Albania in 11 Days: Culture, Coast & Food
A Tapestry of Time & Taste
This is an 11-day self-drive tour through Albania, from the northern castles of Kruja and Shkodra down the coast to Berat, the Riviera, Saranda and Ksamil, then back via the Blue Eye and Gjirokastra to Tirana. You drive your own fully insured car at your own pace, with local guides meeting you at each stop. From 1750 euro per person, double occupancy. From €1,750 per person, two sharing.
This is a self-drive tour: you travel in your own fully insured rental car and a local guide meets you at each major stop, so you keep expert knowledge and total freedom over your day. The whole trip is yours to shape. Add a guide in any language, add experiences and tastings, upgrade your hotels, add extra nights, or add a full-time driver-guide if you would rather not drive. Booking is instant and any start date from April to October is open.
This is a one-way loop that uses Albania’s good main roads and leaves the rough bits out. You start in Tirana, head north to Kruja and Shkodra, then come down the coast through Durrës, Berat and Vlora before driving the Riviera to Saranda and Ksamil. The inland return runs through the Blue Eye, Gjirokastra and Elbasan back to Tirana.
You drive between stops, so the pace is yours. At each town a local guide meets you for the castle, the old quarter or the archaeological site, then you are free again. Six food experiences are built into the route, spaced so your eating evolves with the landscape: an agrotourism lunch near Tirana, the farm kitchen at Mrizi i Zanave, wine in Rroshnik, fresh Ionian seafood in the south. Two cultural evenings bookend the trip, the Albanian Night dinner show in Tirana and an intimate polyphonic performance near Saranda.
The car is the reason this itinerary covers so much without feeling rushed. You linger at a viewpoint when the light is good, take the detour to a quiet cove, and arrive at each hotel on your own schedule.
Why you'll love this trip
- Skanderbeg Square, Tirana Castle and the Blloku district in the capital
- Kruja Castle and old bazaar, then the farm kitchen at Mrizi i Zanave
- Rozafa Castle and the lakeside village of Shiroka in Shkodra
- The red dunes of Rana e Hedhun and the Roman amphitheatre in Durres
- UNESCO Berat, its castle quarter and Onufri icons, plus wine tasting in Rroshnik
- Ancient Apollonia and the seaside Lungomare in Vlora
- Llogara Pass, Dhermi, Himara and Porto Palermo castle on the Riviera
- Borsh beach and the hidden Shrine of the Waterfall
- Butrint, Lekursi Castle and a swim at Ksamil
- The Blue Eye spring and stone-built Gjirokastra
Suitability
Is this trip right for you?
Physical level
Easy to moderate. Expect short walks on cobbled streets and castle paths, some steps at sites like Berat, Gjirokastra and Butrint, and optional beach time. Daily driving is comfortable on good roads. We can soften the pace or arrange easier routes for anyone with mobility needs.
✓ Who should book
Couples, families and small groups of friends who want to see a lot of Albania at their own pace, both first-time visitors and returning travellers. It is easy to moderate, with short walks and some cobbled streets.
✕ Who should not book
Travellers who would rather not drive at all (you can add a private driver or driver-guide instead), or who want a single base with day trips out, since you change hotels most nights as you move down the country.
Day by day
Your 11-day itinerary
Tirana: castles, farm lunch, Albanian Night
Tirana, Petrela
Explore Skanderbeg Square, Tirana Castle, the Museum of Leaves and the Pyramid, then drive out to Petrela Castle for the view. Lunch is farm-to-table inside a repurposed military base surrounded by farm animals. The evening is the Albanian Night: traditional dress, an 8-course feast, live music and dance.
Kruja, Mrizi i Zanave, Shkodra
Kruja, Lezha, Shkodra, Shiroka
Walk Kruja Castle, its old bazaar and the mountain cave of Sari Salltik. Stop in Lezha, then eat at Mrizi i Zanave, Albania’s best-known farm kitchen. In Shkodra, climb Rozafa Castle and finish at the lake village of Shiroka for a boat ride or birdwatching.
Rana e Hedhun, Durres, Berat
Rana e Hedhun, Durres, Berat
Drive to the sandy dunes of Rana e Hedhun, then south to Durres for its Roman amphitheatre and old walls. Arrive in UNESCO Berat by evening, with the option of a folk music and dance event.
Berat, Rroshnik wine, Apollonia, Vlora
Berat, Rroshnik, Apollonia, Vlora
Explore Berat Castle’s lived-in quarter and the Onufri church, then taste wine and eat a farm lunch in Rroshnik. Visit the Illyrian, Greek and Roman ruins of Apollonia on the way to Vlora, and walk the seafront Lungomare.
The Riviera: Llogara to Borsh
Llogara, Dhermi, Himara, Porto Palermo, Borsh
Take in the view from Kuzum Baba, then drive over Llogara Pass where deer roam the pine forest. Stop at Dhermi’s village and beach, Himara’s harbour and the romantic fortress of Porto Palermo before settling in Borsh.
Borsh hidden corners
Borsh
A slow morning on Borsh beach, the longest on the Albanian coast. Walk up to Borsh Castle if you like, then find the Shrine of the Waterfall, a quiet spot locals hold as blessed. Dinner is fresh seafood.
Saranda, Butrint, Ksamil
Lekursi, Butrint, Ksamil, Saranda
Start at Lekursi Castle above Saranda, then explore the ancient city of Butrint, a UNESCO site. Swim in the turquoise water at Ksamil, then an intimate evening of local songs and polyphonic music.
