Highlights of Albania

Karen Healey   -  Traveled, August 2023

Excellent tour, well worth it Very enjoyable tour in a very interesting country with a lot of history. Spectacular mountain scenery (some long drives but split up with stops along the journeys). Lovely Ottoman towns and cities, such as Berat and Gjirokaster, pretty villages visited en route to cities. Tourist resorts such as Saranda, and large cities such as Vlore and Durres are far from pretty or attractive. A lot of the hotels we stayed in were good and all central when in cities. Good value for money, both cost of the tour itself and in Albania in general. Most Inspirational Moment Visiting pretty Ottoman cities such as Berat and Gjirokaster. Learning about the country's history and troubled past and travelling along the Vjosa Valley in the south - very scenic. Albania is 70% mountains and is very scenic, whether you are the mountains and viewing the plains below, or driving through the plains with the mountain ranges around you. Meeting local people and visiting family homes. Thoughts on Group Leader Excellent Advice for Potential Travellers Currency - as previous reviews mention, credit cards are not accepted in a lot of establishments, in particular restaurants and shops I visited. In a lot of places we visited, Euros were accepted and some items were in LEK and Euros. You can't buy LEK in the UK, you need to change money when you are there. The best rate was in an exchange bureau not far from the hotel in Tirana, which our guide (Armir) showed us. There is a bureau at the airport on arrival but the rate is probably not very good, as is usually the case in airports - follow your tour leader's advice re exchanging money, you don't need to change cash immediately. I exchanged £100 into LEK on the first day in Tirana and it lasted me throughout the holiday, including tips. I used credit card for paying for the meal in Hotel Panorama in Kruje on my last night, as I had used up the last of my LEK that day. I also took Euros and used those where they were accepted, in particular souvenir shops in some places and towards the end of the holiday when my supply of LEK was very low. You could even tip the guide and driver in Euros if you run out of LEK. Essentially, don't change large sum of money when you arrive, see how you go and then change small sums as and when, and take Euros with you as you can always use them on a future holiday to another country. Any unspent LEK you can always exchange at the airport on leaving the country, before going through security. At the time, 100 LEK was about the same as one Euro, so easy conversion rate with your Euros or when buying anything. Prices in Albania are a lot lower than in other European countries and eating/drinking out is fairly cheap - £8 approximately for a pizza (and it was large) and two soft drinks! Ice creams in Berat were very cheap in cafes etc (about 35p for one scoop), some cities charged a lot more - especially in Durres where they were about £1a scoop. Tourist Information - For pre-trip reading and for reference during the trip, take a good guidebook with you (I took the Bradt guide to Albania). Tourist information leaflets and maps are few and far between and a lot of the hotels we visited didn't have either. Tourist information offices, when open, don't really have a lot of info compared with other European cities. The tour leader gave orientation walking tours in some cities or towns; we arrived at and visited a lot of the towns and cities late in the day so you don't get much time in them- we only had one group evening meal (the final night) so we made good use of our time after any orientation tour by exploring by ourselves (we found everywhere very safe to do so). Group meals were always at lunch times so you didn't really need a meal in the evening some times, Note the lunch included at village of Dhoksat was plentiful and excellent, you certainly won't want to eat a lot (if anything) in the evening back in Gjirokaster - note the meal prepared and cooked by the family in Dhoksat is vegetarian - tell your tour leader early on in the holiday if you have food allergies or dietary requirements, or would like meat/fish - as Armir had contacted them well beforehand in this respect.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 09/16/2023

