Day 1: Tirana - Visit of Shkodra Sites

After landing in Tirana, we will embark on a two-and-a-half-hour drive to the capital of Northern Albania, Shkodra. The city of Shkodra is located next to a giant lake on the border with Montenegro. Throughout history, it has been the center of Illyrian tribal culture, protected by the Dinaric Alps. After settling into the hotel, we will visit the fascinating sites of the city. We will visit Rozafa Castle, which tells the glorious past of the Illyrian kingdom with a breathtaking view of the confluence of the rivers and hear the myth of the three brothers. We will admire the magnificent mosque of the city in Ottoman style and the grand Roman bridge built over the river. Overnight stay at a hotel in Shkodra.

Day 2: Mountain Crossing to Theth, Theth Village Trail - Photography Workshop

After breakfast, we will depart from Shkodra towards Theth Valley. We will ascend by car to the Thore Pass at an altitude of 1740 m. We will continue descending to the monument of Edith Durham, an English anthropologist and writer who fell in love with this part of Albania. The beauty of Albania lies in its picturesque landscapes, beech and ash forests, mountain streams, and waterfalls. We will continue hiking downhill through the lush vegetation towards Theth Valley, overlooking the imposing mountains that surround it. We will progress downhill to the outskirts of the village called Gjecaj Quarter, where some of the beautiful houses in the village are located. In the evening, we will conduct a short photography workshop to improve the quality of the photos taken during the trip. Overnight stay at a guesthouse in Theth.

Day 3: Theth Village - Grunas Waterfall - Blue Eye Pool

After breakfast, we will take a leisurely ride to the center of Theth village for another wonderful day. This is considered one of the oldest and most traditional villages in Albania, which has recently been adapted for tourism. We will visit the village church and the "Blood Feud Tower", the only existing evidence of secret places where men use to defend themselves against blood feuds under the harsh laws of the Kanun. From the village, we will take a beautiful hike along the slope of Theth River through the valley, reaching the impressive Grunas Waterfalls, which drop from a height of dozens of meters. From there, we will continue on foot through the beautiful village of Nderlysa to the Blue Eye Pool. It is a magical pool of cool turquoise waters created by the process of karst erosion in the water known as "Karst". From there, we will return to the village of Nderlysa on foot and hop back on a car to Theth village. (Walking route 8 km).

Day 4: Mountain Crossing from Theth Valley to Valbona Valley

This is undoubtedly one of the highlights of the trip. The crossing from Theth Valley to Valbona Valley can only be done on foot. After being transferred by car to the highest point accessible by car, where our personal equipment will be loaded onto the sturdy Albanian horses, we will climb with them through the mountain pass. Three hours of ascent will lead us to the pass. Those who find it difficult can use a horse. The height of the pass is about 1960 m, and it is probably the highest point we will reach on this trip. From the pass, we can overlook the breathtaking views of the "Radohima" mountains and get another impressive view of the impressive landscapes of the "Jezercë" mountain, the highest in Albania. Now, as we are deep in the Albanian Alps, we will descend for two hours along the winding path on the mountain slope to the village of Rrogam, located at the edge of the Valbona Valley. The entire area parallels the clear Valbona River and contains several small villages and agricultural areas. The whole area seems to be a hundred years behind. From there, we will hop back on a car to our guesthouse in Valbona village. After a delicious dinner and a traditional Albanian meal, we will sleep in the guesthouse in Valbona. (5-6 hours walk, ascent 800+, descent 900 meters).

Day 5: Valbona Valley to Kruja Town

After breakfast, we will embark on a beautiful and short hiking trail along the river and Valbona village's traditional houses and processing plots. From there, we will continue on a beautiful drive to the town of Fierzë, located on the edge of Komani Lake. The lake was created by a system of dams built by the Chinese for the Albanians to generate hydroelectric power. From there, we will take a boat ride on the lake's waters with its magnificent mountainous views, cliffs, and isolated village houses. The ride will allow us to observe the locals using the river to cross from Kosovo to the coast and Tirana. Here we will make a surprising turn into the Shala River, which enters the mountains and towards Theth Valley. The ride will take us to a beautiful and picturesque canyon with white river shores called the "Thailand of the Balkans". You have arrived in paradise on earth. We will have a lunch break and a tour of the place and simply enjoy the incomprehensible beauty. From there, we will continue sailing to the town of Koman, where the lake ends. A car will take us from there to the town of Kruja. Hotel in Kruja, walking distance of 4 km.

Day 6: Kruja - Mount Gjermit Viewpoint - Tirana

We will visit the city of Kruja, one of the oldest and most important cities in Albania, the hometown of the legendary Albanian leader Skanderbeg, "the Dragon of Albania," who fought against the Ottoman Empire and became the founder of modern Albanian nation. In this fortress, Skanderbeg fought, and from here, a spectacular view is reflected. The fortress is a residential area where locals have lived in their traditional houses for hundreds of years. Museums of local ethnographic history and culture are among the institutions located within the fortress area. We will visit the most authentic old bazaar, where antiquities, souvenirs, and local handicrafts can be found. Above Kruja Fortress, on top of the mountain, there is a sacred place for the Bektashi Order, the Sari Salltek Tekke. This is an opportunity to get to know a little about the final Bektashi order and its mystical belief. Additionally, we will hike (of course) to Mount Gjermit for a breathtaking viewpoint over the lake and the nature reserve of Bubullime. Accommodation will be in a hotel in Tirana.

Day 7: Tirana - Berat - City of a Thousand Windows - Tirana

In the morning, we will depart for a two-and-a-half-hour journey to the center of Albania to the fascinating city of Berat, also known as the "City of a Thousand Windows." Upon arrival, we will embark on our first tour of the city. Berat earned the nickname "City of a Thousand Windows" due to its red-roofed houses, thousands of beautiful windows in Ottoman style. Above the river channel, adjacent to the mountain wall, stands a fortress from the 14th century that protects small Orthodox churches. Underneath the fortress, there is the ancient Muslim quarter of Mangalem. A stone bridge with seven arches leads to Gorica, the Christian quarter that tells its story. The town features a fascinating blend of mosques and churches, along with a smaller madrasa, where Muslim students used to attend. On Day 7, we will visit the city of Berat, experiencing the Bektashi dervishes' unique rituals. While wandering through the picturesque streets, we will search for the tomb of the False Messiah Shabbetai Tzvi, according to the research of Gershom Scholem buried in Berat. Here, we will also meet fascinating traditional artisans. Accommodation will be in a hotel in Tirana.

Day 8: Tirana - Back Home

The capital Tirana is a beautiful city abundant with architectural and historical sites of interest. In the morning, we will take a tour along the main boulevard, where the national hero Skanderbeg Square is located. We will proceed to the Palace of Culture and the History Museum, featuring a stunning mosaic façade. We will visit fascinating architectural buildings such as the Turkish Ataham Bey Mosque, Italian buildings from the Mussolini era, and the Pyramid structure, originally built as a mausoleum during the Albanian communist regime of Enver Hoxha (1945-1986) but repurposed against popular resistance to a cultural center and art bunker. We will continue to the Holocaust Memorial Park and hear the fascinating story of the rescue of Jews in Albania during World War II. In the late afternoon, we will reach Tirana's international airport, from where we will take a flight back home