Walking in Albania

3 full day walks; 2 shorter walks All luggage transferred by horse during the trek Altitude maximum 2090m, average 1250m Group normally 5 to 16, plus local leader(s). Min. age 16 yrs 2 nights guesthouses (bathrooms are shared), 5 nights 3-star en suite hotels All breakfasts, 4 lunches and 5 dinners included

On this walking adventure in Albania, we spend two nights in a mountain guesthouse, two nights in alpine hotels and two nights in three-star hotels (locally rated).   Tirana: Sky 2 Hotel (night 1)  The adventure begins at the 43-room Sky 2, a well-located spot in the heart of Tirana, just a 10-minute walk from the main plaza, Skanderbeg Square. There are restaurants, bars and shops nearby, while the hotel itself serves coffee, orange juice from the Albanian coast, and cold drinks.  Theth: Shpella Guesthouse (nights 2-3)  Enjoy a warm welcome at Shpella, a quaint guesthouse in the Albanian Alps. It’s ideally located to explore Theth National Park, with walks starting from the front door. Rooms have a mountain lodge feel, while the food is traditional local fare with ingredients plucked from the garden. Our groups often eat outside, allowing you to dine with views over soaring mountain peaks.   Valbonë: Hotel Breezy/Hotel Margjeka (nights 4-5)  In mountainous Valbonë, we stay at either Hotel Breezy or Hotel Margjeka (above), depending on availability. Breezy has 11 modern rooms with mountain views, plus a restaurant, bar and garden. The more traditionally styled Margjeka also has mountain-view rooms, plus a restaurant serving Albanian cuisine made from locally grown produce.   Kruje: Hotel Panorama (night 6)  Enjoy views over red rooftops to Krujë Castle and the bazaar with our stay at Hotel Panorama. The rooms, which are traditionally styled, also have vistas over the castle and old town. There’s also a casual restaurant, serving local and international cuisine, with mountain and sea views from the balcony.   Berat: Hotel Mangalemi/Hotel Belgrad Mangalem  In Mangalem, the historic quarter of Berat, our hotel is either Mangalemi (above) or Belgrad Mangalem, depending on availability. The former was the first hotel to open in Berat after the fall of communism in Albania and is built on the ruins of a mansion. It now offers traditional rooms, a stone courtyard and a restaurant-bar. The latter occupies two historic buildings, with traditional rooms and bar.  Worth knowing  It is possible to book additional accommodation in Tirana before and after the tour. For anyone looking to extend their stay, additional nights can also be arranged in Berat. Contact your sales representative if you wish to extend your trip.  Single rooms are only available in Tirana, Valbonë, Kruje and Berat due to a limited number of rooms. Single rooms are not available during the two nights in Theth. Our two nights in the guesthouse at Theth are in double, triple and quadruple rooms, with shared bathrooms (rooms are not mixed sex).