Albania Adventure

Trip Code: WBSL

Why we love it

Venture into the wild and beautiful landscapes of northern Albania, explore spectacular lakes and rivers and experience a slice of rural life., Spend the night on a sustainable farm, where you’ll enjoy dinner made from fresh ingredients grown on site and learn about local farming practices., With the support of non-profit ecotourism organisation MEET, learn about conservation efforts at the Karavasta Lagoon in Divjake- Karavasta National Park, spend the night at a locally owned beach accommodation and rise for a sunrise breakfast atop a birdwatching tower., Visit the village of Babunje, where you’ll take part in a hands-on craft experience with local artists and be introduced to polyphonic singing, homemade raki and Turkish coffee reading plus enjoy a home-cooked lunch with a family., Get to know Albania’s capital as you explore Tirana with your local leader, and share a coffee in the garden of our local friends to learn about their culture and family history.

Is this trip right for me?

Don’t let the heat keep you from exploring the world! Summer temperatures can be very high in Albania, which can make things uncomfortable. It’s important to use sun protection, wear layers to combat the heat and drink plenty of water.

Space is at a premium in Europe and your accommodation is no exception. Rooms are often small, but usually the central location makes up for that. For those travelling as a duo, hotels in Europe often don't have double beds, but rather two single beds that can be pushed together. In some cases, bathroom facilities will be shared rather than ensuite.

Albania is a developing country and accommodations are basic but comfortable – a combination of simple hotels, guesthouses, apartments and a farmstay. The farmstay is a wonderful opportunity to witness every day rural Albanian life and includes a home-cooked dinner.

Important information

1. A Single Supplement is available for this trip with the exception of Days 2 & 3 where we will be in multi-share village guesthouse accommodation.

What to bring/pack

PACKING
On this trip you must pack as lightly as possible because you will be expected to carry your own bag and although you won't be required to walk long distances with your luggage (max 30 minutes), we strongly recommend keeping the weight under 15kg / 33lb. Most travellers carry their luggage in a backpack, although an overnight bag with a shoulder strap would suffice if you travel lightly. Smaller bags or backpacks with wheels are convenient although we recommend your bag has carry straps to accommodate the cobbled streets, uneven surfaces, stairs and steps you are likely to encounter while carrying your luggage. You'll also need a day pack/bag to carry water and a camera etc for day trips. You can find Intrepid's Ultimate Packing List on our website. It should be used as a guide only and isn't intended to be a complete packing list., https://www.intrepidtravel.com/packing-list, As there are a number of river crossings on our hike in the River Shala region, please bring shoes suitable for trekking that you are prepared to get wet. You will also need enclosed, sturdy footwear for our other hikes on the itinerary.

Mosquitoes can be present in some areas we visit. Bring appropriate protective clothing and insect repellant., WATER BOTTLE
Please bring your own water bottle to refill. Although it can be difficult to avoid bottled water when travelling, please use the water dispensers which are provided on some of our vehicles and at some of our accommodation. When unable to avoid bottled water, it is better to buy the largest available and distribute it into your smaller bottle for the day. Some travellers like to bring a bottle with its own filtration system or water purification tablets. If you are walking or trekking as part of your trip, you will need to carry at least 2 litres of water with you.

Physical rating

3

This trip can be enjoyed by just about anyone with a reasonable level of fitness.

INCLUDED HIKES
Please note that some of the hikes may be of a higher physical rating compared to the overall trip rating. Your leader will be able to provide you with more details on the included hikes. Please feel free to opt out of the hikes should you prefer to enjoy a more leisurely day.

TOPOGRAPHY
Please be aware that the Balkan Peninsula is quite mountainous, which means steps and slopes are an inherent feature of the landscape. You will have to be able to easily lift your luggage and carry it up and down stairs and inclines. Also, stone streets can become slippery when wet. Some people may find the region's topography very demanding.

Joining your group

Artistic Tirana Blloku, Rruga Sami Frasheri, No.15, Tirana, ALBANIA, Phone: +3556 93656525

Artistic hotel situated in a vibrant Blloku area, known for it's lively atmosphere and abundance of bars and restaurants. Featuring stylish rooms, a terrace bar, free WI-FI and an on site restaurant it's idealy located within walking distance to Tirana's major attractions, including Skanderbeg Square, Rinia Park and Pyramid of Tirana.

