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14 days (13 nights)
Summer
A couple
Albania
Beach Holidays · Culture & Heritage · Nature & Adventure · Food & Wine
Ionian sea, sandy beach in Dhermi, Albania

An Italian couple planned to take a romantic road trip in Albania during the summer holidays.   

The call

We had chosen a convenient time slot on the website, and Anastasia called us on time. The video call lasted approximately half an hour. We knew almost nothing about Albania, but we really wanted to explore that country! 

We explained to Anastasia that it would be our first trip to Albania even though we had already visited some other Balkan countries in the past. We planned to spend 14 days in total, mixing culture, outdoor and beach activities. 

We wanted to rent a car for the whole journey. 

Concerning accommodation, we asked to stay in 3- to 4-star hotels or in comfortable guest houses.  

The reservation

Anastasia emailed us a detailed description of our tailor-made holidays and a quotation the following week. It included all the elements we discussed and agreed upon during our call. She also sent us helpful advice for purchasing our flight tickets.   

As a result, we approved and signed the quotation electronically and paid a deposit. As soon as we bought our flights, we forwarded the details to Anastasia for a smooth car pick-up. We were looking forward to our romantic road trip in Albania ! 

Beautiful sunny days, Berat, Albania
Berat, the city of a thousand windows

The preparations

Two weeks before departure, we received a comprehensive travel book setting out the complete itinerary by email. It also included many other things, such as trail information, travel advice and recommendations for restaurants and Albanian cuisine. 

Thanks to a specific reference number sent by Velstana, it was also available online via a link and on a handy free app – that can even be used in offline mode – available for iOS and Android devices.

Map road trip, Albania

Trip details

Day
1

Arrival in Albania and first steps into the capital

Upon arrival at Tirana airport, we went straight to the car rental desk to pick up the car that was reserved for us. We had a very short drive towards the city centre, where we checked in at our lovely and well-located family-run boutique hotel. In the afternoon, an Italian-speaking guide came to the hotel to pick us up for a 2½-hour tour. We learned so much about Albania and Tirana, Read moreHide
Day
2

The medieval and cultural capitals of Albania

We had a delicious breakfast at the panoramic terrace of our hotel. Afterwards, we headed to Kruja, a beautiful town just an hour away from the capital. We especially enjoyed the craftsmanship, souvenir market, and magnificent fortress that used to be the centre of the legendary Skanderbeg’s rebellion. We continued on the road towards Shkodra, Albania’s cultural capital. Read moreHide
Day
3

Shkodra lake

We rented bikes and went to the eponymous lake located nearby. We spent a wonderful day there kayaking, swimming, sunbathing and eating delicious fresh fish in a restaurant with a stunning view. In the evening, we returned to Skodra and enjoyed the evening and dinner in this spellbinding town.
Day
4

Magic village of Theth

In the morning, we hopped on a minibus towards a small remote village, Theth. It seemed that time had stopped there! We spent the afternoon hiking towards the mystical Blue Eye and the impressive Grunas waterfalls. We also explored the Kulla, Read moreHide
Day
5

The big day of hiking

After a good breakfast, we took a spectacular hike from Theth to Valbona. The hike was not easy, but it was definitely worth it! We will never forget those breath-taking views! Read moreHide
Day
6

Fjord-like Lake and return to Shkodra

A taxi arrived in the morning to bring us to Koman Lake. The lake was artificial, but this fact did not make it less beautiful! It reminded us of the scenic Norwegian fjords! Every view was genuinely breathtaking. After the boat ride, we went back to Shkodra by minibus to pick up the car and drove towards an agritourism farm where we would spend the night. It was a little gem booked for us by Velstana! Read moreHide
Day
7

Arrival at the Adriatic sea

That was the first day of our beach holidays. The first stop was at Orikum at the Adriatic Sea. After we checked in at a very cosy family-run hotel with a gorgeous sea view from our room, we went for a little excursion to the Zvernec island, which can be reached only by a narrow pedestrian wooden bridge. The island is home to a small and beautiful monastery. 
Day
8

Llogara pass and secret beaches

The next day we left the Adriatic Sea for the Ionian Sea. The road ran through Llogara pass. There we both did tandem paragliding. The view above the sea, the mountains and the cliffs was spectacular! We sunbathed on a secret pristine beach in the afternoon before checking in at our amazing hotel in Himara. What a life!
Day
9

Sunbathing day and ghost village

We decided to spend a chill day enjoying several beaches that we found in our customised travel book. We sunbathed, swam and snorkeled for several hours. In the late afternoon, we went to a gorgeous ghost village nestled in the mountains. The sunset was memorable!
Day
10

Ksamil and amazing archaeological park

That day we explored Butrint, a very interesting archeological site. It was akin to being in Italy or Greece, yet it was still Albania! The site is inscribed on the Unesco World Heritage List, and it is home to interesting history with ancient ruins dating back to the Greeks, Romans and Byzantines. We also did a little boat ride in the salt lagoon of Lake Butrint, Read moreHide
Day
11

Mesmerising blue eye and Gjirokastra

On our way to Gjirokastra, we stopped at the Blue Eye, a mesmerising natural phenomenon. It was actually a large water spring akin to a big eye due to its deep, sapphire-blue water in the centre and shimmering water surrounding it.  We arrived in Gjirokastra, a lovely town listed on the Unesco World Heritage List. Read moreHide
Day
12

Visit of Gjirokastra and horse-riding in the mountains

In the morning, we visited several stunning traditional house museums of Ottoman style. Then, we went to the meeting point for a horse-riding adventure. We had never really practised it before, but we both enjoyed this experience a lot! Everything looked slightly different from the horseback. Read moreHide
Day
13

City of a thousand windows

Berat is called the city of a thousand windows; once you get there, you immediately understand why! Veltana arranged a private guided tour to better understand the town and its history. In the afternoon, we took a scenic road to visit a beautiful waterfall Read moreHide
Day
14

Last day in Albania

On our way to Tirana airport, we made the last stop in Preza, a small picturesque village situated on a hilltop and featuring a castle. The view of the Tirana valley, Kruja and the Adriatic Sea from the castle’s tower was amazing. Lastly, we returned the car and got in time for our flight home.

Pricing and services for this romantic road trip trip: 1,300 € per person

Included:

  • 13 nights (breakfast included) in a standard double or twin room in 3* superior, family-run hotels or guest houses
  • Car rental for 14 days, including third-party liability insurance and standard coverage in case of damages and theft (CDW and TP)  
  • 2 private guided city tours in Tirana and Berat, respectively 
  • Horseback riding 
  • Tandem paragliding 
  • Travel Book accessible anywhere, anytime, including a one-of-a-kind itinerary 

Excluded:

  • Flight tickets
  • Car fuel and security deposit for the car rental
  • Additional car coverage (on request) 
  • Minibus transfers from Shkodra to Theth and from Valbona to Shkodra 
  • Bike rentals 
  • Personal expenses 
  • Museum, castle, and archaeological park entry tickets 
  • Lunch and dinner
  • Travel insurance

The abovementioned sample prices are for guidance only and are not binding. The total cost of your holiday will depend on a number of factors, including time of year of travel and choice of accommodation and transport. The actual cost of your holiday is as set out in the Booking Confirmation.

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