Laura Savill   -  Traveled, June 2013

A Land of Contrasts Albania is a country that must be visited before it becomes too popular and over commercialised. A country that has something for everyone, history, art, walking hiking, beaches. A land to explore. This tour took in nearly everything, the beautiful mountain scenery, the flat lands and the coast. The villages and the cities. Although there were some long drives tge scenery made up for it and our guide Ed made up for it but adding extras to the itinerary. The food is interesting alot of Mediterranean dishes nothing that wasn’t unpleasant. The people are very friendly and speak good English. I would go back again. Most Inspirational Moment Landing and seeing Albania for the first time, driving into Tirana to discover a modern city with a shaded past. Butrint National Park, to see how the City developed from Greek Roman times. It gave the sense that Albania had a long history. Also tve site is just beautiful and serene. Other highlights were the towns of Gjirokaster and Berat. Thoughts on Group Leader Ed was a super leader. He was so knowledgeable and showed real passion for his country. He added extra stops into the itinerary, to show off more of his country but also to fill in gaps in the itinerary because on some days there was not enough interests to fill in the time. Advice for Potential Travellers Spend more time in Tirana either at the end or the beginning of the tour as the time there is not enough. Alough I went late May early June take a packable raincoat as on this trip it rained every day and once was caught out up a hill and got drenched. Read a little bit about the country before going then you will understand more about Albania. Suggestions Most of the hotels were comfortable and clean. Hotel Elite looked poshed but staff needed training and also still using tge QR app for a menu and not helpful when I said I did not have the app. Also the toilet seat was completely broken. An excellent hotel was Hotel Mangalemi, a small family run hotel with excellent service and super food. Albania is still quirky which us a place. The tourist side still needs to train their staff in service but all in all a good trip

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 06/27/2023

John Gordon   -  Traveled, October 2022

Surprising Albania A beautiful country with a colourful history, much of it red. Most Inspirational Moment Standing at the summit of the acropolis in Berat Castle on a clear day, with gorgeous views over the surrounding countryside. Thoughts on Group Leader Uur guide Klodi was helpful, funny and knowledgeable. Great guy! Advice for Potential Travellers Bring lots of cash to exchange because credit cards are almost never accepted at hotels or restaurants. Suggestions Be prepared for some long coach journeys, but be ready to be enchanted by this beautiful country of lakes, mountains and coast, with a chequered history including Roman, Greek, Ottoman and Communist empires,

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 10/26/2022

Stephen Girling   -  Traveled, October 2022

ncredible country. Get there now before inevitable the crowds! I was blown away by this trip to Albania. The country surpassed my expectations and the scenery was at times breath taking. You cover a lot of ground in the trip and so really are getting a flavour for the places visited rather than having lots of time at each to fully explore. It was fascinating to find out more about the history of Albania and to see a country that is very much driving forward in it’s development albeit in the early stages. Tirana feels like a youthful, vibrant capital city with the usual cacophony of car horns and sounds of a major city. As soon as you are out of Tirana you see the more traditional side of Albania, however everywhere we went there were signs of development and construction. The people of Albania were on the whole lovely and welcoming. With just the smallest effort to use an Albanian word or two, people’s faces would light up and be happy to have conversations with you about where you are from etc. Our group had a particularly moving encounter with an elderly man who lived through the communist era in a concentration camp and had such a beautiful and emotional take on his Muslim faith, and how to live in peace with others. The food and drink was excellent overall and was great to explore the Albanian beers and wines, alongside the food. Most Inspirational Moment There were a few moments that really stand out from the trip. The first was in Korce where upon visiting the oldest mosque in the oldest part of the city, an elderly man came over to our group and through the guide told us his story. Under the communist regime he wrote poetry in opposition to them and was promptly put in a concentration camp, along with his family. Whilst inside he saw the death of his parents and grandparents, and was not able to practice his Muslim faith. However, they would pray in secret and when his Mother was still in Korce she would sit outside the mosque which was being used for storage under the regime and just by sitting there, felt connected to her son who was secretly praying in the camp. Upon his release in the early 90's and then being able to practice his religion freely, the man had such a beautiful attitude to others. He didn't care if you were Muslim, Christian or other faith, he just wanted to live in freedom and love others. There were not many dry eyes in the group by the end of his story. It brought home how brutal the communist regime was, but also the religious tolerance that is now exemplified throughout Albania. Religion is practised but it doesn't divide their society, in fact their ability to worship religion in freedom is a powerful unifier across the country. Gjirokaster which is a wonderful and beautiful village. The view from the hotel across the valley was amazing and only surpassed by the view from the hotel in Kruja! Driving through the mountains was very inspirational and the views were consistently breath taking. In Berat some of the group were fortunate enough to eat a local restaurant that was just the courtyard behind the host, Lili's house. The food was amazing and he was a fantastic host. It was a wonderful experience. Thoughts on Group Leader Klodi was a great group leader and very knowledgeable. In the majority of places we visited he was the one to give us the tours and tell us the history of the different places and had a wealth of knowledge on Albania. The drivers on the tour were all friendly and the journeys were largely comfortable on some difficult roads. Advice for Potential Travellers It is advisable to take some bug spray with you as I didn't have any and got a few bites. Whilst the country does accept Euros and Lek, it was only really the more touristy places that seemed to want Euros. From the start we were advised to get Lek and this worked well. There are so many places to change money in Tirana so it was very easy to do and there are lots of ATM's across the country. Some members of the group either arrived in Tirana a day or two earlier, or stayed on for a day or two after. This is a good idea to consider to give yourself more time to do the things that there aren't time to do on the tour. Think about the time of the year that is best for you to do this trip. I had originally planned to do it in July but given how steep some of the roads are when walking around and getting up to castles etc. the heat of that month would have been quite unpleasant. I ended up going in late September when the temperature was consistently in the mid 20's which was very pleasant. It is cooler up in the mountains however so another thing to consider. Suggestions Albania is a wonderful country and has so much potential for the future. It feels poised to really accelerate its development, especially if it gets in to the EU. This means that now is a great time to visit as you it is still relatively unknown and unspoilt. If the sound of the trip interests you then I don't think you can go wrong, you will love it. As a further note, I had to postpone my original departure date due to testing positive for Covid and Exodus were fantastic in moving the booking to a later date, so thank you again.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 10/29/2022

