What to expect

Four Guided Walks

Four Guided Walks

Immersive village encounters, lagoons & wildlife

Berat & Apollonia Guided Tour

Berat & Apollonia Guided Tour

UNESCO-listed Berat & Apollonia's archaeological site

Tirana & Mount Dajti

Tirana & Mount Dajti

Explore Skanderbeg Square, the Clock Tower & more

About this trip...

About the trip

Join Solos as we head to Albania, a great destination for walking and hiking enthusiasts, offering a diverse range of landscapes. Albania’s trails are generally less crowded than those in more touristy regions of Europe, providing a more tranquil and authentic walking experience. Offering the solo traveller a diverse mix of mountains, National Parks, Nature Reserves and old towns with castles towering above, our escorted group tour of Albania is the perfect choice for those seeking a combination of nature, history & exercise.
Activity Level: Activity Level Rating
What's this?

What's included

  • Return flights & transfers
  • Airport taxes & charges
  • Single rooms
  • Half board
  • Welcome drink
  • Guided tour of Berat and Apollonia
  • Four guided walks
  • Turkish coffee tasting and a typical Albanian cake in Berat
  • Cable car ride between Tirana and Mount Dajti
  • Accompanying Solos Tour Leader
  • Fully financially protected

Itinerary

  • Arrive into Tirana and transfer to Vlore
  • Hike to Mountain of Cajupi and onto Gjirokaster
  • Berat and Apollonia
  • Free day
  • Hiking in the Krujë region
  • Hike in Karavasta National Park
  • Hike to Mount Dajti with free time in Tirana
  • Departure from Tirana

What you'll be doing

Day One: Arrive into Albania

Day One: Arrive into Albania

Today we arrive into Tirana and transfer to our hotel just south of Vlore.
  • Dinner included
Day Two: Hike to Mountain of Cajupi and onto Gjirokaster

Day Two: Hike to Mountain of Cajupi and onto Gjirokaster

Today we hike into the mountains of Çajupi to discover the village of Saraqinisht with its charming houses. Various shepherd's paths lead us to a monastery well hidden in the mountains before we make our way back. In the afternoon, we continue to Gjirokaster, the ‘city of stone’, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005 and is the hometown of the great Albanian writer Ismail Kadare. It is rich in typical neighbourhoods and shady terraces.
  • Breakfast & dinner included
  • Walking distance: 8km
  • Elevation gain: 250m
Day Three: Berat and Apollonia

Day Three: Berat and Apollonia

Today we head for our guided tour of Berat - a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Dominated by the hill where the castle stands, the city stretches on both sides of the Osum River. The historic centre of Berat has many white stone houses with large wooden windows on the hillside, hence its nickname - 'City of a Thousand Windows'. The castle, most of which dates back to the 13th century, is home to several Byzantine churches and Ottoman mosques. We then visit the Ethnographic Museum of Berat, which presents the daily life of the inhabitants of the region, followed by tasting of a Turkish coffee and a typical cake at the home of an Albanian family. The day continues to Apollonia. Founded by the Greeks around 600 B.C., this ancient city of 100 hectares within the city walls and is now the largest archaeological site in Albania. It stretches around two hills where we discover the Archaeological site of Apollonia.

  • Breakfast & dinner included

Day Four: Free day

Day Four: Free day

Today we have a free day to relax at the hotel or explore as we wish. We will be just south of the costal city of Vlore, which is rich in history and boasts beautiful beaches. We do have the option of exploring the Llogora National Park if we wish. We discover the thousand-year-old forest to explore one of the most unspoilt corners of Logara Park. The hike takes you to the mountain ‘Qafa e thelle’. After crossing a very dense vegetation and meeting some goats, you reach a barren pass overlooking the Ionian Sea with its 1400 m. The panorama is extraordinary! We walk for around 3/3.5 hours with an elevation gain of roughly 450m.

  • Breakfast & dinner included

Day Five: Hiking in the Krujë region

Day Five: Hiking in the Krujë region

We head to the town of Krujë to start  a cultural hike centred around Bektashism, a widespread branch of Islam in Albania. This esoteric religious order, which originated in Turkey in the 13th century, has around 7 million followers worldwide. We visit the holy site (‘tekke’) of Sari Salltik, located in a cave on a mountainside. After lunch we have free time in Krujë. The town, which nestles against the cliffs, is known by its inhabitants as the ‘Balcony of the Adriatic’. Krujë is also the birthplace of the national hero Skanderbeg, who made the town the capital of the country during his reign in the 15th century.

  • Breakfast & dinner included
  • Walking distance: 9km
  • Elevation gain: 470m

Day Six: Hike in Karavasta National Park

Day Six: Hike in Karavasta National Park

Karavasta Lagoon Park is a unique natural area in Albania. This genuine bird sanctuary is the most important nesting and breeding site of the Dalmatian pelican in Albania (especially between January and June). Here we can admire numerous migratory birds in their natural habitat as well as the famous pink flamingo. The lagoon, which is separated from the Adriatic Sea by a wide strip of sand, is interspersed with pine trees and forests. The length and difficulty of the hike can be adapted according to the physical abilities of the group.

