Skerdilaidi Tour

[ OVERVIEW ]

Skerdilaidi Tour is named after an Illyrian King, son of Pleuratis II. It is an intensive mixture of easy to medium level outdoor activities amid superb landscapes, visits to historical sites, tastes of excellent local food and beverages, and comfortable accommodations.

Highlights: a bicycle round-trip of the Ohrid lake, crossing the Albania/Macedonia border twice; a hike through a fir forest to reach the Stone of Goat, a monument of Nature; a walk through the Langarica Canyon, one of the two grandest of the country; a visit to the cities of Kruja, Pogradec, Korça, Përmet, Tirana and Durrës.

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

8 Days

Difficulty

Moderate

No available dates

Next Dates

Accomodation

Comfortable

Pricing

€1,480

Tour Itinerary

Day One: Arrival and Visit Kruja

First stop, Kruja: Visit the castle, the museum, the old bazaar, and the ethnographic museum. Lunch or dinner depending upon arrival time.

18:00 Into Tirana to enjoy the city center, a memorable dinner and a taste of the local beer.

A comfortable night in Tirana.

A collection of antique and vintage household items, including wooden utensils, metal pitchers, clocks, a camera, and decorative objects, displayed on a wooden shelf and directly on the table.
A detailed stone sculpture depicting a group of Roman soldiers and a central figure in roman attire with a staff, in a museum setting.
A stone fortress with a curved wall and an entrance, surrounded by a paved courtyard with benches and greenery, overlooking mountains and a town in the background.
Interior of a cathedral or church with a large mural or painting depicting a historical or battle scene, centered behind a red-draped altar, with banners hanging from the columns featuring heraldic symbols and coat of arms.

Day Two: Biking in Ohrid Lake

8:00: Refreshing breakfast and a road-trip to Pogradec.

11:30: Arrival in Pogradec and preparations for the tour around the Ohrid lake. The route is 87 km. and includes two segments of approximately 3 km. of 10% ascent.

12:30: Pause in picturesque Drilon for lunch. Pit-stops in St. Naum, Trpejca and Pestani before reaching Ohrid. Dinner and sweet sleep in Ohrid, Struga or Lin, depending on the priorities of participants.

Aerial view of a coastal landscape with a shoreline, water, trees, hills, and mountains in the background, with the word "wander" in the top right corner.
Aerial view of a forest lake surrounded by dense trees with a boat on the water, and buildings near the shoreline.
Residential houses built on a pier extending over a large body of water, with calm waves and reflections.
A landscape of a mountain with trees in fall colors, a green hillside, and a waterfront with houses and a dock.

Day Three: Termination of Bike Tour

A church with two tall bell towers, a central dome, and outdoor seating area with umbrellas.

8:00:Breakfast well and continue the bicycle tour.

14:00: Arriving in Korca, a visit to the center, the museum, and the lovely cultural enclaves Dinner in a traditional restaurant and peaceful sleep in comfortable accommodations.

A panoramic view of a city with red-tiled roofs, surrounded by green hills and mountains under a partly cloudy blue sky.
A stone building with multiple wooden-framed windows and a wooden door entrance, featuring a small balcony area with a red flag hanging from it.
Aerial view of a city with a roundabout, trees lining the streets, and buildings with red-tiled roofs, under a cloudy sky.

Day Four: Visiting Voskopoja

Ancient fresco of saints and religious figures on a weathered wall inside a stone structure with a brick floor and column. The fresco's paint is chipped and faded.

8:30 Next stop: Voskopoja. Visit the old churches and learn about the history of the once important center through a local guide. Lunch precedes hiking in the direction of Gjenomadh or Voskop, (a trek of about three hours). Return to the village for dinner and a merited rest.

Tall pine trees in a dense forest with a partly cloudy sky in the background
A large stone house with a green roof surrounded by a well-maintained lawn, trees, and outdoor seating with umbrellas.
Living room with beige wall, white sofa with floral and striped pillows, wooden ceiling, window with polka dot curtains, door leading outside, small wooden table, and ceiling light

Day Five: Reaching the Goat Stone

8:30: Enjoy a hearty breakfast in preparation for a hike (approximately 4 hours) to the natural heritage of Goat Stone. Walk through fir forests for lunch at the Stone.

14:00: Visit the artificial lake of Gjanç, and, weather permitting, dive in for a refreshing swim!

16:00: On to Përmet to dine and rest in the local best.

Large rocky formation surrounded by leafless bushes under a blue sky with wispy clouds, with the word 'wander' in the top right corner.
A natural land formation showing multiple cave-like openings through a hillside with trees and dry grass, under bright sunlight.
People standing near cave openings in a large rock formation with grassy ground and pine trees, mountain scenery in the background, under a clear sky.
A person in a red jacket sitting on the grass near a large rock formation in a mountainous area, with trees and hills in the background under a clear blue sky.

Day Six: Trekking Through Langarica Canyon

8:00: Eat up and start hiking towards the Langarica Canyon, stopping for a memorable moment in the thermal springs before a traditional lunch in Permet.

15:00: In Durres for the night, the choices are many among the various Pista restaurants.

Day Seven: Durres and Tirana

8:00: Breakfast on the beach before visiting the Amphitheater, the famed Archeological Museum and the city’s very cosmopolitan center. The lunch-feasts in Durres make choices challenging!

15:00: Once in Tirana, marvel in the splendid design of the 17th-century Mosque of Et'hem Bey and the expertly maintained National Museum. The city’s center offers a multitude of traditional restaurants and festive beer-gardens: sleep sweet and comfy in one of the city’s most welcoming hotels.

A waterfront cityscape with tall modern buildings, construction cranes, palm trees, and a promenade along the water.
Rusty, dome-shaped metal object on a glass surface, with graffiti, in an outdoor park area.
Person sitting on a stone bench on an ancient archaeological site with stone steps and ruins, with modern buildings in the background under a clear blue sky.
Nighttime view of a city square with a central statue of a man on a horse on a pedestal, surrounded by illuminated buildings and trees, with a flag on a pole to the left.

Day Eight: Departure

People walking along a tree-lined park pathway with red and green trees on either side, some on a paved sidewalk and others on a dirt trail, under a partly cloudy sky.

8:00: A relaxed over-view of a holiday to cherish as you move toward departure from the Mother Teresa Airport.

People walking near a large building with tall columns, on a city street with a grassy area, and a tall modern building in the background.