| 10 Days in the hidden Zagoria Valley and along the Ionian Coast

We will meet at the Airport. The journey begins upon arrival at the airport, where the road leads you into the heart of Albania, toward the fabled city of a thousand windows – Berat. Since 2005, this jewel has been honored as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a living testament to medieval charm and timeless tradition.
After settling into your hotel, the adventure unfolds with a visit to the majestic Berat Castle. From its ancient walls, breathtaking panoramas open before you: the city’s historic quarters cascading gracefully along the hillside, stone houses whispering tales of centuries past, and winding alleys that seem to carry the echoes of forgotten footsteps.
As evening descends, a warm welcome awaits in a traditional restaurant. Here, Albanian cuisine reveals its soul: the crisp layers of freshly baked byrek, hearty meat dishes infused with rustic flavors, and sweet desserts that linger like poetry on the palate. A feast of authenticity, rounding off the first day in perfect harmony

| Bus Transfer 125km, 2h 30 min, |Hiking NO 

Early departure from the town of Berat towards the starting point of our trekking, the village of Peshtan. Part of the journey winds along the Vjosa River, which is one of the last pristine rivers in Europe and is also called the blue heart of Europe and a national park. In Peshtan we start our trek to our destination, the village of Limar. Along the way, we will have the opportunity to enjoy the mountains of southern Albania, as well as the Mediterranean vegetation of these mountains. A stop at the local shepherd's house to taste the turkish coffee together with the strong homemade raki of the mountains, as well as the organic honey of its bees that grow in the green mountains of Cajupi. After saying goodbye to our shepherd, we will continue our path, which is also the ancient caravan route of the famous Pasha Ali Pashe Tepelena (Janina), where the crossing of the river from one side of the mountain to the other is through the 300-year-old Ottoman-style bridge built by this famous pasha. The trail continues with a moderate climb to the village of Limar, where we will spend the night at the house of the village teacher, who will also be our host, where he will offer us a simple but very tasty dinner together with his wife with the products of his farm.

| Bus Transfer 150 km, 2h,  |Hiking 5h , →11 km. ↗ 750 m. ↘ 450 m

After the breakfast served from the familly of the teacher we follow the old caravan road, now a trail for hikers and travellers who seek adventure, to the village of Hoshteve. On the way, we visit the small village school, where a dedicated teacher instructs a handful of students, and the ancient church that has stood for two centuries. We stop at the village of Doshnice, where some locals still cling to their ancestral home. They offer us coffee, fruit brandy, honey from their own hives, and fresh fruits that we can pluck from the trees. We continue to the Doshnice waterfall and back, enjoying the view from above. Some of us may choose to stay longer and experience the daily life of our host. We resume our walk to Hoshteve, passing through fields, hills and picturesque landscapes. There, Katerina and her husband greet us warmly and prepare us traditional dishes with ingredients from their farm.

| Bus Transfer NO | Hiking , 4h, → 14 km, ↗ 486 m, ↘ 474 m

Our walk to Sheper begins with a visit to the old church from the 17th century, which reveals the village’s history and culture. We take the road that follows the mountain and the valley until we reach Nivan, where we explore its interior. We meet the locals who live in their ancestral homes, which are hundreds of years old, and work in farming and animal husbandry. We also visit another old and renovated church in the village, and enjoy the local cuisine, fruits and trees along the way. We descend through the woods to the old monastery, which was once a resting place for the caravans in the Middle Ages. We will also "meet" the famous bunkers that were built in Albania during the Cold War. After seeing the Nivan Monastery, we ascend the hill to our host’s house in Sheper. The family meal shows us the lifestyle of the Albanian families in these mountainous areas.

|Bus Transfer NO | Hiking , 4h, → 12 km, ↗ 600 m, ↘ 550 m

Today is the longest day of hiking over Dhembel Mountain, with the aim of reaching the small and clean town of Permet. In the meantime, the transport of our luggage will be transported by mules before departure, as well as by local carriers who take us to our destination in the hotel reserved for us, so we have to make sure that everything must be well packed. Our trek will continue with the ascent to the Dhembel Pass along the mountainside and immediately after reaching the pass we will take a lunch break with a view of the town of Permet from 2000 meters altitude. After lunch, we continue the descent, which is relatively difficult and sometimes slippery. After descending from the mountain to the first village, in Leuse we will have the opportunity to visit another medieval church, nicknamed the Capela Sistina of the Balkans due to its frescoes and icons. And after your visit, we will continue to the hotel. We will stay in a comfortable 3-star hotel, while dinner will be in one of the restaurants with traditional cuisine.

| Bus Transfer NO, | Hiking 5h, → 12 km, ↗ 650 m, ↘ 1250 m

We will depart from Permet in the morning by minibus to visit the Strembec waterfall. After visiting the waterfall, we will return to have lunch in one of the restaurants along the Vjosa River. Following lunch, we will have free time at the thermal baths of Benje in Permet. After visiting the thermal baths, we will head towards the museum city of Gjirokasta, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The road winds along the Vjosa valley and between the mountains of southern Albania. Upon arrival in Gjirokaster, we will check in and do some shopping in the medieval town, which is full of cafes and traditional shops. We will also visit the house of Skendulaj, a medieval Ottoman-style house of a rich family of the time. This will give us an idea of Albanian life and society in the Middle Ages. The tour in the house will be led by the heir of the family. We will end the day with dinner at a local restaurant.

| Bus Transfer 20km, | Hiking 4h 30m, → 10 km, ↗ 450 m, ↘ 450 m

The morning begins with breakfast in the “Stone City,” before we ascend to the mighty Gjirokastra Castle. From its ancient walls, the city unfurls below in a tapestry of slate rooftops and winding alleys, a panorama steeped in centuries of history.

