Off Road Tour Albania Adventure
9 days / 8 nights
For all of you who are keen on the idea of Off Road adventure by 4x4 vehicles, Albania offers an ideal Off Road terrain of more than 2000 km to make it happen. This unforgettable experience starts from the center of Albania to Albanian Alps climbing to continue with the descent in the marvelous Albanian Riviera.
This Off Road adventure is definitely going to be a unique experience. Often will we feel relaxed away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Being stimulated by the curiosity we will proceed further with the unexplored wild world. During this tour we will have the chance to visit numerous churches, temples, colorful mosques and archaeological sites listed as World Heritage of UNESCO. With a view to accomplishing this challenging adventure you can use your own vehicle or Albania Adventure will put at your disposal 4WD vehicles which are especially modified for Off Road tours. Moreover, some of these vehicles have been used to participate in Rally Race Albania by our team. When on this adventure we will be accommodated in guesthouses, hotels or we will set up our camping tents, this depending on your preference.
Tirana International Airport - Shkodra city
Albania Adventure guides will pick you up at Tirana International Airport to go to Shkodra city, where we will be accommodated.
Shkodra is the largest city in northern Albania with a history of ancient civilization and culture.
Later we will proceed with a visit to:
The Cathedral of Shkodra called the Great Church, because at the time the building was one of the largest churches in the Balkans.
The New Mosque Ebu Bekr, which is later to be visited is the largest in Albania and among the largest in the Balkans. It is worth noting that one of the greatest values of Albanian people is the coexistence and religious tolerance.
Shkoder - Theth
As soon as we had breakfast, our adventure begins toward the northern valley of Theth, a trip which takes place through old roads dating back in the communism era. These roads’ infrastructure is not the ideal one as they are seldom used. We will begin driving towards Boga valley to eventually reach the notch of Thore, a point from which our descent will start towards the valley of Theth.
Called by foreign tourists “Europe’s Last Paradise”, the village of Theth is located in the northern part of Shala valley. It is a magnificent beauty between the Alps. We will be hosted in a guest house.
Theth - Rubik
We will proceed with our tour once having finished breakfast, along Theth valley, following for nearly 2 hours the Shala river to climb the mountain of Shoshi afterwards. Because of not investing for at least 30 years in this road, it has not the best infrastructure.
Lunch will be served in a restaurant by the lake of Shkodra, the largest lake in the Balkans peninsula and considered as one of the oldest lakes in the world.
In the afternoon we will hit the road again between villages. We will follow Mat river which will lead us to the small town of Rubik. We will be accommodated here for the night.
Rubik - National Park of Lura - Peshkopi
In the morning we will leave Rubik and after we have traversed Mirdita’s district, we will step into Lura’s National Park, which lies in the highland of Lura and occupies an area of 1300 ha. The territory of the park of Lura is very rugged by a row of mountain streams where the most popular are Seta, Uraka, Malla of Lura. The park’s 14 lakes, which are glacial ones, offer a magnificent beauty. Lunch will be prepared by our self, a delicious barbecue. In the afternoon we will leave the park for reach the city of Peshkopi, where we will be accommodated.
Peshkopi - Bulqize - Librazhd - Pogradec
We will depart very early, as this will be the longest journey throughout your adventure in Albania. The road from Peshkopi to Bulqize will be harsh and we will often find traces of the off road tours that our guides have made so far. This area is the best one for training and testing 4WD vehicles.
This day will pass along the old trails, a part of Albania which has been abandoned for decades. There will be endless hours in this trip where we almost are not going to meet anyone. Around midday, between the mountains, we will stop for lunch and we can also visit a masjid, place of worship for Bektashi religion. In the afternoon, we will go down from Biza field towards Librazhdi city where the terrain will be more difficult for a long time. In the late afternoon we will reach Pogradec city, where Ohrid Lake will accompany us for a long time.
Accommodation in Pogradec, in a nice hotel and a deliciuos dinner with fresh trout, the endemic fish of Ohrid Lake.
Pogradec - Gjirokaster
Southeast Albania is our next scheduled stop once we have left behind the city of Korça. We will be travelling across villages and cities with a small density population. In this part of not well-developed Albania time seems to go slowly. This is obviously noticed from the old road infrastructure which date back in the communism era. As we pass through mountains and hills in southern Albania we will achieve unexperienced inner peace. The famous Permet’s thermal baths will be visited in the afternoon. They are located in Benje region, part of Permet city. The sulfur based waters spring from six sources at the massive rocks ground, on both sides of Langarice River. Four from these sources are distinguished for their curative effects of chronic rheumatism, stomach and ski on related diseases. Benje’s thermal waters reach a temperature of 26 -32°C.
After this we wil continue our tour towards Gjirokaster city. Its old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most attractive tourists sities of the country. The city is overlooked by Gjirokastër Fortress.
Gjirokaster - Zagori valley - Visit of Saint Mary church - Gjirokaster
We will go ahead to the Zagoria Valley. Visit of Saint Mary church, in the village of Labovë e Kryqit.
In Gjirokaster we will visit the Castle of the town and the Skendulaj house.
Accommodation will be provided again in Gjirokaster town.
Gjirokaster - Nivica village - coastal village of Borsh - coastal town of Himare
From Gjirokastra we will drive towards Tepelena to continue to the canyon and the village of Nivica. In our left side we can see the wonderful view of the canyon. We will drive on the river bed of Vlora where we will drive off road until the Kuci Buronjas's, the Kuci village and the coastal village of Borsh. Late in afternoon departure towards the Albanian capital, Tirana.
Accommodation in a hotel near the center.
Tirana International Airport
Depending on your schedule you will leave Tirana to reach the Tirana International Airport.