{"id":5654,"date":"2024-08-28T18:00:45","date_gmt":"2024-08-28T16:00:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.betaniatravel.it\/tour\/albania-in-the-land-of-eagles\/"},"modified":"2026-09-02T17:40:53","modified_gmt":"2026-09-02T15:40:53","slug":"albania-in-the-land-of-eagles","status":"publish","type":"tour","link":"https:\/\/www.betaniatravel.it\/en\/tour\/albania-in-the-land-of-eagles\/","title":{"rendered":"ALBANIA: in the land of eagles"},"content":{"rendered":"

DAY 1 \u2013 WELCOME TO ALBANIA!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Departure from Italy to Tirana International Airport \u201cMother Teresa<\/strong>\u201d.<\/p>\n

Meet and greet upon arrival with the local guide<\/strong>, who will accompany the group throughout the journey. (Arrival is recommended by 12:00 p.m. to make the most of the day.) <\/p>\n

The first day is dedicated to a guided tour of Tirana, Albania’s vibrant capital. Starting from Skanderbeg Square, surrounded by some of the country’s most iconic buildings and monuments, we explore several characteristic districts of the historic centre on foot.
At the recently restored Pazari i Ri, the city’s largest open-air market, we browse among stalls while meeting local vendors and artisans. The monumental boulevard<\/strong> dedicated to the Martyrs of the Nation leads us to Blloku, once the restricted residential area of dictator Enver Hoxha and today the heart of Tirana’s social and cultural life. <\/p>\n

During the visit we will stop in one of the city’s historic caf\u00e9s to enjoy the traditional Albanian coffee break. Dinner offers a first introduction to Albanian cuisine<\/strong> in a traditional restaurant that celebrates the region’s culinary heritage.
Overnight stay in a family-run 3-star hotel in the heart of Tirana.    <\/p>\n

Experience: The city tour includes a meeting with a local intellectual who will provide insights into contemporary Albanian society and current affairs.<\/em> <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

DAY 2 \u2013 TIRANA \u2013 BERAT<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Breakfast and departure for Berat<\/strong> through the rural landscapes of inland Albania.<\/p>\n

By mid-morning we arrive in the UNESCO World Heritage city known as the “City of a Thousand Windows”.
A comprehensive guided tour includes the historic districts of Mangalem and Gorica, famous for their remarkably preserved Ottoman architecture, as well as the impressive Kala Fortress and its historic quarter. <\/p>\n

Visits include Byzantine churches, medieval monuments, ancient mosques, caravanserais, and the renowned Onufri Museum, dedicated to Albania’s most celebrated icon painter.<\/p>\n

In the late afternoon, we join local residents for the traditional evening stroll along the city’s pedestrian boulevard.<\/p>\n

Dinner in a traditional restaurant and overnight stay in a centrally located 3-star hotel.   <\/p>\n

Experience: The visit to the Onufri Museum is enriched by a meeting with one of the museum’s restorers and curators, offering fascinating insights into art conservation in Albania.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

DAY 3 \u2013 BERAT \u2013 APOLLONIA \u2013 P\u00cbRMET<\/strong><\/p>\n

A day dedicated to archaeology, history, and local gastronomy.<\/p>\n

Our first stop is Apollonia, one of Albania’s most important archaeological sites, beautifully located near the Adriatic coast. We enjoy an exclusive guided visit of the ruins, museum, and Byzantine monastery. <\/p>\n

On the way south we stop for lunch (not included) in a traditional byrektore, where we can sample byrek, Albania’s most beloved savoury pastry, accompanied by the traditional yoghurt drink dhall\u00eb.<\/p>\n

Later we arrive in P\u00ebrmet, a charming riverside town known for its strong connection to the Slow Food movement.<\/p>\n

Dinner includes a tasting of traditional local dishes.
Overnight stay in a family-run superior 3-star hotel. <\/p>\n

Experience: Discover the gastronomic traditions of P\u00ebrmet, one of Albania’s leading Slow Food destinations.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