Our journey then carries us over the Muzina Pass, once the caravan route linking Ioannina with Albania’s coast. The road bends through mountains and valleys until we reach the Blue Eye—Syri i Kaltër—a karst spring of unfathomable depth. Its waters shimmer in hues of sapphire and emerald, a natural monument that breathes life into the Bistrica River, nourishing fields, villages, and even the timeless waters of Lake Butrint.

From this miracle of nature, we continue to Butrint, the ancient city cradled between lake, lagoon, and sea. Here, stones whisper of civilizations long gone: Illyrian tribes, Greek settlers, Roman conquerors, and Ottoman rulers—all leaving their mark upon this sacred ground. Walking among temples, theaters, and fortifications, we step into a living chronicle of the Balkans.

By midday, we pause at a coastal restaurant gazing across the Ionian Sea to the island of Corfu. The air carries the scent of salt and summer, and—should time and weather allow—the turquoise waters invite us to dive into their crystalline embrace.

The road then winds along the Albanian Riviera, where cliffs meet the sea in dramatic union. As the sun lowers, we arrive in Qeparo, a tranquil coastal village where the day concludes with fresh fish dishes, the flavors of the Ionian mingling with the warmth of Albanian hospitality.

| Bus Transfer NO, | Hiking NO, | 40 minutes, gentle exploration

We set out from the tranquil village of Qeparo, where the southern coast of Albania meets the embrace of the Akeraunian Mountains. The path leads us first to the old fortress of Ali Pasha, standing proudly before the shadowed war tunnels once carved for Cold War submarines—a silent reminder of Albania’s hidden chapters in Balkan history.
From there, the trail carries us through the dramatic gorge of Gjipe, descending into its untouched bay, a paradise where cliffs guard turquoise waters. Here we pause, swimming in the crystalline sea, letting its purity refresh body and spirit before continuing our journey.
The road winds onward to the picturesque village of Dhermi. Upon arrival, we rest at lively beach bars, savoring the coastal atmosphere, before setting off again along the ancient “path of the mills,” trodden for centuries by the villagers of this land. Along the way, we encounter one of Albania’s earliest hydropower plants, built in the 1920s—a testament to the country’s first steps into modernity. If time and fortune allow, we may also visit the Church of St. Mary, a sacred jewel of Dhermi, where faith and tradition linger in stone and silence.
As the afternoon wanes, we depart by bus towards Llogara National Park. The road climbs to a mountain pass over 1,000 meters above sea level, where the Ionian Sea stretches before us in breathtaking majesty—from the Strait of Otranto to the distant shores of Corfu.
We end the day embraced by alpine serenity, settling into a hotel surrounded by whispering coniferous forests, where the mountain air carries both peace and promise. Today is a challenging day towards the top of Cika, which climbs up to 1000 meters above sea level and 2044 meters above sea level. The ascent begins at the Llogaras Pass through the most natural forest with coastal pines with a small stop in Dhjopuri. We arrive at the summit of Cika and have an impressive 360-degree view of almost the entire south of Albania, from the island of Corfu in the south to the Adriatic and the bay of Vlora in the north, as well as the entire valley of Albania the valley of the Vlora River. After the descent, I drove to the coastal town of Vlora, we stay in a hotel near the sea and dinner with fish dishes.

| Bus Transfer 60 km | Hiking , 6h, → 11 km, ↗ 950 m, ↘ 950 m

After breakfast, we lace our boots for the final hike of our journey. The trail begins directly from our alpine hotel, leading us toward Qafa Thelle and onward to Thanas’s Pass in Llogara National Park. Here, the Karaburun Peninsula rises between two seas, a rugged spine separating the Ionian from the Adriatic. On clear days, its silhouette can be seen even from the distant shores of Puglia, a breathtaking vista of Albania’s southern coast.
We enter a primeval forest, where ancient trees guard the path and glimpses of the Adriatic and the Bay of Vlorë shimmer through the foliage. Step by step, the forest thickens, until we emerge near the remnants of shepherds’ huts—silent witnesses to a simpler time. Beyond them, the pass opens suddenly, unveiling a 360-degree panorama: the Ionian Sea stretching endlessly, with the island of Corfu resting on the horizon like a jewel upon the water.
Our hike continues to the highest point, where a Cold War-era radar station—once part of Albania’s military watch—now serves NATO. History and nature intertwine here, reminding us of the land’s resilience and transformation.
At 1,050 meters above sea level, we pause for refreshment at a mountain establishment, savoring the crisp alpine air one last time. Then, we descend by bus, traveling 150 kilometers toward Tirana, Albania’s vibrant capital.
Upon arrival, we check into our hotel before embarking on a city tour. Tirana reveals itself as a mosaic of centuries: Ottoman relics, Italian façades, communist-era monuments, and the bold strokes of modern architecture. The city pulses with life, its streets alive with cafés, colors, and voices—a capital that has claimed its place among Europe’s most dynamic urban centers.
The afternoon is yours to wander freely, to discover Tirana’s rhythm at your own pace, and to let the final impressions of Albania linger in memory

| Bus Transfer 150 km | Hiking , 4h, → 12 km, ↗ 595 m, ↘ 480 

Our trip is over and after buying souvenirs and memories of this picturesque and diverse country, we prepare for the journey home and then we share email photos of this trip with each other. Transfer to the Airport

| Bus Transfer 150 km