• Gently-paced exploration of rural & coastal Albania

• Spectacular mountain scenery & countryside

• Evocative archaeological sites at Apollonia & Butrint

• Explore traditional Ottoman houses & historic mosques

• Engaging museum collections in Tirana & across Albania 

• Centrally located hotels in Tirana, Gjirokastra & a historic house hotel in Berati

Undiscovered and largely misunderstood, Albania is perfectly located between Greece at its southern border and Italy, which it faces across a narrow strait of the Adriatic Sea. At this Western edge of the Balkan Peninsula, Albania’s complex history is both furrowed into its landscape and weighs heavily on its shoulders. Yet, it is a history that compels the visitor to engage with it, especially given the resilience of its people and its contrasting cultural heritage.

Neolithic, Bronze and Iron Age settlements mark its early history, after which Illyrian tribes dominated the peninsula, from one of whom the Albanians trace their descent. These tribes later coexisted with Greek colonists who settled along the coast from the seventh century BC onwards. The ‘Hellenization’ of southern Albania led to wars between rival kingdoms, viewed by the Romans as an opportunity to invade and conquer, which resulted in their division of the territory into three Balkan provinces – Dalmatia, Macedonia and Moesia Superior. Prosperity blossomed with much investment to develop and protect road communications which continued under the Byzantine emperors – hence the remarkable wealth of classical sites throughout the country.

In the Medieval period, regional Byzantine supremacy was challenged by Bulgars and Avars while the ‘Albanoi’ emerged as a powerful local force. Feudal citadels mark this unsettled era as Crusaders, Byzantines and even Venetians vied for strategic control. Competing dynastic interests across the Balkans could not contain the looming threat of the Ottomans who swept through Albania and despite some revolts both major and minor in the fifteenth century, the Turks regained control and ruled until 1912 when Albania finally gained independence. 

Chaos and occupation were a heavy veil over the first republic and the successive kingdom of Ahmet Zog which was formed in between the two world wars. Post World War II, the Stalinist regime of Enver Hoxha dominated the country until 1992; his autocratic legacy accented by a world first - a constitutional atheist state. In the decades since, Albania has embraced democracy, re-engaged with the world whilst always offering a warm welcome to visitors.

The long and complex history of Albania has survived to be discovered via its archaeological sites at Butrint and Apollonia, inland towns and rural villages such as Berat and Gjirokastra, and many mosques, churches and art and artefacts both ancient and modern. These are some of the facets we shall encounter, which will make for a journey of discovery to a country that until recently was so close, yet so far.   

Day 1: Monday 24 May – Wefly from Heathrow to Tirana airport arriving at midday. We then drive the short distance to coastal Durres where we pause for lunch (not included). Founded by Greek settlers from Corinth on a pre-existing Illyrian settlement,parts of the amphitheatre remain whilst the archaeological museum is rich in Greek and Roman finds, the latter of which we shall visit. We then drive to inner Albania to Berat to check in to our hotel and our first group dinner – wine, water and coffee are included with all group lunches and dinners.

Day 2: Tuesday 25 May - Today we explore one of Albania’s oldest towns, Berat. It thrived in the Middle Ages and because of its historic status, Berati has survived the destructive modern era.The imposing Citadel commands astonishing views after which shall visit a number of its small churches and houses including the Onufri Museum dedicated to the Albanian school of icon painters.After lunch, not included, we visit the Ethnographic Museum and two historic sixteenth century mosques.Our second group dinner will be in a typical restaurant in the town.

Day 3: Wednesday 26 May –We depart Berati and make our way westwards to Kolonjë to visit the Monastery of Ardenica to view the fine eighteenth century Church of St Mary. After a group lunch, we continue to the town of Gjirokastra where we shall stay for three nights. The evening will be free.

Day 4: Thursday 27 May– We spend the morning exploring medieval Gjirokastra, a hilltop town which flourished under the Ottomans with many surviving traditional Ottoman houses and an imposing citadel. After lunch (not included), we drive into the nearby countryside to visit the remarkable thirteenth century Labova of the Cross Orthodox Church after which, we return to our hotel via the small, semi-excavated Romantheatre and the possible location of Hadrianopolis,the townbuilt by the Emperor Hadrian. We shall dine as a group in the town.

Day 5: Friday 28 May –Today, we drive to the south-west corner of Albania, close to the Straits of Corfu to visit the impressive coastal site at Butrint with impressive Greek, Roman and medieval remains, and now a UNESCO World Heritage site. After a late group lunch at the nearby coastal village of Ksamili,we return via the Church of St Nicholas at Mesapotami and the remarkable Blue Eye, an unusual underwater spring. The evening will be free.

Day 6: Saturday 29 May– Departing Gjirokastra mid-morning, we return to the centre of Albania to visit Apollonia.The second Greek colony on the Illyrian mainland was a strategic and economic force. When young, the future emperor, Augustus, studied rhetoric here. After a group lunch, this semi-excavated site reveals a range of re-erected buildings with fine views. We continue to Tirana and our final hotel where the evening will be free.

Day 7: Sunday 30 May –This morning is spent in Tirana beginning with a visit to the city’s archaeological museum After a coffee break, we continue to the eighteenth-century Mosque of Et’hem Bey, a remarkable survivaland conclude the morning at the fascinating National Gallery of Art displaying modern works. Lunch (not included) and the remainder of the afternoon will be free to explore the city. We conclude our week with our final group dinner.

Day 8: Monday 31 May –We depart after breakfast and make the short journey to Tirana Airport.

Price £ 2845    Price without Flights  £ 2655     Deposit £425   Single Supplement £ 325 (Double for Sole Use)

Hotels 2 nights at the 3* Hotel Mangalemi, Berat. 3 nights at the 4* Hotel Argjiro, Gjirokastra; 2 nights at the 5* Hotel Rogner, Tirana. All accommodation with breakfast.

Flights British Airways

            Outward:           BA380 Depart London Heathrow Terminal 5 0800 arrive Tirana 1200

            Return:              BA381 Depart Tirana 1250 arrive London Heathrow Terminal 5 1520

Price includes 4 dinners & 3 lunches with water, coffee & wine. All local transfers, entry fees & gratuities, City tax, the services of James Hill and our local guide

Not included Travel to/from Heathrow, 3 dinners and 4 lunches

Price includes 3 dinners & 4 lunches with wine, water & coffee, all local transfers, City Tax, entry fees & gratuities, services of James Hill and our local guides

Not included Travel to/from Heathrow, 3 dinners & 2 lunches

Please note our tours generally involve a significant amount of standing and walking, sometimes across uneven ground, or over cobbled streets, or up and down steps and inclines. We do not have an upper age limit for participants, but we require you to have a level of fitness which does not affect other participants' enjoyment of the tour. Please also note that many palaces, gardens, villas, museums and galleries have limited seating and perhaps do not have lifts. You should be able to walk at a reasonable pace and/or stand for at least twenty minutes without aid or requiring a rest. If you are in any doubt, please do contact us for advice on the tour’s suitability for you.