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 4) and windy roads through spectacular wild scenery of southern Albania. All hotels are 3 star with en suite rooms yet the standard may vary depending on location.
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Short description:
| DURATION: | 9 Days |
| TRIP CODE: | D9-WTA |
| GROUP SIZE: | 4-12(max) |
| MIN AGE: | 10 Years old |
| MAX ALTITUDE: | 2000m |
| ACCOMODATION: | Hotel x 2 nts, Pension/village homes x 5 nts |
| MEALS: | 7 breakfasts 6 lunches 6 evening meals |
| 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
Airoport-Tirane
Time: 33 min
Distance:17,8 km
DAY 2
Valbone-Valbone
Time:4h 49 min
Distance:258 km
DAY 3
Valbone-Valbone
Time:
Distance:
DAY 4
Valbone-Valbone
Time:
Distance:
DAY 5
Valbone-Valbone
Time:
Distance:
DAY 6
Valbone-Valbone
Time:
Distance:
DAY 7
Valbone-Valbone
Time:
Distance:
DAY 8
Valbone-Tirane
Time:4h 49 min
Distance:258 km
DAY 9
Tirane-Airoport
Time:33min
Distance:17.8 km
Product Description
Details
DAY 1 – Tirane
After arrival at noon, transfer from “Mother Teresa” airport to the hotel in downtown Tirana. Founded in 1614, Tirana became the capital of Albania in 1920 and is the main cultural and industrial centre of Albania. Tirana is a city where fun is guaranteed: lively, loud, crazy, colorful, simply fascinating. Our activities begin already on arrival day. After a short break we will pick you up at the hotel and proceed to the Pëllumbas cave. The well marked path runs along some steep cliffs with stunning views over the gorge of river Erzen. The path to the cave is very pleasant, well marked and secured. There are rest areas with benches, several lookout points along the way. After the first 40 meters, the cave is completely dark. The ground can be muddy and slippery. After visiting the cave, we return back to the city and walk to the restaurant for the dinner. You can choose between different dishes from the menu. Accompaniment back to the hotel. (-/-/D)
DAY 2 - Valbone
The wild-romantic Valbona Valley, 500 - 1100 m. After breakfast, we’ll start our trip by car towards north Albania. Then we will take the ferry in Koman along the Koman artificial lake (important to note that the ferry trip depends on the water level of the lake), and eventually leave the ferry in Fierzë, from where the trip will continue by car to Bajram Curri. Afterwards the road runs through the valley, along the clear waters of Valbona river, surrounded by wild and beautiful natural panorama and the rugged mountain peaks of the Albanian Alps, until the village of Valbona. Along the way you will have time for a snack while the lunch is planned in Valbona. The accommodation is provided in a simple but clean guest house with shared rooms. In the evening, the program for the next days will be discussed. (B/L/D)
DAY 3 - Valbone
Right after breakfast starts today's hiking. We will departure from the village of Valbonë and follow the steep trail along the trough of Prosllopi (Lugu i Prosllopit) up to the vicinity of the Montenegro border. At first, the trail goes through the forest, but when we reach the altitude of 1,700 m, there is no longer any vegetation. We will take to the right, ascending the trail toward Kollatë up to the top. The Majestic view from the beginning to the end of Valbona Valley isn't possible from any other summit. After a short break, we will start descending back to guest house. (B/L/D)
DAY 4 - Theth
Just after breakfast we start hiking towards the hanging glacial valley of Kukaj. The trail runs through boulders and meadows, eventually entering the beech forest. We will pass by the houses of Kukaj and the path follows the right side of the valley to a small grassy plateau with a cattle pond. From here the hike becomes steeper and the ascent to the northwest leads to Forumi Pass (Qafa e Forumit). We continue the trail that runs parallel to the Montenegro border towards Rosi summit. From the summit the view is breathtaking and extends up to Jezerca, Grykat e Hapëta -Zhaborre mountain range, Vuthaj (Vusanje) and Guci (Gusinje) in Montenegro. After a short photo break we descend the summit from another trail and hike down southeast, along the trough "Lugu i Rupës" to some shepherds’ huts (Stanet e Rrethit të Bardhë). Then the trail leads through the forest to the guest house down the valley. (B/ L/ D)
DAY 5 - Theth
Today's hike starts early in the morning. We walk along the Valbona valley up to Rragam located at 1130 m altitude. After crossing a stream, the trail leads gently uphill through open forest to a glade with rocks and then begins a rough upward slope. On the "Qafa e Valbonës" in the altitude of 1812 m, the view of both valleys is unique. The descent towards Thethi begins very steep on a gravel path and follows through the forest. During this trip we will be accompanied by horses that carry our luggage. The overnight stay is planned in a guest house with shared rooms in Theth. (B/L/D)
DAY 6 - Theth
For today we have planned a cognitive trek and a serene walk through the forest. The walk begins in the village with a visit to the church and the " Lock-in Tower". Then we will continue to Grunas Canyon that is 30 meters in height and one meter in width and after that to the Waterfall of Grunas. After a short break, we will continue toward Ndërlysë. The glacier mills of Ndërlysë offer a unique nature spectacle. Water runs through a strait that is created over thousands of years by the force of water. Rounded or rugged forms, the colors of water and rocks that shine under the sun can be seen from both sides of the strait. On the way back, we will visit the mill of Ndërlysa. (B/L/D)
DAY 7 - Theth
Arapi mountain is 2217 meters high, but with its 800 meter high south wall, the highest in the Balkans, it dominates the National Park of Theth as a prominent rock formation. To ascent the summit we follow the regular walk up-route, which is relatively easy. Beginning from Thethi we take the trail that goes to the right of the river. As we approach Peja Pass (Qafa e Pejës) the trail becomes steeper, running through the rocky blocks. We will continue hiking westward, winding through steep meadows and big blocks of limestone cliffs. Arapi Peak is located on top of a series of diagonal carst plates that are quite impressive. Once over these, our trail winds to the left and back toward the southwest in the direction of the western slope and leads to the top. We will follow the same trail back to the guest house. (B/L/D)
DAY 8 - Tirane
Return trip to Tirana goes through Shkodër.In Shkodra, we have planned a cursory tour of the city and lunch at a traditional restaurant where you can choose between various dishes on the menu. After arrival in tirana, you will have a short break and than dinner will be served at a restaurant 'A la carte". (B/L/D)
DAY 9- Departure
Transfer to airport after breakfast, according to the flight schedule. (B/-/-)
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.
