Pearls of Albania: 8 Days — Tirana, Berat, Gjirokaster & Albanian Riviera

Tour Overview

Itinerary Highlights

Day 1: Arrival in Tirana — The Colorful Capital

Arrive at Tirana International Airport Nene Tereza (TIA). Your guide greets you for transfer to a centrally located hotel in Tirana, Albania’s energetic capital. The afternoon is free to explore on your own. In the evening, join a guided walking tour through Skanderbeg Square, the heart of the city named after Albania’s national hero Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg. Visit the Et’hem Bey Mosque, one of the few houses of worship that survived the communist era’s atheism campaign, with its exquisite frescoes of trees, waterfalls, and bridges — rare in Islamic art. See the Clock Tower, the National History Museum with its iconic mosaic facade, and the colorful buildings of Blloku district — once the exclusive enclave of communist leadership, now Tirana’s trendiest neighborhood filled with cafes, boutiques, and art galleries. Welcome dinner at a traditional Albanian restaurant. Overnight in Tirana.

Day 2: Tirana to Berat — City of a Thousand Windows

After breakfast, drive south to Berat (approximately 2 hours), a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Albania’s oldest continuously inhabited cities. Berat’s most striking feature is its Ottoman-era white houses climbing the hillside, windows stacked upon windows, earning it the name “City of a Thousand Windows.” Begin at Berat Castle (Kalaja e Beratit), a vast 13th-century fortress still inhabited today, its cobblestone lanes home to families, churches, and the Onufri National Iconographic Museum. The museum houses spectacular 16th-century icons by Onufri, Albania’s greatest icon painter, famous for his distinctive red. Descend through the Mangalem Quarter, the historic Muslim neighborhood with houses seemingly balanced on the hillside. Cross the Osumi River via the Gorica Bridge to the Gorica Quarter, the Christian neighborhood with its own distinct architectural character. Evening: wine tasting at a family-run winery in the Berat region, known for indigenous grapes like Shesh i Bardhe and Shesh i Zi. Overnight in Berat.

Day 3: Berat to Gjirokaster — The Stone City

Morning at leisure in Berat to explore the local market and craft shops selling handmade textiles and filigree silver work. Then journey south to Gjirokaster (approximately 2.5 hours), another UNESCO World Heritage site known as the “City of Stone” for its distinctive slate-roofed Ottoman houses. Gjirokaster is the birthplace of Albania’s most famous writer, Ismail Kadare, and was the home of communist dictator Enver Hoxha. Visit the imposing Gjirokaster Castle (Kalaja e Gjirokastres), one of the largest castles in the Balkans, with its eerie Cold War bunker, captured American spy plane from 1957, and the National Armaments Museum. The castle offers panoramic views over the Drino Valley. Walk through the Old Bazaar, a cobblestone street of artisan shops selling stone carvings, woven goods, and local products. Visit a traditional Ottoman house — the Zekate House, a classic example of tower-house architecture with ornate wooden ceilings and original frescoes. Dinner with a local family for an authentic taste of Gjirokaster hospitality. Overnight in Gjirokaster.

Day 4: Gjirokaster to Ksamil — The Albanian Riviera

After breakfast, depart for the Albanian Riviera. Stop at the Blue Eye (Syri i Kalter), a mesmerizing natural spring of crystal-clear turquoise water that bubbles up from a deep karst hole with unknown depth. The spring gushes at 18,400 liters per second, its vibrant blue color contrasting with the surrounding forest. Continue to Saranda, the Riviera’s largest town, overlooking the Greek island of Corfu across the narrow strait. Lunch by the seaside promenade. Then proceed to Ksamil, Albania’s most stunning beach destination — a string of four small islands dotting turquoise shallows, accessible by swimming or pedalo boat. The white sand beaches and calm waters rival anything in the Caribbean. Afternoon free to swim, snorkel, or kayak in the Ionian Sea. Evening: fresh seafood dinner at a beachfront restaurant as the sun sets over the islands. Overnight near Ksamil.

Day 5: Butrint Ancient Ruins & Himara Coastal Drive

Morning visit to Butrint National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most important archaeological sites in the Mediterranean. Butrint has been occupied since prehistoric times and preserves evidence of Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and Venetian civilizations in a stunning natural setting on a wooded peninsula. Walk through the well-preserved Greek theater, the Roman baptistery with its colorful mosaic floor, the impressive Lion Gate, and the Venetian tower with sweeping views over Lake Butrint to the Corfu Channel. After exploring Butrint, drive north along the spectacular coastal road of the Albanian Riviera. The drive itself is an experience — mountains plunge directly into the Ionian Sea, with hairpin turns revealing dramatic seascapes at every bend. Stop at Porto Palermo, where Ali Pasha’s well-preserved castle sits on a small island connected by a causeway. Continue to Himara, a charming coastal town with a long sandy beach. Free afternoon to swim at Livadh Beach or explore Himara’s Old Town. Overnight in Himara.

