Trekking on the majestic Albanian Alps, Rafting on Vjosa River, one of the most beautiful Balkan Rivers, and Boat tour on the marvelous and savage coast of South Albania
Arrival at Tirana airport. Meeting with the guide. Departure for Shkodra on the shores of Shkodra Lake. Hotel accommodation. Visit the city and its cathedral. Visit the art gallery Marubi. Free time for dinner. Overnight in a 4* hotel in city center.
Early in the morning we will depart on a scenic drive from Shkodra, to reach the docks in the dam of Koman. The homonymous lake beyond it, was artificially created in the 80’s after the construction of the third hydropower dam that interrupts the canyon of river Drin.The spectacular boat ride through gorgeous landscape that will follow from there, is a not-to-miss highlight of Northern Albania! Once reached the docks of Fierza, we will stop for a tasty lunch in a traditional restaurant nearby. The trip will continue by local car through the narrow valley of Valbona – one of the most beautiful valleys of the Albanian Alps. Our transfer ends in the charming village of Valbona – Rrogam, where we will be hosted in a comfortable local guesthouse. The location of the house is the ideal starting point for all kinds of hikes in the surrounding mountains. Free time to explore the village at own pace, while the steep and jagged limestone peaks above the village are embraced by the sunset light.
Today we hike on a ‘classic’ trail of the Albanian Alps that for centuries connected the glacier valleys of Valbona and Theth via the 1860m high Valbona Pass. The pass becomes possible to cross on foot from the end of May, when the snow melts enough to let people and animals through.
Indeed, we will use horses to carry the luggage to the next guesthouse, and start walking towards the end of the valley. Once past the last houses of Rrogam, the trail steepens up towards a plateau sided by rough slopes and a winding narrow trail that leads to the Valbona Pass. On clear days the col is a superb panoramic spot from where to admire the jagged peaks of ‘Bjeshket e Namuna’ – the Accursed Mountains. We than start to descent towards the village of Thethi (850m), again passing through dense woods and grassy meadows where we will stop for picnic. In the afternoon we will depart toward Tirana. Dinner and overnight in hotel.
Breakfast in the hotel. Full day dedicated of the visit of Tirana. The night will be hold in one of the many pubs with really good live music. Overnight in a 4* hotel in Tirana city center.
Breakfast in hotel. Transfer to the ancient city of Permet, known for many tourist attractions from where the group will go to the rafting site.
Rafting on Vjosa River, one of Europe’s last free-flowing rivers, is a class III rafting. Prepare for waves up to four feet and narrow passages that send the boat shimmying and water gushing over the sides. Vjosa river’s entire 270km course is wild and untamed and adorned with beautiful canyons, braided river sections, islands and oxbows. Transfer to Gjirokaster, UNESCO Heritage Site. Overnight in a 4* hotel in city center
Breakfast in hotel . Tour of Gjirokaster. Many houses in Gjirokaster have a local distinctive style with roofs covered in stone slabs, giving it the nickname "City of Stones". Of great importance and interest are the castle, the Museum of Arms, the Ethnographic Museum – also known as Enver Hoxha’s home – and the home of the Zekate family, an important Gjirokaster family. Time for lunch. Transfer to Saranda. Free time. The night will be hold in one of the discotheques of the city. Overnight in a 4* hotel
Breakfast in the hotel. Suggested tour boat in the Ionian Sea to discover the treasures of the sea and caverns in the neighborhood of Saranda.
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure for Tirana and then for the airport.