Alternate Joining Point


Joining instructions

If you have booked an arrival transfer with us, you’ll be met at the arrivals hall by a transfer representative holding a board with your name. In case of flight cancellations, changes, if you experience severe delays at immigration, baggage collection or customs, or if you are not able to find the driver, please contact our local office on the number in the ‘Problems and emergency contact information’ section.

If you would like to make your own way to the joining point, at Tirana Nene Tereza International Airport (airport code TIA) taxis are readily available. The drive into the city should take between 30 and 45 minutes, depending on traffic. Agree on a price before getting in.

Alternatively, the Rinas Express airport bus operates from 6 am to 6 pm as an hourly bus service between the airport and the National Museum on Skanderbeg Square in the centre of Tirana. From Skanderbeg Square it takes about 15 minutes to walk to the hotel. Head south west on Rruga Ludovik Shllaku towards Skanderbeg Square. Turn left and continue around the square to reach Bulevardi Seshomret e Kobit. Continue south keeping Rinia Park to you right. After crossing Lana river turn right on Bajram Curi Blvd. Continue straight until reaching Rruga Sami Fasheri. Turn left and the hotel will be on your right after about 50 m.

Finishing your trip

Artistic Tirana Blloku, Rruga Sami Frasheri, No.15, Tirana, ALBANIA, Phone: +3556 93656525

Artistic hotel situated in a vibrant Blloku area, known for it's lively atmosphere and abundance of bars and restaurants. Featuring stylish rooms, a terrace bar, free WI-FI and an on site restaurant it's idealy located within walking distance to Tirana's major attractions, including Skanderbeg Square, Rinia Park and Pyramid of Tirana.

Alternate Finish Point


Tirana International Airport is about 35-minute drive from Artistic Hotel. Alternatively, it takes around 40 minutes by public transport, from Artistic Hotel walk about 15 min towards Skanderbeg square to reach Tirana Central Bus Stop. There is a Rinas Express airport bus which operates from 6 am to 6 pm as an hourly bus service that will take you directly to the airport.

Meals & dietary information

Breakfasts included: 8

Lunches included: 1

Dinners included: 3

While travelling with us you'll experience the vast array of wonderful food available in the world. Your group leader or local representative will be able to suggest restaurants to try during your trip. To give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat, generally not all meals are included in the trip price. This also gives you more budgeting flexibility. As a rule, our groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other's company. If you have dietary requirements and/or food allergies, please let your booking agent know prior to departure.

Climate & seasonal information

In case of emergency

While we always endeavour to provide the best possible holiday experience, due to the nature of travel and the areas we visit sometimes things can and do go wrong. Should any issue occur while you are on your trip, it is imperative that you discuss this with your group leader or local representative straight away so that they can do their best to rectify the problem and save any potential negative impact on the rest of your trip.

We recognise that there may be times when your group leader or local representative may not be able to resolve a situation to your satisfaction - if this is the case, please ask the group leader or local representative to speak to their direct manager.

You may also choose to provide details in your online feedback, which we ask you to complete within 30 days of the end of your trip. Please do be aware that it is very difficult for us to provide any practical help after the trip is completed, so informing us while still travelling will give us the opportunity to resolve the issue in real-time.

For general contact details please use the following page: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/contact-us

In case of a genuine crisis or emergency, you can reach our local office on the numbers below:

Intrepid's Local Operator: +49 8024 4679 540

Accommodations

Transportation

PRIVATE VEHICLES
The main mode of transport on this trip are locally sourced private vehicles. Not all have air-conditioning. On some days we will be covering long distances, which will make these days feel longer, however spectacular views and interesting stops along the way make up for it.

PUBLIC BUSES
This trip covers some distances by public buses. Buses in the Balkans can range from high standard coaches with reclining seats and air-conditioning to Yugoslav era vehicles for shorter distances.

ROAD CONDITIONS
Please note that some of the roads in the region are of poor quality, which makes for a bumpy ride in places. The mountainous topography of the region also means that roads are windy. If you suffer from motion sickness you may want to bring along some medication.