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Shkodra, Day Trip From Tirana

Meet at 8:30 AM at your hotel in Tirana. Head towards Shkodra and begin to explore its main attractions. Located at the entrance of the town, 3 km south of the city center, Rozafa Castle (fortress of Shkodra) is located on a rocky hill. It’s one of the biggest and most famous castles in Albania. The Rozafa castle has a fascinating history. Archaeological excavations have yielded finds extending from the early Bronze Age. Within its massive defensive walls stand the Church of St. Stephen, several Venetian administrative buildings, and some medieval rooms. On the border of Montenegro and Albania, you’ll find Shkodra Lake, a former ocean bay that was cut off from the Adriatic Sea when the sea levels dropped thousands of years ago. The lake is the largest in the Balkans at 41 km long and with a surface area between 370-530 km2. The bottom of the lake is well below sea level, making it what’s known as a crypto depression.

Shkodra Lake is also one of the largest bird reserves in Europe, having some 240 bird species inhabiting its shores, including some of the last pelicans in Europe. Thus, it’s very popular with bird watchers. See the Catholic Cathedral, one of the biggest in Balkans and dedicated to St. Stephen. After a reconstruction in 1991, the cathedral was inaugurated by Mother Theresa and two years later it was visited by Pope John Paul II. Inside the cathedral is a copy of the Shroud of Turin, bearing the negative image of a man, which some claim is Jesus of Nazareth. After we will visit the Venetian Masks Factory. Venice Art Showroom Exclusive production of baroque hand crafted luxury Venetian masks in paper mache and ceramic. Decorated with first choice materials like authentic plume feathers, gold and silver leaf, Swarovski crystals and pearls for Carnival, masquerade balls, masked events, theatre, weddings and home decoration. After visiting the Venetian Masks Factory, enjoy walking on the main boulevard in Shkodra.

Return to Tirana.

 

Package Iinformation

  • Duration: 1 Day
  • Ages: 1 – 99
  • Departures: All Year
  • Type: Car / Minibus / Coach Tour
  • Cities Visited: Tirana – Shkodra – Tirana

Prizren, Full Day Trip from Tirana

The tour starts at 8:00 am where after the hotel pick up we will head toward the Morina’s Border. Along the way, you will be able to spot the differences in rural life in Albania. Still vivid are the footprints of the Communist regime and the former Industrial Cities build during that period. Once we get to Prizren the first attraction to visit is the fortress of Prizren. Known also the “Crown of Prizren” it has also been the area of some of the ancients settlements of the old city. It offers an amazing picturesque view of the city where numerous mosques and minarets are fused with the churches, houses, and Turkish baths. Walking in Prizren. Situated in the heart of the city, it is the biggest and the most visited mosque in the city. Still functional even today, this mosque will amaze you with the elegant décor and unique square shape of the main building.

Sinan Pasha Mosque is built at the beginning of the 18th century this mosque has been restored and fanatically preserved as one of the greatest religious and cultural values of the city. Then we will walk to the Albanian League of Prizren complex. Considered also as one of the most important meetings of Albanian Patriots of the 19th Century, the League of Prizren was a Political and Patriotic movement who wanted to save Albanian Lands from being divided in between Balkan Countries. Visit at the house of League and The Ethnographic Museum. Then we will visit Our Lady of Ljevis church. Closed for renovation, this 14th Century church is unique in its style and values. Protected now by UNESCO it was highly damaged in 2004. Build by the same ruler as the monastery of Gracanica, part of the UNESCO as well.

Return to Tirana..

 

Package Information

  • Duration: 1 Day
  • Ages: 1 – 99
  • Departures: All Year
  • Type: Car / Minibus / Coach Tour
  • Cities Visited: Prizren
Tour Operator in Albania - Star Tours Albania - Travel Agency Tirana - Car Rental Albania - Balkan Tour Operator, Travel Packages

Montenegro a Day Tour

Discover Montenegro’s Adriatic coastline and its historic Bays of Budva and Kotor on a guided tour from Tirana, Albania. Enjoy a full-day journey filled with charming towns and coastal scenery.

Montenegro may have declared its independence in June 2006, yet it is its medieval castles and settlements that offer unique traces of its history, and have placed Crna Gora – which means “Black Mountains”, in world’s attention. We will travel from Tirana, Albania along its mesmerizing Adriatic sea coastline. In our full-day tour we will have the opportunity to discover the Bay of Budva, the UNESCO city of Kotor, and the petite island of Sveti Stefan. We will depart from your Tirana hotel in the morning with an air-conditioned vehicle, and head towards north Albania. We will have a quick coffee break by the Buna River at the footsteps of the beautiful castle of Shkodra. Upon crossing the Albanian-Montenegrin border, we will initially head towards the city of Budva – one hour and half drive from the border. Prior to reaching the wonderful Bay of Budva, we will have a quick stop at the most iconic Montenegro destination: the tiny islet of Sveti Stefan.   One of the oldest settlements on the Adriatic coast, Budva is 2,500 years old, and is known for its well-preserved medieval walled city and unspoiled sandy beaches. We will have time to visit and sightsee the Old Town, and enjoy some free time prior to heading to the bay of Kotor. The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kotor is an ideal destination with its imposing medieval build-in-the-mountain castle walls and little artisan shops. You will have free time to explore the old city and its local shops.  In the late afternoon we will head back to the Albanian border, and then you will be dropped off in the Tirana hotel that you were picked up from.

