Service description

This website is operated by Outdoor Albania. We are a licensed Albanian tour operator that offers incoming tourist services in the following fields: Round trips, Outdoor Activities and Business incentives. We endeavour to make the information provided on this website as accurate as possible.

Outdoor Albania Trips

Group size

“Outdoor Albania” offers trips with fixed departure dates. With these trips the maximum group size is 15 people and a minimum of 6. (Please check with OA for alternatives, if the group you have is less than 6 people.)

Your travel companions

Outdoor Albania trips attract a variety of international people who love to travel, venture off the beaten track and enjoy the experience of a new country and culture.

Age limits

The minimum age required to participate in one our tours is 14 and all children under 15 should be accompanied by a parent or an adult.

Land only

The “OA” tours are Land Only; the prices do not include your flight, nor transport to and from the airport to hotel. You must make your own way to the starting point of every tour.

“OA” Tour leaders

All our tours are led by a qualified “OA” leader, who will accompany you throughout the entire trip. It is the tour leader’s responsibility to ensure that each trip runs smoothly, and that all the logistics are in place. The aim of the tour leader is to ensure that all the group members are safe and well looked after for the duration of the trip.

Itineraries

The “OA” trips are nature friendly tours combining outdoor activities and the Albanian culture. This combination gives you the chance to experience more of each area and go beyond the usual tourist façade. We offer tours to the best known and most frequented spots like Butrinti and Apollonia which delve deeper into the heritage of our nation. We also build in and encourage free time for personal exploration.

Tour duration

The “OA” tours start from the meeting hour on the first day of the trip and end after breakfast the last day of the trip. However, if you need help with arranging transport our tour leaders will be happy to help.

Additional transport

In order to get to our meeting point in Tirana it takes 30 min (depending on traffic) from Tirana airport or from the harbour in Durres. If you request it we will be happy to organise a taxi for you. The price to the hotel is 3000 Lek (25 euro). If there are several people arriving at the same time we can arrange it so that you share the taxi costs.

Accommodation

While “OA” trips sometimes include different night stops, we use different family run hotels and guesthouses. We do our best to use accommodation which reflects the local area and the famous Albanian hospitality. The hotels we use are comparable with European bed and breakfasts or 2/3 star hotels.

Rooming

Our trips are based on participants sharing twin bedded rooms. If you are traveling alone you will be placed in a room with someone of the same sex.

Single room option

“OA” offers the opportunity to pay a supplement and pre-book a single room.

Trips to southern Albania can accommodate people wanting a single room, while the northern trips only offer single accommodation in the big cities. Accommodation in the village houses in the mountain areas are all shared rooms, with up to 5 people per room.

If, for whatever reason, we are not able to provide a single room, we will inform you straight away and will refund a proportion of the monies paid to us for the single room option.

Meals

The “OA” tours are widely regarded for their choice of good cuisine, and we often receive compliments from our guests. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are all inclusive. Soft drinks and alcohol are to be paid by our guests. If you have specific dietary requirements please let us know although we do ask people to have realistic expectations.

All together

Everyone that travels with “Outdoor Albania” will have slightly different expectations when they arrive on tour. A vital part of tour leaders role is to understand individual expectations and to run the tour in such a way that everyone gets the most out of their holiday. However group tours do have to adhere to the schedule to insure that they run smoothly.

Prices

The published prices represent the cost per person for the current season.

Travel insurance

Valid travel insurance is mandatory for all foreign customers. You will need to show evidence to your tour leader that you are adequately insured at the start of the tour. For this reason you must carry your valid insurance policy with you on each trip. Expectation is that an individuals travel insurance will cover any medical expenses incurred, and emergency repatriation.

Fitness and ability to participate

All “OA” trips require a level of active participation. Some of the southern trips have a 4 hour hike a day and you can choose if you want to join or stay behind. Some of the northern trips involve up to 8 hours of hiking a day with big climbs and descents. Good physical health and fitness is necessary (some trips require previous experience). If you are in any doubt about your physical ability please do not hesitate to contact us.

Medical conditions

Please inform us about any existing (or pre-existing) medical conditions well in advance of one of our trips.

Booking and payment and cancellation procedure

Booking is possible during “OA" office hours or by emailing the OA bookings form to the OA office and paying a deposit of 30% of the total fee.

2 weeks before departure date the total amount must be transferred to our bank account. A copy of the bank transfers should be faxed or emailed to us.

When you book an OA roundtrip, you are entering into a legally binding contract. If you cancel the booking unilaterally, you may have pay compensation for any loss resulting from the cancellation. A reservation can be cancelled at any time in written form by e-mail or fax.

Our cancellation policy will apply only once your booking is confirmed and is as follows :

a) If the reservation is cancelled 30 days or more, prior to the arrival date, then a full refund will be given minus the refund transaction charges.

b) If the reservation is cancelled 29 to 14 days, prior to the arrival date, then a 30% administration and banking charge will apply.

c) 14 to 7 days, prior to the arrival date, then a 50% charge will apply.

d) 7 to 3 days, prior to the arrival date, then a 75% charge will apply.

e) If the reservation is cancelled less then 3 days prior to the arrival date no refund will be given.

f) With a no show or early check out no refund will be given.