Culture and Folklore trip to Albania
June 3-16, 2017 (13 nights)
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CULTURE & FOLKLORE TRIP TO ALBANIA • June 3-16, 2017
Led by Yves & France Moreau and Kujtim & Pjereta Ismaili
Day 1 – Saturday June 3: TIRANË - Arrival in Tiranë (Mother Teresa Airport). Transfers from Airport to hotel. Free time. Welcome dinner. Hotel in Tiranë.
Day 2 - Sunday June 4: TIRANË - Morning folklore program with traditional dancers and musicians from the town of Belsh, Elbasan District. Take cable car to top of Mt. Dajti (5,300 ft.) for lunch & panoramic view (weather permitting). Alternate plan is to visit several landmarks in the city of Tiranë. Hotel in Tiranë.
Day 3 – Monday June 5 : TIRANA-KRUJË-KORÇË - Morning departure for Krujë to visit the Skanderbeg Museum and ethnographic Museum. Shopping in the traditional bazaar (costumes, textiles, etc.). Depart for Korçë. Dinner in Korçë. Hotel in Korçë.
Day 4 – Tuesday June 6: KORÇË - Morning dance workshop with local dance teacher . Visit of the famous Korça Beer factory. Free time in Korçë. Depart for village of Kamenica. Visit the local archaeological site followed by dinner with live music and dance. Hotel in Korçë.
Day 5 – Wednesday June 7 : KORÇË-TUSHEMISHT (Lake Ohrid)-PRENNJAS-ELBASAN - Morning departure to Tushemisht near Pogradec on Lake Ohrid. Stroll through beautiful Drilon Park. Continue to town of Prennjas near the Macedonian border. Lunch in Prenjas and folklore program with local dancers and musicians. Continue on to the city of Elbasan. Dinner at Elbasan Castle with live music and dance program. Hotel in Elbasan.
Day 6 – Thursday, June 8: ELBASAN-BERAT- Morning departure for city of Berat (Unesco World Heritage site). Visit Berat fortress and famous Onofri icon museum. Free afternoon to stroll through Mangalem historical district. Evening dinner with live music and dancing. Hotel in Berat.
Day 7 – Friday, June 9 : BERAT-ARDENICA-APOLLONIA-VLORË - Depart for Ardenica Monastery for a short visit and continue on to Apollonia archaeological site for picnic lunch. Continue to the coastal city of Vlorë. Dinner with Folklore program (Lab Polyphonic singing). Hotel in Vlorë.
Day 8: Saturday, June 10 : VLORË-LLOGARA-PORTO PALERMO-SARANDË - Morning departure to Sarandë, stopping along the way to the Llogara scenic lookout overlooking the Ionian Sea before continuing to the famous Ali Pasha Castle in Porto Palermo. Fresh fish lunch nearby. Late afternoon arrival in Sarandë, beautiful coastal town facing the Greek island of Corfu (Kerkyra). Hotel in Sarandë.
Day 9 –
Sunday, June 11: SARANDË - Free day to explore Sarandë, swimming, shopping, etc. You might even want to take the ferry to Corfu, Greece and back!
Evening folklore program with dancers and musicians from Sarandë. Hotel in Sarandë.
Day 10 – Monday, June 12. SARANDË-BUTRINT-KSAMIL - Morning visit with guide of the famous Butrint Archaeological Park. Seafood lunch in nearby town of Ksamil. Free time in Sarandë. Hotel in Sarandë.
Day 11 – Tuesday, June 13: SARANDË-SYRI I KALTER-GJIROKASTËR - Morning departure for Syri i Kalter (the Blue Eye), a unique natural wonder with crystal-clear springs and lush vegetation. Lunch on site. Continue on to the historical city of Gjirokastër (Unesco World Heritage site) with beautiful Ottoman period architecture and birthplace of Albanian author Ismail Kadare. Free time. Hotel in Gjirokastër.
Day 12 – Wednesday, June 14: GJIROKASTËR - Free time in the morning to explore Gjirokastër with its fortress, museums, folk art shops, etc. Afternoon folklore program with village dancers and musicians from nearby Lunxheria Mountain. Hotel in Gjirokastër.
Day 13 – Thursday, June 15 : GJIROKASTËR-FIER-DURRES : Depart Gjirokastër for coastal port city of Durrës. Drive through Tepelene, birthplace of Ali Pasha. Lunch at traditional restaurant near town of Fier. Continue on to Durrës. Evening farewell dinner with local folk musicians. Hotel in Durrës.
Day 14 –Friday, June 16 : Transfers in morning to Tiranë Mother Teresa Airport for flight home.
Click HERE for map of Albania with planned itinerary
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