Self-drive tour - Hidden Treasures of Albanie

Upon your arrival at Tirana airport, take advantage of a private transfer to reach the heart of Albania's capital.

Once settled at your hotel, explore Tirana, a city undergoing full transformation.

Once marked by its communist past, this city has managed to reinvent itself to become a vibrant metropolis, where history and modernity meet.

Today, the capital seduces with its colors, its dynamism and its unique atmosphere. Stroll through its lively streets, admire its contrasting architecture and immerse yourself in its singular ambiance.

🔹 Overnight stay in Tirana, in the heart of this fascinating city.

After breakfast, head to the famous Albanian restaurant "Mrizi i Zanave Agroturizëm". Lost in the Albanian countryside, you will enjoy lunch in an ecological restaurant where all the products consumed come from the restaurant and local families located in the surrounding area.

Continue your journey to Shkodra.

Upon arriving at the entrance of the city, stop at ROZAFA CASTLE, built by the Illyrians and witness to many sieges and occupations throughout the centuries.

🛑 Optional activities: Wine tasting in Shkodra to discover the wine flavors of the region.

🔹Overnight stay in Shkodra.

After breakfast, leave early in the morning for an immersive day in one of Albania's natural wonders: Lake Koman.

Created in 1979 during the construction of a hydroelectric dam, this artificial lake, nicknamed at the time "The Light of the Party", unites the Shala and Valbona rivers. Today, it is considered one of the most beautiful attractions in Albania and the Balkans.

Board a boat for a scenic crossing through spectacular gorges, before reaching the Shala river, a true haven of peace with crystal-clear waters, ideal for an afternoon of relaxation and swimming.

Return to Shkodra in the afternoon.

🛑 Optional activities: Overnight stay in accommodation on the shores of Lake Koman or the Shala river for total immersion in nature.

🔹 Overnight in Shkodra.

After breakfast, take the mountain road in northern Albania and reach Theth, a well-preserved village, nestled in the heart of a spectacular valley. This historic place was once inhabited by Albanian tribes, living according to ancestral traditions.

Upon arrival, settle into your guesthouse and spend the afternoon exploring the village. Visit its old tower, an emblematic building once used to conduct business negotiations between families according to the Kanun law, an Albanian customary code of laws.

🛑 Optional activities :

• Quad excursion to explore the surrounding mountains

• Zip-lining for an aerial adventure above the alpine landscape

🔹 Dinner and overnight stay in Theth.

After breakfast, set off for an unforgettable hike to "Syri i Kaltër", also known as the Blue Eye (or blue eye).

This Blue Eye Spring (blue eye), nestled in a paradisiacal setting, offers a fascinating natural spectacle. Enjoy a moment of relaxation and, for the brave, a refreshing swim in its clear but cool waters.

Savor lunch in the heart of nature, set up on wooden tables arranged by locals at the edges of the spring.

🔹 Dinner and overnight stay in Theth.

After breakfast, enjoy a final moment in Theth, then head to Rubik, where you will stay in an eco-camp perched on the heights of a preserved valley.

Upon arrival, settle into your bungalow before heading out for a walk through pristine and peaceful nature.

In the evening, enjoy a dinner composed of local products, showcasing the flavors of the region.

🛑 Optional activities:

• Hiking with your host to a wild waterfall

• Kayaking excursion on Lake Shkopet

After breakfast, head towards Berat, nicknamed the city of a thousand windows.

Upon arrival, begin exploring Berat, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Climb up to the "Kala" fortress, built in the 13th century, and admire a breathtaking panoramic view over the city and surrounding valley.

Continue your visit with the Onufri National Museum of Iconography, which houses a remarkable collection of religious icons.

🛑 Optional activities :

• Visit to a family vineyard for an immersion in the Albanian wine world

• Guided tour of Berat to deepen your discovery of its history and architecture

🔹 Overnight stay in Berat.

After breakfast, head towards the ancient city of Appolonia d'Illyrie, the ruins of the largest ancient Greek city in Albanie, founded in 625 BC. Immerse yourself in the fascinating history of this mythic site, with the possibility of a guided tour by an English-speaking archaeologist working on site.

After lunch, continue your journey to Himarë, crossing the Llogara National Park, a majestic natural space offering breathtaking mountain landscapes.

Upon arrival in Himarë, settle into your hotel before enjoying dinner by the sea.

🔹 Overnight in Himarë.

After breakfast, drive along the Albanian coast and head to Butrint, one of the most fascinating archaeological sites in Albanie, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore this ancient city, successively occupied by the Greeks, Romans, Byzantines and Venetians, and admire its well-preserved ruins, witnesses to the civilizations that succeeded one another there.

Then continue your journey to Gjirokastër, a city remarkable for its typical Ottoman architecture, with its stone houses and timeless charm.

🛑 Optional activities: Guided tour of Butrint to deepen your exploration of the archaeological site.

🔹 Overnight in Gjirokastër.

Cross spectacular landscapes blending lush plains and imposing mountains, offering an authentic glimpse of rural Albania.

Stop at the thermal springs of Leskovik, located high in the mountains. These natural mineral-rich sources are renowned for their therapeutic properties, particularly for relieving skin, muscle and joint problems. Surrounded by pristine nature, this place is ideal for a moment of relaxation.

Along the way, enjoy a lunch break at a small ranch, nestled in the heart of the mountains, where you will taste a traditional Albanian meal.

Arrival in Korçë in the afternoon. Nicknamed the "little Paris", this city is a cultural and historical center, recognized for its connection to English-speaking culture and its coffee culture.

Stroll through its picturesque streets and explore its iconic monuments, such as:

• The Cathedral of the Resurrection, the largest Orthodox church in Albania

• The old bazaar, an unmissable place steeped in history

🔹 Overnight in Korça.

After breakfast, head towards Pogradec, a charming village located on the shores of the Lake Ohrid.

Enjoy lunch in the heart of the Drilon National Park, where you can taste an endemic fish from the lake, a highly prized local specialty.

Continue your journey towards North Macedonia, heading to Ohrid, the cradle of Orthodoxy and a city with a rich historical heritage.

🛑 Optional activities: Guided tour of Ohrid for an in-depth discovery of the city.

🔹 Night in Ohrid.

After breakfast, leave North Macedonia and return to Albanie, heading towards the Dibër region.

Located in northeastern Albanie, Dibër is a still-preserved destination, offering spectacular landscapes between valleys and mountains of the Korab massif. Mount Korab, the country's highest peak, attracts hikers with its picturesque trails and exceptional panoramas over the Drin valley.

For an authentic experience, spend the night in a Kulla, an Albanian fortified house. This historic building combines heritage and modernity, with its thick stone walls, wooden beams and a warm interior offering all necessary comfort.

🛑 Optional activities:

• Rafting in Dibër for an exhilarating water adventure

• Hiking Mount Korab for an unforgettable ascent

• Cooking class to discover local flavors

• Horseback riding to explore the region on horseback

🔹 Night in Bulqizë in a traditional Kulla.

After breakfast, take the road to The city of Krujë, one of the oldest cities in Europe, with a rich historical past.

Immerse yourself in the history of this emblematic city by exploring:

• The old bazaar, an authentic market where Albanian craftsmanship is showcased.

• The medieval fortress of Skanderbeg, an unmissable historic site.

Symbol of Albanian resistance, Skanderbeg Square, often compared to Alexander the Great, is recognized for having unified the Albanians and led the struggle against the Ottoman Empire.

🔹 Overnight in Krujë.

After breakfast, enjoy your free time for a final immersion in the city of Krujë before your transfer to the airport in Tirana for your return flight.