7-Day Albania Private Tour: Hidden Gems & Highlights from Tirana

Summary

Private Albania Itinerary: Kruja, Berat, Blue Eye & More

You’ll experience real Albanian life—old bazaars full of color, homemade food shared with families, castles perched above ancient towns, and natural wonders like Blue Eye spring. If you want more than just sightseeing photos, this tour gives you stories to bring home.

What’s the experience like?

The first morning kicked off with a quick drive out of Tirana—barely half an hour and we were already winding through Kruja’s old bazaar. The air smelled faintly of roasted chestnuts from a street vendor tucked behind a stall selling handwoven rugs. Our guide, Ardit, pointed out the faded Ottoman-era shop signs as we wandered past locals chatting over tiny cups of coffee. I picked up a small copper coffee pot; the seller insisted on showing me how to use it right there on his portable burner.

Later that day, Durres felt like a different world—salty sea breeze mixing with the scent of grilled corn from carts near the old amphitheater. Not much remains from its days as Albania’s capital, but you can still spot Roman mosaics peeking through patches of grass. We paused at the beach promenade for a quick espresso before heading back toward Tirana’s Skanderbeg Square. The city buzzed even in late afternoon; kids zipped around on scooters while couples strolled by the artificial lake.

Berat was something else entirely—the “city of a thousand windows” really does live up to its name when sunlight hits those white Ottoman houses stacked along the hillside. Walking up to the castle meant dodging cats sunning themselves on cobblestones and catching snippets of conversation drifting from open windows. Lunch was homemade by a local family: slow-cooked lamb and fresh bread, washed down with their own raki (it packs a punch). Down in the old bazaar later, I tried fig jam that tasted like summer in a jar.

One day we made our way south to Gjirokaster—stone rooftops everywhere and steep streets that make your legs burn just looking at them. The Argjiro Castle sits above everything; inside you’ll find old cannons and even an American plane from the Cold War era (our guide had stories about that). We ate lunch with another family—this time stuffed peppers and wild mountain greens—and learned how they distill their own plum brandy.

The Blue Eye spring is colder than you’d expect even in July; dipping your hand in is almost a dare. Water bubbles up so clear it looks fake until you see tiny fish darting around your fingers. On the way to Saranda, we stopped at Lekursi Castle for sunset—the Ionian Sea turns every shade of pink and orange if you catch it at just the right moment.

If you’re into history or just want to see something different every day, this tour covers it all: Shkodra’s Rozafa Castle with its legend about walls built on sacrifice; Vlora where Albania’s flag first flew; Llogara Pass where goats wander across mountain roads and clouds hang low enough to touch; Korça’s beer halls buzzing after dark; Voskopoja’s quiet churches hidden among pine trees; Drilon National Park where swans glide past lakeside cafés. Every stop felt personal—never rushed or scripted—and there was always time for another coffee or impromptu snack break.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Tirana, Kruja & Durres Highlights

• Visit Kruja city and old Bazaar
• Walk around Durres city
• Explore Skanderbeg Square, Toptani Castle, Artificial Lake

Day 2 — Shkodra & Kruja Exploration

• Visit Castle of Rozafa, Shkodra Lake, Shkoder city
• Experience Mrizi i Zanave green tourism
• Tour Kruja old city, Ottoman market, and castle

Day 3 — Durres & Berat Tour

• Walk around Durres city
• Visit Berat Castle and old town
• Explore Berat stone city downtown

Day 4 — Vlora & Llogara Valley

• Visit Vlora city, the City of Independence
• Tour Zvërnec Monastery
• Enjoy views at Llogara Valley

Day 5 — Blue Eye & Gjirokaster

• Visit Blue Eye natural monument
• Explore Gjirokaster: Argjiro Castle, Old Bazaar, museum, Skenduli house
• Discover hidden gems of the Ionian coast
• Visit Lekursi Castle and Saranda city

Day 6 — Korcë, Voskopoja & Drilon

• Tour Korcë city, Cathedral, Old Bazaar
• Visit Voskopoja village
• Explore Drilon National Park and Tushemisht village

Day 7 — UNESCO Site & Thermal Baths

• Visit UNESCO heritage site in Gjirokaster
• Explore Vjosa River and canyons
• Relax at thermal baths

Day 8 — Saranda & Riviera Tour

• Visit National Park
• Tour Vlora city and Zvërnec Monastery
• Explore Albanian Riviera
• See ancient Byzantine structure

Day 9 — Blue Eye & Ksamil Islands

• Visit Blue Eye natural spring
• Explore castle and Ottoman bazaar
• Visit Ottoman castle
• Tour Ksamil islands

Day 10 — Water Springs & Thermal Baths

• Visit water spring
• Tour castle, museum, Ottoman market
• Relax at thermal baths
• Explore Vjosa River and canyons

Top questions

Is lunch included every day?

Lunch is optional and can be arranged for an extra fee—usually with local families or traditional restaurants along our route.

Can I customize which cities or sights we visit?

Absolutely! You can pick your favorite day trips or combine several for a custom itinerary—we’ll chat over WhatsApp or email to plan it out.

I have dietary restrictions/allergies—can meals be adapted?

No problem! Just let us know before your tour starts so we can make sure meals are safe and suitable for everyone in your group.

Is transportation private? What if I’m not staying in Tirana or Saranda?

Yes—all transport is private for your group. If you're outside Tirana or Saranda there may be an extra charge for pickup/drop-off—we’ll confirm details together.

What’s included

Your tour includes private transportation throughout Albania, bottled water, soft drinks, snacks and fruit along the way. Entrance fees are covered too. A friendly local guide will show you around each city and help translate if needed. Lunches are available as an optional extra—you’ll get to try authentic dishes cooked by locals when possible!