5 Days Albanian Country Side UNESCO Lake and old Towns Tour

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Recommended by 100% of reviewers

| Tirana, Albania

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5 days (approx.)

Hotel pickup offered

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Overview

Discover Albania’s Hidden Countryside

Available year-round (best in autumn & spring), this unique tour takes you through Albania’s most peaceful and untouched areas. Explore the romantic villages near Lake Ohrid in Pogradec, the historic charm of Voskopoja, and the French-inspired streets of Korça, known as “Little Paris.”

Relax in Përmet, the “City of Roses,” or enjoy dinner with a view at the stunning Gjirokastër Fortress. Along the way, enjoy breathtaking landscapes, lakes, and historic sites.

Quiet moments. Rich culture. Pure nature. Welcome to Albania.

What's Included

Breakfast
Fuel for the vehicle
All Fees and Taxes
Air-conditioned vehicle
5-nights accommodation in 3 or 4 star hotels
5 Full days Driver and Guide Fees, Food expenses and Accommodation

Anythings which is not mentioned in the Inclusions section

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Meeting and Pickup

Pickup point

Pickup details

Usually, we pick up Travellers from the airport or port. The guide will be waiting for you holding a sign that writes the name of our company (Enjoy). If there are other requests from customers for the location, our staff is flexible and the passenger will be informed in advance for all the details.

Meeting point

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

What To Expect

Day 1

Tirana - Elbasan - Korca

8 Stops

Skanderbeg Square

In Tirana, you will start your visit from the Skanderbeg square which is also the biggest square in Tirana, around this square you will see, the Palace of Culture, the old et hem bey mosque, and the national museum. You will spend around 15 minutes in the square to get all the information from the guide

2 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Elbasan

In Elbasan, you will visit the castle of Elbasan which was very important in Roman times and which also has a view of Via Egnatia, which was the "road" between the old city of Rome and Kostandinopoja. You will also see a fortress of Elbasan, Saint Mary's Church and the king Mosque inside the fortress. After sightseeing you will have your free time in the castle

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Pogradec

Once you arrive in Pogradec you will enjoy Lake Ohrid, which utterly dominates the small town of Pogradec. This ancient tectonic lake is one of the oldest and deepest (up to 288m) lakes in Europe. The lake is divided between Albania and North Macedonia. The Macedonian side, which centers on the dreamy town of Ohrid, was declared an UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979 and there is talk of that distinction being extended to the Albanian half. For the moment, though, tourism in and around Pogradec is minimal and on the surface, this is perhaps understandable. Pogradec itself is a fairly drab small town with few physical attractions, and rubbish is a serious eye-sore along the lake-shore. That being said, for an off-beat adventure and the opportunity to stroll quietly around the lake, without the masses of tourists who define its Macedonian side, Pogradec ticks all the right boxes.

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Enver Hoxha Pyramid

Designed by Enver Hoxha's daughter and son-in-law and completed in 1988, this monstrously unattractive building was formerly the Enver Hoxha Museum and more recently a convention centre and nightclub. Today, covered in graffiti and surrounded by the encampments of Tirana's homeless, its once-white marble walls are now crumbling, but no decision on whether to demolish or restore it has yet been reached.The pyramid is during our sightseeing and we will stop 10 minutes for explanation

Admission Ticket Free

Bunk'Art 1

This is a small bunker located on the way to our sightseeing in Tirana.

Admission Ticket Free

Blloku

Blloku is an upmarket area in Tirana, Albania. It is widely known as an entertainment destination with its boutiques, shops, restaurants, trendy bars, pubs, and cafes. The area is part of the neighborhood of Tirana e Re in southwestern Tirana. During the peak summer months, its trendy bars transfer along the Albanian Riviera.It became very attractive after the fall of Communism in Albania because during the communist period it was a restricted residential area for the members of the Albanian politburo, ordinary Albanians would not be allowed in. On most maps it was unmarked. Blloku you can still find the residence of Albania’s communist leader Enver Hoxha.In blloku neighborhood, you will spend your free time for lunch or for Caffe

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

National Gallery of Art

Tracing the relatively brief history of Albanian painting from the early 19th century to the present day, this beautiful space also holds temporary exhibitions. The interesting collection includes 19th-century paintings depicting scenes from daily Albanian life and others with a far more political dimension, including some truly fabulous examples of Albanian socialist realism. The entrance of the gallery is not always open, so if there are any exhibitions at the time of your visit you can enter inside the gallery

Admission Ticket Free

Lake Ohrid

Some cities are undeniably special. As soon as you take your first steps in them, inhale the first breath of fresh air, the first smell of a nearby body of water, and the first sight of its beauty, you know that these places must have inspired great poetry! Pogradec, the city of artists, resting on the shores of Lake Ohrid, is certainly one of these. It’s an ideal place for the romantic soul, who seeks and relishes nature’s peace and tranquillity.You will overnight near this lake in Pogradec

2 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Day 2

Korca – Voskopoja - Permet

6 Stops

Voskopoje

Voskopoja is a place where nature meets history, making it a favorite destination for tourists. The town of Voskopoja has been known as a cultural center since 1330 and, over the centuries, more than 24 churches have been built there. The city hosted the first printing press outside of Istanbul alongside other important institutions, such as the New Academy. Unfortunately, fire, war, robbery, and earthquakes ultimately destroyed many of these buildings. You will visit Saint Athanase, Saint Ilie, and Saint Marie churches. In Vosopoja there is a Possibility of light hiking in the forest.