DAY 4 \u2013 P\u00cbRMET \u2013 B\u00cbNJA \u2013 LUNXH\u00cbRIA \u2013 GJIROKAST\u00cbR<\/strong><\/p>\n

Morning departure for the thermal area of B\u00ebnja, home to natural hot springs and a beautiful Ottoman stone bridge.
After returning to P\u00ebrmet, we visit a local artisan producer preserving traditional food-processing techniques. <\/p>\n

The journey continues through the scenic landscapes of the Vjosa Valley, home to Europe’s last major wild river.<\/p>\n

Lunch with a local family in the Lunxh\u00ebria region before travelling to the UNESCO World Heritage city of Gjirokast\u00ebr.<\/p>\n

The afternoon is dedicated to the famous “Stone City”, including the Old Bazaar, the fortress, and one of the city’s most beautiful historic houses.
Free evening and overnight stay in a central 3-star hotel. <\/p>\n

Experiences: Optional bathing in the thermal springs of B\u00ebnja, lunch with a local family, and a meeting with a resident of Gjirokast\u00ebr’s historic centre.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

DAY 5 \u2013 GJIROKAST\u00cbR \u2013 BUTRINT \u2013 IONIAN RIVIERA \u2013 VLORA BAY<\/strong><\/p>\n

Morning visit to Butrint, Albania’s most important archaeological site and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Founded according to legend by refugees from Troy, Butrint became one of the most important cities of the ancient Mediterranean world. <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

After the visit and free lunch, we follow one of the most scenic stretches of the entire journey: the Ionian Riviera, with its stunning beaches, coves, olive groves, and panoramic viewpoints.
Stops include Porto Palermo and Himar\u00eb.
Dinner along the famous Llogara Pass inside Llogara National Park, featuring regional specialties.
Overnight stay in the Vlora Bay\/Llogara area.  <\/p>\n

Experience: Guided visit of Butrint with a park archaeologist and meeting with a local family who preserve regional traditions.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

DAY 6 \u2013 VLORA BAY \u2013 TIRANA<\/strong><\/p>\n

Morning visit to Vlora and its surroundings.
A walk from the seafront promenade leads into the restored historic centre and then to the nearby Narta Lagoon, where we visit the picturesque island of Zvernec and its Orthodox monastery.   <\/p>\n

Return to Tirana and continuation of the city tour, this time exploring lesser-known neighbourhoods such as Ali Demi.
Meeting with representatives of local development projects supported through solidarity-based tourism initiatives. <\/p>\n

Farewell dinner in a popular traditional restaurant. Overnight stay in a superior 3-star or 4-star hotel in central Tirana. <\/p>\n

Experience: Visit a historic working-class district of Tirana and meet people directly involved in local community projects.<\/em> <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

DAY 7 \u2013 RETURN TO ITALY<\/strong><\/p>\n

Free time before transfer to the airport and return flight to Italy.<\/p>\n

Please note: the itinerary may be subject to changes. Any updates or amendments will be communicated before departure. <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Contact us<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1814,"template":"","tour_destination":[138],"tour_type":[119],"class_list":["post-5654","tour","type-tour","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tour_destination-albania-en","tour_type-travel-around-the-world","tour_facility-trip_facilities_a4d29a6d-6d07-4e9d-9a90-a543947073f1_it","tour_facility-trip_facilities_ccdf4378-07a0-4d75-9367-86d1cea00d85_it","tour_facility-trip_facilities_2f40f723-4bef-414f-9667-6888234b81c1_it","tour_facility-trip_facilities_94b3b224-4fff-4d8f-8c3e-e0595265dfc2_it"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.betaniatravel.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tour\/5654","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.betaniatravel.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tour"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.betaniatravel.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/tour"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.betaniatravel.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.betaniatravel.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tour\/5654\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5655,"href":"https:\/\/www.betaniatravel.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tour\/5654\/revisions\/5655"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.betaniatravel.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1814"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.betaniatravel.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5654"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"tour_destination","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.betaniatravel.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tour_destination?post=5654"},{"taxonomy":"tour_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.betaniatravel.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tour_type?post=5654"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}