The Diamond-Shaped City

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This tour offers you to have a look at 2 Albanian precious north cities Valbona and Theth. Full of tree and crystal waters are their characteristics.

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Overview

Holiday style:

This itinerary includes the main highlights of this fascinating country as well as some well-kept secrets that provide true insight into the Albanian culture. There will be some long drives (maximum 5 hours on day 5) and windy roads through spectacular wild scenery of southern Albania. Accommodation will be provided in guest houses.

Short description:

DURATION:	5 Days
TRIP CODE:	D5-DSH
GROUP SIZE:	4-12(max)
MIN AGE:	15 Years old
MAX ALTITUDE:	2000m
ACCOMMODATION:	Pension/ Village homes x 3 nts
MEALS:	3 breakfasts, 2 lunches 3 dinners
DEPARTS:	June until September
JOINING POINT:	Tirana Airport
IMPORTANT:	Make sure your chosen holiday is guaranteed to run before you purchase your air tickets and make any other travel arrangements

Brief Itinerary:

DAY 1
Tirane-Shkoder
Time: 1h 41min
Distance: 93km

DAY 2
Shkoder-Theth
Time: 2h 22min
Distance: 76km

DAY 3-4
Theth-Theth
Time:
Distance

DAY 5
Airport-Tirane
Time: 21min
Distance: 17,1 km

Product Description

Details

DAY 1

Our guide will meet you at the center of Tirana at eight o’clock. We will drive towards Shkodra. Near the southern end of Lake Shkodra, is situated the Rozafa Castle. Founded by the Illyrians, rebuilt by the Venitians and the Ottomans. Rozafa hold the legend of a woman buried in the ramparts, who supports the structure. Visit the renovated museum. Bring a torch and go exploring. There are amazing views from the highest point. After this we enter the city of Shkodra. A diamond-shaped city wedged between the Rozafa Citadel, the magnificent Albanian Alps, deep blue Lake Shkodra, a 30-kilometre sand beach and the serene Buna river delta reservation - Shkodra is a diamond in the rough with plenty of potential The walking tour of Shkodra will include the visit of the Old Bazaar, visit the Cathedral of St. Stephen, the city centre of one of the oldest and most historic places in Albania and the visit to the “Marubian “ photo Gallery. A little coffee brake and then we will drive towards Boga. Boga is one of the many alpine villages in the District of Shkodra in the North of Albania. It is located surrounded of high mountains under an alpine climate and in a mountainous fresh air. We will have dinner here.
Overnight in Boga.

DAY 2

After breakfast we will start exploring Boga. We will start hiking The Bridashi Mountain located on the Cursed Mountains. The trail to the top begins in the village of Bogë, 950 m above sea level, in the direction of the flow of the Dry Creek and winds through pine woods and cliffs. At the height of 2126 meters the view is stunning and extends up to the mountains of Rabë and Livadh. Leaving besides the hiking you could do on the mountain, you can also visit the Church of Saint Michael, the only in the area and a very old one. Stop for a snack break and then drive towards Thethi.
Overnight in Theth.

DAY 3

We’ll start exploring Thethi after eating breakfast. Once you pass the Grunas canyon, down to Electric Plant of Ndërlysa and walks straight over the side village of Kaperre until you reaches the Black Well, which is formed by the Black River which comes down from Kaprreja. Once you have passed the bridge and take the road to Kaprre, it appears before you one of the most wonderful landscapes formed by the erosion of the cliff by the river, where some bathtubs and waterfalls are created, which are the most beautiful sights in Albania. The Blue Eye is one of the rare beauties of the entire Albania. It is formed from the Black River, which flaw out from the Black Top. The Black River is entirely formed from the melting snow in the Alps. After we visit The Blue Eye of Kaprre, we go back to the village of Theth for dinner.
Overnight in Theth.