Blue Eye, Gjirokastra
Blue Eye, Gjirokastra, Antigonea
Visit the deep blue spring of the Blue Eye, then climb to stone-built Gjirokastra for its castle, bazaar and the historic Skenduli and Kadare houses. See the ruins of Antigonea before another polyphonic performance.
Tepelena, Elbasan, Tirana
Tepelena, Elbasan, Tirana
Visit Ali Pasha’s castle in Tepelena, then Elbasan, whose castle still has a living neighbourhood inside the walls. Drive back to Tirana for a relaxed evening.
Modern Tirana and farewell dinner
Tirana
See the other side of the capital in the Blloku district and its museums, with free time for shopping. The trip ends with a farewell dinner.
Departure
Tirana
A last Albanian breakfast, then your private transfer to Tirana airport.
Route & places
Tirana › Petrela › Kruja › Lezha › Shkodra › Shiroka › Rana e Hedhun › Durres › Berat › Rroshnik › Apollonia › Vlora › Llogara › Dhermi › Porto Palermo › Borsh › Lekursi › Butrint › Ksamil › Blue Eye › Gjirokastra › Antigonea › Tepelena › Elbasan
What's included
✓ Included
- 🏨10 nights in carefully selected hotels and guesthouses suitable for the route
- 🍳Daily breakfast, plus the meals listed in the itinerary including the farm-to-table experiences
- 🚗New rental car suitable for your group size, fully insured (car and liability), no deposit required
- 🧭Local licensed guides at the destinations visited, in your preferred language where available
- ✓The experiences listed in the itinerary, plus the two cultural evenings
- 🎟️Entrance fees to the castles, museums, archaeological sites and national parks listed in the itinerary
- 🛬Private airport pickup on Day 1 and transfer on Day 11
- 🏨24/7 local support with hotel contacts, guide meeting points, route advice and daily coordination
- 🏨Personalised itinerary with route planning, hotel details and meeting points
- ✓All local taxes and service charges
Not included
- ✕International flights
- ✕Fuel, parking, tolls and traffic fines (not included in the self-drive version unless you add a driver or driver-guide)
- ✕Personal travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- ✕Personal expenses, drinks not in the listed meals, and tips
- ✕Optional activities and entrance tickets not listed in the itinerary
- ✕Visa fees, if any
- ✕Single supplement (+430 euro for a private room throughout)
Trip details
Where you'll stay
Good to know
What to bring
- 👟Comfortable walking shoes for castle and old-town cobbles
- 🩱Swimwear for beach days on the Riviera, Ksamil and Borsh
- 🧥A light layer for cooler evenings and air-conditioned restaurants
- 🧴Sun protection: hat, sunglasses and sunscreen
- 🎒Your driving licence, plus an International Driving Permit if you are non-EU
- ⛽Some cash in euro or lek for fuel, markets and small stops
Frequently asked questions
What does self-drive mean here?
You drive your own fully insured rental car between stops instead of sitting on a group bus. At each destination a local licensed guide meets you for the tour, so you get expert knowledge without a fixed schedule. You decide when to leave, where to linger and which detours to take.
Will a guide travel with me the whole time?
In the self-drive version, local guides meet you in the destinations you visit. They do not travel with you between cities unless you add a driver-guide. If you want a host for the whole journey, add an English or other-language driver-guide.
Do I need an international licence, and what are the car conditions?
EU licence holders do not need extra paperwork. Non-EU travellers should carry an International Driving Permit with their national licence. A valid licence and minimum driver age apply, no security deposit is required, and one main driver is included with an extra driver available on request.
Is fuel included?
No. In the self-drive version you pay for fuel, parking and tolls directly. Petrol stations are easy to find, and a rough fuel budget is 80 to 120 euro for the 11 days. If you add a private driver or driver-guide, fuel, tolls and parking are covered in that add-on.
What if I would rather not drive?
Add a private driver (about 1100 euro for the trip) who handles all the driving while local guides still meet you at the stops, or an English-speaking driver-guide (about 2200 euro) for someone with you the whole way. Other languages are available on request.
Can more than two people join?
Yes. The price is per person on double occupancy, but the tour works for a family of four or a group of friends. The car size and rooms are adjusted to your group, so contact us for a tailored quote.
When is the best time to go?
April to October. May, June, September and October give the best balance of warm sea, good light and fewer crowds. July and August are hottest and busiest, best for beach days. The tour can also be adapted for winter travel.
Is there a single supplement, and what about families and children?
The price is for two people sharing; a solo traveller wanting a private room pays a 430 euro single supplement. Double or twin rooms are included, triple and family rooms are on request, and child prices and child seats are available on request.
Can I change the itinerary?
Yes. Self-drive and private tours can be adjusted before confirmation. Once the trip starts, changes are still possible depending on availability and may add cost. Entrance tickets are included only where they are listed under inclusions.
How much does the Albania in 11 Days tour cost?
The tour costs from €1,750 per person, two sharing, with a 30% deposit to book and the balance due 30 days before the trip. That covers accommodation, transport, guiding and the listed activities across the 11 days. International flights and travel insurance are extra.
Cancellation policy
A 30% deposit secures your booking. The remaining balance is due 1 month (30 days) before departure. Cancellations more than 30 days before departure lose the deposit; within 30 days the booking is non-refundable. We strongly recommend travel insurance.
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