Balkans Coast Explorer

A city of contrasts, Tirana welcomes you with bold colors, Ottoman relics and creative spirit. Get your bearings uncovering its hidden corners before meeting your fellow travelers and Travel Director for dinner in Albania’s lively capital.

Tirana’s layered history comes to life as you explore with your Local Specialist. See Skanderbeg Square, where Albania’s national hero takes center stage, along with the Et’hem Bey Mosque and Clock Tower. Then, head underground at Bunk’Art 2, a former communist bunker turned museum. This afternoon, explore at your own pace or join an Optional Experience to Kruja, the historic hometown of Skanderbeg, who led Albania’s resistance against the Ottoman Empire. This evening, you may choose an Optional Experience with a traditional Albanian dinner and show featuring music, dance and a symbolic Tirana wedding.

Travel through the hills of central Albania, passing vineyards and farmland on the way to Berat. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this town is known for its Ottoman-era houses stacked into the hillside, earning it the name ‘City of a Thousand Windows’. Visit the hilltop citadel before meeting Gladiola Çipi, where you’ll sample rose juice, rakija and Turkish Delight as she shares the customs and stories that have shaped her family’s life for generations. Continue to the coastal town of Vlorë, where the Adriatic meets the Ionian Sea. This evening, enjoy a Be My Guest experience at Kantina & Ferma Dukat, a family-run farm where you’ll share a home-cooked Albanian meal made with ingredients from the land, including olives, cheese, byrek and wine from their own vineyard.

Set out from Vlorë for a day exploring the Albanian Riviera with your Local Specialist. Soak up the charm of Himarë and maybe take a dip at Spile Beach, shop for souvenirs or enjoy fresh local seafood. Then visit Porto Palermo and step inside the 19th-century castle, built by an Ottoman Albanian ruler as a symbol of love for his wife, whilst taking in amazing views of the Ionian Sea. After a day by the coast, it’s back to Vlorë for the evening.