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Explore southern Albania in one day! Visit the peaceful Ardenica Monastery and the UNESCO city of Gjirokastra, known for its stone houses, lively bazaar, and rich history

Highlights

• Discover the historical charm of Gjirokastra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Walk through the lively old bazaar and explore Gjirokastra Castle
• Enjoy a scenic drive through Albania’s picturesque landscapes
• Visit Ardenica Monastery to learn where Skanderbeg celebrated his wedding

Description

Your day begins with a scenic drive from Tirana, Durrës, or Golem toward southern Albania. The journey to Gjirokastra takes around four hours in total, offering beautiful countryside views along the way. During the drive, your tour guide will share interesting stories, local legends, and fun facts about Albania’s history and culture. Our first stop will be at the Ardenica Monastery, a peaceful and spiritual place located on a hill surrounded by olive trees. You’ll have about 30 minutes to explore the site, admire the impressive frescoes, and enjoy the panoramic views over Myzeqe plain. The monastery dates back to the 13th century and is famous as the place where Skanderbeg, Albania’s national hero, was married. After our visit to Ardenica, we’ll continue the journey toward Gjirokastra, one of Albania’s most beautiful and historic towns. Upon arrival, your guide will introduce you to this UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its well-preserved Ottoman architecture, stone-roofed houses, and steep cobbled streets. Together, we’ll take a guided walk through the old bazaar, where you can browse local shops filled with handmade crafts, silver jewelry, textiles, and souvenirs. The colorful streets and traditional buildings make it a perfect place for photos and soaking in the city’s unique charm. After the guided part, you’ll have free time to explore on your own — whether you’d like to visit a local museum, enjoy a traditional lunch, or simply wander through the narrow lanes of the “stone city.” IMPORTANT NOTE: During off season November- May most of the museums (including the castle) may be closed on Monday. In the afternoon, we’ll start our return trip to Tirana, Durrës, or Golem, enjoying a relaxed drive through Albania’s landscapes — ending a day filled with history, culture, and beautiful views.

Includes

Hotel or meeting point pick-up and drop-off from TIRANA CITY Pick up and drop-off from DURRES/GOLEM (meeting points) English speaking tour guide Air-conditioned transportation Road Taxes

Important Information

• PICK UP: If you select the hotel pick-up option, please note that in some cases, you may be kindly asked to walk a short distance (1–8 minutes) to a nearby main street. This is usually due to certain hotels being located on narrow streets where our buses cannot easily access IMPORTANT: You’ll receive the final tour details via email and WhatsApp the night before the tour, between 22:30 and midnight. Pick-up times may slightly change depending on the schedule, so it’s very important to check our message. If you’re asleep when we send the info, just check it in the morning to confirm your pick-up time. MOBILE DATA ROAMING: On the tour day, all communication will be via WhatsApp, so please make sure your phone number is linked to WhatsApp and you have mobile data/roaming enabled. FITNESS LEVEL: Participants should have a basic level of fitness to comfortably complete the tour. At Blue Eye you can walk 20 minutes one way PICK UP/DROP-OFF FROM DURRES AND GOLEM IS INCLUDED

Easy cancellation

Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund