Culture Heritage of Albania & Macedonia
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Culture Heritage of Albania & Macedonia

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This is one of our most sold tours which, explores two neighbouring Balkan countries, Albania and Macedonia. It has proven to offer the right mixture; of cultural elements with 4 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the religious mix and tolerance of the region, delicious cuisine be it really traditional homemade or more elaborated, daily life, and the genuine hospitality of the inhabitants. Enjoy this unique experience which fuses together similarities and differences.;

Location: Albania, Macedonia
Duration: 11 days, 10 nights

Day 1: Tirana

Meet at airport and transfer to Tirana for a visit at the National Museum of History which is a great introduction to the history of the country and its people. Afterwards take a driven tour of the major sites of Tirana, including the colourful buildings the Albanian capital is now recognized for. The dull grey communist architecture buildings have been transformed into modern art canvases through splashes of bright colours and abstract shapes. An ingenious way of uplifting the facades and the moods of the inhabitants. Overnight in Tirana.

Kruja, Albania-culture tour to Albania and Macedonia
Day 2: Tirana - Shkodra – Kruja – Tirana (3.5 Hours driving time)

After breakfast drive to Shkodra centre of Roman Catholicism in Albania and a town with long historic routes, the only mentioned capital of the Illyrian Kingdom. Visit the pedestrian area with Italian influences and depart for Kruja the centre of Albanian resistance against the Ottomans. Lunch is a culinary delight of local food in a village where organic tourism is promoted (optional). After lunch drive to Kruja where we visit the Castle with Ethnographic Museum and the Old Ottoman style bazaar. Overnight in Tirana.

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Day 3: Tirana – Apollonia – Vlora (3.5 Hours driving time)

After breakfast depart to Apollonia one of the most important ancient learning centres in Roman times on the famous Via Egnatia. Due to its fame and importance it was known as Apollonia Prima built to honour Apollo. Caesar chose to send his nephew Augustus Octavian to study oratory in Apollonia which is testimony to the importance of this ancient city. After the visits continue on to Vlora where in the centre we have a look at Muradie Mosque, one of the early works of the famous architect Sinan of Albanian origin. After a free lunch we drive to a beautiful natural peninsula where we visit the Monastery of Zvernec amongst wonderful nature. Overnight in Vlora.

Butrint,UNESCO site in Saranda, Albania
Day 4: Vlora – Butrint (UNESCO) – Saranda (4 Hours driving time)

After breakfast we depart to Saranda through the spectacular Albanian Riviera with its traditional villages. At Llogara National Park we stop at around 1100 metres where spectacular views of the Ionian Sea can be admired. We continue and make a visit at the castle of Ali Pasha at Porto Palermo. Lunch on your own can be enjoyed here in one of the fish restaurants overlooking the castle and the beautiful turquoise sea. After lunch we will proceed to visit to the ancient city of Butrint-another UNESCO world heritage site. The city was first settled by Greek colonists and was continuously inhabited for centuries forming archaeological layers of different civilizations, 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 in Saranda.

Labova of the Cross Church,Albania
Day 5: Saranda – Labova of the Cross – Gjirokastra (UNESCO) (2.5 Hours driving time)

In the morning we depart for Gjirokastra a museum town under the protection of UNESCO as a World Heritage Site with beautiful and very distinct architecture. On the way we will be visiting a remote village with a wonderful church called Labova of the Cross. Afterwards in Gjirokastra we will visit the Castle, part of which was turned into a political prison for dissidents of the communist regime and the Arms Museum. Visit to the Ethnographic Museum, which is also the house the Albanian dictator was born in, as well as a 300 year old house next to it, where the grandeur of Gjirokastra’s master builders can be observed. Dinner independently but recommendation will be made by our guide. Overnight in a Gjirokastra in a House turned hotel. A very interesting and unique experience.

Berat, UNESCO town-albania
Day 6: Gjirokastra - Berat (UNESCO) (4 Hours driving time)

After breakfast drive to Berat another wonderful Museum town and UNESCO site: Visit the Castle, Onufri Museum and several churches and mosques. Onufri was an Albanian master painter of the 16th century who had a preference for a particular red colour he used so much that it is known today as the Onufrian Red. Many of his wonderfully painted Icons still remain in the museum while others can be found in churches in Albania and Greece where he worked. We have a homemade lunch in Berat. (optional). After the lunch, in the downtown we visit the Leaden Mosque, the King's Mosque, the Bachelor's Mosque and the Alveti Tekke. Also we will pay a visit to a local family to see how life is today in the Berat old quarter. Overnight in Berat.

Elbasan Castle-Albania
Day 7: Berat - Elbasan – Ohrid (UNESCO) (4 Hours driving time)

After breakfast depart for to the city of Ohrid. On the way we drive through rural villages with wonderful countryside landscapes and pass a Communist named village “New Life”. We stop at Elbasan for a visit at the castle. Afterwards drive to Ohrid in Macedonia where we visit the Church St. Sofia, built between the 11th and 14th century, which was the seat of the Archbishop. “St. Clement”, a classic Orthodox Byzantine church, dominating the Old Town, demonstrates the link between Byzantine and Italian Renaissance art. At “Plaoshnik”, in the 9 the century, St. Clement of Ohrid founded the first University of Europe and educated 3.500 students. Overnight in Ohrid.