Prue Losada   -  Traveled, June 2022

Highlights of Albania Great that the itinerary took us all around this beautiful, mountainous country. So much to keep your attention even on the longest bus journeys. The Albanians are very friendly people and always smiling and saying hello. All hotels were excellent, apart from the one on our last night. It was a bit too hot for most of the time, especially when having to climb in full sunshine! Nice and cool though by Lake Ohrid in Pogradec and I managed a swim there. The only swim included in the itinerary in a hot spring, however, was very disappointing for me. No shade, far too many people in a very slimy and rocky pool, so difficult to get in and out. I hadn’t realised that there was so much Greek and Roman history and ancient sites in the country so that was very special for me – particularly in Butrint National Park and Apollonia. We visited many museums, most were interesting but there were too many for me, so sometimes I decided to give them a miss. Photography is very important for me and there was so much to photograph everywhere we went. Most Inspirational Moment We had one inclusive lunch and it was at the home of a lovely family in the village of Dhoksat. The food was absolutely delicious and just kept coming .. finishing with an amazing dessert. A fantastic treat! Also loved all the ancient sites. So happy to have 2 nights at an amazing family-run hotel in Berat. Managed a lot of walks on my own there, and the best was when I left the hotel at 0640 as it was so cool at that time of day! Thoughts on Group Leader Arjan was an excellent guide. He knew so much about every place we visited. Also very calm and very friendly. As was our driver, Genti. Advice for Potential Travellers I would recommend getting up and out early, especially when it is so hot. I did a lot of special pre and post breakfast walks on my own. Suggestions It was great that we could fill up our water bottles at local springs which were very safe, plus our guide also provided water in the bus.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 07/18/2022

Andrew Healy   -  Traveled, August 2019

Interesting insight to Albania This was a good trip which covered the main highlights of Albania. It is interesting to see how the country is progressing and developing in the last few decades since the fall of communism and regional troubles. Most Inspirational Moment Really enjoyed the drives through the mountains and stopping for lunch at the working farm. Interesting castles to visit and I really enjoyed the icon museum. Thoughts on Group Leader Our group leader Ilir was excellent. He gave great talks and information on the history of Albania and it was interesting to hear about life during the communist era which he lived through himself. He took great care of everyone. Also our driver Kujtimi was excellent and felt save throughout the trip. Advice for Potential Travellers Bring some shoes with grips as there are a few walks with cobbles and a short walk in the forest. There are plenty of ATMs and exchanges for money and they will take Euro in most hotelsrestaurants. Plenty of veg and salads for vegetarians.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 09/22/2019

