Trip Code

WTE-1
Accomodation

4 Stars Hotels
Transportation

Bus, Airlines
Maximum Altitude

5,416 metres
Departure City

Kathmandu
Best Season

Feb, Mar, Apr & May

Overview

Upon arrival at the airport, you will be met and transferred to the hotel, which takes around 40 minutes. Depending on the time of arrival, there may be time to relax. In the late afternoon, we take a walk through Tirana to gain our first impressions of the lively capital of Albania, where tradition and modernity blend harmoniously.

Highlights

National Museum Bunk’Art 1 in Tirana
Kruja, fortress and national museum
Durres, Roman theatre
Berat, Onufri Fortress Museum
Skanderbeg burial site in Lezha
Shkodra, Rozafa Fortress

Day 1 :

Welcome to Albania!

Day 2 :

Tirana – Tirana

Today’s program includes an extensive city tour of the country’s capital, Tirana. As the economic and political center of Albania, founded in 1614, Tirana presents itself as the largest city in the country. The city is characterized by colourfully painted facades that symbolize its diversity, where mosques stand next to churches and religious tolerance is a top priority. A clear mix of Eastern and Western culture is unmistakable. The tour begins with a stop at Skanderbeg Square, the heart of Tirana and a historic meeting place for Albanians. Despite the imposing monumental buildings on the square, the Et’hem Bey Mosque, the oldest building dating back to 1821, is particularly striking. Behind the mosque is the clock tower (Kulla e Sahatit) from the 1820s, one of Tirana’s landmarks. In the center, you will visit Albania’s largest museum, the National Museum, which was opened in 1981. The tour continues to the Bunk Art 2 Museum, a modern art gallery, the Ex-Bllok with the former house of the dictator, as well as Albania’s most modern and entertainment district.

Day 3 :

Tirana – Durres (38 km)

The next stop on your journey is Durres, the second largest city in Albania, only around 30 kilometers from the capital Tirana. With around 300,000 inhabitants, Durres is a historical center. Your first stop is the Archaeological Museum of Durres, which houses an impressive collection of objects from Durres dating back to the 1st century. The main attraction of Durres is the amphitheater from the 2nd century, an outstanding sight. On the way to the amphitheater, you cannot miss the well-preserved city walls made of block stones, which have survived to this day. These massive walls were built in the 4th century by Anastasius I, the Byzantine emperor, to defend the city. The next destination, the Byzantine Forum, is characterized by the architecture of an open, circular market with a fountain and a podium in the middle. The tour of the city of Durres finally ends with Durres Castle, a round tower built in the 15th century on Byzantine ruins and one of the most famous structures in the port city.

Day 4 :

Tirana – Kruja (38 km)

After breakfast, we make our way to Kruja, just 33 kilometers away. Kruja is one of the most important cities in Albania and is famous as the hometown of Skanderbeg, the greatest Albanian hero of the 15th century, who fought against the Ottoman Empire. The Kruja fortress was the center of his defensive efforts. The Skanderberg Museum in Kruja houses artifacts from the 15th century, including paintings, armor, maps and wood carvings that pay tribute to Skanderbeg and his military achievements. A highlight of the collection is a replica of Skanderbeg’s famous helmet with a goat’s head. We also visit the ethnographic museum, which is considered one of the best organized museums in Albania. On the way to the fortress, we explore the Old Bazaar of Kruja, which dates back to the 17th century. The Bazaar Mosque, built in 1533 during the Ottoman invasion, is architecturally unique and harmonizes with the Old Bazaar. Although the mosque was closed during the communist era, it is now considered a cultural monument. The Skanderbeg Monument in the center of the city is a tribute to the national hero Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg.

