According to the legend, the pirate Haxhi Ali used the cave as a shelter from where he could attack rival ships. The locals mostly live of tourism and olive oil production. And thirdly, the city of Gjirokastra. From flights and hotels to tours and rental cars, Expedia makes travelling cheaply a cinch. You will leave Bunk Art, both impressed as well as a little scared. The triangular-shaped castle was built on a little peninsula. The bridge has 13 arches, but none of them are equal they all have different shapes and sizes. The Pyramid of Tirana was designed to be a museum about the communist dictator Enver Hoxha. Albania holidays are cheap. Then there is a wall displayed that kept Albanias population from leaving the country. The top of the hill gives you a panoramic view of the rivers and the lake of Shkodra. From areas of outstanding natural beauty in the mountains, to a stunning coastline that boasts some of the best beaches in the Mediterranean, you can take in the beauty of this country at your leisure, without hordes of tourists. And the view is spectacular. Ksamil is the most beautiful beach in Albania and the highlight of the Albanian Riviera. Traditional white houses were built on the side of the hill. The museum show the weapons used during Albanias fight for independence. The history of the site is fascinating and dates back to 50.000 BC. You can stay in a hotel the biggest beach destinations in August for as little as 30 Euros per night. The Valbona National Park is a highlight to visit during your Albania holidays. The Cold War Tunnel is a gigantic bunker with 80 rooms. The brothers made a pact that the wife, who would bring lunch the next afternoon, would be sacrificed. Entry to the museum is free of charge. Moreover, a wild river runs trough the village with fresh mountain water. You will need an adapter. The park is located in the North of Albania, close the neighbouring countries Kosovo and Montenegro. Why book one of our package holidays? You can also use Ksamil as a base to explore other touristic highlights. The bride is 108 meters long and 3.4 meters wide. The result of the hike is absolutely worth it. After which you and your flight instructor will both wear a harness, and both will be connected to the glider together. Since Himare has a large Greek community, there a wide choice of small Greek restaurants. The Albanian language is spoken by 10 million people of which 3.5 million people in Albania and 3 million in the neighbouring countries: Kosovo, Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro. If you plan on visiting Ksamil beach during your Albania holidays, you can choose to fly to Corfu instead of Tirana. Inside the castle, you can enter the Museum of Arms. Locals do advice through that it is best to visit the canyon with a local guide, as it requires a significant climb. Or you can drive along the river to Nderlysa, park the car and start your hike there. And finally, you can watch an episode of Top Gear Car show, where the presenters race each other on the Llogara Pass. The beach itself has lovely clear water and a pebble stone beach. Thats right, we pack our ABTA and ATOL-protected All Inclusive holidays with lots of good stuff to make your getaway nice and easy. The Albanian language is one of the oldest Indo-European languages. When to visit Dubai. The ship had a hospital inside for transportation of injured people during the second world war. Once you reach the cave, be careful because it is dark and slippery inside. So that, you get to experience the most beautiful places in Albania! Simply said the Albanian people have great hospitality. The village is very picturesque and it has many historic buildings. Visiting the canyon during your Albania holidays is trilling. There are moments, where the steep cliffs are so close, it seems impossible for the ferry to continue. Skanderbeg used the castle for his resistance. If you like to enjoy yourself in one of the many nice cafes, restaurants and night clubs, be sure to visit Blloku during your Albania holidays. Since the water comes from the mountain snow, it is too cold for a swim. Visit villages and towns almost untouched by the passing years and sip a glass of local raki (strong alcoholic aperitif made with plums and grapes) at any bar or restaurant. The collection inside the museum shows the history of Northern Albania. You will not be able to use this site without JavaScript. They are the perfect destinations for tours combining nature, religion, ancient culture, hospitable people, and also in combination with their neighbouring countries Albania, Montenegro, Serbia, Bulgaria, and Greece. You will see that the beach is surrounded by rocky piers that surround the bay. You can choose to go cave diving during your Albania holidays, because there are several cave diving destinations. Therefore, he constructed 750.000 bunkers all across the country to protect the population in case of