Tirana Tours & Activities 
Hiking in Southern Albania
Tour details
Tirana, the hotel will be designated.
Booking is possible by paying a deposit of 30% of the total fee per bank transfer or via our online system. The rest of the payment should be transferred to our bank account min. 2 weeks prior to departure. A copy of the bank transfers should be emailed to finance@outdooralbania.com.
When you book an OA roundtrip, you are entering into a legally binding contract. If you cancel the booking unilaterally, you may have pay compensation for any loss resulting from the cancellation. A reservation can be cancelled at any time in written form by e-mail or fax.
Our cancellation policy will apply only once your booking is confirmed and is as follows:
a) If the reservation is cancelled 30 days or more, prior to the arrival date, then a full refund will be given minus the refund transaction charges.
b) If the reservation is cancelled 29 to 14 days, prior to the arrival date, then a 30% administration and banking charge will apply.
c) 14 to 7 days, prior to the arrival date, then a 50% charge will apply.
d) 7 to 3 days, prior to the arrival date, then a 75% charge will apply.
e) If the reservation is cancelled less than 3 days prior to the arrival date no refund will be given.
f) With a no show or early check out no refund will be given.
Our tours:
OA trips are nature-friendly tours combining culture and hiking. This combination allows participants to really get to know the area in which they are travelling and to go beyond the tourist façade. While the tours do visit the most famous and frequented spots such as Butrinti and Apollonia, care is taken to also allow free time for personal exploration.
Hiking in Southern Albania
Travelling from the Adriatic to the Ionian coast, guests can marvel at the splendour of Llogora Pass, with the mighty Cika peaks towering above the crystal waters and the white gravel beaches of the Ionian Sea.
A few days are spent enjoying the picturesque villages of the Riviera. The tour then proceeds to explore a succession of archaeological sites and the historically significant towns of Butrint, Gjirokastër and Berat.
The tour itinerary is as followings:
Day 1 - Welcome to Tirana
The hotel is located right in the centre of Tirana and has a cozy atmosphere. After checking in, you will meet your guide on the agreed time (18.00 hours) and go over the program of the coming week. Later we will take a walking tour through the city's most known spots like Scanderbeg Square, The Clock Tower, the Mosque of Tirana, etc.
We will also walk to Blloku district, before we stop in a nice restaurant for dinner, and then return in the hotel for overnight.
Optional: after dinner, people can go for a drink in "Blloku" - once the district of the communist polite-bureau, now the "hip" bar-district of Tirana (in walking distance from our hotel).
In Case you arrive earlier in the day you can visit the national museum.
Dinner: traditional restaurant.
Accommodation: 3 star hotel in center of Tirana
Day 2 - Driving South
Today we will drive south towards the coastal city of Vlora and the national park Llogora. Before getting there, we will visit the ancient ruins of Apollonia, its Byzantine Monastery and at will, the Museum of Archaeology.
Founded in 588BC by Greeks from Corinth, the city quickly grew to 50.000 residents by the second century BC. Apollonia later became a free Roman city after it sided with Julius Caesar during the war against Pompey. It developed into a cultural center until the 3rd century AD when an earthquake rerouted a river and lead to the city's decline.
We will have lunch under the shadow of the trees in the restaurant of the Apollonia Park.
Before we drive to our hotel in Llogora Park, we will have a short stop in the bay of Vlora, to have refreshment with a beautiful view!
Dinner: Traditional restaurant
Accommodation: 3 star hotel in Llogora national park. This family run mountain hotel right in the middle of the park, specialized in homemade wine and raki, lamb at the spite and a variety of tasty mountain dishes to enjoy for dinner.
Day 3 - Over the ridge of Saint Thanas
The surroundings of Llogora Park have been described as one of the most "dramatic" mountain & sea panoramas. It will be here that our first trekking will take place. The trekking will offer splendid views of the Vlora bay and of the western steep slopes of the Karabruni penisula, dropping in the waters of the Ionian Sea. (Gradient 600 meters)In the afternoon, on return, we will have an optional walk or the possibility to relax in the hotel until it is time for dinner.
Dinner: traditional Mountain restaurant.
Accommodation: 3 star hotel in Llogora national park.