Day 6: Dhermi, Llogara Pass & Journey to Theth

Morning visit to Dhermi, one of the Riviera’s most beautiful villages where whitewashed houses and stone churches cascade down a mountainside to a pristine beach. Explore Dhermi Beach with its crystal-clear waters and pebble shore, framed by dramatic cliffs. Then begin the journey north toward the Accursed Mountains. Drive through the spectacular Llogara Pass at 1,027 meters, where the coastal road winds through Llogara National Park with breathtaking views of both the Ionian and Adriatic seacoasts below. Stop at the Llogara viewpoint to see the steep drop from mountain to sea. Continue north through Vlore, Fier, and Durres, then east toward Shkodra and into the mountains. The landscape transforms from Mediterranean coast to alpine wilderness. Arrive in Theth in the evening — this remote village deep in the Accursed Mountains is only accessible during summer months via a winding mountain road. Check into a traditional guesthouse. Dinner with your hosts featuring mountain specialties: slow-cooked lamb, cornbread, homemade cheese, and mountain herbs. Overnight in Theth.

Day 7: Theth — The Accursed Mountains & Blue Eye of Theth

Full day exploring Theth National Park, the crown jewel of the Albanian Alps. The Accursed Mountains (Bjeshket e Nemuna) are among Europe’s most dramatic landscapes — jagged limestone peaks, deep glacial valleys, and traditional stone kulla towers built as defensive homes during the centuries of blood feud tradition. Morning hike to the Blue Eye of Theth (Syri i Kalter i Thethit), a stunning natural pool of intensely blue water at the base of a waterfall, not to be confused with the southern Blue Eye. The trail passes through beech forest, wildflower meadows, and past traditional stone houses. Afternoon: visit the Grunas Waterfall, a 25-meter cascade plunging over dramatic rock formations. Walk through the village to see the Lock-In Tower (Kulla e Ngujimit), a four-story stone tower used during blood feud times where a targeted man could temporarily seek sanctuary — a haunting reminder of Albania’s kanun customary law. Visit the small village church, rebuilt on the foundation of the original 19th-century church destroyed during communism. Evening: home-cooked dinner at the guesthouse with your mountain hosts. Overnight in Theth.

Day 8: Theth to Tirana — Mountain Roads & Departure

After a hearty mountain breakfast of fresh bread, honey, cheese, and eggs, begin the journey back to Tirana. The drive out of Theth through the Thore Pass offers dramatic mountain scenery — hairpin turns, deep canyons, and views of the jagged peaks that form the border with Montenegro. Descend through the Shala Valley to Shkodra. Stop at Shkodra, the historic northern city, to visit Rozafa Castle. This fortress on a rocky hill where the Buna and Drin rivers meet has been occupied since Illyrian times over 2,400 years ago. The castle offers panoramic views over Lake Shkodra, the largest lake in the Balkans. Continue to Tirana International Airport for your departure flight, carrying with you the essence of Albania: a thousand windows, a thousand stories, and the blue of two seas and countless mountain springs.

What’s Included

• 7 nights accommodation (boutique hotels, guesthouses, mountain lodging)
• Daily breakfast + 4 dinners (including welcome dinner and mountain meals)
• Private air-conditioned vehicle with driver throughout
• Experienced English-speaking guide (Choose Balkans expert)
• Berat Castle and Onufri Museum entry
• Gjirokaster Castle and Zekate House entry
• Blue Eye (Syri i Kalter) natural spring visit
• Butrint National Park entry and guided tour
• Porto Palermo Castle visit
• Theth National Park guided hikes (Blue Eye of Theth, Grunas Waterfall)
• Rozafa Castle visit in Shkodra
• Local wine tasting in Berat region
• Traditional home-cooked dinner in Gjirokaster and Theth
• Airport pick-up and drop-off
• All road tolls and parking fees

What’s Not Included

• International flights to/from Tirana (TIA)
• Travel insurance (recommended, especially for mountain regions)
• Lunches and drinks (budget approximately $10-15 per meal)
• Personal expenses, souvenirs, laundry
• Tips for guide and driver (at your discretion)
• Optional boat/kayak rentals in Ksamil
• Anything not mentioned in inclusions