Highland Spring: Villages & History
7 Days, Private JourneyA private week through Albania’s southern highlands as the orchards bloom — Ottoman-era Berat, the frescoed churches of Voskopojë, and the stone towns of Korçë and Gjirokastër.
Spring transforms Albania’s interior — the terraced hillsides around Berat fill with blossom, the highland pastures around Voskopojë turn green almost overnight, and the mountain air is cool enough for long walks through towns that have barely changed in a century. This is the season for the country’s architecture and history, seen without the summer heat.
Highland Spring moves inland from Tirana to Berat, the "town of a thousand windows," before climbing into the highlands to Voskopojë, once one of the largest cities in the Balkans and now a quiet village guarding a handful of extraordinary 18th-century frescoed churches. The route continues to Korçë and finishes among the Ottoman stone houses of Gjirokastër, a UNESCO World Heritage town.
- Berat’s Ottoman old town and hilltop castle
- The frescoed 18th-century churches of Voskopojë
- Korçë’s old bazaar and cathedral
- The stone houses and castle of Gjirokastër
- Terraced hillside orchards in full spring bloom
- A traditional highland lunch in Korçë
Day by Day
Your Journey
01Arrival & Tirana
Private transfer from Tirana International Airport. A free afternoon to rest before the journey begins.
02To Berat
Drive south through spring orchards to Berat. Afternoon guided walk through the old town beneath the hilltop castle.
03Berat at Leisure
A second day in Berat to explore at your own pace — the castle quarter, riverside cafés, or a short highland walk.
04Into the Highlands: Voskopojë
Climb into the southern highlands to Voskopojë, with private access to its remaining frescoed churches.
05Korçë
Continue to Korçë, exploring its old bazaar and cathedral, followed by a traditional highland lunch.
06Gjirokastër
Drive to Gjirokastër, walking the stone-paved lanes of Albania’s best-preserved Ottoman town beneath its hilltop castle.
07Return to Tirana & Departure
Private transfer back to Tirana International Airport for your onward flight.
Inclusions
What's Covered
Everything below is arranged, booked and paid for before you arrive — the rest is listed just as plainly.
Included
8 items- Private transportation throughout in a premium vehicle (Audi A8, Mercedes S-Class, or Mercedes V-Class)
- A dedicated, licensed multilingual guide-driver for the full journey
- Fuel, road tolls, and Green Card insurance
- Private airport transfers on arrival and departure
- 6 nights in 4-5★ and boutique hotels, including breakfast daily
- Private guided walking tours of Berat and Gjirokastër
- Traditional lunch in Korçë
- Private access to Voskopojë’s frescoed churches
Not Included
4 items- International flights
- Lunches (except in Korçë) and personal expenses
- Travel insurance
- Gratuities
Anything here can usually be added to your journey. Just ask
Gallery
A Glimpse of the Journey
Why This Journey
What Makes This Journey Different
Voskopojë’s frescoed churches, privately unlocked
Most of Voskopojë’s remaining churches are kept locked outside of services — your guide arranges private access to see their 18th-century frescoes up close.
Two UNESCO towns, walked properly
Both Berat and Gjirokastër are explored on foot with a local guide, through the old quarters that a coach tour’s single afternoon stop never reaches.
Spring blossom timed into the route
The drive through Berat’s terraced orchards is scheduled for peak bloom, typically the first half of the season.
A genuine highland table
A traditional lunch in Korçë featuring the region’s own dairy and produce, at a family-run restaurant rather than a tourist stop.
Route
Where You'll Be, Day by Day
Tirana International AirportGjirokastër
Available
Price on Request
Final price depends on group size, season and hotel selection.
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