3-day Meteora, Gjirokaster & Butrint tour: 3 UNESCO sites

You visit three UNESCO World Heritage sites across two countries in a single tour.

This 3-day tour from Corfu combines Northern Greece and Southern Albania, visiting Meteora, Gjirokaster and Butrint, all UNESCO sites. The itinerary includes private transportation, accommodation with breakfast in 3-star hotels, entry tickets, a professional English-speaking tour leader, and ferry tickets between Corfu and the mainland. Overnight stays are in Kalabaka and Gjirokaster. Single room occupancy is available for an extra charge. The operator may add other participants unless you book the private option.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Corfu to Meteora and local visit

• Meet tour leader at Corfu port
• Take ferry from Corfu to Igoumenitsa
• Short visit along Igoumenitsa seaside
• Drive to Meteora UNESCO site
• Visit Meteora monasteries
• Walk Meteora town and visit Church of Assumptions

Day 2: Meteora to Gjirokaster, Albania

• Cross border to Albania
• Visit Gjirokaster fortified city
• Tour Gjirokaster Castle
• Explore medieval bazar in Gjirokaster
• Visit preserved traditional house
• Drive to family vineyard and restaurant

Day 3: Gjirokaster to Corfu via Butrint and Ksamil

• Visit Butrint archaeological site
• Relax at Ksamil beach
• Depart Saranda port by ferry to Corfu
• Arrive at Corfu port and end tour

The experience

The tour starts at Corfu Cruise Port, where you meet your tour leader and fellow travelers before taking the ferry to Igoumenitsa. From there, the drive heads inland to Meteora, the UNESCO site built in the 14th–15th centuries on top of spectacular rock formations. You'll walk through the cobblestone lanes of the town nestled between two of the rock formations, visit the Church of Assumptions (which dates to the 11th century and incorporates marble from an ancient Greek temple), and see the monasteries perched on the oddly shaped rocks that make the landscape unique to this region. Overnight is in Kalabaka.

Day two crosses the border into Albania toward Gjirokaster, known as "The Stone City" and also a UNESCO site. The town is built like a fortified city where each house resembles a small fortress, with origins tracing to a castle constructed in the 4th century A.D. Before entering the castle, you pass through the medieval bazaar: a narrow, stone-decorated old town cascading down the hillside where local artisans sell handmade crafts. You'll visit one of the best-preserved traditional houses, then take a short drive to a family-run vineyard and restaurant set among rolling hills, where you have free time for a meal, wine or a walk. Overnight is in Gjirokaster.

The final day moves toward Butrint, Albania's most important archaeological site and the first Albanian location to become a UNESCO World Heritage site. The ruins sit within stunning natural surroundings. After Butrint, you head to Ksamil on the Albanian Riviera: a beach destination with white sand and clear water, known for its tropical feel. From there, you travel to Saranda Port to catch the ferry back to Corfu, where the tour ends at the cruise port.

What’s included

• Private transportation throughout.
• accommodation with breakfast in 3-star hotels for two nights (Kalabaka and Gjirokaster).
• entry tickets to Meteora, Gjirokaster Castle and Bazaar, and Butrint.
• a professional English-speaking tour leader.
• ferry tickets from Corfu to Igoumenitsa and from Saranda back to Corfu.
• tourist taxes and road taxes.

Options for this experience

2 options

Guide in English09:00

Guide in English09:00

Options with the same name differ in details you'll see when you pick a date.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.Operator's directions: “After having experienced the Greek Island of Corfu (by yourself), you will meet your tour leader at the port of Corfu”

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by Choose Balkans

Is this one for you?Choose the small group option if you're comfortable meeting other travelers and want to share costs. Pick the private tour if you prefer to travel only with people you know. Either way, the fixed itinerary means all three UNESCO sites fit into three days. You don't arrange the ferries, transport or entry separately.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. No refund if you cancel.

What exactly is Meteora and why is it built on top of rocks?

Meteora is a UNESCO site in Northern Greece built in the 14th–15th centuries, with monasteries constructed on top of spectacular rock formations that are oddly shaped and found nowhere else. The surrounding landscape of towering rocks creates the distinctive character of the site.

Do I get to see inside the monasteries at Meteora?

The itinerary includes a visit to the town and the Church of Assumptions, which dates to the 11th century. The description focuses on walking the cobblestone lanes between the rock formations and viewing the monasteries from the town level. Specific interior access to individual monasteries is not detailed in the tour program.

Is lunch included in the 3-day tour?

Breakfast is included each morning as part of the accommodation in 3-star hotels. Lunches and dinners are not included, though you have free time at a vineyard and restaurant in Gjirokaster on day two where you can purchase meals and wine.

Can I book this tour as a private group, or will there be other travelers?

You can choose between a small group tour or a private tour at checkout. On the small group option, the operator may add other participants during the tour. The private tour option is available. Contact the operator for pricing.

What are the ferry connections, and do I need to arrange them separately?

Ferry tickets are included: one from Corfu to Igoumenitsa on day one, and one from Saranda back to Corfu on day three. Both are part of the tour package, so you don't arrange them separately.