Cornelius Amann
October 06, 2026
5/5
Albania: Tirana, Berat, Gjirokaster and the Riviera
9 days from Tirana: two nights each in Berat and Gjirokaster, the Blue Eye in the late light, Butrint, and two nights in Himare on the Albanian Riviera.
9 days · Round trip from Tirana · up to 12 guests
Gjirokaster and its castle above the Drino valley Photo: Sharon Hahn Darlin, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gjirokast%C3%ABr,_Albania_November_2022_-_View.jpg)
The facts
At a glance
- Length
- 9 days, 8 nights
- Start and end
- Round trip from Tirana
- Group size
- 7 to 12 guests
- Longest drive
- 4.5 h on day 8
- Activity level
Moderate
About 2 to 3 hours a day on foot, much of it on steep lanes of polished limestone in Berat and Gjirokaster and on uneven ground at Butrint and Apollonia. Most travel days drive 2 to 3.5 hours; one day drives about 4.5 hours in three parts. You can ride to each castle gate by van or wait in a café instead of climbing.
- Meals included
- 8 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 2 dinners
- Room of your own
- + CAD 645 (estimated price)
- Season
- May to June and September to October
Highlights
Why this trip
- Berat's castle quarter in the morning, with the Onufri icons and the view down over Mangalem's windows
- A tasting at a family winery outside Berat
- Gjirokaster's castle, Skenduli House and the Cold War tunnel beneath the town
- The Blue Eye spring in the quieter late afternoon
- Butrint soon after it opens, then lunch by the sea at Ksamil
- Two nights in Himare with a free afternoon on the beach
- Apollonia on the way back to Tirana, and Bunk'Art 2 and the Pyramid in the capital
What makes this trip different
Short drives, all published
Every drive is listed day by day. The longest is 4.5 h, on day 8.
Free time is part of the plan
Free time and choices are marked on the days they fall.
Solo without the penalty
A room of your own is + CAD 645 (estimated price).
Day by day
Itinerary
The longest drive is 4.5 h, on day 8.
Tap any stop on the map to open that dayClick any stop on the map to open that day
Arrive in Tirana
Tirana International Airport to your hotel in Tirana
- Welcome dinner
- Stay in Tirana
- Drive about 30 min
Evening
Fly into Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza (TIA) at Rinas, about 17 km northwest of the city, in time for the evening meeting: plan to land by about 4 pm (the exact latest arrival is confirmed with your final itinerary). A driver meets you in the arrivals hall for the drive of 25 to 40 minutes to a central hotel. Tirana has changed fast since the 1990s: many grey blocks from the communist years are now painted in bright colours, and cafés fill Blloku, the quarter where only party leaders were once allowed to live. At about 6 pm your See Sight Tours guide meets the group for a short briefing on the days ahead: the drives, the walking in the stone towns and what to pack for the coast. Then we walk to Skanderbeg Square as the lights come on and sit down together to a welcome dinner of Albanian dishes, from fërgesë, baked peppers with cheese, to grilled lamb.
Included
- Pick-up at Tirana International Airport (TIA)
- Welcome briefing with your guide
- Evening walk to Skanderbeg Square
- Welcome dinner
Free time: Free until the evening briefing
Tirana in the morning, Berat by evening
Tirana to Berat
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Berat
- Drive about 2 h
Morning
After breakfast your guide walks the group through the centre of Tirana. We start on Skanderbeg Square, the wide stone-paved square below the National History Museum and its mosaic, and step into the small Et'hem Bey Mosque, whose walls are painted with trees, bridges and waterfalls. A few minutes away, Bunk'Art 2 is a Cold War bunker built for the Interior Ministry, now a museum on the police and secret police of the communist years. We finish at the Pyramid, built as a museum to Enver Hoxha and reopened in 2023 with steps you can climb to the top for a view across the city.
Afternoon
After a sit-down lunch we drive about two hours south to Berat, where we stay two nights.
Evening
We arrive in the late afternoon, and in the early evening your guide walks you along the Osum river as the lights come on in the white houses of Mangalem, stacked up the hill below the castle.