  • Skip the ticket line
  • Live tour guide
  • English, Italian
  • Pickup included
  • Meet your driver in your hotel lobby 10 minutes before your pickup time.
  • Small group
  • Limited to 4 participants

Experience

Highlights

  • Admire Montengro’s Adriatic coastline – be it rain or shine, winter or summer.
  • Learn and explore ingenious medieval fortifications of Kotor’s castle.
  • Trace Venetian history in the Balkan peninsula through Kotor and Budva.

Important information

What to bring

  • Passport
  • Comfortable shoes

Know before you go

  • Please bear in mind that there may be lengthy waiting time at the border due to traffic and security checks.
  • The gorgeous vistas along the way and our comfortable car make up for the demanding driving hours of this tour.
  • The pick-up hour confirmation will be agreed upon discussion with customer.
  • The official currency in Montenegro is euro and most places accept credit card.
Tour Operator in Albania - Star Tours Albania - Travel Agency Tirana - Car Rental Albania - Balkan Tour Operator, Travel Packages

North Macedonia, Lake Ohrid and Saint Naum, Day Tour From Tirana

Discover Europe’s second oldest lake that borders the southwestern part of North Macedonia and eastern Albania. Drive along Lake Ohrid which inspired NASA in 2010 to name Titan’s lakes after it, and its unforgettable serenity no matter what season you book your tour! One of Balkan’s best kept secrets maintains its picturesque identity thanks to being declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1979, with its Albanian side also being designated world heritage status in 2019. We will depart from your Tirana hotel early in the morning with an air-conditioned vehicle, tracing the same itinerary as the Romans did, when they traveled towards the Constandinopole. We will have a quick coffee break by the Shkumbin River (15 minutes), prior to reaching the Albanian-North Macedonia border – two hours after leaving the capital of Tirana. In our full-day tour we will first visit the Ohrid city once known as “Jerusalem of the Balkans” for having 365 churches, one for each day of the year. Tourism is predominant in this pristine old town which is one of only 28 sites worldwide that is part of UNESCO’s World Heritage as both a Cultural and Natural site. The first mention of Ohrid was 2,400 years before the new era, when the town was called Lychnidos, probably meaning “city of light” or literally “a precious stone that emits light”. We will walk were Via Egnatia road once passed – the most significant Roman traffic route of the Balkans, and visit the Ancient Macedonian Theatre of Ohrid, the Church of Saint John the Theologian, and the Byzantine Church of Holy Mary Perybleptos build in 1295 and renown for its elaborate wall murals. There will also be a chance to find among the well preserved cable stones windy roads, original freshwater pearls jewelry that are locally made – a perfect gift for your loved ones. In those three hours, there will be pleanty of time to explore the Old Town and take in its breathtaking panoramas. You will also have the chance to take fantastic photos and enjoy local food and free time, prior to heading to the quiet and magnificent Saint Naum Monastery. We can stop briefly at the Bay of Bones Museum – a reconstructed village of stilt houses that displays Bronze & Iron Age items recovered from Lake Ohrid. You can take photos, and if you wish to visit it – there will be 30 minutes time, but tickets are not included. Then we will have one hour time to enjoy the unspoiled beauty of The Monastery of Saint Naum, an Eastern Orthodox monastery named after the medieval Bulgarian writer and enlightener Saint Naum, who founded it in 905. St. Naum of Ohrid who is buried in the church was one of the Seven Apostles of the First Bulgarian Empire, and is associated with the creation of the Cyrillic script. Following the visit to this iconic destination that still operates as a school, we will head back to the Albanian border in late afternoon, and then you will be dropped off in the Tirana hotel that you were picked up from.

  • Live tour guide: English, Italian, German
  • Pickup included
  • Small group
  • Limited to 4 participants

Experience

Highlights

  • Admire Europe’s second oldest lake that borders both North Macedonia and Albania
  • Visit the well preserved Ohrid city once known as “Jerusalem of the Balkans”
  • Explore the Old Town, its local stores and take in its breathtaking panoramas
  • Fall in love with the quiet and magnificent Saint Naum Monastery
  • Immerse yourself in the artifacts of the Bronze age at the Bay of Bones Museum

What to bring

  • Passport
  • Comfortable shoes

Not allowed

  • Unaccompanied minors
  • Smoking in the vehicle

Know before you go

  • Please bear in mind that there may be waiting time at the border due to traffic and security checks.
  • The gorgeous vistas along the way and our comfortable car make up for the driving hours this tour requires.
  • The pick-up place and hour will be agreed upon discussing with customer prior to departure.
  • The official currency in North Macedonia is Macedonian Denar, but Euros are accepted as well.

