Explore Albania, a country almost unknown by many people. Discover the country with your personal English speaking guide and driver and enjoy a traditional lunch in a local restaurant. Albania has an intriguing contemporary culture, a fabulous collection of wondrous mosques and innumerable archaeological artefacts 3,000 years old. Start your tour with the capital Tirana and continue into the countryside. Explore various towns and cities along the Albanian Riviera and beyond, to appreciate Roman amphitheatres, ancient bridges, Franciscan churches and glorious panoramas.

Day 1
Tirana
Enjoy a private transfer with vehicle and guide. Kensington Tours donates a portion of our proceeds to our charitable initiative www.kensingtoncares.com which supports education-based initiatives in disadvantaged communities. Enjoy dinner at leisure (not included in tour price). Make your visit to Tirana, a pleasant and enjoyable experience by staying at the Hotel Mondial. At the Mondial Hotel (4*) you will find the right combination of comfort and convenience, offered by one of the most modern hotels in Tirana. Built in 1998, the hotel combines traditional and neoclassical architectural styles, and is conveniently located 1000 meters from the city center. It is a four star hotel offering a combination of high quality ambiance, modern facilities and services. Tirana is the capital of Albania. Tourists will find Tirana a beautiful, lively and charming city., that features many historical sights, and a unique sensation of the meeting between Europe and the Orient. About 70% of Albania's population are nominally Muslim, but very few practice their religion. The BBC called Albania a rich blend of cultures and religions with breathtaking natural beauty and pristine beaches. The city and country are very friendly to tourists.

Day 2
Tirana
Enjoy a full day tour with private vehicle and guide. Tirana is a new city founded in 1614 by Sulejman Pasha of Mulleti. The city began to grow at the beginning of the 18 century, but it remained an unimportant town until it was proclaimed Albania’s capital in 1920. It wasn’t until the late 1920 when Italian influence became quite strong that the center of the city took the appearance of a capital city. You will take a driven tour of the major sites. You will be able to take a quick walk at the area called the Blloku to have a look at some of the villas of the Politburo including the villa of the Dictator. This is an area that was forbidden to the masses during the dictatorship and has now become one of the trendiest areas of the capital. Afterwards drive to the center where you will visit the Ethem Bey Mosque and Clock Tower, that have become the postcard symbols of Tirana. Visit the National Historic Museum with artifacts and testimony of Albanian history from prehistoric times to present day. Recently, the dull communist-style buildings have been transformed by an artist turned Mayer, through the ingenuous idea of painting them in bright colors, and abstract patterns. Lunch is included in the tour cost. Enjoy dinner at leisure (not included in tour price). Overnight at Mondial Hotel (4*).

Day 3
Tirana
Enjoy a full day tour to Kruja, a small charas town perched on a hill and famous for being the center of Albanian resistance against the Ottoman Turks under Albanian National Hero Scanderbeg. You will visit the Castle, Scanderbeg Museum, and a very rich Ethnographic Museum situated in an original house of a feudal family in the 17th century. This was home to an extensive self reliable family of 40 who were able to produce almost everything they needed within its walls. After the visits you will be taken through the Old Bazaar with hand crafted souvenirs and antiques. Enjoy a traditional Lunch in Kruja ( optional) afterwards depart for Durres one of the oldest and most important cities in Albania. The town was established under the name Epidamnus in the year 627 B.C. by Korintha and Korkyra colonists, on the area of an ancient settlement of the Illyrian tribe of Taulant. One of the causes of the Peloponnesian War in the 5th century BC, it was later to become a very important staging post for the Roman Empire. You will visit the Amphitheatre, and the Archaeological museum, rich in artifacts found in the city and its suburbs. Enjoy dinner at leisure (not included in tour price). Overnight at Mondial Hotel (4*).

Day 4
Tirana
Enjoy a day tour with private guide and vehicle to Berat. The city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, more than 2400 years old and one of the most attractive towns in Albania. Established in the 3rd century B.C by an Illyrian tribe of central Albania with a protective castle, it was known as the fortified city of Antipatrea. Built almost all, in white on a slope of green with the river at its feet, it offers a striking view as soon as it becomes visible. It is famous for its white-washed houses with their many windows which seem to have been built on top of each other, given the the nickname “town of a thousand windows”. The castle is the only one in Albania with houses and inhabitants within its walls, living in exactly the same place their predecessors did centuries ago. We will visit the Fortress, Onufri Museum and several churches with beautiful frescoes. Onufri was an Albanian master painter of the 16th century who painted many churches in Albania and Greece and is famous for its red color named after him. After visits traditional lunch, where we will sample the delicious cuisine of this town with beautiful views of the old district. On the way back visit local winery. After more visits return to Tirana. Enjoy dinner at leisure (not included in tour price). Overnight at Mondial Hotel (4*).

Day 5
Tirana
Enjoy a private transfer with vehicle and guide. Depart from International Airport. End of itinerary.