Grand Tour Of The Balkans In 21 Days

This day is planned as a meet / greet evening giving your free time to get to know each other and explore the surrounding area by your selves. In the afternoon we have organized a meet and greet event, where we will have the possibility to get know each other and meet with your tour leader. If you join this tour from June to October we will have a folk show night with great Traditional Albanian music. Most importantly we will introduce you to our special traditional drink "Raki" famous all over the Balkans. Overnight in Tirana.

Our main destination for today is Shkodra. The city is situated in the north-western part of Albania, giving its name to the biggest lake in the Balkans. It is one of the oldest cities in Albania, with a history of a thousand years of habitation. The oldest wall of the Shkodra castle dates from the 1st millennium BCE. The Roman historian Livy cited the town as the capital of the Illyrian king Gent, who fought the Romans in 168 B.C. We will visit Rozafa castle offering tremendous scenery of the lake and the three rivers melting all together in the Adriatic Sea. The city’s architecture is highly influenced by the Venetian style and if you are lucky enough to join the tour of Shkodra in February you might experience the carnival festival. Most of the guests are surprised to learn that most of the Venetian masks are handmade and produced in Shkodra. The city’s favorable geographic position has always been an important trading mark through the centuries, making it possible for different civilizations to encounter. Overnight in Shkoder.

As we drive along the way towards Northern Albania, you will be amazed by beautiful landscapes; wild fields, rivers, Shkodra Lake and rugged untouched mountains. As we take the turn from the main road to Theth the area becomes more rural, with fewer cars but more wild nature and amazing landscapes. Due to its favourable position this area is famous for cultivating medicinal herbs, and if you are lucky to travel in May – June you would be amazed by the pretty and aromatic fields of lavender making you feel like you are in Provence (France). On the way to the top we will pass through a steep sneaky hillside reaching up to 1700 meters above sea level at Qafa e Thores. They say this is the spot with the best picture – perfect view of the Albanian Alps. After arriving in Theth we will visit the Old Church and the “Lock in” Tower (symbol of Theth). The stories behind these buildings take up centuries full of history. Overnight in Shkoder.