 

Tour Operator in Albania - Star Tours Albania - Travel Agency Tirana - Car Rental Albania - Balkan Tour Operator, Travel Packages

Gjirokastra and Blue Eye Day Trip

We give you the opportunity to explore the city of thousand stairs Gjirokastra in combination With the Blue Eye spring an organized bus tour with a guide in your language.

We give you the opportunity to explore the city of thousand stairs Gjirokastra in combination With the Blue Eye spring an organized bus tour with a guide in your language. The UNESCO World Heritage Town situated in southern Albania, Gjirokastra perches on the steep side of the Drino valley overlooking an historic landscape framed by snow-capped mountains. This ‘city of a thousand steps’ comprises hundreds of Ottoman-style tower houses with distinctive stone roofs, wooden balconies and whitewashed stone walls. Dominated by the sheer flanks of its vast castle, Gjirokastra is a magical city with a tumultuous past. Blue eye spring is situated 1km far away from Saranda-Gjirokastra roadway. The average outflow of this source is 6m3/sec and its depth is 45m.The area around the lake has a very rich flora and fauna, where you can find river trout and many wild animals like: marten, fox and different kinds of reptiles e.t.c

For reference only. Itineraries are subject to change.

Highlights

  • Gjirokastra Old Town UNESCO World Heritage
  • Gjirokastra Bazaar
  • Blue Eye

What to bring

  • Passport or ID card

Not allowed

  • Pets
Tour Operator in Albania - Star Tours Albania - Travel Agency Tirana - Car Rental Albania - Balkan Tour Operator, Travel Packages

Berat, Day Tour From Tirana

Berat, known as the city of ‘one thousand windows’, is a treasure of Albanian history, culture and a testament to the country’s tradition and religious harmony. Prepare to be amazed during this full day tour.

Depart for Berat at 8:30 am and you will be transferred to this beautiful city for around 2.5 hours. This is one of the oldest cities and the pride of Albanian architecture. The three major neighborhoods of the old city are Mangalemi, Gorica, and Kala where the castle itself is located. You will start our tour with the castle area. Visiting the ‘Kala’ involves a steep walk up a cobbled path, but those who make it to the top will be rewarded with a fine view of the surrounding area. You will visit the Museum of Iconography ‘Onufri’ which bears the name of the renowned fresco and icon-painter Onufri, who has left a rich inheritance. This museum is located within the cathedral of St. Mary’s Assumption. You will also visit the Red Mosque, recognized by its lonely minaret and St. Trinity Church. After the fortress you will visit the Mangalemi quarter and the National Ethnographic Museum. This museum is located in one of the most characteristic and interesting houses of the town, a rich assemblage of traditional objects (more than 1000) and is one of the greatest examples of Berat’s long history and culture. Across the Osumi River lies the Gorica neighborhood, whose houses face those of Mangalemi. The arched bridge of Gorica, built in 1780, is a beautiful architectural monument constructed to link Gorica with Mangelemi. Enjoy some free time to stroll on the bridge. After the tour, there will be optional lunch in a restaurant with traditional cuisine (at extra cost) Return to Tirana.

About this activity

  • Pickup included
  • Pick up at hotel starts 30-20 minutes before departure.

 

  • Small group
  • Limited to 7 participants

Experience

Highlights

  • Step back in time on a history tour
  • Enjoy fantastic aerial views
  • Immerse yourself in Albanian culture

What to bring

  • Comfortable shoes
  • Comfortable clothes

Not allowed

  • Unaccompanied minors

Know before you go

  • Children must always be accompanied by an adult
  • Due to uneven surfaces, this tour is not recommended for individuals with walking disabilities or those who use a wheelchair

 

Tour Operator in Albania - Star Tours Albania - Travel Agency Tirana - Car Rental Albania - Balkan Tour Operator, Travel Packages

Pristina, Full Day Tour From Tirana

This tour starts with a pick-up from your hotel in Tirana, traveling to Prishtina. First, visit Monastery Gracanica, and then arrive in Pristina where you will start a tour of Pristina. Your first stop in will be the Kosova National Library, an example of modern architectural design. Then make your way to the open-air archaeological park with artifacts from the Neolithic period and Kosova Museum built by Austrians for the Turkish army in 1898, which has an extensive collection of archaeological and ethnological artifacts including the Neolithic Goddess on a Throne terracotta.

Head to Çarshi Mosque, the oldest building in Pristina constructed in the 15th-century by the Turkish Sultan Bajazit. Afterwards, head to the Academy Building, a 19th-century Ottoman konak style private houses. Visit the Fatih Mosque or Imperial Mosque built in 1461 under the Turkish Sultan Mehmed II Fatih and the Great Hammam – bath complex built in 1470 graced with 15 domes with small holes to let light stream in. Make your way to the Ethnographic Museum. The Emin Gjiku Complex is a extremely well-preserved building from 18th-century and it’s the only original building left in old bazaar area. The tour will finish with a visit of Gazimestan Tower.

PACKAGE INFORMATION

  • Duration: 1 Day
  • Departures: All Year
  • Type: Car / Minibus / Coach Tour
  • Departures: From January to December
  • Cities Visited: Prishtina

PRICE: 190 euro per 1, 2 or 3 Persons