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and Slavic culture. Overnight in Saranda: Hotel Brilant 4* - or similar
Visit Old Town, St. Bogorodica Perivlepta Church, St Sophia Cathedral and the
stunning St. John Kaneo Church (outside only). Day 6: Saranda – Butrint – Saranda/ Albania (40km – 1h30min)
Enjoy a boat ride on this extraordinary lake Breakfast at the hotel and drive for 40 min to Butrinti Archaeological Park
This impressive walking tour will stir your imagination about the ancient word
Afternoon visit to a monastic complex, known for its rich history of orthodox during the peak of the Roman power and the classical Greek mythology. Under
religion, some of the painting achievements and wood carving, displayed within the Byzantine Empire, Butrint became the center of a bishopric in Epirus Vetus.
the church of St. Naum, a priest and scholar with a famous legacy. Start the visit with the Asclepius temple, theatre, Roman portico and baths, early
Christian baptistery, byzantine basilica, defensive walls and their impressive
Overnight in Ohrid: Hotel SU 4* - or similar gates.
Time for lunch and free afternoon in the beach
Day 4: Ohrid – Berat (North Macedonia – Albania) (195km – 4hrs)
Breakfast at the hotel, check out and depart towards Berat/Albania, with stop Overnight in Saranda: Hotel Brilant 4* - or similar
en route for refreshments (Please note border procedures).
Upon our arrival, we’ll have time for optional lunch or Tour & Wine testing in Day 7: Saranda – Gjirokastra – Tirana (Albania) (290km – 5h30min)
Cobo winery Breakfast at hotel. We’ll drive (1 hr 15 mins) to the medieval town of Gjirokastra.
Stop en route to visit Blue Eye Park, which is a karst spring located on the
Wine testing at COBO Winery (Optional) western slopes of Mount Mali Gjerë in Albania. The water in the inner source is
The Çobo Winery currently consist of several cultivated vineyards, a spacious a very dark blue, like the pupil of an eye, and a lighter color of blue as an outer
kulla (a form of traditional Albanian architecture), and the winery itself, and a wine ring - the iris, which gives the impression of a blue eye
presentation room, elegantly constructed and furnished in the Berat style. A tour Continue driving to Gjirokastra (40 min)
of the facilities includes an extensive viewing of the wine making process and
detailed explanations, punctuated by alternating poignant and comic vignettes Start with the walking tour of Gjirokastra. Another UNESCO World Heritage Site,
that paint a glowing picture of the family’s history and the origins of their wines. the old town is famous for being a well-preserved Ottoman style town, with
its fortress overlooking the entire city and the old houses that lean against the
Our visit to Berat medieval town, listed under UNESCO Heritage, will start slopes of the hills with their beautiful old wooden facades. Visit the Castle and
from the Fortress. Berat is known as the “City of thousand windows” or “City explore the old town and the bazaar, with its characteristic shops and great
of windows one above the other”. The town is composed of 3 parts; Gorica, opportunity to interact with local folks.
situated on the far side of the river; Mangalem, situated on the fortress side of After typical lunch, proceed driving to Tirana
the river and the Residential quarter within the fortress known as Kalaja. The
old part of the city has some religious buildings like mosque and Byzantine Overnight in Tirana: Hotel Colosseo 4* - or similar
churches. Visit The Fortres and Onufri Museum situated inside Orthodox
Cathedral of the Dormition of St. Mary Day 8: Tirana (Albania)
Today, after our breakfast at the hotel, we’ll start the walking tour of Tirana - the
Overnight in Berat: Hotel Grand White City 4* - or similar main Italian influenced boulevard, the National Historic Museum, the Bunker1,
Pazari i Ri (New bazar - where you can see a green market, fishops and also
Day 5: Berat – Vlora – Albanian riviera – Porto Palermo – Saranda taste artisanal ice creams)
(Albania) (235km – 5h30min) Transfer to Dajti Mountain, which will start with the ‘boarding’ in the cable car.
Breakfast, check out of your hotel. Departure to Saranda, with several stops
en route for pictures and refreshments. Enjoy the scenic mountain ride, Amazing tour of Dajti Mountain National Park. Just 25km east of Tirana is Mt
descending the rocky shore and pristine beaches of Ioanian Sea, offering photo Dajti National Park (1611m). A sky-high, Austrian-made cable car, Dajti Express,
opportunities of the natural landscape, unique village settings, and fortresses takes 15 minutes to rise to (almost) the top. It’s a scenic trip over bunkers,
Visit the Castel of Ali Pasha Tepelena in Porto Palermo. Continue driving to forest, farms and hilltops. Experience the breathtaking cable car ride up to the
Saranda (50 km) “Dajti balcony,” a natural plane formation at an elevation of 1200m, offering
spectacular views over Tirana to the Adriatic Sea.
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