After landing at Tirana's `Mother Teresa' airport, you will be transferred by bus to the hotel in the city centre. The rest of the day is at your disposal for sightseeing: we take a walk around the central square with the National History Museum, the Et'hem Bey Mosque, the statue of national hero Skanderbeg and the Clock Tower. Afterwards, there will be time for, say, a pleasant stay on one of the terraces of the trendy Blloku artists' quarter, which in the communist past was only open to party members. In short, a first encounter with the vibrant life of this relatively young capital and the good that Albanian cuisine has to offer.

The next morning, we follow by bus the former Roman gentleman's road to Byzantium , today's Istanbul (Via Egnatia). We pass the towns of Elbasan and Librazhd to reach the stunningly beautiful Lake Ohrid and the town of Pogradec. There you can enjoy a special fish meal at a lakeside restaurant, especially the famous Koran fish (a salmon trout). In the afternoon, the trip continues to the old town of Korça, a very worthwhile place with many cultural-historical sights. This capital of south-east Albania is located at a crossroads of ancient roads to Greece, Macedonia, Bulgaria and Turkey. Korça has a still-living tradition of singing serenades. After arrival, the Museum of Medieval Art and the brewery of Korca beer, one of the best-known Albanian beers, will be visited.

Today there is a morning excursion to the ancient monasteries of the mountain village of Voskopoja, one of the most important and largest cities in the European part of the former Ottoman Empire. There was a printing house in Voskopoja as early as 1720, for instance, and the Academy of Voskopoja, famous throughout the Balkans, was founded in 1744. We also visit St Nicholas Church here, a jewel from the early 18th century. Lunch at a traditional restaurant before returning to Korca, where afternoon visits are made to the very first Albanian school, the old bazaar and the Mirahori Mosque, one of the oldest religious buildings to survive the communist regime.

Today we will travel by bus via a beautiful route along the Greek border over some mountain passes to Girokastra, the country's museum city and a UNESCO-protected site. The city is also the national centre of folk music and dance. It hosts a biennial international festival, for instance.Driving through the beautiful southern highlands, we pass through towns like Erseka, Barmash and Permet . We have lunch in Permet, known for producing traditional (brandy) wines. We then drive through the impressive Kelcyra gorge, among other places, to arrive in Girokastra in the afternoon. After checkin at the hotel, there will be an opportunity to visit the Folk Museum, the town's old castle and the Weapons Museum. Afterwards, one can enjoy walking through the alleys of the old town and its traditionally superimposed houses, the old bazaar and the centre for ancient handicrafts. In the evening, there is an opportunity to sample the delicious regional food in one of the restaurants there.

In the morning, the journey continues to Saranda, the 'Pearl of the Albanian Riviera, on the Ionian Sea near the Greek island of Corfu. En route, we stop at Syri i Kalter or the 'Blue Eye', a subterranean spring, and visit the imposing church of Mesopotami. The afternoon includes a visit to the remains of the ancient synagogue in Saranda and Butrint, Albania's most important and largest archaeological site from the Greco-Roman period. We then return to Saranda to visit Lekuresi Castle en route.

After breakfast, we drive north to Berat. During this impressive trip along the Albanian Riviera, very special views along the Ionian coast can be enjoyed to the full. On the way, a visit is made to the ancient castle of Ali Pasha, located on the bay of Porto Palermo. We pass through fascinating villages such as Borsh, Himare, Dhermi and Llogara, which lies at over 1,000 m above sea level. Along the way, you can sample culinary delicacies from the Ionian Sea at a restaurant. After lunch, the journey continues to Apollonia, Albania's other important archaeological site and then to Berat, also known as 'the city of a thousand windows'. After arrival, there will be an opportunity to stroll through the city's old quarter with its various churches and mosques.

In the morning, we visit the citadel of Berat, atop the hill with its castle and remains of many ancient churches. A visit is also made to the Onufri Museum in the Cathedral of St Nicholas and the church of St Marie of Vllaherna from the 13th century. Onufri and his son Nicola were famous painters of icons from the 16th century. After our stay in Berat, we drive to the ancient monastery of Ardenica. When we have visited this, there will be an opportunity for lunch at a restaurant there. After lunch, we continue our journey northwards and end the day in the coastal town of Durres, which is famous for its large amphitheatre from Roman times. This is where the Via Egnatia to Byzantium began in Roman antiquity. After the visit to Durres, we drive on to nearby Tirana.

Depending on the departure time, there will be an opportunity to visit the nearby Tirana bazaar. Then departure by bus to 'Mother Teresa' airport.