Day 4 - The Riviera of Flowers
In the morning, we will hike up to Mount Cika. The Cika mountain is the highest massive of southwestern Albania. From the summit, you can admire the mighty view of the highlands of "Labëria" - land of southern shepherds; and the splendor of the Ionian Sea with Corfu and other minor Greek islands on the horizon.
After completing the hike, we will drive further along the Ionian coast, via Himara, until we reach the village of Qeparo at the sea.
Before reaching the village we will stop to visit the bay of Porto Palermo and the Ali Pasha Tepelena fortress.
The splendid bay of Palermo, served as an important submarine secret base during the regime days. The semi abandoned base, its tunnel and structures are still at sight and the main attraction of the bay is the 19th century fortress in the central promontory, built by the powerful Ali Pasha Tepelena.
After the visit, we will drive for 15 minutes to the nearby Qeparo, where we will check-in at a guesthouse by the sea.
In the afternoon, we have also the possibility to walk up to the old village on top of the hill.
Dinner: Family cooked dinner
Accommodation: Family run hotel at the beach of Qeparo
Day 5 - Saranda and the ancient town of Butrint
The drive will bring us further south along the splendid Albanian Riviera. Saranda it is set in a lovely horseshoe bay, being a holiday resort since communist times. Mentioned by Cicero, it acquired its current name in honor to forty (Saranda in Greek) Christian legionnaires who were put to death in 320AD. Nearby, following a panoramic road along the homonymous lagoon are the remains of the ancient Butrint that we are going to visit.
"Butrint is undeniably a beautiful place. Close to modern civilization yet with its monuments in thick woodland. With remains dating from so many different periods covering two and a half thousand years. Set in a marshy landscape besides the busy straits separating Corfu from Albania, it is also an environmental haven rich in bird life".
We will have lunch in a restaurant not far from Butrinti, after this we will go to a hotel at the sea where we can relax at the beach or stroll at the city, until it is time for another tasty dinner at a fish restaurant.
Dinner: 3 star hotel in Saranda
Accommodation: Restaurant of the hotel
Day 6 - The City of Stone
We will leave the coast and drive inland towards Gjirokaster - the City of Stone. Here, we will visit the Castle, the Museum of Weapons, the Ethnographic Museum and we will make a walk along the stone paved alleys of the town.
Gjirokastër is one of the most beautiful Albanian historic towns, with a citadel dating from the 13'th century. From the walls of the castle, one can admire the view of its districts and the large valley of river Drinos. Walks along the stone paved streets will bring you at the discovery of the charming Albanian traditional architecture. It was in these grey colored streets that Enver Hoxha (notorious dictator) and Ismail Kadare (notorious writer) grew up.
At the end of our visits in Gjirokaster, we will drive to our next night-stop: Berat.
Dinner: traditional restaurant
Accommodation: 3 star, traditional hotel in Berat.
Day 7- The city of thousand windows
Berat is the best-preserved historic town of Albania. Illyrian, Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman and Socialist buildings accumulated over 2400 years, and show the importance and the rich history of Berat.
We will walk in the characteristics neighborhood "Mangalemi" to visit the Ethnographic museum. Then we will hike up to visit the citadel district of Berat, its splendid orthodox churches and the Onufri Icons museum - named after the famous 16th century master painter of icons and murals. The building where the museum is housed shows the important architectonic values of Berat's buildings.
In the afternoon, we will drive on to Durres (92km/1hr30min), where we will have a stop for refreshment at the sea, before we continue our way back to Tirana.
Dinner: traditional restaurant.
Accommodation: 3 star hotel in Tirana.
Day 8 - Leaving Albania
Today you can explore Tirana, before it is time to go back to the airport.
Price of the tour: 500€/pax.
Single supplement: 70€/pax.
Minimum group size: 6 people
Maximum group size: 15 people
30 days before departure, we will inform you about the group size.
In case there are less than 6 people in the group you can neither cancel nor get back your deposit payment or pay a small group supplement and do the tour.
