11-Day Albanian Ancient Ruins & UNESCO World Heritage

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This morning, you'll leave Tirana behind and head towards your next destination, Berat. En route, you'll visit the mighty Durres Amphitheatre, a huge Roman monument only discovered in the 1960s. After a tour of the Durrës Archaeological Museum. You'll then head to the ancient Greek city of Apollonia where you'll have a guided tour of the archaeological park. Before heading to Berat, you'll have lunch at the restaurant where French archaeologist, Leon Rey, had his base camp in 1924.

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This morning, you'll embark on a walking tour of the citadel, visiting the 13th-century Cathedral for the Assumption of the Holy Mother and the iconography museum. After a traditional lunch in Hotel Klea, you'll have some free time to relax or to explore Berat on your own accord. In the early evening, you'll visit the Mangalam and Gorica neighbourhoods, home to Berat's beautiful historic city.

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Today, you'll head to Vlore, your next destination. En route, you'll visit one of the most important archaeological sites in Albania - Byllis. Byllis Archaeological Park was excavated in the 1980s and dates back to the 3rd and 4th centuries BC. Whilst here, you'll explore the ruins of the amphitheatre, the gymnasium and a number of houses. You'll head to Vlore and after checking in you'll have some free time to relax before heading out to explore the town and the National Museum of History.

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Today on your Albania tour, you'll make your way down the Albanian Riviera through Llogara National Park where you'll stop to explore the wonderful surroundings. You'll then continue to the beautiful seaside town of Dhermi. After a traditional lunch in a local restaurant, you'll head to the beautiful old town of Himara, where you'll explore the old town and the castle, where many people still live within its walls.

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Today, after leaving Himara behind, you'll continue along the Albanian Riviera to Porto Palermo Bay where you'll explore Ali Pasha’s fortress, an original 15th-century Venetian castle which was destroyed and rebuilt several times. You'll then head to the old traditional village of Qeparo, where you'll explore the medieval architecture and learn what life may have been like in olden day Albania. You'll also have lunch here with locals at the Old Village up on the hills before leaving for Sarande.

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Leaving Sarande behind, you'll head to the UNESCO-protected Gjirokaster visiting some sites along the way. The first of which will be the archaeological and important conservation site of Butrint National Park. With a history spanning 2,500 years, you'll explore the ruins of this site as well as the rich diversity of species which roam the surroundings. You'll then visit the blue-bubbling water spring known as Blue Eye before heading to Gjirokaster, where you'll explore the old bazaar.

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This morning, you'll explore Gjirokaster further and visit the citadel known as Gjirokaster which is perched on the valley hill looming high over the town. You'll learn about the history of this monument and its changes over the different rulings of Albania as well as visit the Arms Museum of Albania's independence. You'll then visit the old village of Labova e Kryqit (Labova of the Cross) before finishing the day at Hadrianopolis, one of Albania's most important Roman archaeological sites.

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Today, you'll leave Gjirokaster behind and head to your next destination, Kruja. Along the way, you'll stop at the 12th-century Orthodox Monastery of Ardenica known for being the place of the marriage of Skanderbeg, the national hero of Albania. You'll then head to Kruja, where after checking in and relaxing, you'll visit the Castle of Kruja and the Ethnographic Museum of Kruja, dedicated to Skanderbeg.

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Today, you'll head to your final destination of the trip, Shkodra, but not before visiting some poignant destinations en route. First, you'll visit the Rozafa Castle, situated near one of Albania's oldest and most historic cities, which dates back 2,100 years. Following the castle, you'll then have lunch in a local restaurant before visit the Lezhe Castle, where you can observe the traces of Illyrian, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman rule over the centuries past, before arriving in Tirana.