Albania
Albania Albania is now opening up to tourism and a visit here offers a fascinating insight into a country that was closed to the world for much of the twentieth century. Albania is a beautiful and historic land with a most welcoming people. She has one of the oldest flags and tongues in Europe, and preserves traditions and culture unadulterated by the outside world for centuries. Her long coastline is washed by the Ionian and Adriatic sea and hides some wonderful beaches. The mountain scenery is stunning; not for nothing do the Albanians know their land as Shqiperia - Land of the Eagles. Here was ancient Illyria; and here too that great Roman road, the Via Egnatia, began its long march east to Constantinople. Some scars of the past remain - notably the many infamous concrete bunkers but these are insignificant compared to Albania's many treasures and natural beauty. Our cultural tour will show you much of what the south has to offer. Built on top of a Roman port (which surfaces here and there) Saranda is today a large modern town of some 33,000 inhabitants. It is, truth be told, not the prettiest - recent unregulated development has resulted in a plethora of high rise buildings, many unfinished. But before writing Saranda off do take into consideration the many plus points to a stay here. Look outwards, not inwards. Saranda is set in a beautiful horse-shoe bay, fringed with pebble beaches and has lovely views to northern Corfu. The town has an attractive palm-lined promenade and there are many restaurants, cafes and shops, all of which give a warm welcome. On a hill above the town 16th century Lekursi Castle is worth a visit for the views alone, and you can dine there.
Saranda is a very good base for exploration and has two UNESCO World Heritage sites within striking distance. Ancient Butrint is just a 20 minute to the south and should be seen. The atmospheric and historic small town of Gjirokastra is an hour's drive to the north east, and en route you can pass by the unusual Blue Eye spring. For some fine beaches not too far from town, go to Ksamili near Butrint. It is a 1520 minute drive and there are regular buses. It is a popular spot for locals, has a number of pretty small bays and beaches, and several islets just off-shore which you can be taken to by boat (or even swim, some are so close). Good fresh fish restaurants too. The Albanian Riviera to the north enables a stunningly scenic drive high above the sea, passing close to a number of traditional villages. The road has been improved and it now takes only an hour to the small beach resort of Himara, where you can have lunch and a swim. This is one of the last significant stretches of undeveloped coastline in the Med. Albania is still rough around the edges so do not expect the sophistication and service you are used to receiving in countries that have been hosting north Europeans for years. Although on a fast learning curve, Albania is still one of the poorest countries in Europe, so you will need to go with an open mind. That said, we believe a week here followed by a week at one of our Greece resorts makes for an intriguing and contrasting holiday experience.
ALBANIA INFORMATION Getting to Albania Sunday flight Gatwick or Manchester to Preveza (Birmingham flights on request). Then 3 hours by taxi (please note, on arrival will be one taxi from the airport to the Greek/Albanian border and another taxi from the border to Saranda. The return will be one taxi all the way Saranda to airport (or Greek resort if twin centre). An entry visa is not required for UK passport holders. For flight details see page 253. Multi Centre Options Albania can combine with Lefkas, Meganissi, Parga, Sivota, Hidden Greece Fly Drive, Sailing. Transfer times Saranda to Parga or Sivota c 2 hrs. Lefkas and Meganissi transfers will be via the airport. For multi-centre information see page 8. Car Hire See page 250 for details.
Representative We have a local agent in Saranda who can give any information and assistance required. General Albania is 1 hour ahead of the UK, so 1 hour behind Greece. Main towns have ATMs and the local currency is the Lek, but there are restrictions on taking Lek out of the country and may be difficult for exchange so we'd recommend taking the bulk of your spending money in the form of low denomination Euros, which are widely accepted, and try not to be left with wads of Lek on the last day. Prices are generally lower than in Greece (we estimate by c 20%). Recommended Reading Albania by Gillian Gloyer in the Bradt Travel; Guide series.
Blue Eye Spring, near Saranda
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Albania
Brilant Hotel Saranda Centrally located in Saranda, set a little back from the seafront road/promenade and an organised pebble beach, the Brilant is a modern, comfortable town hotel with good views from its upper floors. It has 34 rooms on its 6 floors, served by a rather fancy lift. Rooms are rather nicely done, with wooden floors and warm decor. All possess double or twin beds, AC (central), TV, Wifi, fridge, nice modern bathroom with walk-in shower, hairdryer and balcony, and most are
Beach below Brilant Hotel
spacious enough for a sofa-bed. The Superior sea view rooms are on the top floor and we think worth paying the extra for their panoramic views over Saranda and the bay to Corfu. It is a minute's easy walk to the seafront road and the beach just the other side, and there are plenty of restaurants, cafes and shops nearby. Being so central there is a risk of some noise from a high season nightclub during July and August when Saranda is busy with the domestic holiday market.
The Hotel:
3 Stars Plus Bed & Breakfast Air Conditioning Free Wifi
Guideline price £ per person Price based on 2-sharing a Standard room for 7 nights including flights from Gatwick and transfers. Prices for regional flights, single rooms and larger parties on request. Low Season Jul/Aug Brilant Hotel £777 £906 Please contact us for a firm costing. Saranda
Sea Side Hotel Saranda The Seaside is a little out of the centre - a 25 minute walk or a short bus ride - but this may be no bad thing as the area, although still in town with restaurants nearby, is quieter and the beaches less populated. You are not actually on the sea here - in typical Albanian fashion there are new buildings between the hotel and the sea now - but it is on the sea side of the main road (which is perhaps what they mean!). And you do get super sea views from the upper floors and, especially, the roof terrace. The hotel has some style and is personally run and friendly. It has 29 rooms, a mix of twins and doubles served by a lift. They are attractively if simply furnished and comfortable, and all possess AC, TV, fridge, modern walk-in shower, hairdryer and a balcony, most with good sea views.
