Culture and Folklore trip to Albania

Albanian Folk Dancers Albanian Folklore is rich, diversified, and with artistic values. It is a precious treasury inherited from generation to generation. It is rather vivid and continues to be enriched even nowadays. Albanian folklore consists of literary, musical, choreographic, and dramatic folklore. Polyphony is a southern Albanian tradition dating back to ancient Illyrian times, involving blending several independent vocal or instrumental parts. See Tirana, Durres, Vlora, Kruja, Saranda, Berat, and Shkoder! Visit Butrinti, and Gjirokastra, and three UNESCO World Heritage sites! Meet Albanian folk dance groups! Folk dance with local Albanian teachers!

Day 1: Arrival Tirana Airport – Kruja

Arrive in “Mother Teresa” Airport, meet and assist by our representative Drive to Kruja, the capital of Albania during the resistance against the Turks under Scanderbeg, who is our national hero and was a great leader that defeated the Turks in 25 battles. Visit the Scanderbeg Museum, Ethnographic museum the best in Albania, walk through the old Bazar and time for shopping. Dinner with live folk performance Tonight we are assisted by one of the best music band groups and dancers, the clients will enjoy learning some of the Albanian folk songs and dances. Overnight in Kruja Hotel Panorama.

Day 2: – Kruja- Berat

After breakfast drive to Berat, one of the most fascinating Albanian towns with a mixture of cultural influences. Situated at the foot of Tomorri Mountain and on the shores of River Osum, the town is famous for its white-washed houses with many windows which give it the nickname “town of a thousand windows”. Before arriving in Berat we will make a short visit to one of the famous winery in Albania for wine tasting winery Cobo. Berat castle is the only one in Albania that still has houses and inhabitants within its walls. We will visit the Fortress, Onufri Museum, and several churches and mosques. Dinner in a traditional restaurant. Folk dancing with best Berati Music group & dancers. Also this night we will learn some of the Albanian folk songs and dances.

Day 3: – – Berat– Ardenica –Apolonia – Vlora

After breakfast drive to Ardenica Monastery, visit the monastery, and 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. It was a vital stronghold in Caesar’s civil war with Pompey and also important in early Christian history as the resident bishop attended the councils of Ephesus and Chalkis in 431 and 451. The discovered monuments on the site are the fortification wall of the city, the Prytaneon, the Bouleterion, the big and small Stoas, the Odeion, the Theatre, the Nymphaeum, and many more. The museum of Apollonia is hosted in the nearby monastery of the XIV century when can be visited also the Church of St. Mary. After the visit continues to the coastal city of Vlora. Dinner with Folklore program (Laberishte Polyphonic singing).  Overnight at Hotel Regina City in Vlorë.

Day 4: –  Vlora – Llogara- Porto Palermo- Himara- Saranda

After breakfast- drive along the spectacular Albanian Riviera looking down at the Ionian Sea. Upon leaving Radhima, the landscape dramatically changes as we climb through the forest of Llogara National Park. Stop for refreshment and photos in Llogara. Continue driving south through the seven villages of the Himara region. Lunch in a local restaurant in Himara. The region of Himara is rich with natural and historical monuments such as Llamani beach and the 18th-century Panoramic castle of Ali Pasha. After a short coffee break at the springs of Borshi, we’ll continue our tour towards Saranda. Hear polyphonic songs performed, then folk dance with local Saranda group. Dinner in a local restaurant by the sea. Overnight in Saranda Brilant Hotel.

Day 5: Saranda – Butrint – Ksamil

After breakfast continues the drive south on the scenic road to the archeological site of Butrint and enjoys 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. Bustint’s 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. Continue to Ksamil Vilage. Seafood lunch in Ksamil. Drive to Saranda. Evening folklore program with dancers and musicians from Sarandë. Overnight in Saranda Brilant Hotel.

Day 6 : Saranda- Blue Eye- Gjirokastra

Morning departure to the Blue Eye a unique natural wonder with crystal-clear springs and lush vegetation. Lunch on site. Continue on to the historical city of Gjirokastër (Unesco world heritage site) with beautiful Ottoman period architecture and birthplace of Albanian author Ismail Kadare. Free time.  Afternoon folklore program with village dancers and musicians from nearby Lunxheria Mountain. Hotel in Gjirokastër.

Day 7: Gjirokastra – Kelcyra- Permet

After breakfast, we drive to Permet through the wonderful Kelcyra gorge to Permet, which is the Albanian Tosk music with many famous singers and musicians like Laver Bariu, the Lela family. In the Afternoon also we will visit a traditional Permeti family house, where we can see the Albanian Hospitality. Here we will try our national spirit Rakia and local homemade desert Gliko. Dinner in Permet will be obviously a musical affair with performances from a local music group. Overnight in Permet. Hotel Villa Permet

Day8- Permet- Leskovik- Korca- Voskopoja

After breakfast- drive to  Korca through the forests of Leskovik and valleys of Erseke, On the way, we will stop for lunch in one of the best restaurants in the region in Boboshtica village. Continue to Korca Tow ss tour of Korca and drive to Voskopoja which once was a major city with a monastery and more than 26 churches, now a rural place. The region is one of the centers of the Vlach or Arumun people, with their own language and traditions. Visit one of the better-preserved churches. Dinner is in the traditional restaurant accompanied by a Saze playing and singing group from Korça. Saze is a clarinet-type instrument widespread in Albania but especially in the southeastern part. Overnight in Voskopoja-Hotel Vila Falo.

Day9- Voskopoja- Pogradec- Tirana

After breakfast, the tour continues from Voskopoje- Korca to Pogradec at the shore of Lake Ohrid, where we will visit the Drilon natural oasis and the Villa of the ex-Albanian dictator. Have lunch in a family-run restaurant with home cooking (optional). After a walk around Drilon with lush vegetation. Drive to Elbasan, the old Roman town of Scampis, one of the towns along the Via Egnatia connecting Rome through the Via Apia with Constantinople, where the ethnographical museum located in a traditional house will be visited. We depart for Tirana Proceed to Tirana start walking city tour. Visit Et’Hem Bej Mosque, one of the most beautiful in Albania. Afternoon at leisure, dinner with Folk dancing music at a local restaurant. Overnight in Tirana.

Day 10 – Tirana- Tirana Airport

After breakfast free time at your leisure, transfer to Tirana International airport- End of the services.

Including: Professional guide service in English, French, Italian German, Russian, Good standard, 3, 4 * Hotels BB, Dinners, Museums entry fees, Transfers with Modern AC- Minibus, Bus throughout the Tour. The entire local taxes, Local guides, 9 nights’ life folk music & dancers, dance teachers, 9 Dinners.