What to expect
Four Guided Walks
Immersive village encounters, lagoons & wildlife
Berat & Apollonia Guided Tour
UNESCO-listed Berat & Apollonia's archaeological site
Tirana & Mount Dajti
Explore Skanderbeg Square, the Clock Tower & more
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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.- 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
What you'll be doing
Day One: Arrive into Albania
- Dinner included
Day Two: Hike to Mountain of Cajupi and onto Gjirokaster
- Breakfast & dinner included
- Walking distance: 8km
- Elevation gain: 250m
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
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
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
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
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
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
Dates & Prices
Frequently asked questions
- 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
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.