May 20 Arrive Tirana
Sunday
Welcome to Albania. Our archaeologist warmly greets us at Rinas airport for the transfer to the hotel. For those who are arriving on different flights, we will organize a taxi to pick you up and bring you to the hotel.

Time to settle in and recover from jet lag. Our hotel is perfectly situated in the center of the city. It is a modest 3-star property, but well liked for its location and service.

Dine tonight as a group at a local restaurant in the middle of Tirana Park. (D)

Hotel California***

May 21 Tirana - Kruja
Monday
This morning we make a short excursion to the famous historical city of Kruja, once defended by Scanderbeg, the 15th century hero of Albania. There we take in the Scanderbeg Museum, the Ethnographic Museum and the old bazaar brimming with local handicrafts. Enjoy a special and very interesting visit to the teke of the Bektashi Order, the mystical Sufi Sect of Islam.

Lunch at the Castle of Kruja. Return to Tirana in the afternoon to visit the Archaeological Museum and the National Gallery of Arts, where we’ll try and see the collection of Social Realism. Dinner at local restaurant. (B-L-D)

Hotel California***

May 22 Durres - Apollonia
Tuesday Vlora - Saranda
We are off to begin our coastal drive toward the South of Albania. First make a short stop to explore the city of Durres, once a major Roman port. We also visit the Amphitheater and Archeological Museum.

Continue the drive toward Apollonia, the famous ancient Hellenic city founded in 558 BC by settlers from Corfu and Corinth. We see both the site and its museum.

After lunch at a local restaurant, leisurely continue our drive towards the South. Travel along the Albanian Riviera toward the coastal town of Vlora, with stops at several coastal villages. We won’t miss Castle Palermo. Arrive in Saranda, a coastal city in Albania, opposite the Greek island of Corfu. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. (B-L-D)

Hotel Livia ***

May 23 Saranda - Butrint
Wednesday Ksamili Islands
Visit the World Heritage site of Butrint, Albania’s most important archaeological site. A very detailed tour of the site is organized specially for our group. Butrint National Park is both a city and an archaeological site, located in Albania close to the Greek border. It was known in Ancient Greek as Bouthroton and in Latin as Buthrotum. Strategically located on a hill overlooking the Vivari Channel, the site has been inhabited since prehistoric times. Butrint was the site of an Epirot city, a Roman colony and a bishopric.

We go also at the Vrina Plain to see the most excavations of the Roman Colony of Butrint. Lunch at a local restaurant. As a change of pace we go to a private beach at the Ksamili Islands (weather permitting) so we can have some free time at the sea. Our host, Auron, will explain his work in undersea exploration and his recent discoveries. Completely relaxed, we dine at a local restaurant. (B-L-D)

Hotel Livia ***

May 24 Saranda
Thursday
After breakfast at Hotel Livia we travel towards the Ancient City of Phoinice where we enjoy a short presentation on its rich history. It is one of the great cities of Epirus; its theater with 15,000-18,000 seats, is one the largest Roman theaters in the world. Though not thoroughly excavated yet, it is still a fascinating place to visit.

From Phoinice we will visit Mesopotam, a 12th century Byzantine Monastery mentioned in the Battle between the Norman Crusader army and the Byzantines.

Relax over lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, we pay a call at the synagogue of Saranda. This synagogue which dates from the 5th or 6th century underwent various periods of use, including its conversion to a church at its last stage, prior to being abandoned. Initial excavations began about 20 years ago. At that time, the building was identified as a church. However, recently excavated rooms adjoining an elongated hall reveal mosaic floors that depict such features as a seven-branched candelabrum (menorah), a citron (etrog), and a ram’s horn (shofar). All these symbols are associated with Jewish holidays. (B-L-D)

Hotel Livia ***

May 25 Gjirokastra
Friday
After breakfast we begin our drive to the City of Gjirokastra. Entering the Drinos Valley through the Pass of Muzine, you are sure to be stunned by a beautiful landscape dotted with small villages nestled at the foot of the mountains. On the way, have a splendid view of city of Hadrianopolis. We then arrive in Gjirokastra, a UNESCO World Heritage City. It is one of the most venerable towns of Albania. Located 900 feet above sea level, Gjirokastra has a beautiful and dramatic setting on the side of a lush valley between the high Gjerë Mountains above and the rushing Drinos River below. Visit the Ethnographic Museum once the house of the communist dictator, Enver Hoxha. We also visit the Castle of Gjirokastra, one of the largest castles in the Balkans, where you find the Museum of Arms. Lunch is served at a local restaurant in the Old Bazaar.

While in Gjirokastra we visit one of the Monasteries of the Sufi Order of the Bektashis. This evening, enjoy dinner at a traditional restaurant in the Ottoman Bazaar. Our accommodations tonight are at old house which has been converted to a B&B. (B-L-D)

Gjirokastra Restored B&B

May 26 Gjirokastra
Saturday Kelçyra Gorge
We begin our drive to Permet through the Kelçyra Gorge. The location is famous as the site of the battle between King Philip of Macedonia and the Roman army of Proconsul Paulius Emilius.

We will stay at the local hotel by the river. In the afternoon walk in the gorge. Then have a visit to the local cheese factory. Overnight in Kelçyra Gorge. (B)

***Kelçyra Gorge Hotel

May 27 Kelçyra Gorge
Sunday Permet
We continue the drive along the Vjosa River before reaching the small city of Permet. En route stop to see the Byzantine Church Saint Marialso and see the Hot Springs of Benja famous for their medical cures. Explore Permet by foot with a 1/2 mile walk to the village of Leusa, where we see the Byzantine Church. This is a great example of a rural architecture. Overnight in Permet. (B-L-D)

Hotel Dhembeli***

May 28 Permet - Korça
Monday Mborja
Following breakfast we drive through the rural and panoramic landscape to Korça, the regional capital of southeast Albania. Its location is dominated by the Morava Mountains to the east. The town of Korça was called “Little Paris” in the 1930s because of its thriving intellectual life. It is interesting from a historical point of view, due to its rich cultural traditions as well as some interesting buildings from the Ottoman period. We visit a highlight of these, which is one of the oldest and most important mosques in Albania: Mirahori Mosque, built in 1418. In Korça we also visit the Museum of Medieval Arts.

Time permitting we depart the city to make a wonderful visit to the village of Mborja to see the small but beautiful church, known for its outstanding Byzantine paintings. Dine at a local restaurant and overnight in Korça. (B-L-D)

Hotel Regency***

May 29 Korça - Tirana
Tuesday
After breakfast we drive towards Lake Ohrid, which shares a border with Macedonia. Here the guests continuing to Macedonia and Bulgaria will leave the group and overnight at Lake Ohrid. Continue northwest about four hours drive to Tirana. A farewell dinner is served at a local restaurant. Overnight in Tirana. (B-L-D)

Hotel California***

May 30 Depart Tirana
Wednesday
Sadly we must bid a fond farewell to our new friends, our guides and travel companions, and transfer to the airport. (B)

Better yet, continue with us on the Macedonia Mosaic, May 28 - June 3, 2012 connecting to the Seven Wonders of Bulgaria tour, June 3 - 13, 2012. For further details, please contact us at 1-800-762-4216.