  • Breakfast & dinner included
  • Walking distance: 10/16km
  • Elevation gain: 10m

Day Seven: Hike to Mount Dajti with free time in Tirana

Day Seven: Hike to Mount Dajti with free time in Tirana

This morning we drive to Tirana and take the cable car up to Mount Dajti, overlooking the capital from the top of its 1613m above sea level, with the Adriatic Sea as a backdrop. We discover the surrounding nature of Mount Dajti Park during the hike. We return to Tirana by cable car and have free time for to discover the Albanian capital at our own pace. Surrounded by mountains, the city is a cultural and industrial hub for the country. Tirana revolves around Skanderbeg Square, named after the national hero and bordered by the Opera House, the Et'hem Bey Mosque and the Clock Tower.

  • Breakfast & dinner included
  • Walking distance: 12km
  • Elevation gain: 470m

Day Eight: Departure from Tirana

Day Eight: Departure from Tirana

We have our final breakfast together this morning before heading to Tirana Airport for our flight back home.

  • Breakfast included

Accommodation

Walking in Albania hotels

Valza Boutique Hotel four-star - Vlore region - 4 nights Hôtel Lubjana four-star - Durrës/Golem Region - 3 nights  

Dates & Prices

Departure Return Nights Price from Other Info Regional flights
7 Apr 2025 14 Apr 2025 7 £1399.00 Please call for regional flights
13 Sep 2025 20 Sep 2025 7 £1539.00 Please call for regional flights

Frequently asked questions

Transfer time
Tirana Airport to first hotel - 2 hours 15 minutes Second hotel to Tirana Airport - 40 minutes
General Information
Please note: At the beginning of your trip, your Tour Leader will ask if you would be happy to sign a photo permission form. This means that any photographs taken during your holiday can be used by Solos to share what the Solos experience is all about. It also means you have lots of memories to go home with! Details will be given at your welcome meeting. 
 
WhatsApp Group: Just before the start of your trip, you will be sent an invite to the WhatsApp group which will put you in touch with your fellow Solos travellers and Tour Leader prior to your departure day. By choosing to join, you're consenting to share your contact details with other members of your group. However, if you prefer not to join, that's completely fine, and you can meet the group on your first day instead. 
 
Please note, if you have not received an email within 24 hours of departure, we recommend you check your email junk folder.
Important Information
For technical reasons, the order of visits and excursions may be modified or reversed, while respecting the content of the program. The hiking trails are given as an indication and can be adapted on site according to the physical abilities of each person. 

It is your responsibility to ensure that you are fit and well enough to take part in your chosen activity holiday. If you are unsure as to whether the walks are within your capabilities, please contact the office to discuss this matter, thus making sure you appreciate the terrain that you will be walking.  You will be walking across uneven ground in some areas and extreme care must be taken, especially if wet. If used to using a pole/stick, it is advisable to bring it. 

Please appreciate the route and content of the holiday may change at the time and at the discretion of the guide/organiser, should conditions require. Solo’s Holidays cannot be held responsible for personal injury, accident or damage to property whilst on these walks other than incidents arising out of the company’s negligence. The guide has the right to refuse to guide a walk with anyone not properly attired. 
Dress Code
It is of paramount importance that you have the correct footwear for this walking holiday. It is essential to wear walking boots that are comfortable and preferably lightweight, with some ankle support and a good grip. If you already have a pair of boots that you are happy walking in (including during hot/wet weather and on hard ground), then bring these along. However, if you are bringing new footwear, do make sure they are well broken in before you arrive. Experience has shown that wearing 2 pairs of woollen socks adds to comfort. Whilst we would hope for good weather during your holiday, it is of course impossible to guarantee this. We would therefore recommend you travel with clothing suitable for all conditions, and suggest you use the following checklist as a guideline of what to take:
  • Walking boots with good ankle support
  • Waterproofs – jacket and trousers
  • Walking poles – recommended as they provide good support for the knees, particularly on downhill sections of walks and when conditions are wet/slippery
  • Lightweight trousers and shorts with pockets
  • Shirts or t-shirts for walking in
  • Walking socks – several pairs
  • Lightweight fleece or jumper
  • Daysack/rucksack for walking
  • Lightweight drinking bottle to carry water whilst walking
  • Small first aid kit – plasters, insect repellant, etc
  • Good, high factor sunscreen, sunhat and sunglasses
Gratuities
There is often confusion on the question of gratuities, since it frequently depends on the type of holiday, location and, of course, your attitude towards tipping, as to what is normally expected. To give you a rough idea, we have given appropriate guidance below. The Tour Leader will be on hand to offer advice or suggestions if required but gratuities are offered entirely at the sole discretion of the individual. We suggest a group collection at the beginning of your holiday to cover drivers, guides, porters and hotel staff. Your Tour Leader will collect this on your behalf and distribute it accordingly, thus relieving you of the burden of who, when and how much to tip.
Passport, Visa & Entry Requirements

Passport validity requirements
Your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave Albania.

Visa requirements
You can visit Albania without a visa for up to 90 days in a 180-day period, for tourism or business.

Health Requirements
Compulsory vaccinations: None. At least 8 weeks before your trip, check the latest country-specific health advice from the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) on the TravelHealthPro website. Each country-specific page has information on vaccine recommendations, any current health risks or outbreaks, and factsheets with information on staying healthy abroad. 
 
Guidance is also available from NHS (Scotland) on the FitForTravel website. General information on travel vaccinations and a travel health checklist is available on the NHS website. You may then wish to contact your health adviser or pharmacy for advice on other preventive measures and managing any pre-existing medical conditions while you’re abroad.
Currency
Albanian Lek

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