DAY 4

Today is going to be all about exploring caves. After breakfast we go on road. Thethi has natural monuments such as caves. We mention here Cuckoo Cave, Cave of Shakujve Valley, the “Red” Cave, the Cave in between the stones in the Thethi field “over Ulaj”, Pepes Cave in Okol and Water hole in the neck of Pejë. The Water hole in the neck of Peja at times of rains issues water, which is supplied by underground glacier lakes: the lakes of Jezerca and Vuthaj. But those that have attracted the attention of many specialists, climbers, speleologist, geographers and geologists, are the enormous caves of Harapi over the Okol and the Cave of Circles over Ulaj. The large size and the interesting phenomena of these caves like underground lakes, siphons, stalactites galleries and stalagmites etc., in centuries have been the cause of creating legends by residents, and today we'll be able to see this miracles of nature.
The path passes over small streams that end on Thethi river, up to the water source "Kroi i Shtrazës" in 930 m altitude, where the pine forest begins. As we approach Peja Pass the trail becomes steeper, running through the rocky blocks. From here the trail descends gently eastward to the "Beautiful Hollows" where overnight is planned in tents.

DAY 5 -Departure

From the "Beautiful Dips", the trail runs eastwards towards Jezerca. The ascent to the north eastern ridge of Jezerca Peak gets difficult; the terrain becomes more rugged and exposed. With a height of 2694 meters, Jezerca summit dominates all the Albanian Alps and the view from the top is amazing. After a short break we follow the same path to Okol. We'll stop for a snack in the highest peak of Albania, and then we go back to Thethi village. And after this drive back to Tirana.

Dates and Prices

WHAT'S INCLUDED AND NOT INCLUDED

What's included
* English-speaking local guide
* Group airport transfers
* All meals throughout the holiday
* All land transport required by the itinerary
* National park entrance fees
* All excursions mentioned in the itinerary.

What's not included
* Travel insurance
* Visas
* Airport taxes
* Airport transfers other than group transfers
* Extra activities and excursions
* Tips for local staff
* Miscellaneous personal expenditure

SUPPLEMENTS

Rooming on tour & Single Room Option (Not applicable to self-guided holidays).
Most group tours are based on customers sharing twin-bedded rooms. If you book as an individual, you will be roomed with someone of the same gender. However, on many tours we offer the opportunity to pay a supplement to pre-book a single room. On some of these tours a single room will be provided at some of the night-stops but for logistical reasons not all. Individual Trip Notes clarify this. If, for whatever reason, we are unable to provide a single room as outlined in the Trip Notes, we will refund a proportion of the supplement paid to us for the Single Room Option.

Where you are able to purchase a single room, the price does not necessarily guarantee you a single room for every night of the tour.
All of our group tours are planned and operated on a twin-share basis, meaning that the standard cost is based either on individual travelers sharing accommodation with another group member of the same sex, or people who book together sharing accommodation.

Please refer to the tour notes where the single room option availability is detailed on a night by night basis for this tour, and the price for the available nights is detailed on the dates & prices tab by departure date.
For Self-Guided trips the Single Room supplement offers the option of a single room each and is charged per person. The Single Room supplement also applies to the third person in a party of three that will be accommodated in a single room.

PRE POST TOUR SERVICE

Transfers
If you need a pre tour transfer from the airport to the hotel, or the other way around Post tour transfer, from the hotel to the airport, please let us know sending by email your request. After we will make all the arrangement for you.

Accommodations
If your flight comes days in advance, or you want to stay longer than other participants of your tour, we can arrange the accommodation for you. If you are interested please send us a request to the follow email address: info@ivisitalbania.com

DATA

Please send us an email at info@ivisitalbania.com, asking for availability.

Participants & Transit
I Visit Albania consciously chooses to travel in small groups. For this trip, the maximum 16 participants. We guarantee a trip based on the minimum number of permanent participants. This destination is that a minimum of 6 participants. A journey can already with fewer participants are guaranteed. The minimum age for these trips is 18 years.

100% No Surcharge Guarantee
Once booked and confirmed we will guarantee the price will not increase, whatever the circumstances. You will not be approached to pay fuel surcharges unlike the vast majority of other adventure tour operators.

Tour Prices
Tour prices shown on this website are a guide only. For flight-inclusive group tours the selling price at the time you book your holiday could be different to that shown here, due to current flight availability. Please refer to the trip notes for details of what is included in the cost.

Tour Durations
The tour duration shown above is based on the Land Only length of the tour. Please be aware that the flight inclusive duration of the tour may be longer.

Tour Itineraries
Please be aware that the specific itinerary on some of our tours may differ depending on departure date. Please check the relevant trip notes for the most up-to-date information regarding the trip itinerary.