an attack, but the attack never came. You can spend the night in a mountain lodge in Valbona and rest up for the hike the next day. Just turn to the right onto the new road, just after the Llogara Pass. In that case you can travel to Shkodra city and take a car or bus to visit Theth. From Tirana, you can either travel north if you are interested in a hiking trip across the Albanian Alps. Saranda is a lively, young city with a variety of night-life. Archaeologists have found that some of the inscriptions are ancient, as they were written in ancient Greek, Medieval languages and Latin. Or alternatively, there is an Italian Cargo Ship that sunk in the harbour of Saranda aroung 1944. There is also some small caf and restaurants on the twin islands, so that you can enjoy a drink and food while you are there. She agreed to be built into the wall of the castle. Skanderbeg was from Kruja and the fortress of Kruja was his base of operation. Many historians believe that the Albanian people are descendants from the ancient Illyrians. There is a lovely restaurant inside the castle which overlooks the olive groves, the Petrela village and the river in the valley. The communist dictator was obsessed by the idea of a foreign nuclear attack. The town has two beach sides; The beach to the north has the main promenade with cafes and bars. You will start on the same trail that goes to the cave. The cave is so large that it can hold several speedboats at the time. Moreover, from Jala Beach you can take a boat ride to Gjipe beach. A boat trip to the Haxhi Ali Cave and the Karaburun peninsula is a great addition to your Albania holidays itinerary. The boulevard is the main touristic highlight when you visit Shkodra. Berat is one of the historical towns on the UNESCO World Heritage list and an absolute must during your Albania holidays. Himara has a very Mediterranean feel, as the hills are covered with olive and citrus fruit trees. The view from the castle across the valley is breath-taking. On you visit to Gjirokastra city, you cannot miss the lively Bazaar market. Butrint is a beautiful park surrounded by water with excellent monuments inside the park. Dont be surprised if they invite you into their house for a meal with the family. The cities of Berat and Gjirokastra both have a beautiful historical center. The traditional clothing from Albania is different from the other Balkan nations. Gjirokastras historic buildings have been well preserved, because the city was named a museum city in the 60s. Holidays to Position: Lead Data & Analytics Engineer Lead Data and Analytics Engineer - This is a home working role, allowing you the Apollonia is another UNESCO World Heritage Site in Albania, that you cannot miss during your Albania holidays. The Blue Eye is an underwater spring that pumps water up to the surface with an enormous speed. A second destination, is the Blue Eye spring close to Saranda city. The nature park has a several highlights, like the Blue Eye of Theth, the Grunas Waterfall and the Grunas Canyon. During this period, Albania was a part of the Turkish Ottoman empire and Ali Pasha was the Albanian governor of south of Albania. The bay is mostly known for the Castle which is set on a little peninsula. Walking through either city is like visiting a real-life museum. The iso-poliphony style of Albanian folk singing was crowned by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage. You can reach the beach by driving from Saranda along the road towards Butrint for a few kilometres. Which was later passed on to Kels son. The Resurrection Cathedral in Korce is the largest orthodox church in Albania. Then upon entering the bunker, you see a bathroom where you can wash off the nuclear material from your clothes. more Take some time off in Pogradec, a popular resort on Lake Ohrid or just 45 minutes from Tirana, Durres has good, sandy beaches. There were also proposals to demolish the Pyramid, but as you can image this is very controversial. The house belonged to a wealthy family, which you can see from the beautiful carved wooden ceiling and the stained glass windows. The beauty of visiting Theth is the virgin and untouched wilderness. In the area, you can still walk past the former residence of Enver Hoxha, which is closed to the public. Moreover, there are four more sites on the tentative list of UNESCO: The royal tombs of Selca, the amphitheatre of Durres, Apollonia and the Castle of Bashtova. However, the fact that Gjipe is more difficult to reach, makes it more private. There are some springboards by the sea, that you can use to dive and splash into the water. Several tools, artefacts and fossils have been found in the cave. He had great military skills and fought against the Turkish Ottomans for 25 years. There are two main spoken dialects of Albanian, southern Tosk and northern Gheg. Korca is a lovely historical city in the south-east of Albania. These two islands are connected