Linda Richardson   -  Traveled, June 2019

Interesting Cultural Trip A very well balanced trip with visits to UNESCO World Heritage sites, free time to explore our own personal preference areas and introductions to Albanian culture. Most Inspirational Moment Exploring and eating local dishes in restaurants with a view in Berat. Thoughts on Group Leader Very average actually but I believe this was his first tour for Exodus. He led our tour straight after finishing one for another company and planned to start another group within an hour of ending ours. His timings didn't work out however and we had to have a replacement Tour Leader from the last night and for the final day - our replacement Leader was fanrastic - so professional, spoke excellent English and did extras to make our holiday special. Advice for Potential Travellers Be aware that there are more hours of small coach travel than is stated in the write-up. It was lovely to see the countryside though and all travel was broken up with visits to intetesting places. Suggestions This was a very well balanced trip and the recent changes to include two nights in Berat and an improved schedule, as a result of previous guest feedback made this a much improved experience.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 06/25/2019

julie Gardam   -  Traveled, May 2019

Highlights of Albania Interesting and variedcountry both geographically, politically and socially. Good accommodation. Would have appreciated an included first and last night dinners ( we organised the latter) and/or introductory drinks on the first day. It would have facilitated group sociability. Most Inspirational Moment N /A Thoughts on Group Leader Very good. Well organised and very thorough in his presentations; always willing to answer questions.... Flexible, helpful. Top marks. Ditto an excellent driver. Advice for Potential Travellers Be prepared for dreadful cobbled streets. You need sneakers with a good grip! Suggestions Yes, use Whispers! They give so much more flexibility and save the tour leader’s voice. Too much repetition of very similar ethnographic museums. The last one was by far the best.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 06/14/2019

Phil Myslowski   -  Traveled, July 2019

Highlights of Albania This is a trip which exceeded my expectations. Friendly locals, fabulous landscapes, cheap and cheerful food and drink with the excellent guide, Ed. I have just one gripe which Exodus should consider and act upon. Despite outside temperatures of around 18 – 20 degrees during daylight hours our driver had the air conditioning on most of the time. The only windows that could be opened on the minibus were located in the front doorseat plus a roof window which was only opened once in 10 days for a couple of hours at my insistence. Some of our 15 strong group, myself included, developed dry throats, head colds, coughs etcetera. A week after returning home I am still feeling the effects. And for the last 24 years I have worked outside in all weathers without catching a cold. Tgere was never any need for the air conditioning to be activated within the outside temperature range at this time of year. Opening a window for fresh air would have sufficed. Instead 17 of us were enclosed in an airtight container for several hours on a daily basis breathing the same recycled dry air. Not healthy! There are court cases pending regarding illnesses contracted from air conditioning on aircraft. Take note Exodus. Most Inspirational Moment Bonding with the group. Thoughts on Group Leader Excellent. He would make a great politician. Advice for Potential Travellers Take a face mask.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 04/17/2019

Diana Escudero   -  Traveled, July 2019

Fantastic tour in an amazing country This was my first Exodus trip and it exceeded my expectations. I really enjoyed the different aspects of the trip from swimming in the lake in Pogradec (and eating local korani trout afterwards), to the icon museum in Berat, from the walk in Llogora to the Mirahori mosque visit in Korça. Albania is a fascinating country and I enjoyed exploring it with like-minded individuals who were great fun. I found hotel accommodation very good (single supplement basis). Most Inspirational Moment Difficult to say as there were several. The moment when we witnessed the call to prayer at the Mirahori mosque in Korçë, or possibly swimming in the lake in Pogradec, or maybe the last evening sampling raki and local cheese while listening to a young local musician playing the accordion. Thoughts on Group Leader I liked the group leader Gerti very much - he had a great sense of humour and we had some great laughs. He provided us with a great introduction to Albania and was very knowledgeable. I was very grateful for his help ensuring I stayed in the same room for my extra night in Krujë at the end of the trip. His style was to recommend restaurants rather than accompany everyone and I thought it worked well as it gave you the opportunity to make the most of your free time and interact with locals. There was the occasional lapse when it wasn't clear how long we had in a particular short stop but nothing really serious. I also thought he was kind looking out for any group members who struggled on the steep cobbled roads. Advice for Potential Travellers I recommend arriving early in Tirana to have more time to explore - I arrived the night before and had almost a whole day to explore places not included on the tour. It's a great city to explore on foot and apart from general wandering I really enjoyed visiting the National Art Gallery which included an Ottoman period exhibition but also featured many communist era paintings. Also I recommend taking walking shoes with a closed toe for the mini-hike in Llogora which was great!). I managed fine with walking sandals with a good grip but it is quite stoney in parts so shoes would be better. Suggestions Albania is a great country and Albanians are very friendly. I was worried before I went that I'd pitched my expectations too high but It more than lived up to expectations. Also if you have any concerns about safety they will seem absurd once you arrive. I wandered around the backstreets a lot by myself in various cities during our free time and felt very safe. The food is great too!

