Day 1: Tirana Airport – Kruja – Durres (70 km - 2hrs.)
Welcome in Albania! Meet the guide and driver at the airport and transfer to the first site, Kruja. Upon your arrival, start touring the medieval fortress of Kruja hill town. The walking tour will take you through the cobble stone pathway of Ottoman bazaar, with wooden shops and displays of various gifts and antique household items.
Visit within the walls of the castle will include the historic museum dedicated to Scanderbeg and his resistance against the Ottoman invasion. An old house turned to an ethnographic museum will invite you to a unique cultural aspect of life in northern Albania. Continuation to Durres for dinner and overnight
Accommodation in Dures
Day 2: Durres – Ardenica – Apollonia – Vlora (180 km - 3h30min)
Today, after breakfast, we’ll start walking along the Venetian Tower and the Byzantine stretch of wall, “the old-and-new-in the same time” promenade of Durres. We’ll explore the ruins of town forum, roman baths, city center, town hall, Roman Amphitheatre and Venetian tower a panoramic display of discoveries and urban planning of this once important city.
Afterwards, we’ll board the coach and drive for one hour to Ardenica Monastery.
Enjoy the visit of St. Mary Church, one of the most beautiful Byzantine churches in Albania, dating back to XIII century. After a delicious lunch, at a local restaurant, we’ll head to Apollonia Archaeologic Site. The walking tour of the Apolonia Archaeological Park includes the encircling wall, the monuments of Agonothetes, the Library, the Odeon, the Portico, Archaeological Museum and the Church of St. Mary. One more hour drive to the hotel in Vlora for dinner and overnight
Accommodation in Vlora
Day 03: Vlora – Butrint – Saranda (170 km - 5h30min)
Today we’ll have a long drive along the breathtaking Albanian Riviera. Enjoy the scenic mountain ride, descending the rocky shore and pristine beaches of Ionian Sea, offering photo opportunities of the natural landscape, unique village settings, Himara beach town and fortress of Porto Palermo.
Upon arrival to Saranda, lunch and then visit of Butrinti Archaeological Park, a UNSECO World Heritage Site and a Ramsar Wetland Site of International Importance (two very important titles).
This impressive walking tour will stir your imagination about the ancient word during the peak of the Roman power and the classical Greek mythology. Start with the Asclepius temple, theatre, Roman portico and baths, early Christian baptistery, byzantine basilica, defensive walls and their impressive gates. After a wonderful walk in Butrinti Natural Park, drive back for 30 min to Saranda.
Dinner and overnight in Saranda
Accommodation in Saranda
Day 04: Saranda – Gjirokastra – Berat (250 km - 4h30min)
After breakfast at the hotel, board the bus and head to Gjirokastra, on the way stop for visit Blue Eye, a wonderful karst spring located on the western slopes of Mount Mali Gjerë.
Our journey will continue to Gjirokastra. Upon arrival, start with the visit. Many houses in Gjirokastra have a distinctive local style that has earned the city the nickname "Town of the Stones". Visit of the Castle and explore the old town, the bazaar, with its characteristic shops and great opportunity to interact with local folks. This UNESCO Site has something unique to offer to his visitors. After time for lunch, drive to Berat for 3 hrs. for dinner and overnight
Accommodation in Berat
Day 05: Berat – Ohrid (195 km - 4hrs)
Today we will visit one of the most important medieval towns in Albania, listed under UNESCO Heritage. The walking tour will explore the ancient fortress, main gates, towers, orthodox churches, the typical architecture of the dwelling sites, bearing 2500 years of heritage and the tour of Onufri Museum, located within St. Mary’s church.
You may have an optional tour and wine testing to Cobo Winery. Continuation of driving to Ohrid/North Macedonia (Please note border procedures) Dinner and overnight in Ohrid (2 nights)
Accommodation in Ohrid
Day 06: Ohrid – St. Naum – Ohrid
After breakfast, walking tour of Ohrid old town (UNESCO heritage site), city of light with rich cultural and historical heritage in which a lot of civilizations left their own mark. Welcome to the magical place where on an amazing way the cultural and natural heritage are mixed along with the hospitality, city for which many world searchers of beauty use to call this city – Macedonian part of paradise. The highlight of the Ohrid tour include Church of St. Sophia, St.Bogorodica Perivlepta, St.Pantelejmon – Plaosnik, Old Bazaar and Antique Theatre
Optional boat ride on extraordinary Lake of Ohrid
Afternoon visit to a monastic complex, known for its rich history of orthodox religion, some of the painting achievements and wood carving, displayed within the church of St. Naum, a priest and scholar with a famous legacy.
Accommodation in Ohrid
Day 07: Ohrid – Tirana (135 km - 3hrs)
Today, after breakfast, we’ll travel back to Albania, with stop en route for refreshments. (Please note border procedures). Upon arrival, the target of our visit will be Tirana, the capital of Albania, with a history enriched by the interaction of cultural forces originating in the Islamic and European Christian worlds.
During the tour, you will encounter the impact of these influences in the Tirana’s architecture. The tour will highlight some symbols and remains of the communism era to provide you with a general understanding of Albanian history. Visit National Historic Museum and the Mosque of Et’hem Bey
Dinner and overnight in Tirana
Accommodation in Tirana
Day 08: Tirana – Airport (20km – 30min)
Today you will be transported to the Airport for your flight back home
End of Service
EntranceFees(prices per person):
Tour is available for more than 10 pax
Based on Law 7850, date 29.07.1994 “The Civil Code of the Republic of Albania” amended, Law 9734, date 14.05.2007 “On Tourism” amended and other effective legislation.