3 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Korce

Arrive in Korca and have a sightseeing tour of the most important places in this city. The Cathedral, the Ottoman Bazaar, Andon Zako Cajupi theatre, and the Hani I Pazarit. The city of Korca is known for its vivid life and traditional music.You will have a nice walk in the main pedestrian area in Korca

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Tushemisht

Tushemisht is the last village on the Albanian side of Ohrid Lake, before the Macedonian border. Tushemisht is a lovely relaxing place, surrounded by mountains, gorgeous beaches, and great restaurants that offer authentic fish cuisine.

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Driloni National Park

One of the most enchanting hamlets of southeastern Albania is Drilon, a very small village located between Korça and Pogradec. During the Communist-era, Drilon was the favorite place of dictator Enver Hoxha, who used to come here to relax. Today Drilon is an attractive summer destination, thanks to its beauty, beaches, and a national park.

2 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Museum of Medieval Art

The National Museum of Medieval Art in Korça is one of those places where the modern and the old blend seamlessly together, creating an otherworldly, timeless space. It is an ultra-modern venue, though one which restores life to the Byzantine era. Originally built in 1980 and reconstructed in 2016, it is located on the main “Fan Noli” boulevard in the city. This, the newest museum in the country, preserves some artworks which have miraculously survived countless obstacles of the communist regime, to help them be where they are today.This attraction's not included in the program

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Ngjallja e Krishtit Cathedral

Cathedral of the Resurrection: built-in 1992 on the foundations of an old Orthodox church destroyed during the Communist era, it is now the largest and most important Orthodox church in Korça and Albania.

Admission Ticket Free

Day 3

Përmet – Gjirokastra

3 Stops

Day 4

Gjirokastra - Saranda - Gjirokastra

5 Stops

Gjirokaster

There has been a settlement here for 2500 years, though these days it's the 600 'monumental' Ottoman-era houses in town that attract visitors. For Albanians, the town is also a synonym for former dictator Enver Hoxha, who was born here and ensured the town was relatively well preserved under his rule, though he is not memorialized in any way here today.After the sightseeing in the afternoon, you will have free time on your own for discovering the city

2 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Skenduli House

The lovingly restored Ottoman-era Skenduli House has been in the hands of the same family for generations (apart from a few years during the communist period when the government took it over), and you'll most likely be shown around by a member of the family. Dating from the early 1700s, but partially rebuilt in 1827, the house has many fascinating features, including a room used only for wedding ceremonies and which has 15 windows, many with stained glass.

2 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Gjirokastra Bazaar

The historic site in Gjirokastra, the "Neck of the Bazaar", makes up the center of the Old Town but what were once artisanal workshops are today mainly tourist souvenir shops. There are a couple of stone carvers left at the top end of the bazaar.

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Gjirokaster Castle

Gjirokastra's eerie hilltop castle is one of the biggest in the Balkans. There's been a fortress here since the 12th century, although much of what can be seen today dates to the early 19th century. The castle remains somewhat infamous due to its use as a prison under the communists. Inside, there's a collection of armory, two good museums, plenty of crumbling ruins to scramble around, and superb views over the valley.

2 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Saranda

AFter breakfast meet the guide and depart to the city of Saranda , which is near the ionian sea, in front of the Corfuz Island. You will enjoy the parnoramic view of the seaside and visit the archeological site of butrint. Village of Ksamil Known for the magical beach of 3 islands . have some free time for enjoying the beach Visit the the archeological site of Butrint (Butrint in Albanian) from ancient Greek was an ancient Greek city and later Roman and a bishopric in Epirus. Inhabited since prehistoric times, Buthrotum was a city of the Greek Chaonian tribe, later a Roman colony and a bishopric. It went into decline at the end of Antiquity, before being abandoned in the Middle Ages after a major earthquake flooded most of the city

2 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Day 5

Gjirokastra – Berat – Tirana

1 Stop

Additional Info

Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
Wheelchair accessible
Public transportation options are available nearby

Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Specialized infant seats are available

Frequently Asked Questions

(7)

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the 5 Days Albanian Country Side UNESCO Lake and old Towns Tour?

A: This tour is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded. This tour requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund. Read more Apr 2025

Cancellation Policy

This tour is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

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Activity code: C-268285P1

Reviews

5.00

1 reviews

Average 5.00 out of 5 stars based on 1 traveler reviews collected by City Boat Tours and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor

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5 Days Albanian Country Side UNESCO Lake and old Towns Tour

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Overview

What's Included

Meeting and Pickup