Included
- Tirana walk with your guide: Skanderbeg Square and the Et'hem Bey Mosque
- Bunk'Art 2
- The Pyramid of Tirana
- Sit-down lunch in Tirana
- Evening walk along the Osum river in Berat
Free time: Evening free in Berat
Activity: About 2.5 hours on foot in Tirana on flat streets, plus the steps up the Pyramid if you want the view.
Berat: the castle quarter and a winery
Berat old town and castle, then a winery outside town
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Berat
- Drive about 30 min
Morning
We climb to Berat's castle, the Kala, after breakfast, while the cobbles are cool and before the coach groups from the coast arrive. This is not an empty ruin: families still live inside the walls, among Byzantine churches and the ruins of the Red Mosque. Your guide takes you into the Onufri Museum, in the Church of the Dormition of St Mary, to see icons by Onufri, the 16th-century painter known for his deep red, and on to the walls for the view down over the Osum river and the Gorica quarter. Berat's old town has been on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 2008, together with Gjirokaster.
Afternoon
After a sit-down lunch in the old town, the afternoon is free: rest, or cross the Gorica bridge for the classic view of Mangalem's rows of windows. In the late afternoon we drive a short way out of town to a family winery for a tasting of local wines with cheese and meze.
Included
- Berat castle quarter with your guide
- The Onufri Museum
- Sit-down lunch in the old town
- Wine tasting with meze at a family winery near Berat
Easier option: Ride up to the castle gate by van instead of walking the steep cobbled lane, and skip the walls.
More active option: Walk up from Mangalem to the castle on the old cobbled path, about 25 minutes uphill, and walk the full circuit of the walls.
Free time: Afternoon free in Berat
Activity: About 2 to 3 hours on foot in the morning on steep, uneven cobbles.
South to Gjirokaster
Berat to Gjirokaster by the Vjosa and Drino valleys
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Gjirokaster
- Drive about 3.5 h
Morning
A slower start after breakfast, then we drive south to Gjirokaster, about 170 km and three to three and a half hours of driving, split into two easy halves.
Afternoon
For the second half the road follows the Vjosa, a river that runs undammed from the Greek border to the Adriatic and became a national park in 2023, and we stop for a sit-down lunch by the river near Tepelena. From there the road turns up the wide Drino valley, with the Gjerë mountains rising behind Gjirokaster ahead. We arrive in the middle of the afternoon and check in to a hotel close to the old town, where we stay two nights.
Evening
In the early evening your guide walks you up through the Old Bazaar, where the lanes are paved with polished limestone and the houses are roofed with grey stone slabs, and shows you the way for tomorrow. Dinner tonight is your choice, and the bazaar has plenty of small places to try.
Included
- Drive from Berat to Gjirokaster with your guide
- Sit-down lunch by the Vjosa near Tepelena
- Evening walk through Gjirokaster's Old Bazaar
Free time: Evening free in Gjirokaster
Gjirokaster and the Blue Eye
Gjirokaster old town and castle, then the Blue Eye and back
- Breakfast and dinner
- Stay in Gjirokaster
- Drive about 2 h
Gjirokaster climbs the slope in tiers of stone tower houses, with its castle on the ridge above.
Afternoon
We go up in the morning, before the midday heat, to walk the long vaulted galleries lined with old artillery and to see the US Air Force jet that landed in Albania in 1957, then look out over the Drino valley from the walls. Below the castle your guide takes you into Skenduli House, an Ottoman-era family house with its guest rooms and hidden spaces, and into the Cold War tunnel cut into the hill beneath the town. Lunch is your choice in the bazaar, and the early afternoon is free. At about 4 pm we drive an hour south over the Muzina pass to the Blue Eye, a karst spring where clear water wells up from a deep blue pool. By late afternoon most day-trippers from Saranda have gone.
Evening
Back in Gjirokaster we sit down to dinner together, with qifqi, the town's fried rice balls with herbs.
