Albania 11-Day Hiking Between Mountains and Sea

Points of Interest : Tirana
Depending on your arrival time in Tirana, you can explore the city at your own pace. Possible visits include the National Museum, the Bunk’Art 2 museum in a former nuclear bunker, and the lively streets of the central district. In the evening, enjoy dinner on the main square and soak up the atmosphere of Albania’s capital. Your hotel is located close to the Pazari i Ri, one of the most popular areas for visitors, with cafés, restaurants and a local market.

• Meals included : Dinner
• Accommodation : Vila Kerciku Hotel, Tirana

Points of Interest : Berat
In the morning you meet a local guide for a walking tour of Berat, known as the “city of a thousand windows”. You visit the hilltop castle, which is still inhabited today, the Onufri Iconographic Museum, and several small Byzantine churches, some of which are usually closed to the general public. In the evening, a home-cooked dinner is served by your host in a traditional old guesthouse, set in a green garden with a charming atmosphere.
Approximate transfer: 120 km – about 1.5 hours by road.

• Meals included : Breakfast, Dinner
• Accommodation : Klea Guesthouse, Berat Castle area

Points of Interest : Apollonia, Vlora, Llogara National Park
After breakfast, you drive to the archaeological site of Apollonia, once an important Illyrian and later Roman city. You explore the ruins and learn about the region’s history from antiquity through the Byzantine period. Later you continue towards the coast and reach Vlora, where you can enjoy the Mediterranean atmosphere along the seafront promenade. Relax with a beer or a glass of wine at sunset or stroll along the boulevard lined with shops and cafés. You then head up into Llogara National Park to your accommodation in the mountains above the Riviera.
Approximate transfer: 119 km – about 1.5 hours by road (excluding visits).

• Meals included : Breakfast, Dinner
• Accommodation : Sofo Hotel, Llogara

Points of Interest : Dukat, Tërbaç
Today your trekking adventure begins in the village of Dukat. The trail climbs through a rugged, beautiful landscape lined with tall conifers and wild fruit trees. The air is filled with the scent of wild herbs as you ascend towards the Shen-Gjergji (Gjergj) Pass, which offers sweeping views of the surrounding mountains. From the pass, a steep zigzag path leads you down to the remote village of Tërbaç. From here you can see the old Illyricum mines and the remains of an ancient pagan ritual site.
Approximate hike: 13 km – around 6–7 hours of walking.

• Meals included : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation : Village guesthouse in Tërbaç

Points of Interest : Tërbaç, Vranisht, Kallarat, Kuç
You start the day by descending into the river valley and walking through the villages of Vranisht and Kallarat. The path leads through the refreshing Vranisht forest of lichens and oak trees, offering welcome shade on warmer days. As you continue, wide views open up towards the Kerdevica and Cika mountain ranges, which accompany you all the way to Kuç. The hike ends at your host’s village tavern, where smoked trout and a cold beer provide a perfect reward for your efforts.
Approximate hike: 20 km – about 5–6 hours of walking.

• Meals included : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation : Local guesthouse in Kuç area

Points of Interest : Kuç, Gusmar Lake, Nivice Gorges, Nivice
Today you follow the wild Kuçi stream and discover its rare vegetation and striking natural scenery. The combination of carbon and limestone rock has created an unusual black-and-white contrast along the riverbanks. You also reach Gusmar Lake, which appears in shades from red to blue depending on the surrounding light. From here it is about 1 km to the impressive Nivice Gorges, which you can explore partly or entirely, depending on your energy and interests, before continuing to the village of Nivice.
Approximate hike: 12 km – around 6–7 hours of walking.

• Meals included : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation : Guesthouse in Nivice

Points of Interest : Fterra, Borsh, Sopot Castle, Saranda
You hike to the village of Fterra, nestled in the Borsh Gorge. The scenery explodes with color: the deep green of the forests, the yellow of wildflower meadows, and the intense blue of the distant sea. After descending along the Fterra River, the path follows the Borsh River down to the coastal village of Borsh and the hilltop remains of Sopot Castle, which overlooks olive groves and the Ionian coast. In the late afternoon you continue by road to Saranda, a lively town on the Albanian Riviera, where you spend the night by the sea.
Approximate hike: Nivice – Borsh trail, about 17.5 km – 7–8 hours of walking.

• Meals included : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation : Porto Eda Hotel, Saranda

Points of Interest : Butrint National Park, Ksamil, Blue Eye spring, Gjirokaster
In the morning you visit Butrint, the largest archaeological site in Albania and a UNESCO World Heritage site. You wander among ancient temples, theaters and fortifications surrounded by lush greenery and lagoon views. Afterwards you have free time to relax on the golden sandy beaches of Ksamil and, if you wish, try one of the many seaside restaurants for lunch. On the way to Gjirokaster you stop at Syri i Kaltër, the famous “Blue Eye of Albania”, a deep karst spring with intensely turquoise, crystal-clear water at around 7°C – only the bravest dare to swim here. You then continue to the UNESCO-listed stone city of Gjirokaster for the night.
Approximate distances: Saranda – Butrint 15 km; Butrint – Blue Eye 22 km; Blue Eye – Gjirokaster 30 km; total around 6–7 hours including visits.

• Meals included : Breakfast, Dinner
• Accommodation : Old Bazaar Hotel, Gjirokaster

Points of Interest : Gjirokaster, Benjë thermal springs, Langarica Gorge, Përmet
In the morning you enjoy a guided tour of Gjirokaster, a UNESCO World Heritage site famous for its stone houses and steep cobbled streets. Then you drive towards Përmet, entering the Vjosa Valley with stunning views over what is often called the last wild river of Europe – still free-flowing with no dams or hydropower plants. You stop at the natural thermal pools of Benjë at the entrance to Langarica Gorge, where you can relax in warm mineral waters and admire the stone bridges and canyon scenery. In the evening, dine in a traditional restaurant in Përmet, known for its local cuisine and hospitality.
Approximate distances: Gjirokaster – Benjë 56 km; Benjë – Përmet 20 km; total about 1.5 hours’ driving (excluding visits).

• Meals included : Breakfast, Dinner
• Accommodation : Funky Hotel, Përmet

Points of Interest : Vjosa Valley, Korça, Pogradec, Lake Ohrid
Today you follow the course of the Vjosa River by car, with countless viewpoints and opportunities to stop for photos of the river and the surrounding mountains. Before reaching Pogradec on the shores of the famous Lake Ohrid, you pass through the city of Korça, where the Albanian state was proclaimed in 1912. Take time to stroll through the town and perhaps visit its cathedral or traditional quarter. You then continue to Pogradec, where you can end the day with a relaxing dinner by the lakeshore in a laid-back atmosphere.
Approximate distances: Përmet – Korça 133 km; Korça – Pogradec 40 km; total around 7 hours including stops and visits.

• Meals included : Breakfast, Dinner
• Accommodation : Vila Sigal Hotel, Pogradec

Points of Interest :
After breakfast it is time to say goodbye to Albania. You are transferred from Pogradec back towards Tirana for your return journey. We wish you a pleasant trip home with a suitcase full of souvenirs and memories from your days between mountains and sea.
Approximate transfer: about 139 km – roughly 2.5 hours by road.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Last day : Transfer to the airport for your return flight