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 07/24/2019

Viv Rimmer   -  Traveled, June 2019

Excellent tour of a less-known country The trip was packed with interesting and ‘must-see’ visits and activities, but there was still enough time to relax, explore independently, and try the wonderful locally grown food. Mediterranean climate and food. Mountains, fertile plains, and freshwater lakes, natural springs and the sea to swim in. Welcoming, relaxed and friendly people, a fair level of comfort but not ‘touristy’ – Albania is a great place to holiday! Most Inspirational Moment Swimming in Lake Ohrid one morning, and being nibbled by fish (ok, I had eaten 3 of their relatives the night before...) Listening to a young and talented student musician playing the piano accordion for us, at a raki and cheese sampling at Kruja Castle. Proper Italian-style icecream every day, only 30p a scoop, loads of flavours. Thoughts on Group Leader Klodian was a great tour leader. I feel he had a good balance between introducing us to the country, giving us information and tour guiding, and letting us take things in for ourselves. There were some challenging group dynamics on our trip, something I have not come across on such trips before, and he dealt with it very calmly and professionally, with great patience. He earned my respect for this. Advice for Potential Travellers Take some comfortable shoes with a good grip, and possibly a trekking pole for balance if needed. There is a lot of walking on slippery polished cobblestone slopes and hillsides, particularly if you want to go off and explore independently.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 07/12/2019

Cheryl Morris   -  Traveled, April 2019

Go there! When I told friends I was going to Albania, the most common response was “why?”. Albania is relatively new to tourism so it’s a great time to explore the country. The locals are curious to get to know us which is a rarity in Europe. Albania doesn’t have really show stopping sights but there are a number of significant highlights which hold your interest throughout and make this a fascinating trip. Most Inspirational Moment There are several sites of archaeological interest such as Apollonia and Butrint, with some lesser known sites that our guide squeezed into the trip. These sites are often still being excavated and are not commercialised in any way. Kruje is a jewel of a town, clutching to the side of the mountains with fantastic views over the valley below. Gjirokaster is not looking its best at the moment as they are currently replacing all the cobbles in the town but you can tell it will be spectacular once completed - lots of little old wooden buildings clustered underneath the castle on a steep mountainside. The coast is stunning, particularly the coastline facing Corfu - white sands, turquoise seas. There are also beautiful lakes and rivers. Thoughts on Group Leader Eddy was extremely knowledgeable and so enthusiastic. He took good care of everyone and did his best to give us the best possible holiday. Advice for Potential Travellers You change hotel every night bar one on this trip so travel light. It may look like there's a lot of driving but each leg of the journey seemed fairly short with frequent coffee or point of interest stops so I never felt restless. It's an incredibly cheap place to visit - you can get a beer for just over one pound, lunch for a couple of pounds and, even pushing the boat out, it's hard to spend more than a tenner. The only "expensive" item on menus is chicken (!) but red meat is much cheaper. There are plenty of tasty vegetarian options too. The guide needs around 1,500 Lek for the kitty, just over a tenner. We went on the first departure of the year and it was quite cold in the mountains so make sure you bring some warm clothes for the departures outside of the summer season. Albania is a land of very slippery and steep pavement surfaces so shoes with good grip are recommended. Suggestions Albania is a very clean and safe country - don't hesitate to see it. Exodus, why don't you extend the trip into the North of the country? A couple of extra nights for some chill-time in the mountains and by the sea would have been great.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 04/25/2019

Janice Waight   -  Traveled, September 2018

Highlights of Albania This was a thoroughly comprehensive tour travelling around a large part of the country, involving visiting many fascinating historical sites, museums, the countryside ….various towns,mountainous regions, flat fertile plains and the coast . Most Inspirational Moment There were several.... The stunning mountains, breathtaking views of castles , mosques and the courteousness of the Albanian we met....and learning so much about the country thanks to our guide. Thoughts on Group Leader Klodi was a very fine group leader. His knowledge of his country and it's history was extremely impressive. We learnt so much and he was always really helpful and had a great sense of humour ! Also, importantly, Ghent, our driver, was excellent. We couldn't have been in safer hands....driving through the mountains was very tricky at times, but he was always calm and very careful. Advice for Potential Travellers Go to Albania now before it becomes too touristy. It's a great country and after such a sad history,the people are doing wonders restoring and revitalizing it. Only one criticism....some of the lunch breaks were too long!

