For anyone interested in Balkan folklore and traditions, Albania (officially the Republic of Albania) is a must. For so many years, the country was mostly closed to foreign visitors under the Communist dictatorship of Enver Hoxha. In the past fifteen years, it has been investing heavily and receiving European Union funding towards improving the country’s infrastructure such as road network, schools, factories, etc. Because of its amazing natural beauty and numerous historical sites, Albania now wants to further develop its tourist industry. For those of you who have already travelled to other Balkan countries, here’s your chance to discover the missing part of the puzzle. Albania is now often referred to as «Europe’s best kept secret». It’s a safe country offering a unique blend of cultural influences which have originated from such diverse places as Turkey, Greece and even Italy. This can be experienced through the country’s culinary traditions, architecture, music and dance. This is the time to visit Albania. In the next few years, local and foreign investments will increase and pave the way to vast resorts along the coast with large-scale package tours which will result in a greater number of tourists and higher prices. Our Culture and Folklore Tour is designed to acquaint you with Albania’s most famous historical, archaeological and natural sites along with a unique opportunity to meet with local people and discover their ancient cultural traditions. Albania is a relatively small country but because of its rugged and mountainous terrain, it is impossible to visit the totality of its territory in one short trip. This is why we will be concentrating on the Central and Southern sections of the country which offer the greatest combination of famous landmarks. Finally, you will get a chance to experience the warm and friendly hospitality of the Albanian people and return home with everlasting memories
Background information
Yves and France Moreau first travelled to Albania in 2009 to attend the National Folklore Festival in Gjirokastër and immediately fell in love with the country and its people. In 2012, they went back with their Albanian friends, Kujtim and Pjereta Ismaili whom they had met at an Albanian dance week-end in Montreal with guest teacher Steve Kotansky from New York who was accompanied by famous Albanian folk artists Merita Halili and Raif Hyseni. Kujtim was then president of the Albanian Cultural Association of Montreal and he then proposed to organize a cultural trip to Albania for Montreal-based folk dancers. That tour did take place in May 2014. Our group of 24 people travelled extensively throughout Central and Southern Albania, visiting archaeological and cultural sites and experiencing folk traditions with local dancers and musicians. This positive experience prompted us to repeat a similar trip in May of 2016 with 40 participants from Germany, Japan, Austria, and Switzerland along with our special guests Steve and Susan Kotansky from the U.S.A.
This last trip was even better than the first one as we had managed to develop an excellent network of resource people throughout Albania and to discover a fine selection of hotels and restaurants. Because we had such a wonderful time on our last trip, we now wish to repeat the same itinerary and program in 2017 and offer it to North American folk dancers. Our 13-night trip will begin in Tiranë, Albania’s capital city and will continue through various locations in Central and Southern Albania, stopping to visit famous World Heritage sites such as the historical towns of Berat and Gjirokastër, the amazing archaeological sites of Apollonia and Butrint, including visits to beautiful old churches and monasteries and much more (click here for detailed itinerary).
Our co-hosts: Kujtim grew up in Korçë in Southeast Albania and Pjereta hails from Elbasan in the center of the country. Both have an extensive network of contacts in the fields of tourism and folklore and are quite active within the Canadian-Albanian community. They speak English fluently. We are privileged to have the opportunity to discover their native country through their eyes and vast experience.
«We made our first trip to Albania in May 2016 as part of Yves and France’s unforgettable Albanian Cultural Tour. Together with our wonderful Albanian hosts Kujtim and Pjereta, we experienced an expertly planned tour. The food was excellent and the accommodations were very comfortable, We’ll remember the spectacular beauty of the country and its hospitable people, and most of all, the wonderful times spent learning dances with local groups and parties with fantastic live music. We cannot recommend it highly enough».
Steve & Susan Kotansky, New York, U.S.A.