Local roots, global standards
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.
Planned and operated by InAlb, Tirana. Last updated .
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.
Tirana › Petrela › Kruja › Lezha › Shkodra › Shiroka › Rana e Hedhun › Durres › Berat › Rroshnik › Apollonia › Vlora › Llogara › Dhermi › Himara › Porto Palermo › Borsh › Lekursi › Butrint › Ksamil › Saranda › Blue Eye › Gjirokastra › Antigonea › Tepelena › Elbasan
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
A last Albanian breakfast, then your private transfer to Tirana airport.
Each scale runs 1 to 5, from very easy to demanding.
Good for. 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.
Not for you if 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.
Entry fees. Entrance tickets are included only where they are listed under inclusions in the itinerary.
Add them in the booking box, or tell us when you enquire.
21 travellers rated this trip
✓ Every review from a confirmed bookingThe price compared to what we got was excellent. All activities were included, transfers worked perfectly and guides were professional. Some hotels were basic, but for the price we paid really fair.
We had no idea Albania had so much variety: Roman ruins, Ottoman towns, mountain passes, beaches like the Caribbean. The company made it relaxing from airport pickup to the last transfer.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
A 30% deposit secures your booking. The remaining balance is due 1 month (30 days) before departure. The 30% deposit is non-refundable. If you cancel, the remaining balance paid is refunded in full 30 days or more before departure, 70% is refunded 15–29 days before departure, 50% is refunded 1–14 days before departure, and no refund is given on the departure day or for a no-show. For a valid reason, you may request to reschedule your multi-day tour at least one month before departure. Rescheduling is free of charge, subject to availability and approval by InAlb. We strongly recommend travel insurance.
Full booking and sustainability policies →A local expert replies within 24 hours, in English, Spanish or Albanian.
1. Tag: Tirana 2. Tag: Shkoder 3. Tag: Koman- Valbone (unbedingt die Fähre nehmen, die Serpentinen sind furchtbar) 4. Tag:Kruje 5. Tag: Berat 6. Tag: Elbasan- Tushemisht 7. Tag: Korce- Rehove (Übernachtung bei Einheimischen- Schade, wenn diese keine Sprache außer Albanisch sprechen, Internet gab es keines- somit auch kein Translater) 8. Tag: Benje- Permet 9. Tag: Gjirokaster 10. Tag: Blaues Auge (wirklich sehr schön)- Butrint- Himara 11. Tag: Llogara- Vlora 12. Tag: Apollonia- Tirana
El viaje globalmente ha sido excelente (hoteles, guías, día en el mar con el barco para nosotros, visitas). Hemos quedado satisfechos y con muy buena impresión del viaje. Solo unas apreciaciones: -Mejorar el transfer: tanto en Corfú (autobús con muchas plazas y funcionamiento regular del aire acondicionado) y en Albania (funcionamiento regular del aire acondicionado). Los conductores bien. -En cuanto a los hoteles que fueron en general excelentes, diferencia de nivel entre las habitaciones asignadas al grupo lo que creo alguna protesta.
Die Planung der Reise lief super. Ein schönes Beispiel ist die Buchung eines Hotels. Wir hatten ein Hotel vorgeschlagen, aber Elvira hat uns überzeugt ein anderes zu nehmen. Vor Ort konnten wir dann erkennen, dass der Vorschlag von Elvira vollkommen richtig war.
Wir hatten trotz Teilweise Schlechtwetter eine interessante und schöne Reise. Die Hotels waren gut , unser Fahrer sehr gut , wir hatten viel Spaß und haben viel über Land und Leute erfahren. Bedingt durch das schlechte Wetter in den Bergen bei Valbone sind wir statt Valbone 2 Nächte in Prizren / Kosovo gewesen. Das war viel besser, als dort nur einen kurzen Zwischenstopp einzulegen. Einziges Manko war die Lage des Hotels in Ohrid / Nordmazedonien. Man kann dort nicht einmal einen kleinen Spaziergang machen, weil die Wege fehlen. Wir wären (trotz Regenwetter) gerne am See spazieren gegangen; das ist dort auch bei Sonnenschein unmöglich. Besser wäre ein Hotel etwas näher zur Stadt - ab dem Hotel *** gibt es einen Weg nach Ohrid Stadt. Ansonsten haben wir unsere Rundfahrt durch Albanien mit etwas Kosovo und Nordmazedonien sehr genossen ( wenn auch etwas anstrengend).
DIE REISE WURDE VON ELVIRA WUNDERBAR VORBEREITET UND WIR HATTEN GENAU DIE ERLEBNISSE DIE WIR GEPLANT HATTEN. DIE BEGEGNUNGEN IN NORDALBANIEN MIT DEN EINHEIMISCHEN WAREN EINFACH TOLL.
Der Reiseführer (Ermal) war großartig, es hat wirklich alles gepasst: wir haben eine wunderbare Zeit in einem Land voller Kulturangebot und Naturschönheiten erlebt, und ein Land mit sehr freundlichen Menschen.
