 1hr 30min). We then take a boat across the beautiful Koman Lake (which takes approximately two hours). The boat journey allows us to take in the spectacular scenery as we wind between high cliffs and towering peaks. Three hydroelectric power plants have been built here at the lake, which produce approximately 70 percent of Albania’s electricity. We then drive for another 2hr 30min to Kruje, the centre of Skanderbeg’s resistance to the Ottoman invasion in the 15th century. On arrival we will visit Kruja Castle which is a symbol of Albanian defiance and pride, offering an immersive historical experience. It also offers offers breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. Aftewards we will edn the day by visiting the old bazaar of Kruja. The bazaar has many shops selling an array of traditional Albanian handicrafts, including handwoven textiles, intricate wood carvings, and unique souvenirs like qeleshe (traditional felt hats). Accommodation: Hotel Panorama (or similar)
Day 7 Day 7: Visit The Ethnographic Museum And The King Mosque In Berat (Breakfast)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Visit The Ethnographic Museum And The King Mosque In Berat (Breakfast)

This morning we travel to Berat. On arrival, we enjoy a guided tour around the old district, where pretty white buildings are perched on the hill amid pine forests. Our tour includes a visit to the Ethnographic Museum (an 18th-century Ottoman house) and the King Mosque. We walk through the narrow, cobbled streets to reach Berat Castle, where we are rewarded with breath-taking views of Mount Tomorr. Within the castle walls are dwelling houses and the Onufri Museum (Museum of Iconography). There is free time to enjoy the other sites of Berat or to perhaps absorb the relaxed cafe culture on the promenade. Our hotel is in Mangalem, the historic quarter of Berat, where the castle peers down upon the area from its hilltop. Accommodation: Hotel Mangalemi/Hotel Belgrad Mangalem (or similar)
Day 8 Day 8: End Berat (Breakfast)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: End Berat (Breakfast)

The tour ends today. Speak to your sales representative if you’d like to extend your stay in this fascinating city or to join the group transfer to Tirana Airport (approximately two hours).

8 days tour

Walking In Albania

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Walking In Albania

Day 1: Start Tirana

Day 2: Drive Via Shkodër And Rozafa Castle To Theth; Short Walk Around The Village (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

Day 3: Walk To Theth Waterfall, Nderlyse And The Blue Eye Of Kapre (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

Day 4: Trek Over Valbonë Pass To Rragam Village; Transfer To Valbonë, Home Of Albanian Folk Culture (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

Day 5: Follow A Route Below Rosi Peak, Passing Through Forest To The White Circle (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

Day 6: We Take A Boat On Koman Lake; Continue To Kruje (Breakfast)

Day 7: Visit The Ethnographic Museum And The King Mosque In Berat (Breakfast)

Day 8: End Berat (Breakfast)

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