Included
- Gjirokaster castle with your guide
- Skenduli House
- The Cold War tunnel
- The Blue Eye spring in the late afternoon
- Dinner in Gjirokaster
Easier option: Ride to the castle gate by van and skip the tunnel steps; wait in a café in the bazaar instead.
More active option: Walk up the steep lanes to Zekate House, a three-storey tower house built in the early 19th century, for the highest view over the old town.
Free time: Early afternoon free
Activity: About 3 hours on foot on steep, polished stone lanes that are slippery when wet; the Blue Eye is a short, easy walk.
Butrint, then the Riviera road to Himare
Gjirokaster to Butrint and Ksamil, then north along the coast to Porto Palermo and Himare
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Himare
- Drive about 4 h
We leave Gjirokaster at about 8 am and reach Butrint at about 9:45, after an hour and three quarters over the Muzina pass and down past Saranda to the lagoon.
Morning
Butrint, on the UNESCO list since 1992, was lived in for more than two thousand years, and a local guide shows you the layers in a morning: a Greek theatre, Roman baths, a 6th-century baptistery, a great basilica, Venetian walls and a hilltop castle with a small museum, all in woodland by the Vivari channel.
Afternoon
Lunch is a sit-down meal by the sea at Ksamil. In the afternoon we take the coast road north, past the beaches below Lukovë and Piqeras, and stop at Porto Palermo, where Ali Pasha of Tepelena's small fortress stands on a headland in a sheltered bay.
Evening
We reach Himare in the late afternoon and stay two nights, with time for a swim before a free evening.
Included
- Butrint National Park with a local guide
- Sit-down lunch at Ksamil
- Porto Palermo castle
Free time: Evening free in Himare
Activity: About 2 hours on foot at Butrint on paths, steps and uneven ground, much of it in shade.
Himare: the old town and a free afternoon
Himare old town and castle, then the beach
- Breakfast
- Stay in Himare
- Drive about 30 min
A day to slow down.
Morning
After breakfast the van takes the group a few minutes up the hill to old Himare, a village of stone houses and Orthodox churches inside the walls of its castle, on a ridge above the bay with long views along the coast. Your guide explains how this Greek-speaking corner of Albania kept its own ways through Ottoman and communist rule. The walk back down to the waterfront is about 3 km on a path and quiet road, or the van brings you.
Afternoon
The rest of the day is free: swim at Spile beach in town or at Livadhi a short walk north, read in the shade, or sit over a long seafood lunch on the front. If you want more of a walk, join the active option to Gjipe, a beach at the mouth of a canyon reached only on foot or by boat.
Evening
In the evening the sun sets over the sea; dinner is wherever you like.
Included
- Himare old town and castle with your guide
Optional experiences
- Seasonal boat trip along the coast to beaches and sea caves (price shown at booking)
Easier option: Stay at the beach or the hotel all day and skip the old town.
More active option: Afternoon van ride to the trailhead near Dhermi and a walk of about 30 minutes each way down a stony track to Gjipe beach, with your guide.
Free time: Afternoon and evening free
Over the Llogara Pass to Apollonia and Tirana
Himare over the Llogara Pass to Apollonia, then Tirana
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Tirana
- Drive about 4.5 h
Today is the longest drive of the trip, about 235 km and four and a half hours of driving, because no shorter road links the southern Riviera with the capital; we break it into three parts. We leave Himare at about 8:30 am and follow the coast road through Dhermi, then climb to the Llogara Pass, about 1,000 m up in pine forest, for a coffee and the view back down the coast. The road then drops to the Bay of Vlore and runs north to Apollonia, a Greek colony founded around 600 BC on a hill above the plain, which grew rich under Rome. Walk past the columned front of the bouleuterion, the odeon and the old city wall, then visit the medieval monastery of St Mary and its museum.
Afternoon
Lunch is a sit-down meal near the site.
Evening
From there it is about two hours on the motorway to Tirana, arriving in the late afternoon, and we meet for a farewell dinner in the evening.