Day 5 :

Tirana – Lezhe – Shkoder (102 km)

Today our journey takes us to the north of Albania, where we will visit the towns of Lezhe and Shkodra. Lezhe, often referred to as Lissus, is one of the ancient cities of Albania. The castle of Lezha, an Illyrian monument on a hill, harbours ruins of an Ottoman mosque and shows traces of Illyrian, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman architecture. In Lezhe, we visit the Skanderbeg memorial, formerly the Church of St Nicholas or Selimiye Mosque, which was converted by the Ottomans. On the way to Shkodra, we visit the impressive Rozafa Fortress with a spectacular view over the city and Lake Shkodra. The 18th century Ebu Bekr Mosque was renovated in 1995 with donations from Saudi Arabia. Behind the fortress is the multi-domed Lead Mosque, named after the molten lead rocks used in its construction. The Great Mosque is another highlight. The Cathedral of St Stephen, the most important Roman Catholic pilgrimage church in Shkodra, rounds off our visit

Day 6 :

Shkoder – Lezhe ( Mrizi i Zanave ) -Tirana (102 km)

In the morning, we explore the town on foot before travelling to Fishte in Lezha to the Mrizi i Zanave Agroturizem restaurant. This restaurant is characterised by slow food and the use of its own, locally produced food. The farm can be visited and delicious wines are served. The main courses offer a selection of different meats, while the desserts surpass all previous experiences. The quality of the food is outstanding. After this culinary experience, we continue our journey to Tirana.

Day 7 :

Tirana-Berat (98 km)

Today we visit the city of Berat, which was built in 312 BC and is under UNESCO protection. Berat is considered the pride of Albanian architecture and combines eastern and western cultures, traditions and views. The old town consists of the three main neighbourhoods of Mangalemi, Gorica and Kala, the latter of which is home to the castle. In the Mangalemi neighbourhood, below the castle, there is a famous view of the facades of the houses with windows. Behind the old walls of the fortress, which crowns the hill above Berat, lies the white village neighbourhood of Kala. Berat Castle is the central sight, where locals still live in the historic houses. The alleyways are home to souvenir shops, cafés and Byzantine churches. Inside the castle is the Onufri Iconography Museum, which houses 106 icons and 67 liturgical artefacts.

Day 8 :

Tirana – Rinas (airport)

Departure Today it’s time to say goodbye. Transfer to Tirana airport and return flight to Germany.

FAQs

Expand all

How fit do I need to be to do this trek?

Annapurna Base Camp is a Grade B or a moderately difficult trekking route. So any fit person can do this trek, even if you do not have any previous experience. You should be aware of what to expect and mentally prepare for it. Then, as long as you will too, you can.

How long do we walk every day when doing Annapurna Base Camp trekking?

On average, you walk about 4 to 6 hours per day. One or two days can be as less as 3hrs and one or two days can be as long as 7hrs.

What is the highest altitude reached in this trek?

The highest altitude reached is 4190m. This is the elevation of Annapurna Base Camp. ABC is the highest we will climb in this trek.

What about battery charging and hot shower facilities?

Yes, you can charge batteries en route. Charger should be brought. There are hot shower facilities as well. You may have to pay a certain amount for both ($1-$2). Negotiate. Also, a hot water facility could be free at a lower elevation.

Are there ATMs on the way to Annapurna Base Camp?

No. There are no ATMs on this trek route. You will have to draw enough cash in Pokhara or Kathmandu. There are a number of ATMs in these cities. Everything is paid in Nepali rupees. So money should be exchanged before the start of the trek.

What about internet access?

Yes. The Internet can be accessed in most places. Sometimes, there might be some technical problems. The Internet in Nepal is not as fast as you are used to and at times you can just lose connection.

Is it necessary to hire Guides/trekking agency for Annapurna Base Camp trekking?

Not really. It depends on you. If you want, ABC trekking can be done independently. You could hire a guide and a porter by yourself instead of going through an agency or not hire a guide at all. Although, not having a guide can be a little problematic during the offseason.

It really depends on you. Is it your first time in Nepal? How confident are you of being able to find your way around? How pressed on time are you? If you go through an agency, it will be costlier but everything will be planned. You will only have to come, trek and return.

How much do guides and porters cost?

For the Annapurna region, pay for guides range from $20 to $30 per day and porters take $15 to $25 per day.

Trip Details

Central and Northern Albania

Overview

Itinerary

Cost

FAQs

Map

Overview

Highlights

Itinerary

Cost

The Cost Includes

The Cost Excludes

FAQs

Tour Map

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Trip Details

Overview

Itinerary

Cost

FAQs

Map

Overview

Highlights

Itinerary

Cost

The Cost Includes

The Cost Excludes

FAQs

Tour Map

You can send your enquiry via the form below.

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