Enkelei Tour

[ OVERVIEW ]

We will be enjoying some of the unspoiled beaches of the Albanian Riviera and admiring the use of stone in the characteristic architecture. Historical sites and the cities of Berat, Durres, Tirana, Gjirokastra and Himara will be visited during the seven days. The tour is named after an indigenous Illyrian tribe.

Moving northwards from Saranda, one can only be amazed at how the landscape changes every few kilometers.

The optimal number of participants is 10-15. Upon request, we offer tours for one person, a couple or a family.

These tours and excursions offer unique and economic opportunities to support and sustain the small local businesses that are working to preserve and protect the Albanian natural treasures by sharing them with caring, respectful visitors.

Experience Details

Trip Duration

7 Days

Difficulty

Easy

No available dates

Next Dates

Accomodation

Comfortable

Pricing

€1,300

Tour Itinerary

Day One: Arrival

11:00: Arrival in the seaport of Saranda. Visit to the archeological site of Butrinti Park.

13:00: Sea-food lunch in Ksamil and a dip in the turquoise waters of the Ionian Sea.

19:00: Dinner at Limani, Saranda’s most famous and liveliest restaurant. Accommodations in the enchanting sea-side city.

A waterfront scene with boats docked at a marina, palm trees, and people relaxing. In the background, there is a hillside city with numerous buildings and a mountain peak under a cloudy sky.
Ancient ruins with stone walls and arches surrounded by green trees and a clear sky.
A city by the water with many buildings and a mountainous backdrop.
A promenade lined with palm trees and benches, with people walking and sitting near the water, in a coastal city with buildings on the hills in the background.

Day Two: Jal and Gjipe

8:00: After breakfast, on the road towards the unspoiled beaches of Jal and Gjipe to experience a range of delights: motorboat spins, canoeing, hiking, rock-climbing.

In Jal, guided diving will be offered as well as a canoe adventure (5 hours) to the cave of Haxhi Ali – all designed to spark the appetite for a delicious lunch.

A beach Bar-B-Q completes the day at Gjipe, where the sleeping tents will be arranged for maximum comfort. The name Gjipe is believed to mean "The bay of God" - in any language, the setting is celestial!

San Diego beach with lounge chairs and umbrellas along the shoreline, calm blue water, and a boat anchored near the beach.
Aerial view of ruins of an old stone building with multiple rooms and open windows, surrounded by green trees, overlooking a body of water and mountains in the distance.
A boat sailing in the ocean near a rocky coastline with clear blue water.
A person rock climbing on a steep cliff with a sandy beach and ocean below, and several people on the beach.

Day Three: Paragliding and Sunbathing

7:30: Hearty breakfast before a hike into the canyon of Gjipe - a moderate level of difficulty with few places where ropes will be needed. Duration: 3-3.5 hours.

11:00: Arrival at Drimadhes beach. Paragliding in tandem from the Llogora pass to this beach is a memorable choice; others will delight in the crystalline emerald waters and the sacred sun’s kisses. Lunch in a Drimadhes restaurant.

19:00: Transfer from the Drimadhes beach to the Llogora pass, 910 meters above sea level. Dinner and rest in Llogora, sampling the local delicacies.

A person paragliding over a coastal city with high-rise buildings along the shoreline, green hills in the foreground, and a large body of water.
Aerial view of a rocky coastline with green vegetation and clear blue water.
People helping a young person with parachuting gear as they prepare for tandem jump. Others are on the ground adjusting equipment, on a grassy field with a hill and sky in the background.
Beach with lounge chairs and umbrellas along the shore, a boat anchored in the water, and a cliff in the background.

Day Four: Visiting Berat

8:00: Breakfast on yummy local yogurt and on to the charming city of Berat.

12:00: Arrival in the Osumi Canyon where both rafting and trekking are exciting options.

14:00: Lunch in a traditional restaurant inside the castle or near the canyon.

16:00: Visits to the castle, the various splendid churches and the Onufri museum. Dinner and rest in Berat

A statue of a woman stands on a pedestal in a park with grass and bushes. In the background, there are white buildings with tiled roofs on a hillside, cars parked along the street, and a few people walking.
Stone wall with a large carved stone head sculpture and a wooden structure on top, outdoors during daytime.
A church with three towers topped with crosses, a central dome, and a yellow sign that reads "SEZUAR PASHAK" against a blue sky with clouds.
Ancient stone fortress on a grassy hillside with a zigzag stone pathway leading to a small church at the top. Overcast sky.

Day Five: Durres and Tirana

8:00: Following a wholesome breakfast and on the road towards Durres, a requisite visit to the Cantina Cobo for a wine-tasting of Albania’s pride.

10:00: Once in Durres, a visit to both the Amphitheater and the Archeological Museum, deemed the country’s best.. Lunch in Durres.

15:00: Arriving in Tirana, an appreciation of the Ethem Bey Mosqeue(1628), the National Museum, and a tour of the vibrant city center.

19:00: Dinner in a traditional restaurant and some tasty beers in one of the Blloku bars, where night-life continually sparkles. A satisfied snooze in Tirana.

A coastal cityscape with high-rise buildings near the ocean, a park area with palm trees, and a beachfront with a pier and boat.
Rusty, half-spherical metal structure with a rectangular opening, mounted on a glass platform, outdoors in a park with trees, graffiti, and people in the background.
Historical ruins with arched entrances built into a hillside, with a grassy foreground and buildings in the background.
Ancient stone bridge with arches over a grassy area, situated next to modern buildings and a sidewalk with people walking.

Day Six: Visit Gjirokastra

8:00: Filling breakfast and a drive towards Gjirokastra. The Vjosa River remains Europe’s single undammed; its Valley is enticing. Quick-stop in Virua for a coffee break and a visit to the entrance of the Viroi cave whose underwater treasures have been explored only by professional speleologists.

13:00: Arrival in Gjirokaster and lunch. Afterwards, a visit around the old town, the castle, and the bazaar pass (the ancient route between the city’s market and the neighboring hills).

19:00: Arrival at the Blue Eye Source, a protected national monument and a testimony to Nature’s enduring beauty. Dinner there or in Saranda, enhanced by a mini-concert offered by Argjiro, an admired local folk-music group. 

Aerial view of a hillside town with a historic castle and fortress ruins, surrounded by lush green mountains and buildings.
A cobblestone street in a European village with a white building, bushes, and trees, under an overcast sky.
A hillside with multiple old stone and wooden houses, surrounded by green trees and overcast sky.
A peaceful lakeside scene with a wooden bridge, lush green trees, and mountains in the background, under a cloudy sky.

Day Seven: Departure

8:00: Breakfast and relax on Mango Beach until departure time.

A scenic view of a coastal town with colorful buildings, a large body of water, and green hills in the background, taken from an outdoor terrace with benches and lamp posts.
A harbor with several boats docked along the pier, overlooking a city on a hillside with multiple buildings and a mountain in the background, and a logo in the upper right corner reading "wander."