Albania Uncovered: Vibrant Tirana to Ancient Apollonia

This small group escorted tour with Just You sets out from Tirana and moves steadily south and back, offering a measured pace through Albania’s historical and coastal highlights. It starts with mountain-side Kruje’s fortress and bazaar, winding through Tirana’s layered architecture and offbeat museums.

Berat follows, where ‘The Town of 1001 Windows’ lives up to its nickname in the form of old Ottoman houses clustered beneath a rocky castle. After a vineyard dinner in the area, the tour heads over mountain passes to Gjirokastra, a stone-built town with its castle museum, then to Sarande on the Ionian coast, with visits to the Butrint archaeological site and the hilltop castle overlooking sea and Corfu.

The route continues along the Albanian Riviera to Vlore, where the city’s twin-sea location and Independence Square can be taken in at a relaxed pace. On the final full day, it turns north again to Apollonia’s ancient ruins and Durres, with its sizeable Roman amphitheatre and Venetian tower, before returning to Tirana for a farewell dinner.