6 Days Discover South of Albania from Corfu Greece

Meet and greet at Saranda port,  after check -in continue the drive south on the scenic road to the archeological site of Butrint and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.

 Continue on to ancient Butrinti, dating back 2500 years. In the ruins, it visits the Amphitheatre from the 3rd century and the temple of Aesculapius. The Baptistery from the 6th century has colorful mosaics and is one of the largest baptisteries east of the Adriatic. Butrints’ ancient acropolis is on the top of the hill overlooking the entire site and affords an impressive view of the area. The old fortress houses the new small archaeological museum, which contains recent finds from the site.

Butrint is truly one of the last unspoiled natural and ancient historical areas in the Mediterranean. Return to Saranda.

Dinner in the best Local restaurant and overnight in Hotel Brilant.

In the morning to Gjirokastra taking the inland road, and journey about 3 hours south to the “Museum City” of Gjirokastra.
Lunch at a local restaurant.
Visit the Gjirokaster fortress, which stands high above the city for a panoramic view of the beautiful mountainous landscape.

We leave Gjirokastra and pass by the “Blue Eye,” a natural spring near an old trout farm and an ideal spot for a picnic by the deep blue natural spring. 
Overnight in Berat.

After breakfast drive to Durres – the ancient Greco-Roman port city of Dyrrachium. Formerly called Durrazzo, Durres is one of the oldest towns in Albania.
ee the Byzantine city walls, Roman amphitheater. Proceed to Kruja – one of the biggest cities in Northern Albania.

Kruja is the “city of history” and best known as the hometown of Albania’s National Hero, Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg. Kruja offers many quality restaurants with magnificent views of the countryside below it.

Visit the Castle, the Skanderbeg Museum, and the Ethnographic Museum. Continue to Tirana coffee break and drive to Tirana this time free time in your hands, you  can explore the nightlife of Tirana, walking in the ex-block area known as “the forbidden town” where the villas of the communists’ leaders are still standing next to trendy boutiques, expensive jewelry shops, and active local pubs.

Overnight in Tirana.

After breakfast, our tour will continue to Archeological Park of Apollonia. Here during the walking tour, we will visit the ruins of the ancient city, the monastery of Saint Mary, and the archeological museum. The ancient city of Apollonia of Illyria was founded at the beginning of the VII century BC. by Greek colons coming by the cities of Corinth and Corcyra. Apollonia became an emporium of merchandising between Greeks and Illyrians and was taken by Aristotle as a model in his analysis of oligarchy due to the distinct and separate Greek and Illyrian communities. The city prospered very much in roman times.

Procced to travel in Vlora, where we stop for lunch and en route, we pass the castle of Porto Palermo, located near Himara, also known as the castle of Ali Pashe Tepelena. Our drive to south passes through many beautiful villages like Lukova, Borsh, Qeparo, Himara, Vuno, and Dhermi, which all have very beautiful beaches. Lunch in a local restaurant in Himara or Dhermi Beach. For a dramatic change in scenery, we drive high up into the mountains to Alpine Llogara Pass.

Overnight in Saranda.

After breakfast, we drop of at  Saranda port.