by a small strip of land and therefore called the twin-islands. Book your Albania Planning Session via Skype now, by using my online scheduler. Albania holidays: Search for cheap holidays to Albania on KAYAK. The historic city of Gjirokastra, the Blue Eye spring and the Archaeological park of Butrint are all nearby. Some of the lakes are overgrown by white and yellow water lilies. You can reach the lakes of Lura by first travelling to the city Peshkopi. How can I help you? If you are driving down from the Llogara pass, and you have passed Palase and Dhermi, the next beaches are Jala and Gjipe. The Cathedral is conveniently located near the central promenade in Korca. Today, the Balkan country is one of the most charming holiday destinations in Europe. The bunker was meant to accommodate the local government during the attack that never happened. The total land area is 27,400 Km2 (10,579 sq. The park also has seven slides and a separate pool for toddlers. Tirana is one of the best places to visit if you are interested in Albanias communist past. You will see the beautiful flowers all over the historic town. Lets be honest, the best part of going on a holiday is the adventure. Once you have reached the upper station with the Cable Car, there is a variety of activities to choose from. The language school opened in 1887, before that the Albanians only learned their language at home. In Vlore you can visit the Independence Monument on Flag Square. Vlore is a seaside city in the South of Albania. Find cheap holidays to Tirana here at lastminute.com and many more of your favourite holiday destinations. In the very south of Albania, you can visit the city of Gjirokastra, set in a valley between the Gjer mountains and Drino. Albania holidays are just a short flight away from most European countries. Albanias food, literature and music culture suffered greatly during Stalinist dictatorship. Therefore, Albania holidays are still charming and authentic. Intrepid explorers can enjoy relaxing in Tiranas largest recreation centre in the Dajti Mountains, where visitors can take guided hikes up the mountain trails or enjoy some leisurely horseback riding along some of the beautiful scenic detours Tirana has to offer. Firstly, the Karaburun Peninsula has many hidden bays inside the sea. But Albanias beaches are more enjoyable, because they are not crowded. Vising Berat is like visiting a museum. The experience is breath-taking, but also scary if you realize you start from 934m above the sea level. But the Byzantine empire built most of the castle in the 13th Century. The Marubi National Museum of Photography has an impressive collection of photos about Albanias history. The castle of Kruja is only a 45-minute drive from Tirana, and therefore, it is a popular destination for a day-trip during Albania holidays. If a family broke the Kanun code, another family could kill them, which could then lead to a revenge kill. Once you drive down the pass towards Saranda, you will arrive on Palase beach. On the beach you will find sun loungers, parasols, a volley ball field and jet ski rent. Our map Do not worry, you can get detailed instructions in the visitor centre in the village or hire a guide. You can use UK appliances in Albania, if your appliances are between 220 volts and 240 volts. Although to be frank the visit to the cold war tunnel is a little creepy. If you like historic cities, you must include Gjirokastra on your itinerary for your Albania holidays. The summer temperature at the coast is usually between 30-32 C. The water at Jala beach is crystal clear and the plants have an exotic look, therefore it feels almost tropical. The peak is the highest mountain in both countries and the 12th highest peak in Europe. Terms & Conditions apply.Search sale offers. In the past, the mountain range isolated the south part of the coast from the rest of the country. Furthermore, the former headquarters of the secret police was converted into the Museum of Secret Surveillance. It is also possible to dive the lake and explore the caves more closely. Visiting the Bunk Art Museum is an exiting experience during your Albania holidays. The castle was most likely built by the Venetians, because its triangular shape which is similar to the Venetian fort in Butrint. It also has a rich cultural history and throughout history it was ruled by the Romans, Serbians, Venetians and the Ottomans. You can walk where the spectators used to walk and you will be impresses by the dimensions of the theatre. On the Albanian shores of the Lake Ohrid, you can visit the lake side town Pogradec. Inspiring options. The eye is a emerald green pool, which is situated in a jungle-like environment. There are many forums on TripAdvisor asking whether you need a 44 or an SUV or any four-wheel-drive car during your Albania holidays. As a result, it has been used as a natural harbour since antiquity. From Preza Castle, you can see the