Child Prices
Child prices applicable for ages 11 and under at time of travel. (Not applicable to self-guided holidays as these are currently sold to adults only).

Price Changes
Any changes to prices will be kept updated on this web page, in accordance with above.

Tour Information

ACCOMMODATION

During this trip we stay in different types of accommodation which are always attractive and nicely situated. We stay mostly in small hotels.
Standard - Our mid-range accommodation offers a good level of service often with other amenities such as a restaurant, bar, garden or swimming pool. Generally rooms will be comfortable with en-suite facilities.
Accommodation and service levels in Albania are generally very good. We try to use smaller, family-run hotels and pensions that might not offer the same luxuries as larger chain-style hotels, but they do provide a warm welcome, a comfortable place to stay and the chance to gain a better understanding of local life.

ROOM LAYOUT AND SINGLE

* If you go, you do not pay extra fee for traveling alone. We or assume that you are sharing a room (or tent if applicable) with a fellow traveler of the same gender. If you prefer to have your own room, you can for € xxxxx, - additional books a single room.
* If you travel as a couple, share together a room (or tent). You can choose between a 'twin' or a 'double'. A twin room has two twin beds; one has a double bed. Some hotels only have twin rooms and sometimes all doubles have been forgiven so you still have two twin beds.
* If you travel with three of them, two people sharing a double or 'twin' room (or tent) and one participant is assigned to a twin room (or tent) with another fellow traveler of the same gender. If you prefer to have your own room, you can for € xxxxxx, - additional books a single room.

When making the reservation you can specify what kind of room layout you desire.

BUDGET INFO

You will need some extra money to cover meals and drinks not included in the tour price, any optional sightseeing, souvenirs and items of a personal nature such as laundry.
The reference amount of pocket money for this trip is € 250, - per person. This amount is an average of what travelers in recent years have spent during this trip to meals and refreshments, additional excursions, entrance fees, any local airport taxes and gratuities. Of course, your own spending habits this also decisive. Souvenirs are therefore not included. During the trip several (optional) excursions, you spot (using the tour leader) can book. If a better excursion can be booked in advance, then it will be listed in the itinerary and on the booking form. So you can still give your group an individual accent.Food
The costs for meals may vary depending upon location, type of restaurant and number of courses eaten and so the prices given are an average guide. Local restaurants located off the beaten track may be less expensive, whereas an upmarket restaurant located in the centre of a major city may charge more.

Light lunch £: 4.00
Dinner £: 10.00

Drink
The prices for drinks can vary greatly depending upon location and the prices detailed below are an average guide. In general you would expect that drinks purchased in a supermarket or local bar to be less expensive, whilst drinks in an upmarket bar or restaurant may be more expensive.

Bottle of Beer £: 1.50
Water £: 0.50

OPTIONAL - EXURSIONS

Some free time has been allowed for you to explore on your own or with your travelling companions.

TIPPING - TOUR LEADER

At your discretion you might also consider tipping your Tour Leader in appreciation of the efficiency and service you receive.
The amount 20 euro, of tipping is a directive except the tips of the Dutch or local tour guide. Travelling is common to eg. Drivers, cooks and guides to tip. Gratuities are often an indispensable supplement to the income, which is usually a whole family depends. In many cases you can give a tip itself. Common expenses (group tips, entrance fees, etc.) are usually paid from the joint pot for which a contribution is requested to all participants. When you are satisfied with the tour leader yourself, you like him / her, of course, give a tip.

TIPPING - LOCAL CREW

Although entirely voluntary, tipping is a recognised part of life in this region of the world. Some local staff will look to members of the group for personal recognition of particular services provided. Accordingly, you should allow approx. €20 for tipping.

In order to make things easier for you, the Tour Leaders may organise a group’s tips kitty and if this is the case, they will account for it throughout the tour.

Preparation

PREPARING FOR YOUR TOUR

At least one set of casual / non-walking clothes will be useful for wearing in hotels on this holiday. Whilst walking you must not worry about how you look: comfort and protection against bad weather are of prime importance. Because mountain weather is so very variable, we recommend a number of thin layers rather than a few thick ones. The following list is our suggested guide to help you with your packing based upon our many years of travelling/walking. Using your own judgment for packing is of course important, especially with regard to casual clothing etc but please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about packing for your holiday, or are uncertain as to the suitability of your clothing and equipment.