The departures dates for 2011 are as following:
- 23rd Apr - 30th Apr
- 28th May - 4th Jun
- 25th Jun - 2nd Jul
- 4th Aug - 11th Aug
Please be aware that this tour is combinable with an 8 day hiking tour in Northern Albania
http://www.travel-tirana.com/scenic_hiking_northern_albania
The tour includes: transport, guidance, museum, park/resort fees and full board accomodation during the entire itinerary above described.
Transport: minibus or a 4x4.
Guide: English speaking.
Food: traditional restaurants and home-made dishes.
Vegetarian meals are available as well.
Accomodation: hotels and family run hotels.
The price does not include:
- Drinks
- Airport pick up/ delivery.
- Breakfast and lunch on day of arrival.
- Lunch and dinner on departure day.
- Bank transfer fee (in case you pay via bank transfer)
-Service charge of 3% in case you pay with credit card
If you would like to go on the tour on different dates with your own private group, please contact us. We have guides who can speak Albanian, English, Italian, French, German, Italian, Dutch or Serbian.
Participant guidelines
All Outdoor Albania roundtrips require a level of active participation. The Southern roundtrip has a maximum of four hours of hiking a day and participants can choose whether to join or stay behind. The Northern roundtrip goes up to eight hours of hiking a day, with big climbs and descents. Good physical health and fitness is necessary, as is previous experience of long trail walking.
Pre-existing medical conditions are to be stated when booking. Everyone who travels with Outdoor Albania will have slightly different expectations when they join the tour. A vital part of the tour leader's role is to understand individual expectations and to run the tour in such a way that everyone gets the most out of their holiday. Group tours do have to stick to some sort of schedule to ensure that they work logistically, so participants are expected to respect timing.
Other disclosures
Group Size
Outdoor Albania offers round trips with fixed departure dates and tailor-made itineraries. For the set departure dates of trekking in South Western Albania the the maximum group size is 15, and the minimum is six. Interested parties are requested to check with OA for possibilities of departure for groups of less than six, or departures on different dates.
Travel companions
The OA groups are typically international, made up of people who love to travel, go off the beaten track and who enjoy experiencing new countries and cultures.
Age limit
The minimum age required to participate in most tours is 14 and all persons under 15 should be accompanied by an adult.
Land only
The OA tours are land only; the prices do not include flight or transport from the airport to the hotel. Participants must make it to the starting point of the tour on their own.
OA Tour leaders
All tours are led by an OA tour leader who will accompany participants through the entire trip. It is the tour leader's responsibility to run the trip smoothly and to ensure that all the logistics are in place. The ultimate aim for the tour leader is to ensure that all the group members are well looked after, that they enjoy a life experience during the roundtrip and return home with wonderful memories.
Tour duration
The OA tours start from the meeting on the first day of the trip and end after breakfast on the last day. However, in case participants need help arranging transport, the tour leaders will be of assistance.
Additional transport
It takes 30 minutes (depending on traffic) from Tirana Airport or from the harbour in Durres to reach the starting point of the tour. OA can book a taxi for participants, on request. The price from the airport to the hotel in Tirana is 30 euro (max 3 persons) The price from the harbor in Durres to the hotel in Tirana is 35 euro.
Accommodation
OA participants will experience different types of accomodation, including family-run hotels and guesthouses. OA attempts, as far as possible, to select accomodation that gives guests a feel of the local area and Albanian hospitality. Accomodation standards are comparable to bed and breakfasts and two or three-star hotels. Participants are expected to share twin-bedded rooms. Single participants will be twinned with someone of the same gender.
Single room suplement
OA offers the opportunity to pre-book a single room, for an additional cost. For this roundtrip, OA can organise single accommodation in every hotel, If, for whatever reason, a single room cannot be provided, participants will be informed straight away and the extra cost paid for the single room option will be refunded.
Meals
OA tours are known for their good choice of food and have often been complimented by guests. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are covered, with the exception of soft and alcoholic drinks and specific dietary requirements, which the participants have to bear.
Prices
The published prices represent the cost per person for the current season.
Travel insurance
Valid travel insurance is mandatory for all foreign participants. It is necessary to show evidence to the tour leader that they are adequately insured at the start of the tour. For this reason, participants must carry a valid insurance policy with them on the tour, which must cover medical expenses and emergency repatriation, at the very least.