Included
- Coffee stop on the Llogara Pass
- Apollonia archaeological park with a local guide
- The monastery of St Mary and its museum
- Sit-down lunch near Apollonia
- Farewell dinner in Tirana
Easier option: At Apollonia, stay on the lower paths by the monastery and the bouleuterion and skip the walk up to the city wall.
Activity: About 1.5 hours on foot at Apollonia on grass and gravel paths with some slopes.
Tirana and home
Tirana to Tirana International Airport
- Breakfast
- Drive about 30 min
Morning
Breakfast, then a free morning.
Afternoon
If your flight leaves in the afternoon, ride the Dajti Express cable car up Mount Dajti for the view over the city and the plain towards the sea, walk round the lake in the Grand Park, or visit the House of Leaves, the museum of the secret police's surveillance in a former Sigurimi building. Your guide helps you plan the morning and checks your flight. The airport transfer is included at a time that suits your flight: Tirana International Airport at Rinas is about 17 km from the centre, 25 to 40 minutes depending on traffic, and you should be there two hours before departure. Check-out is usually late morning, and the hotel can keep your luggage. If you would like more time in Albania, we can add nights in Tirana before or after the trip, or a day in Kruja, with its castle and old bazaar, about an hour north of the city.
Included
- Drop-off at Tirana International Airport (TIA)
Optional experiences
- Dajti Express cable car
- House of Leaves museum
Free time: Morning free
Activity: Any flight time works; for the cable car or a museum, book a flight leaving after about 2 pm.
- Tirana1 night
- Berat2 nights
- Gjirokaster2 nights
- Himare2 nights
- Tirana1 night
- Overnight stop
- Day trip
- By boat or train
Wildlife and weather: May, June, September and October bring warm days and a sea warm enough to swim in from about late May. July and August are very hot inland and the Riviera and the Blue Eye are crowded, so the dated departures avoid them.
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Before you book
Right for you?
Good for you if you want
- Travellers who want Albania's two stone towns properly, with two nights in each
- A mix of history, food and a couple of days by the sea
- Short drives and free afternoons rather than a new hotel every night
- Solo travellers who want a small group and a fair single price
Not for you if you want
- Step-free access: Berat and Gjirokaster are steep, cobbled hill towns
- A beach holiday: the Riviera gets two nights, not a week
- Hiking in the Albanian Alps in the north, which this trip does not visit
- Travellers who want to swim at the Blue Eye, which is not allowed
Book flights after we confirm your seat.
8 nights
Where you'll stay
Your hotels are named in your trip confirmation.
- Tirana1 night
- Berat2 nights
- Gjirokaster2 nights
- Himare2 nights
- Tirana1 night
One price
What's in the price
Included
Accommodation
- 8 nights in central hotels of a 3-star-plus standard: 1 in Tirana, 2 in Berat, 2 in Gjirokaster, 2 in Himare on the Riviera and 1 in Tirana
- Rooms shared, or your own for a supplement
Transport
- Pick-up and drop-off at Tirana International Airport (TIA)
- A private air-conditioned vehicle and driver for the group throughout
- No internal flights, trains or ferries needed
Your guide
- A See Sight Tours guide for the whole trip, with local guides at Butrint and Apollonia
Activities
- Tirana walk: Skanderbeg Square and the Et'hem Bey Mosque
- Bunk'Art 2, Tirana
- The Pyramid of Tirana
- Berat castle quarter and the Onufri Museum
- Wine tasting with meze at a family winery near Berat
- Gjirokaster castle and Skenduli House
- The Cold War tunnel, Gjirokaster
- The Blue Eye spring
- Butrint National Park
- Porto Palermo castle
- Himare old town and castle
- Apollonia and the monastery of St Mary
Meals
- Breakfast daily (8)
- 5 sit-down lunches, on days 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8
- 3 dinners: welcome dinner in Tirana, dinner in Gjirokaster, farewell dinner in Tirana
- Wine tasting with meze near Berat
Not included
- International flights to and from Tirana
- Visa, if your passport needs one
- Travel insurance
- Lunches on days 5, 7 and 9 and dinners on days 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7
- Drinks, except at the wine tasting
- Tips
- Optional activities: the Dajti Express cable car, Riviera boat trips, beach loungers
- Personal expenses
Extras
- Room of your own
- CAD 645 (estimated price)
When you can go
Dates and prices
Pick your start date when you request to book. We check that date and confirm it in your quote.