RESERVING YOUR PLACE

To reserve your place on this tour you will need to check availability on the I Visit Albania website. Our tours can fill up quickly so you are advised to book as early as possible. If your chosen date is ‘Available’ or ‘Guaranteed’ we will be able to provisionally hold you a space for up to 48 hours. For Self-Guided holidays and Private Journeys simply choose your date of travel and let us know so we can confirm all ground services. The easiest way to confirm your booking is through our website. When you are ready to book, we normally require a 10% non-refundable deposit, but for some holidays this may be more to cover such items as permit fees, internal flights or other non-refundable services. If your travel starts within 60 days of booking, full payment will be required at the time of booking. 100% No Surcharge Guarantee The price paid for our holidays is no longer subject to change. Once booked and confirmed we will guarantee the price you pay will not increase, whatever the circumstances. You will not be approached to pay fuel surcharges unlike the vast majority of other adventure tour operators. The price guarantee applies to all new bookings departing between 1st January 2017 and 31st December 2017.

ESSENTIAL INFO

Passport Information You need a passport to return six months validity. Vaccinations and Visa The visa is issued on arrival in Albania and is free of charge. As a traveler, you are responsible to have the correct travel documents. No visa required for most nationalities, including UK passport holders, most other EU nationalities, US, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand. There are no specific health risks. Other nationalities should consult their local embassy or consular office. All visa information is subject to change. You should confirm all visa related questions with the relevant Embassy prior to departure.

DOCUMENTS

• Passport - including appropriate visas

• Photocopies of all documents (keep separate)

• Airline tickets (or printouts of your e-tickets with the airline booking reference)

• Travel insurance details

• Emergency contact numbers

• Trip dossier

• Credit cards/ traveller’s cheques

EATING AND DRINKING

Food in Albania is quite varied thanks to the many influences on the country, particularly Mediterranean, combining both Turkish and European tastes. Dairy products, especially milk and yoghurt are present in almost every meal, usually locally sourced. Meals are reasonably priced at 10-15 euros per person for traditional dishes including baked rice, casseroles, stuffed aubergine and jani meat (beef or lamb sauteed with onions, garlic and spices). Fresh fish is also plentiful and is an important ingredient in many dishes. We reccommend sampling Tirana stew, Elbasani yoghurt and baked phyllo pie. For dessert Baklava is very popular. Your leader will recommend restaurants for each evening. WEATHER & SEASONALITY Albania generally experiences a Mediterranean climate with summer temperatures at 25degC on average in the day, and the warmest months are July and August where temperatures can rise to 30degC. It becomes cooler further inland towards Korca during these months, especially in the evenings with high temperatures around 25degC. There is always the small chance of rain in the mountains yet we aim not to travel in the coldest and wettest months, which are November to January. Berat also experiences a Mediterranean climate but thanks to its location in the shadow of Mt Tomorr, summers are much warmer than expected for the Mediterranean.

CLOTHING

• Walking boots and spare laces

• Trainers/ sandals

• Walking socks

• T-shirts

• Trekking trousers

• Short trousers

• Light fleece

• Thick fleece

• Thermal Baselayer shirt

• Waterproof jacket with hood

• Waterproof trousers

• Warm Gloves

• Sun Hat

• Warm Hat

FOREIGN EXCHANGE

ATM Availability: Most larger towns. Credit Card Acceptance: Credit cards are not widely accepted in Albania. You can also withdraw cash with your credit card, but (usually) not checkout in shops and restaurants. Make sure you, especially in the mountain villages, have enough cash to pay for your meals. Travellers Cheques: Travellers Cheques are not widely accepted in Albania, though you should take some as a back-up in case of emergencies. Local Currency: Albanian Lek. Recommended Currency for Exchange: Sterling, US Dollars and Euros cash is widely accepted in Exchange Shopps in major towns and cities. Most transactions in Albania are done on a strictly cash only basis using the Lek. Where to Exchange: Exchange offices in major towns and cities. Electric Supply & Plugs 2 Pin Round.

