Page 59 - 2023 Brochure

Small & Traditional

15 Days From £3,060pp

HOLIDAY HIGHLIGHTS
■ Visit parts of Europe not yet on the tourist map
■ Comprehensive tour to all parts of Albania
■ Mix of rail travel, culture and history
■ Amazing railway journey from Podgorica to Bijelo Polje
■ Three capital cities balanced by some of the
remotest scenery in Europe
■ Koman ferry through the mountains

SELECTED HOTELS
Tirana Lot Hotel
Voskopojë
Vila Faro
Koman Ferry, Albania © Andrew Marshall Permet Hotel Alvero
Gjirokastra Hotel Kalemi 2
Durrës
Hotel Iliad
Shkodër
Hotel Tradita
Valbonë
Margjeka Hotel
Podgorica Hotel Evropa
Belgrade Majestic Hotel
Day 7 - Return to Durrës Day 12 - Montenegro Please note - hotels can be subject to change
We head north via Tepelenë to Durrës, Albania’s A morning transfer brings us to Podgorica, capital of
second city and a busy port. In Durrës there are Montenegro, for a short sightseeing tour. The main PRICE INCLUDES
archaeological traces of an Ancient Greek civilisation railway line from here to Bijelo Polje, close to the ■ Flights in Economy Class by scheduled airline
(first settled in 627BC) but here they are few and Serbian border, is justifiably famous as one of the ■ Rail and ferry travel as specified
far between due to the fact that this area has been most scenic in Europe as the line climbs high above ■ Other travel by private mini-coach
continuously developed since then. Overnight in the valley and there are wonderful views of the ■ Accommodation in good quality hotels or guest
Durrës. surrounding mountains. We take the late afternoon houses with en suite facilities
train for the 2-hour journey and return to Podgorica ■ All breakfasts, 5 lunches (2 of these box lunches),
Day 8 - North to Shkodër by road in the late evening. 10 evening meals
Our exploration of the northern half of Albania ■ Museum entrance fees
starts with a drive to Shkodër, the largest city in the Day 13 - Flight to Belgrade ■ Airport and other transfers
north west of the country and, once again, a place Short afternoon flight to Belgrade with transfer to ■ Services of a tour leader from London and throughout
rich in history dating back to the Bronze Age. We our city centre hotel. the tour plus local professional Albanian guide
have a 2-night stay here.
Day 14 - Belgrade
Day 9 - Mes Bridge & Shiroka Free day in Serbia’s capital city. Our hotel is within Price per person:
A full day’s sightseeing starting with the famous Mes an easy walk of the main sights including the fortress Escorted holiday £3,060
Bridge, an 18th Century stone viaduct over the Kir and Kalemegdan Park. Single room supplement £425
River, once part of an important trade route linking Deposit for this holiday £200
Shkodër with Constantinople. We then continue to Day 15 - Home Again
the lakeside fishing village of Shiroka. Mid-morning flight to London arriving at lunchtime.

Day 10 - The Koman Ferry Due to the limited number of rooms in the rural
We drive into the Albanian Alps, the wildest and accommodation, this tour will be limited to 15 persons.
remotest region in the whole country. Highlight is a
2 hour trip on a ferry linking the dam at Koman with A blog of the research trip for this holiday is included on
the small village of Fierza. The lake was created in the our web site at www.ffestiniogtravel.com
1980s by flooding the valley of the River Drin and
is now one of a series of important hydro-electric
schemes. In Fierza we rejoin our bus to reach our
final destination of Valbonë. Here we are surrounded
by snow covered peaks, beautiful but rarely visited.
Day 11 - Return to Shkodër
Heading back down the valley, we arrive at the town
of Bajram Curri (named after a 19th Century local
hero who played a big part in Albania’s struggle for Rural Life in Albania © Ramona Cazacu
independence). From here we cross into Kosovo and
pause briefly in Prizren with its citadel high above the
town. Returning to Albania, we overnight in Shkodër.
Tel: 01766 512400 | www.ffestiniogtravel.com 54