Ohrid Macedonia
Day 8: Ohrid – Sveti Naum – Ohrid (1 hour)

After breakfast visit St. John at Kaneo, stands alone on a small peninsula which juts out into the Lake at the western end of the Old Town, and provides spectacular panoramic views of the Lake and surrounding mountains, Samuil fortress, Saint Painteleimon Church, The Holy Virgin of Peribleptos Church, Icon Galery and old Bazaar. The tour continues to St. Naum Monastery. In the monastery we follow the path of St. Naum, meeting the legends of all the miracles he made before and after he built his church on the top of the rock. Visit of the monastery and the Springs of Black Drin river, you may enjoy in the rowing boat on the springs site. Overnight in Ohrid.

Skopje-Tours to Madedonia
Day 9: Ohrid – Stobi - Skopje (4.5 Hours driving time)

After breakfast we drive to Skopje capital of Macedonia on the Vardar River. On the way visit Stobi archaeological site, thought to be the most important excavation in Macedonia. This crossroad of ancient civilizations has left a rich legacy of antique theatres, palace ruins, brightly-coloured mosaics and religious relics for visitors to enjoy today. The city of Stobi is first mentioned in documents from the 2nd century B.C. However, archaeologists believe that the town had been inhabited at least 400 years earlier. Stobi became a rich and prosperous city due to its location on the crossroads of important trade routes. In Skopje we, visit the old Turkish bazaar and Mahmut Pasha Hammam, the Castle of Skopje, the memorial house of Mother Teresa, the Macedonia Plaza and stone bridge. Overnight in Skopje

Prizren- Tours to Kosovo
Day 10: Skopje –Prizren - Tirana (5 Hours driving time)

After breakfast drive to Prizren, Kosovo for a short coffee break and admiring the old ottoman architecture of this town. Then continue to Tirana. Overnight in Tirana.

 
Day 11: Tirana-Airport

After breakfast transfer to Airport.

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Price on Request 
Includes:
10 nights’ Accommodation in good 3* standard hotels and characteristic houses with breakfast Transportation with luxury a/c vehicle. English speaking guide/driver (separate driver and guide for 4 participants). English speaking local guides in Macedonia as needed All taxes
Excludes:
Flight Tickets all meals apart breakfast Entrance fees according to the program (approx 35 euro PP) Gratuities/Tip to Driver/Guide;
Best months

March, April, May, June, Septemmber, October, November

Note: The above months are for orientation purposes, to help people book on the same months, and pay the cheaper price. However we will run this tour on other months as per clients’ requests.

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Read reviews for this tour or write your own tour Review

  • Thank you for a marvelous week in Albania and Macedonia. Mike and I had a wonderful time with Elton Caushi, Klodia Kushova and Vlado. The scenery of the country is breath taking from the oceans to Lake Ohrid and the striking mountains and valleys. The cultural sights and ruins were outstanding and the information provided by Tony, Klodi and Vlado was superb. I cannot thank you enough for the experience that we enjoyed with the Albanian and Macedonia food and wine. In particular, Tony truly does know his restaurants and proprietors who aim to provide the best possible Albanian experience. In every estaurant, Tony and we, his guests, were greeted as special travelers and friends. In the seven days, we did not have a repeated main course throughout the visit. The various sea food and fish were vast and marvelous. The meats were varied from frog legs, beef, veal, lamb and more. The market experiences were a wonderful addition. I also want to thank you for a wonderful Birthday dinner at Dalga in Ohrid. The dinner and wine were a beautiful surprise. We enjoyed the many hotels and have only compliments. Should we return, we would probably take the recommendations from our guides to spend most of the nights in guest houses to have a closer experience with the Albanian people. Thanks for a great week in Albania and Macedonia.

    Sincerely, John York / USA

  • As I believe you know, John York and I traveled through Albania and Macedonia two weeks ago with Elton Caushi and Klodian Kushova, I want you to know that it was one of the most enjoyable experiences I have ever had. Elton is a true professional, and he spent an amazing amount of time attending to every detail of the trip. He constantly was aware of our interests, and he did a great job of identifying restaurants and varying places of interest for us to visit. Thanks again for allowing Elton and Klodian to travel with us. We will certainly see you and Albania Holidays again soon.

    Regards, Mike / USA

  • We enjoyed very much our tour and your service was very good. The driver was particularly careful and his car very comfortable. We had a bad experience in Kruja, but this small black point cannot erase from our mind the castles, the churches, the sea and the landscapes we have admired. All hotels were also comfortable and quiet. We will recommend your travel agency to our friends and encourage some to travel in Albania.

    Flaviano Rigamonti / Switzerland

  • We had a terrific trip around Albania. The journey gave us a very good impression of this beautiful and relaxed country with very nice people! Also our children enjoyed it very much, unless the health at the end of the trip. We made two side trips, one to Macedonia one to Corfu, but in both cases we were happy to be back ´home´ in Albania.

    Henk-Jan Koopmans / Holland

  • We enjoyed our stay in Albania. Everything went very well. Claudie was very good. Thank you for your good planning. E dua Sqiperine. We hope this says I love Albania. 


    Ed and Younga / USA

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