Albania Discovery by Kayak

9 days
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5/5 Excellent
81 reviews  
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Small Group Tour
Albania is a rich tapestry of cultures woven together, historic threads and colorful characters. Bordering the Adriatic and Ionian seas and bordered by Greece, Macedonia, Kosovo and Montenegro, it is a country of mountains, rivers and fabled shores. There are Greco-Roman ruins, Orthodox churches and Islamic mosques. All this awaits your discovery! Our creativ...
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$4,313
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Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

    • Visit historic fortress and visit two excellent museums
    • Head to the sea for a kayaking orientation talk and to start our paddling journey
    • A scenic drive to the seaside town Saranda on the Ionian sea
    • A visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Butrint
    • Visit the Blue Eye, a deep water spring
    • Enjoy a beautiful and remote landscape known as the "Raki Lands"

What's this trip about?

    Albania is a rich tapestry of cultures woven together, historic threads and colorful characters. Bordering the Adriatic and Ionian seas and bordered by Greece, Macedonia, Kosovo and Montenegro, it is a country of mountains, rivers and fabled shores. There are Greco-Roman ruins, Orthodox churches and Islamic mosques. All this awaits your discovery! Our creative itinerary is a wonderful mix of walks, paddles and explorations. Along our way we meet with various local leaders who join us as special guests to enrich our understanding and appreciation for this part of the world. The history of Albania is complex and fascinating. Originally a Christian country, 500 years of occupation by the Ottoman Empire persuaded a majority of Albanians to become Muslims. Mosques and Islamic architecture ruled the day. Ottoman occupation ended in 1912 and Albania enjoyed a brief period of independence prior to WWI. After the war, the Italians occupied Albania but independence was finally established in 1920. The Italians however continued to meddle in Albanian sovereignty off and on through World War II, ultimately leaving behind cultural and culinary ties. From 1944 to 1985 the country was ruled by Communist leader Enver Hoxha who kept the country squarely independent of influence from others. Soon after the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, Albania began to open up to the rest of the world. Tourism however, has barely taken hold, making this a pioneering trip into a corner of Europe few know.

Details

Itinerary focusActive and Outdoor Sports
Group sizeIntimate group - max of 12 people
Age range14 years and up
Flights and transportAll internal ground transport included
Start CityTirana
End CityTirana

Travel Themes

  • Cultural
  • Rafting, Kayaking, Canoeing

Destinations

Activities

  • Hiking
  • History
  • Kayaking
  • Nature
  • Rafting
  • Ruins & Archaeology

Min Group Size

  • Min Group Size: 6

Max Group Size

  • Max Group Size: 12

Trip includes

    • All transport upon arrival until departure from Albania
    • All meals and accommodations as noted
    • Expert leadership throughout
    • All entrance fees
    • All kayaking gear.

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Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1

Meals: Dinner

Arrive at the Mother Teresa airport in Tirana, capital of Albania. A short transfer takes us to the nearby hilltop fortress town of Kruja, center of Albanian resistence to the Ottomans in the 15th century. After settling in to our hotel with sweep...

Day 2

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

This morning we walk among the historic fortress and visit two excellent museums. The first is the History Museum, housed in a handsome building designed by the architect Pranvera Hoxha, daughter of Enver, the communist leader...

Day 3

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

After a traditional breakfast we head to the sea for a kayaking orientation talk and to start our paddling journey. Our paddle is suitable for beginner kayakers although more advanced kayakers will enjoy it as well. Beneath th...

Day 4

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

We pack up and head south, paddling along cliffs, caves, beaches and forested mountains. We stop for lunch on an unspoiled beach for a picnic in the shade of olive trees and a refreshing swim. By mid-afternoon we reach the sea...

Day 5

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

We continue south, falling into the rhythm of the sea and sun. There's nothing more pleasant than paddling on these sparkling waters and there's time to swim, soak in the sun's rays and peer deeply into the depths of the clear...

Day 6

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Today begins with a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Butrint, a Greco-Roman ruin that has one of the most peaceful and lovely settings of any classic site. It is situated on the Straits of Corfu, a port from Hellenis...

Day 7

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

From our hotel we drive across the Vjosa valley and with off-road vehicles we drive through the narrow gorge of Suha to the Zagoria Valley where our seven-mile (11km) hike begins. We ascend to Dhembeli Pass (1500 meters/ 4500 ...

Day 8

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Four-wheel drive vehicles take us through the remote Skrapar region enjoying a beautiful and remote landscape known as the "Raki Lands" as the strongest liquor of Albania comes from here. After about two hours we reach the Osu...

Day 9

We depart Berati in time to reach any flights scheduled from the Tirana Airport or continue your travels.

This trip is designed to combine with our Peaks of the Balkans trekking adventure that includes Montenegro and northeastern Albania's Dinaric Alps.

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Dates & Availability

Price From $3,195
Price per day$355
Single supplement (single occupancy)$500
Last Updated: 10/21/2019

Kayaking the Ionian Sea & Exploring: 9 days / 8 nights lodge based

Dates: Jun 8 - Jun 16, Aug 31 - Sep 8 2018

Rates: 4-6 Guests: $3,695, 7-12 Guests: $3,195 USD

$500 Single Supplement

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with ROW Adventures.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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ROW Adventures Reviews & Ratings

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Dec 2019

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Logistics

What's excluded

    • Airfare
    • Personal expenses such as alcohol, laundry, etc.
    • Gratuities for guides

Accommodation

Cancellation policy

Cancellation Policy:

If you find it necessary to cancel your trip, please notify us as soon as possible. If written cancellation is received by ROW (call to verify) before the final balance is due, you will be given a refund less the amount of deposit. Deposits are non-refundable. If cancellations are made on or after the final due date, no money will be refunded. You are welcome to find a replacement for yourself. Please understand that once you’ve signed up, we lose the right to sell your reserved spaces to other individuals or groups. Therefore, we regret that we cannot make exceptions for personal emergencies. For this reason we a strongly recommend you consider purchasing a travel protection plan.

 

Trip Protection Plan

We offer a comprehensive cancellation and trip protection plan through our office and recommend this coverage which protects your payments if you have to cancel for medical or other covered reasons.

Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Meals Included

7 Breakfasts, 7 Lunches and 8 Dinners

Age Requirements
14 years and up
Additional Information
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Trip ID
rowadv-AlbDisRow

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