Everything was smooth from start to finish. The private transfers made traveling stress free and the guides were fantastic. We left our suitcases in Valbona and we found them in our guesthouse in Theth, nice. My favorite part was exploring Berat at sunset and ksamil island hopping, absolutely magical.
We enjoyed the best of both worlds mountains and beaches. The hike from Valbona to Theth was tough but breathtaking and finishing the trip in Ksamil felt like a reward. The local guides were amazing especially in Berat and Gjirokaster with Matilda. We did not have vauchers to the activities or entrance places but we never had a problem by saying our names and agency . All was very organized and personal.
Unser Wunsch war es, das gesamte Land zu bereisen. Wandern im Gebirge, Welterbestätten Berat und Kruja, Nationalpark Llogara und zum Abschluss bummeln am Meer. Die Durchführung war logistisch sehr durchdacht. Weitere Zusatznächte wurden dabei berücksichtigt. Auch während der Reise haben wir uns super mit unserer Reiseexpertin verständigen können. Die Gebirgslandschaft in Valbona und in Thet ist einzigartig. Leider fehlen aber noch immer gekennzeichnete Wanderwege in dieser Gebirgsregion. Sehr gut ausgeschildert ist der Wanderweg über den Pass von Valbona nach Thet. Wer die Ursprünglichkeit von Albanien noch erleben möchte, sollte bald seine Reise dorthin planen. Überall werden Hotels gebaut, auch mit hohem westlichen Standart und es sind bereits jetzt sehr viele Touristen (in den Bergen meist noch Individualtouristen, in den Unesco Kulturstätten auch Reisegruppen) unterwegs. Wer das Land individuell bereist, wird Abenteuer erleben, viel sehen, über die Kontraste staunen. Die Küstenstraße von Llogara Richtung Himare ist spektakulär!
Viajar en silla de ruedas es un reto, y hacerlo a países poco accesibles como Albania, aún más. Sin embargo, con ***, y con Megi en concreto, todo fue sencillo desde el primer momento. Habiendo dejado clara la falta de accesibilidad del país desde el primer momento, su trabajo, esfuerzo y paciencia, han permitido diseñar un recorrido que nos ha mostrado cómo es este fascinante país, dentro de las limitaciones que suponen ir en silla de ruedas. Ha habido problemas de accesibilidad, sí, pero eran inevitables. Si se tiene una mente abierta, Albania en silla de ruedas es posible (aunque requiere una tracción eléctrica, ya que con una silla manual solo el esfuerzo puede llegar a ser agotador). Y desde luego, con***, ¡aún más!
El viaje ha ido muy bien. Albania tiene mucho que ofrecer al viajero, hay mucho por descubrir. Agradezco particularmente que la agencia ha estado pendiente y ha respondido muy rápido cuando hemos tenido alguna duda. Las actividades sugeridas, y, sobre todo, las visitas guiadas han destacado por la flexibilidad, el trato personalizado, y la amabilidad y profesionalidad de los proveedores locales. En general todo correcto, un trato personalizado y cuidado. Como comentario de mejora, la documentación proporcionada antes del viaje podría incluir los vouchers o justificantes de las reservas, por tranquilidad del viajero, pero la verdad, no he tenido ningún problema.
Ibamos un grupo de cinco personas y a todos nos ha encantado el viaje. Es un pais con un paisaje extraordinario y lugares historicos muy interesante. La organización de la agencia ha sido perfecta. Toda la información previa que nos habían dado se ha cumplido exactamente, tanto en hoteles como en cenas. La atención durante el viaje, poniendose en contacto con nosotros durante el viaje para saber si todo estaba bien tambien fue de agradecer. El chofer-guia, Igli, ha sido todo un acierto.
Guten Kontakt, unkomplizierte Abwicklung, gute Kommunikation. Es wurde auf die Wünsche genau eingegangen. Sehr gute Wahl der Orte und Unterkünfte . Die Reise hat einen gutes Kennenlernen des Landes ermöglicht.
Inalb as a platform has really been a great success, it’s quick and easy to use! We had excellent communication with the agency in question before the trip. The trip went okay, with a couple of minor issues that we had hoped they would help us resolve, but that wasn’t the case.
La agencia lo ha hecho bien, sin excesos
Sehr gute Kommunikation und Betreuung durch die Agentur in Tirana. Schöne Hotels mit sehr netten Menschen, gutem Service. Hilfreich ist das Handy mit alban. Simkarte. Wahnsinnig schöne Landschaften.
We had no idea Albania had so much variety: Roman ruins, Ottoman towns, mountain passes, beaches like the Caribbean. The company made it relaxing from airport pickup to the last transfer.
Nice trip for families and the counrty is family friendly . Everywhere you would get treated verry well when they saw you with kids.
All the meals and agrotourisms were great!
Blue Eye and Ksamil were busy with tourists, which made it hard to enjoy fully. But other places like Elbasan Castle or the small villages were much more relaxed and felt authentic.
The price compared to what we got was excellent. All activities were included, transfers worked perfectly and guides were professional. Some hotels were basic, but for the price we paid really fair.
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Planned and operated by InAlb, Tirana. Last updated 3 October 2026.
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