Active adventure in northern Albania

Tirana Airport - Tirana

Day 1: Arrival in Albania

Your local guide will welcome you at Tirana Airport, from where you’ll depart for your city centre hotel. Enjoy a welcome drink and dinner in a traditional restaurant in the capital.

Tirana - Rubik

Day 2: City tour & lagoon biking

After breakfast, we head off on a guided tour of Tirana, a city in a constant state of flux. Once dull and grey during the communist era, it has become a lively and colourful metropolis with a unique atmosphere. We’ll visit the trendy Blloku district, Tirana's castle and then end up in the new bazaar to discover local Albanian products. We’ll tuck into a local lunch from a street food truck before leaving the city for Kunë-Vain-Tale Lagoon. This is one of the largest lagoons in Albania, with an impressive bird population. We’ll bike around the lagoon and see traditional Albanian fishing with nets.

Later, you’ll meet your host family and enjoy a delicious homestay dinner and an evening of conversation.

Lezhe - Theth

Day 3: Feasting & the Albanian Alps

After breakfast, we’ll head to Lezhe to meet with a pottery artisan. Here we’ll learn all about Albanian pottery and clay craftsmanship – and you can even try your hand at pottery too. For lunch, you'll have a table booked at the most famous restaurant in Albania – Mrizi i Zanave. Set amid a picture-postcard landscape, this organic restaurant sources nearly all its ingredients from the local area. Later, visit a farm and cheese factory housed in a former communist prison.

We’ll then head to one of the most beautiful villages in Albania – Theth. This traditional village is full of history and is located in a lovely valley surrounded by the Albanian Alps. Once you've checked into your guest house in this stunning setting, enjoy an evening drink before dinner.

Theth

Day 4: Wild swimming & waterfalls

After breakfast, it's time to start a 7km hike in the gorgeous Thethi National Park. Discover the beautiful Grunas Waterfall, about 30m high. Then walk on to the mesmerising Blue Eye pool, with its pristine waters and heavenly surroundings, where you can relax and bathe in the clear waters.

We’ll enjoy a picnic lunch at the Blue Eye then return to Theth. The rest of the day is free for you to visit the village and relax at your guest house before dinner.

Theth - Shkodra

Day 5: Skadar Lake biking

After breakfast, we'll drive to Shkodra in northern Albania. Once you've checked inat your guest house, you can join your host family for a home-grown lunch.

In the afternoon, we’ll take a cycling tour from Shkodra to Skadar Lake. Shkodra is known in Albania as the 'city of bikes', so cycling here is a great experience. You’ll pass through the small villages of Shiroka and Zogaj, and then stop for coffee with views over the Balkans’ largest lake.

Return by bike to your guest house and visit the family's gardens, where they grow many fruits and vegetables, and make traditional wines. Explore the gardens, chat with the hosts and relax before dinner. 

Shkodra - Lake Koman - Shkodra

Day 6: Shala river kayaking, lake cruise & cooking class

We’ll start early this morning for a full day of exploration around one of the wonders of Albania, Lake Komani. The lake was artificially created in 1979 with the construction of a hydroelectric dam, which unites the rivers Shala and Valbona. Lake Komani is considered one of the most beautiful places in Albania and the Balkans. We’ll board a boat and travel through the gorgeous mountain landscape to Peace Island. Here, we start a kayaking tour on the Shala River. Explore this natural jewel of Albania and enjoy free time to relax and swim.

Later, we return to Shkodra with more time to relax before joining a cooking class in your guest house, then dinner.

Shkoder - Cape Of Rodon - Kruje

Day 7: Adriatic coastal walking

After breakfast, we take an excursion to Cape Rodon on the Adriatic Sea. Here, we’ll enjoy a beautiful coastal walk during which we’ll discover many bunkers built in the communist era, as well as Skanderbeg Castle.

After this gentle walk, you can head to a seaside restaurant for lunch overlooking the ocean. Spend some time relaxing on the beautiful beach here before moving on. Our next destination is Kruje, one of the oldest cities in Europe. We’ll tour the centre with its old bazaar and traditional craft workshops, as well as the medieval fortress of Skanderbeg. Enjoy the evening relaxing in the rooftop swimming pool of your hotel with its beautiful views of the surrounding area.

For dinner, you’ll have a table booked at an eco-farm, where most of its food is grown and made on site.

Tirana - Tirana Airport

Day 8: Airport transfer

After breakfast, your driver will meet you at the hotel for transfer to the airport in Tirana and your homeward flight.