EQUIPMENT

Take a water bottle, a sun hat and suncream. A torch is useful in case of powercuts/emergencies. Camera. It is also important to bring the following: good waterproof, ankle-high hiking boots, warm clothing such as a fleectrui, light rain gear (waterproof jacket and pants) a daypack, headgear (cap). Sunglasses, sunburn, anti-mosquito repellent, walking sticks (if you like to walk along here) A sleeping bag, you do not have to bring on this trip.

• Daypack/rucksack (size approx. 35 litre capacity)

• 2 Large water bottles (1 litre each)

• Towel (essential)

• Torch

• Camera & accessories

• Binoculars (optional)

• A variety of dry bag/plastic bags

• Sunglasses

• Trekking poles (highly recommended)

• Washing/Shaving kit

• Insect Repellent

• Small personal First Aid kit

• Anti-Bacterial Handwash

• Sun Cream & lip salve

FOOTWEAR

Comfortable shoes or sandals for visiting the sites and towns. Clothing We advise you to wear layers of clothing that can be easy on and off in case of change of the weather. Weather is changeable in the mountains and it can be cool, especially at night, so bring a warmer jacket/fleece. A raincoat is essential at all times in case of the odd shower. You should dress with respect in the rural villages so bring some long trousers. Don't forget your swimming costume.

LUGGAGE ON TOUR

One main piece of baggage and a daypack. Remember you are expected to carry your own luggage so don’t overload yourself. Please bear in mind there are lots of stairs in Albania and no portarage in the hotels. We advise you to bring your luggage in a flexible backpack, gym bag or a suitcase with a soft top. In connection with the limited luggage we ask you not to take hard suitcase. Take especially not bring too much, but limit you to what you really need. You are responsible for carrying your luggage to the property. Luggage 20kg Airlines are usually one piece of luggage up to 20 kilos. For domestic flights, some airlines apply a lower limit luggage. This is clearly stated in the "travel info" tab, under the heading flight. Please ensure the weight of your main baggage is restricted to 12kg-15kg. The following items can also be useful:

• Face wipes

• Moisturising cream

• Snacks/energy bars

• Padlock for your kitbag

• Small mirror

• Earplugs

• Cold water travel wash (preferably biodegradable)

• Travel adaptor These items are also useful but don’t pack them in your hand luggage – put them in your main bag only!

• Penknife/small scissors

• Safety pins

• Small sewing/repair kit

• Nail clippers Please ensure you carry essential personal medication in your hand luggage rather than checked in bags.

MEDICATIONS

We recommend you to take a modest journey pharmacy. Consider including painkillers, disinfectants, sunburn (blisters) patches, anti-fever, diarrhea, constipation, insect bites and motion sickness. In addition, a tick and ORS (Oral Rehydration Salts, against dehydration) is recommended. Our tour guides are also a limited first-aid kit. Use your special medication, please bring enough and ask your pharmacist to prepare a travel document for you. Keep this document in your hand luggage.

PERSONALE FIRST AID KIT

Your tour leader will be first aid trained and will carry a first aid kit. However, we recommend that you carry a small first aid kit for personal use. This could contain things like plasters, sterile dressings and bandages, a blister kit, pain killers e.g. paracetamol and ibuprofen, antiseptic cream, antihistamine cream (for insect bites), sunburn cream, anti-diarrhoea pills e.g. Imodium or Lomotil and rehydration salts e.g. dioralyte.

SAFETY AND ADVICE

The safety of customers and staff is at I.V.A always comes first. Through our contacts with agents and local authorities, we continuously monitor the safety situation at all our destinations. For current information on the security situation at your destination, please refer to the central government's website: travel advice.

EMERGENCIES AND DISASTERS

Make no trackers at home! Make sure that at home always copies of both your itinerary if you have flight. We will send a list of the hotels we stay during the trip because this change sometimes and rooms are often booked under a different name. In case of emergency we are accessible for both travelers and at home 24 hours a day. Why not call the hotel but I.V.A. During office hours you can call us on +355696040640. Outside office hours, you will be redirected to our emergency service or you can directly call our emergency number: +355696040640 Tip: create a digital file to. Scan your passport, visa, e-tickets and other important documents and email it to yourself. So you have, in case of loss or theft while traveling, always copies of your important papers on hand.