Prefer to travel without a group or guide? Ask us about arranging hotels, transport and city tours for you to travel independently.
Before you book
Booking terms
Nothing is charged now. Full terms and the cancellation schedule come with your quote, before you accept.
Business addresses
See Sight Tours Trips (USA): 3172 N Rainbow Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89108, United StatesSee Sight Tours Trips (Canada): 5305 50 Avenue, #1091, Red Deer, AB T4N 4B6, Canada+1-888-961-6584Guest reviews
What guests say
Reviews from guests on our day tours.
Jane
October 06, 2026
5/5
Susan
October 06, 2026
5/5
Tom L
October 05, 2026
5/5
MandL83
October 05, 2026
5/5
Darren O
October 05, 2026
5/5
Good to know
Questions
What does the Albania trip price include?
Eight nights in central hotels, breakfast daily, five sit-down lunches, three dinners and a winery tasting, airport transfers both ways, a private vehicle and driver, your See Sight Tours guide throughout with local guides at Butrint and Apollonia, and every visit in the day plan, including Bunk'Art 2, Berat castle, the Cold War tunnel, the Blue Eye and Butrint.
How big is the group?
The small-group trip runs with 7 to 12 guests, so everyone hears the guide in the narrow lanes of Gjirokaster and fits around one table at lunch. Other Albania trips run with up to 16 or 18.
Who leads the trip?
A See Sight Tours guide travels with the group from the welcome dinner in Tirana to the airport on the last day. At Butrint and Apollonia a local site guide joins us, and our own driver stays with the group throughout.
How fit do I need to be?
Moderately. Expect 2 to 3 hours a day on foot, much of it on steep lanes of polished stone in Berat and Gjirokaster that are slippery when wet. You can ride to both castle gates by van, and every walk has an easier choice.
I am travelling solo. What does a room of my own cost?
A room of your own is from CAD 645 more, shown before you book, with no surprise later. Solo travellers are welcome on every departure, and the group is small enough that nobody sits alone at dinner.
When is the best time to visit Albania?
May to June and September to October. Days are warm, the sea is warm enough to swim in from about late May, and the towns are quieter. July and August are very hot inland and crowded on the Riviera and at the Blue Eye, so our dated departures avoid them.
How does booking work and how much does it cost?
The small group starts from CAD 3,795 per person sharing a room, taxes included; private trips start from CAD 6,830. Pick your start date and request to book, and we confirm your trip within 24 hours. No payment is taken until then.
Can we travel privately or on our own dates?
Yes. Besides the small group, the trip runs as a private trip for your party only, on a date you choose, with your own guide and vehicle. If you would rather travel independently on your own dates, ask us from the dates section and we will quote the same hotels and drivers.
Do I need a visa for Albania?
Canadian and US passport holders do not need a visa for a trip of this length. Albania is not in the Schengen area, so days there do not count towards a Schengen stay. We confirm the rules for your passport when you book.
Can you swim at the Blue Eye?
No. Swimming is not allowed at the Blue Eye, and the spring water is cold all year. We visit in the late afternoon, when most day-trippers have left, to walk the paths and see the colour of the pool. Bring a swimsuit for the beaches in Himare instead.
How long are the drives?
Most travel days drive two to three and a half hours, with a sit-down lunch on the way. The longest is day 8, from Himare back to Tirana, about four and a half hours, broken by a coffee on the Llogara Pass and lunch and a guided visit at Apollonia.
See Sight Tours has been providing travel services across North America since 2006. Operating in 20 cities across Canada and the USA, the company specializes in small group tours that offer personalized, high-quality experiences for travelers.
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