castle of Kruja, a mountain lake, the Adriatic Sea, the airport and Tirana city. Furthermore, there is a medieval tower, a lovely garden and a restaurant on site. There are lovely little villages in the mountains, that are so far away and difficult to reach, that you can still see the old traditions. Albania was invaded by many neighbouring countries throughout the centuries. A tour to Albania, devised to explore a barely known destination and to experience its history, traditions and people. With an Albania holiday package, you can save up to on your next exciting escape. The weather is lovely, as the city has 300 sunny days per year. Because you can look down into the 60 meter deep canyon from the top. Moreover, the Blue Eye of Albania and UNESCO World heritage Butrint are nearby. The Sotira Waterfall is about 30 km from the city Berat. Moreover, the water is perfectly clear. However, after the fall of the communism the are has changed drastically. Plants and threes have grown around the monuments, which makes it an incredibly beautiful place. Therefore, the bays are very secluded and private. The Preza Castle is a medieval castle on a hilltop close to Tirana. If youre looking at holidays in Europe and want something a bit different, Albania hits the spot. You can also see stone carvers perform their craft. The castle has four towers and you can walk on the remains of the castle walls. You can hear the sound of the water crashing on the rocks and it feels very calming. The home has the traditional set-up, where the downstairs is for the livestock and the upstairs for the family. Within the archaeological park, you can see the ruins of an ancient cities. There are English explanatory boards on site. In Albania, you can still find a perfect white sand beach and have it to yourself all afternoon. And do not be surprised, when they will invite you to their home. We recommend you visit your health professional at least 4 to 6 weeks before your trip to Albania, to check whether you need any vaccinations or other preventive measures. For the longer hike, you can start from the Theth village and walk along the left side of the river to Nderlysa for 6.5 km. Explore the virtually unspoilt mountains of the Albanian Alps. And there is a small restaurant to serve you drinks and simple food. One package, loads of benefits! The seven lakes of Lura are ice basins, which are filled with cold water from the melting snow. Korca has historical importance as it was the home to the first Albanian language school. It is a beautiful and calming place and certainly something you have not seen before. The paragliding instructors will take you from the platform to the bottom of the mountain. I am an Albania Tour Guide, who organizes 1-day, 2-day or multiple day private tours in Albania. The castle is in a beautiful setting on the top of a hill surrounded by olive trees and holiday villas. But for what reason should you visit the Accursed Mountains? In the house you can see carved wooden ceilings, stained-glass windows and wall frescoes. Welcome to Albania!I am a Private Tour Guide in Albania. For that reason, it is best to bring some water and some snacks along on the trail. The waterfall originates from the top of the Tomorr Mountain and falls down the limestone cliff, therefore the view is breath-taking. And then there is the Pyramid building constructed during communism as a museum about the dictator. Saranda is the largest beach city in the south of Albania. How they processed wool, to make traditional hats. The tombs are 2300 year old graves that belonged to the Illyrian Kings. Moreover, Gjirokaster is a very hill and steep town, so the cafes at the bazaar are a perfect place for a little break. The sea has light blue water, the hillside is covered in Olive trees and there are little restaurants along the shore. Furthermore, it is possible to discover several sunken ships along the coast. There are beautiful pictures online about cave diving the Viroi lake. Korca is the hometown of the Korca Beer factory. The 26 km long canyons are impressive and a great place for an adventure. Afterwards, continue onwards to the canyon of the river or return to the village for a lovely lunch. Moreover, the cave was one of the earliest prehistoric settlements. The town is famous for the beautiful white houses on the hill side. Bradt Guide even called it: one of the worlds great boat trips. One of the traditional dishes is the backed trout, called Koran fish in Albanian. If you like to travel off-the-beaten track, you should visit Korab during your Albania holidays. One of the highlights of the Albanian Riviera is the Karaburun Peninsula. Inside the house, you can see the original interior from the Ottoman period. The currency of Albania is the Albanian lek. The lakes were a touristic attraction for the locals during the communism for their natural beauty. 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