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There is a lovely roof-terrace bar, fashionably furnished with sofas and bright cushions (Wifi here), and a well regarded restaurant adjacent. Views are superb from this crow's nest position. It is a 2-3 minute walk down a slight incline to the pebble beach here, which has a beach bar/cafe behind it, and you will find a good choice of restaurants within a 5-10 minute walk of the hotel.
The Hotel:
3 Stars Bed & Breakfast Air Conditioning Free Wifi
Guideline price £ per person Price based on 2-sharing a Standard room for 7 nights including flights from Gatwick and transfers. Prices for regional flights, single rooms and larger parties on request. Low Season Jul/Aug Seaside Hotel £791 £876 Please contact us for a firm costing.
Albania
Private Excursions From Saranda As stated, Saranda is an excellent base from which to explore this fascinating and historic area. We can pre-book a range of private tours to the best sites with your own guide and driver, picking you up from your hotel and avoiding the crowds. They do not cost that much more than a shared group excursion. Prices are per person (minimum 2 persons) and include lunch. Butrint & Lekursi Castle £45 pp Albanian Riviera, Villages and Himara £67 Blue Eye & Gjirokaster £69
Private Cultural Tours Of Southern Albania We offer an in-depth 6-day tour with your own guide and driver. The tour includes an overnight in Saranda at either end, covering the highlights of this fascinating region – three places on the tour are UNESCO World Heritage sites. The tour can be combined as a two-centre with Greece, with a week based at any of our accommodation in Lefkas, Meganissi, Parga or Sivota. We can also offer a shortened 4-day tour by missing out Tirana on days 4 and 5.
Itinerary Day 1: Flight to Prevesa (Sunday). Transfer to Saranda and overnight. Day 2: Guided tour to ancient Butrint. Visit to Blue Eye spring en route to Gjirokaster for overnight. Day 3: Walking tour of Gjirokaster, including the castle and museum. Drive to Berat. Walking tour and visit to icon museum. Overnight Berat. Day 4: To Tirana via Durres. Sightseeing tour of Tirana including the National Museum. Overnight Tirana. Day 5: Drive to historic Kruja and explore the town, castle and old bazaar. Overnight Tirana.
Gjirokaster
Day 6: Turn west towards the sea. Visit Ardenica Monastery and the famous site of Apollonia. Then head for the coastal town of Vlora for overnight. Day 7: Scenic coastal drive along the Albanian Riviera to Himara, where you can have lunch and a swim from the lovely beach here. Afternoon drive to Saranda for overnight. Day 8: Transfer to Prevesa Airport or to a Greek resort for your second week.
Notes on towns and main sites Ancient Butrint
Butrint. Ancient Buthrotum. Important and impressive Greco-Roman city, now a UNESCO World Heritage site, south of Saranda on a bluff of land half-circled by a large lake. Inhabited continuously from the 7th C BC until abandoned in 18th C. Impressive cyclopean walls and deep well within the gate, reminiscent of Mycenae – but most excavated remains are Roman. Gjirokaster. This fascinating and historic small town is also on UNESCO’s World Heritage list. Largely medieval, with some lovely architecture to admire reflecting the town’s wealthy past, it is built on a hill overlooking valley and mountains. Excellent
views from the large castle above, which houses a weapons museum! Some good restaurants in the narrow cobbled lanes of the old town. Berat. Another member of the UNESCO club, Berat is called ‘the town of a thousand eyes’ because of the many-windowed old houses that crowd above the river Osrum and up the hill. High along the ridge is a 14th C citadel, its walls enclosing no fewer that fourteen small painted churches (hence the presence of the famous Onufri icon museum). The Turkish influence may be seen in the town’s three mosques and tekke, also worth visiting. Ardenica. 12th C monastery converted into an inn, it occupies the whole of a rocky outcrop amid pine and cypress trees and is a landmark visible for miles across the plain. The church, dedicated to the Virgin, is characteristically Greek, and has a magnificent iconostasis and high-quality wall-paintings. Apollonia. Another most important archaeological site. Founded in 588 BC by Greeks from Corinth, it rose to become a renowned cultural centre in the Roman period. Memorable are the elegant façade of the Bouleuterion and the great Stoa. Below stands the beautiful 13th C church of Shenmari, built out of the antique stone.
Price Guide Prices are per person and include flights from LGW (supplement for MAN and BHX), transfers, 3 star BB hotel accommodation for 7 nights, 6 lunches (days 2-7), entrance fees. It is a private tour with your own guide and driver. Single room supplement will be quoted on request. 2-3 persons
Low Season from £1478 July/August from £1580
4 plus persons Low Season from £1269 July/August from £1547 We can also offer a shortened 4-day tour, as above but taking replacing Days 4-5 (Tirana) with an extra 2 nights in Saranda on BB at the start or end of the week. 2-3 persons
Low Season from £1282; July/August from £1394
4 plus persons Low Season from £1066 July/August from £1332
Berat
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