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 10/15/2018

Daphne George   -  Traveled, October 2023

A country worth visiting This was a very good introduction to Albania. The guide (Ed) and driver (Di) were excellent. There was a fair balance between visits to historic sites, city walks, interaction with locals and beachside scenery. All the hotels exceeded expectations, as did the food. My reservation would be that it was too tiring moving hotels every night (apart from 2 nights in penultimate one). Perhaps the programme could be extended by a couple of days. Also, the time listening to detailed explanations of the geo-politics of Albania from the guide felt excessive at times. More free time to explore at leisure would have been appreciated. The beach swimming time was very brief, and not at a very good site (biting fish!). Surely there could have been a better beach to go too, and for longer. The bus was good, but the PA system was distorted sometimes making it difficult to hear the leader. Most Inspirational Moment Walking through the castle and bazaar at Kurce. Watching local teenagers dancing to live music in the square at Berat. Thoughts on Group Leader Very well organised and dedicated to his job. An expert in his country's complicated history and politics. Sometimes Ed talked too much - the detail was too much for us to take in. He tended to go off at a tangent when describing something! But he was a very friendly and helpful leader with incredible local knowledge and contacts. Advice for Potential Travellers Read up about Albania beforehand - it is such an unusual country it will help to make sense of what you see. Not too good for vegetarians and definitely not vegans.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 10/24/2023

Catherine Atkinson   -  Traveled, May 2024

Mixed messsages This was a great trip but some parts were hard. There were some steep climbs which I found difficult. The hotels were great. Our guide was not the best, because he didn’t give enough information about each days programme. No daily briefings. On occasion we were out and about without toilet or refreshment breaks for 5 hours. However, all in all a fantastic trip. Most Inspirational Moment The landscape. And the food. Thoughts on Group Leader See above Advice for Potential Travellers Make sure to take a waterproof. And a travel kettle was welcome ! Suggestions No.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 05/27/2023

David Tree   -  Traveled, May 2023

Albania tour A wonderful full on tour visiting a vast array of varied cities, countryside, coastal locations and historical sites. Our guide Amir was excellent. He was very personable and knowledgeable, we learnt so much about the people, culture and history of this fascinating country. Also our driver, Gani, deserves a mention for his incredible driving along the winding hilltop roads, allowing us to relax and enjoy the amazing scenery. Thank you to you both Most Inspirational Moment Experiencing the friendliness, kindness and generosity of the Albanian people Thoughts on Group Leader Amir displayed an excellent knowledge of the country both past and present. He was very approachable and his answers to the many questions were always answered in a clear and understandable way Advice for Potential Travellers This was a very full on tour which allowed us to get the very best experience of this wonderful country. Be prepared for full days and a different hotel most nights, but well worth it Suggestions Highly recommended, we loved everything about this trip

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 05/21/2023

Susie Crisan   -  Traveled, April 2023

Albania Albania is a gem to visit. The rugged snow capped mountains to the blue Ionian Sea, there is much scenery to take in. The small villages have character of days of old. The people are friendly and helpful. Edjon the tour guide was excellent. His enthusiasm to share his country with others was infectious. Edjon was prepared, knowing all the information to enlighten the group about Albania. His outgoing personality, individual attention when needed, and small surprises he had planned along the way kept the trip interesting. Edjon is a top tier tour guide, that we were blessed to have in Albania. Thoughts on Group Leader Edjon the tour guide was excellent. His enthusiasm to share his country with others was infectious. Edjon was prepared, knowing all the information to enlighten the group about Albania. His outgoing personality, individual attention when needed, and small surprises he had planned along the way kept the trip interesting. Edjon is a top tier tour guide, that we were blessed to have in Albania. Advice for Potential Travellers Go to Albania. Ask for Edjon tours.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 04/22/2023

