WW23-24 Brochure updated for Yumpu

SOUTHERN EUROPE • ALBANIA
Albania:
Land of the Eagle
Duration • 8 days & 7 nights
Category • Standard
Small-group tour • From £1,195 (incl. flights)
Private tour • From £1,945 (incl. flights)
This group tour features…
No single supplement on
all departure dates
(limited availability)
3- & 4-star accommodation
Flexible – extensions, room & flight
upgrades available
Average group size – 12 people
(max 18)
Direct international flights with
British Airways
Transfers in air-conditioned
vehicles
Experienced local tour manager
7 breakfasts & 1 lunch
Guided sightseeing & entrance fees
Welcome drink
Weather
Tirana
J F M A M J J A S O N D
A 11 12 15 18 23 27 30 30 27 21 16 12
B 2 2 4 8 12 12 17 17 14 10 6 3
C 127 115 109 97 82 59 37 47 78 108 160 143
A: Maximum average temperature (°C)
B: Minimum average temperature (°C)
C: Average rainfall (mm)
Known as the 'Cradle of the Balkans', Albania
is home to a wealth of natural and historic
sites. Beyond its lively capital, Tirana, lies
spectacular mountain and coastal scenery
as well as pretty Ottoman-era towns like
Gjirokastër and Kruja. It is also home to many
important Greek and Roman ruins, including
Butrint and Apollonia. Embark on a tour that
reveals the best of this oft-overlooked corner
of the Mediterranean.
SIGNATURE EXPERIENCES
Lunch with a local sheep herder
Wine and brandy tasting at Skanderbeg
Visit one of Europe's most unusual art
galleries, BunkArt
Explore the architectural legacies
of the Ottomans and communist era
Day 1: Fly to Tirana
Fly from London (regional connections
available) to Tirana with British Airways.
Transfer and stay at the Hotel Opera (or
similar) for 2 nights. Enjoy a welcome drink at
Komiteti-Kafe Museum. (N)
Day 2: Tirana
This morning, visit the National Historical
Museum, followed by BunkArt – an antinuclear
bunker built under the city, that is now
a museum and modern art gallery. Optional
visit to the Bektashi World Centre, a Dervish
sect that fuses elements of Shia and Sufi Islam.
Your afternoon is at leisure. (B)
Day 3: Apollonia • Vlora • Llogara
En route to Vlora, visit the most important
Ancient theatre, Butrint
Roman site in Albania, Apollonia, where
the nephew of Julius Caesar once studied.
Continue to Vlora to visit Muradie Mosque and
the headquarters of Albania’s first independent
government. Finish the day at the scenic
Llogara National Park. Stay at Llogara Village
(or similar) for 1 night. (B)
Day 4: Butrint
Depart for the ancient city of Butrint, travelling
along the spectacular Albanian Riviera.
The town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
and home to the country’s most important
archaeological museum. After lunch in
a recommended restaurant, transfer to
Gjirokastër for check-in at Hotel Argjiro
(or similar) for 2 nights. (B)
Day 5: Gjirokastër
Spend the morning touring Gjirokastër, famous
for its Ottoman architecture, grand fortress
and being the birthplace of notorious dictator,
Enver Hoxha. Visit Hoxha’s place of birth and
learn more about Albania’s recent history.
In the afternoon, head out into the countryside
to a traditional sheep farm for lunch with a
local family. Return to Gjirokastër in time for
dinner. (B, L)
Day 6: Berat
After breakfast, depart for Berat – another
UNESCO-listed town – where you visit the
Onufri Museum and the town castle. Berat
castle is of particular interest as people still
live within its walls in traditional houses.
In the afternoon, meet a local family and learn
how to prepare raki and traditional coffee.
Stay overnight in Berat at Hotel Portik (or
similar) for 1 night. (B)
Day 7: Durrës • Skanderbeg winery
Transfer to Durrës, one of Albania’s oldest
towns and the site of the first and perhaps
most important of the country’s Greek
colonies. In the afternoon, visit the award-
122
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