This tour is for people who enjoy a balanced mix of hikes, cultural visits and relaxation in the beautiful South of Albania. Traveling from the Adriatic to the Ionian coast, you can marvel at the splendour of Llogora Pass, see the mighty Cika peaks towering above the crystal waters and the white gravel beaches of the Ionian Sea.
A few days are spent enjoying the picturesque villages of the Riviera. Then we proceed to explore a succession of archaeological sites and the historically significant towns of Butrint, Gjirokastër and Berat.
You can book this tour as a private departure via the enquire now button.
| TOUR | Hiking in scenic Southern Albania | ||||||||||
| START/FINISH | Tirana/Tirana | ||||||||||
| TYPE | Guided walking holiday | ||||||||||
| CODE: | W 8.1 | ||||||||||
| LEVEL | Fit | ||||||||||
| PRICE | Ask a quote from our direct sales department | ||||||||||
| DATES: | April-October | ||||||||||
| NIGHTS: | 7 | ||||||||||
| HIKING DAYS: | 3 | ||||||||||
| ACCOMODATION | Hotels and guesthouses | ||||||||||
| INCLUDED |
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| NOT INCLUDED |
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*Private tour
If you wish to do this tour on a different date, please contact us via the enquire now button. We have guides who can speak Albanian, English, Italian, French, German, Italian, Dutch or Spanish.”
Essential Info
Level: Fit
These tours can be physically challenging, and demand you to be in good physical shape. The paths are not always in the best of conditions and markings can be scarce. Day treks may have big ascents and descents. Changing weather conditions (even in mid-summer) can play an important role when trekking in remote areas, and may cause changes in the scheduled route.
Prior trekking experience is an advantage, but not necessary for those who are in good shape. During the hikes, you are required to personally carry your own day backpack.
What to bring:
Breathable light-weight waterproof gear (gore-tex, sympatex, etc), fleece/wool pullover, wind-stopper jacket and gloves, small backpack with rain coverage, cap, sun block, mosquito repellent, headlamp, hiking poles, water bottle, sunglasses.
Terrain during the hikes
Some trails along the way are characterised by lots of descents and ascents. The route might pass over engraved relief representing alpine terrain with steep slopes, mountain river valleys carved into the mountains, rocky peaks, belts of mountain pine, etc. However, the chosen paths are mostly well trodden underfoot and safe.
Good to know
Pick-up location
Central Tirana, to be specified at booking confirmation
Drop-off location
Central Tirana, to be specified at booking confirmation
Children policy
Children joining this tour should have experience with hiking. Children under 18 should be accompanied by 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. If you would like us to arrange a transfer for you from the airport to your hotel or from your hotel to the beginning point of the tour please let us know at booking or contact us via the enquiry form.
Welcome to Tirana
Upon arrival in Tirana, you’ll check in at a centrally located 3-sterren hotel with a cozy atmosphere. At 18:00 you will meet your guide to go over the program for the coming week. Afterwards, we’ll take a relaxed walking tour through the city’s highlights: Scanderbeg Square, the Clock Tower, the Mosque of Tirana and more. We continue to the Blloku district and enjoy a traditional dinner in a local restaurant.
Optional: After dinner, enjoy a drink in the vibrant Blloku district or, if you arrive earlier in the day, visit the National Museum.
Overnight: 3-star hotel in the center of Tirana
Dinner: Traditional restaurant
Driving South – Apollonia and Llogora
We head south toward the coastal city of Vlora and the Llogora National Park. En route we explore the ancient city of Apollonia, its ruins, the Byzantine Monastery and, optionally, the Archaeological Museum. Once a thriving Greek and Roman city, Apollonia offers a rich glimpse into Albania’s layered past.
Lunch is served under the trees in Apollonia Park’s restaurant. Afterwards, we stop briefly in the bay of Vlora for a refreshment with a sea view before continuing to our mountain hotel in Llogora Park (750m).
Overnight: Family-run 3-star hotel in Llogora National Park
Dinner: Mountain-style local specialties
Hiking the Ridge of Saint Thanas
Our first trek begins today in the dramatic surroundings of Llogora Park. We hike over the ridge of Saint Thanas with stunning views of Vlora Bay and the steep slopes of the Karaburun Peninsula dropping into the Ionian Sea.
After the hike, there’s time to relax or take a short optional walk before dinner.
**Hike details:**
Gradient: +600m / –400m
Distance: 7 km
Duration: 3.5–4 hrs
Overnight: 3-star hotel in Llogora National Park
Dinner: Mountain restaurant
Mount Çika and the Riviera of Flowers
Today we hike to Qafa e Erës (1600m), part of the Çika mountain massif—the highest in southwest Albania. From here, we enjoy panoramic views over the Ionian Sea and the shepherd highlands of Labëria.
After the hike, we follow the scenic coastal road to Qeparo. On the way, we visit the bay of Porto Palermo and the fortress of Ali Pasha Tepelena, once a submarine base during the communist era.
We continue to the seaside village of Qeparo, where we check in at a family-run hotel by the sea. There is time in the afternoon to walk up to the old village on the hill.
**Transfer details:**
Distance: 40 km
Duration: 2 hrs
Overnight: Family-run hotel at the beach in Qeparo
Dinner: Home-cooked traditional dishes
Saranda and the Ancient City of Butrint
We drive further south along the Albanian Riviera to Saranda, a lively coastal town with a rich history. After a scenic ride, we visit the archaeological site of Butrint—one of Albania’s cultural jewels, set in a wetland area full of birdlife.
After a guided tour through its ancient ruins, we have lunch nearby and return to Saranda for free time to relax at the beach or stroll through town before dinner.
**Transfer details:**
Distance: 75 km
Duration: 2.5 hrs
**Hike details (Butrint):**
Gradient: +70m / –70m
Distance: 1.5 km
Duration: 2 hrs
Overnight: 3-star hotel in Saranda
Dinner: Fish restaurant
Gjirokastër – The City of Stone
Leaving the coast, we travel inland to Gjirokastër, a UNESCO World Heritage site. We visit the historic castle, the Weapon Museum, the Ethnographic Museum and wander the cobbled alleys of this striking Ottoman-era city—birthplace of both dictator Enver Hoxha and writer Ismail Kadare.
After exploring, we continue to Berat for our overnight stay.
**Transfer details:**
Distance: 200 km
Duration: 6 hrs
Overnight: 3-star traditional hotel in Berat
Dinner: Traditional restaurant
Berat – The City of a Thousand Windows
We explore Berat, Albania’s best-preserved historic town, with traces of Illyrian, Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman and Socialist architecture. We walk through the Mangalemi neighborhood, visit the Ethnographic Museum, then hike up to the citadel to explore the churches and the Onufri Icons Museum.
In the afternoon we drive to Durres for a break by the sea, and return to Tirana for our final night.
**Transfer details:**
Distance: 92 km
Duration: 1.5 hrs
Overnight: 3-star hotel in Tirana
Dinner: Traditional restaurant
Farewell and Departure
You are free to explore Tirana at your own pace until it is time for your transfer to the airport. Depending on your flight schedule, you may wish to revisit some favorite spots in the city or simply relax at a local café.
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