Rod Kantor   -  Traveled, September 2018

Highlights of Albania Overall the itinerary was fine but it could be enhanced. A night was spent in Vlores and a visit made to Durres. Neither town was inspiring and what we saw there was incidental to the trip and would not have been missed if it had not been included. Cut Vlores and Durres out and spend more time in Gjirokaster and / or Berat. Or reroute slightly and include other destinations not on the current itinerary. There was a feeling of being rushed around the Berat Castle area in particular – a quick photo here then move on. No time to take in the scene. The photos have to be good as there’s no time to retain a mental impression. The hotel choices were good to excellent and that in Berat exceptional. The minibus concept for transport has shortcomings, particularly when the bus is full. Anyone in an aisle seat has little chance of seeing mountainous countryside as line of vision is directed downwards by the top of the window for a tall person sitting in the middle of the bus. Most Inspirational Moment Getting to understand the seemingly endless battles over centuries that the Albanian people have had to fight and the compromises they have had to accept on the road to maintaining their identity as a nation Thoughts on Group Leader The guide was very knowledgeable and shared his knowledge generously and frequently on a wide range of subjects, in part leading to the comment made immediately above. He tried hard to please everyone. That is not an easy task and can lead to the wrong result. When an option is offered and half the group go one way and half the other those attempts to please everyone end up disappointing half. Sometimes it's better for the guide to just say what's going to happen. Advice for Potential Travellers If you're interested in life in Albania during the last century, and during the communist era in particular, get to Tirana a few days before the trip starts. The trip itinerary allows for surprisingly little time in Tirana and during that time the only exposure to visual information about Albania in the 20th century is a visit to the national museum. However, that museum is far from the best place in and around the capital to find out how Albanians lived and were treated during the communist dictatorship.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 10/23/2018

Lynn Pugsley   -  Traveled, September 2018

Surprisingly pleasant country A great trip with a knowledgeable trip leader. We visited numerous castles, mosques and churches. The mountains are magnificent as are the plains, rivers and beaches. Most Inspirational Moment Entering the home of our hosts for a traditional lunch. The food was all produced locally and the garden was delightful. The infrastructure was also a pleasant surprise - many good roads and hygienic sanitary provisions. Thoughts on Group Leader iLife was very knowledgeable and adapted well to our sense of humour. He and our driver went "the extra mile" to point out and deliver extra experiences. Advice for Potential Travellers Don't worry about hygiene - dress casually - leave high heels at home - get a map or guidebook to research the country and it's history before you go. The trip involves some awkward walking and cobbles so be prepared with sensible shoes. Change money in small aliquot - food is cheap and wine/beer is much cheaper. Try the local restaurants - there are no McDonalds etc. Suggestions The trip was very good. A couple of the hotel rooms were a bit iffy. There could have been other experiences - the trip focuses almost exclusively on churches, mosques and castles.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 10/25/2018

Pete Batchelor  -  Traveled, October 2018

Wonderful tour of Albania A brilliant trip and great introduction to Albania, a beautiful country with such an interesting history. Organisation and itinerary were first class, with an excellent guide and driver. The trip is full on, with a different hotel each night, but was not tiring. All except one (which was still OK) of the hotels very good or excellent quality and in very good locations. Food and drink good and very cheap. Most Inspirational Moment Not one moment but so much wonderful scenery, unspoilt and historic towns Berat, Gjirokaster, Permet, Butrint, Apollonia, Kruje, lake Ohrid…. Thoughts on Group Leader Eri was a wonderful guide and excellent ambassador for Albania. He was extremely knowledgeable and taught us so much about Albanian culture and history, as well as taking us to the best restaurants and places to visit. Driver Goshi was excellent also. Advice for Potential Travellers Go for a direct flight from Gatwick (BA) rather than the standard group flight which changed at Vienna and took much longer. You can arrive the night before and have the best part of a day longer in Tirana, and at the end you can have an extra half a day in delightful Kruje. Was cheaper overall too! The trip is full on but no really long journeys on the bus, and well timed stops. Bottled water was provided on the bus and some of the hotels. Kettles were provided in only one of the hotels, so take your own if you drink tea. ATMs charge high fees so take cash (£250 will be plenty for everything) and change it as you go. Plenty of places to change sterling commission-free everywhere you go. Food was good and fresh, and outside of Tirana and Sarande, beer, wine, coffee and ice creams were so cheap. Suggestions The only problem was restricted leg room on most of the bus seats. Not a problem if you’re under 6 foot.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 10/17/2018