1. Preamble
1.1. VAS DMC (hereinafter “the agency”) is the first Albanian tour operator which offers vacations all year long. The agency operates with highly qualified staff and a long experience in the service field.
1.2. The agency operates with a network composed of 550 member agencies based in Albania, Kosovo and Macedonia and offers accommodation in more than 100,000 hotels worldwide.
1.3. The agency offers its services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The offices’ working hours are open from Monday to Saturday, from 08:00 am to 06:00 pm.
2. Definitions
2.1. In this agreement, the following terms will be explained as:
2.1.1. Agency: Registered legal entity which offers, finds and makes possible touristic travel, travel tickets of different types of transportation and tickets to sport, music and showbiz events, in exchange of a fee.
2.1.2. Reservation or booking: the act of ordering or guarding a product like travel, accommodation or package tour. This is done by the agency, with a request from the client.
2.1.3. Reservation or booking is done through the online page www.albtoursd.com, through the contact with one of the offices of the agency or through the contact with one of the members of the agency.
2.1.4. Confirmation:a) The verification of the availability of a reservation or booking, orb) the final agreement by the means of which the client liquidates the obligations toward the agency and the agency guards with a final act the reservation or booking of the client.
2.1.5. Hotel: An establishment or a connected group of establishments, independent from any other construction, with no fewer than 6 rooms, within a single piece of land, in which accommodation, complementary services and commodity are offered for the public by a qualified staff.
2.1.6. Reimbursement: The amount of money the agency is obliged to return to the client in case of nonfulfillment of the agreement on the part of the agency without any reasonable cause or if the reasons stated in this document are present.
2.1.7. Package tour: The prepared combination of services, which is sold or offered for sale and which covers a period of time longer than 24 hours or which includes one night of accommodation. The package tour includes two or more components such as:a) Transportationb) Accommodationc) Other touristic services, independent from the transportation and accommodation. These services constitute a considerable amount of the package and they are included in the prepared combination and are billed or invoiced separately.
3. Obligations of the agency
3.1. The staff of the agency is obliged to explain all offers for which the client has expressed an interest. The staff, within the opening hours and in the way set in this agreement, is obliged to answer all questions and requests of the client.
3.2. The staff of the agency is obliged to explain the procedure to be followed in order for the tour to take place, according to the client’s request. One of the procedures is also the preparing of the documents that the client must present to the agency.
3.3. The staff of the agency is obliged to answer in the best possible way to the needs of the client regarding the reservation of the hotel, the transportation etc. If the client has chosen one of the packages prepared by the agency, the staff will answer only for the hotel and transportation set in the package.
3.4. If the request is made within the limits set in this agreement, the staff of the agency is obliged to enable a change in the accommodation according to the requests of the client. If this change comprises a financial cost, this cost is to be borne by the client.
3.5. If the request is made within the limits set in this agreement, the staff of the agency is obliged to enable a change in the transportation according to the requests of the client. If this change comprises a financial cost, this cost is to be borne by the client.
3.6. The agency declares to be responsible for every offer made public in the online page www.albtoursd.com, in the brochures and catalogs produced by the agency and for every offer advertised by the staff of the agency.
3.7. The agency is not responsible for the condition of the hotel rooms if they are not in the condition in which they appear in the official hotel online page or for the actions and behavior of the hotel staff in the destination chosen by the client.
3.8. The agency is not responsible for the cancellation of the tour in case of major force, natural causes, people’s protest or declaration of war in the destination chosen by the client and for every accident that happens as a result of these causes. The solution will be achieved with an agreement between the agency and the client.
3.9. The agency is not responsible for the damage or loss of luggage or personal items in the plane, airport, port, ship or hotel.
3.10. The agency is responsible for the damage or loss of luggage or personal items in the means of transportation offered by the agency for the transportation of the client from and to the airport or port or for the city tour.
4. Rights of the agency
4.1. The agency reserves the right to ask every necessary document for the realization and the reservation of the tour.
4.2. The agency reserves the right to receive, in the way set in this agreement, every payment that the client owes.
4.3. The agency reserves the right to cancel a reservation if the client does not liquidate all payments as set in this agreement.
4.4. In case of cancellation, the agency reserves the right to withhold from the amount paid by the client, expenses and commissions which are made prior to the cancellation.
5. Obligations of the client
5.1. The client is obliged to liquidate all payments according to this agreement.
5.2. The client is obliged to be present at the departure in the time and day set by the agency.
5.3. The client is obliged to give the exact number of participants in the tour if the client is responsible for the group.
5.4. The client is obliged to declare if animals are to participate in the tour.
5.5. The client is obliged to declare if underage people are to participate in the tour. Underage people that travel in the presence of other people are to take a proxy by both the parents.
6. Rights of the client
6.1. The client has the right to profit by the offer made by the agency, according to the data given by the staff.
6.2. The client has the right to ask all information on the tour. This is to be done during the opening hours of the agency and according to the terms set in this agreement.
6.3. The client has the right to ask for a reimbursement in case of cancellation of the tour, change in the hotel or the transportation or in case of nonfulfillment of the agreement on the part of the agency without any reasonable cause or if the reasons stated in this document are present.
7. Deadlines
7.1. The deadline for a reservation or booking is at least 14 days prior to the date set for the tour. The agency is not responsible if, even within this deadline, there are no vacancies in the hotel or in the means of transportation.
7.2. Cancellation deadline
7.2.1. If the reservation or booking of the client is cancelled by the client himself 21 days or more prior to the tour, the client is reimbursed the full amount paid to the agency. The agency reserves the right to withhold from the amount paid by the client, expenses and commissions which are made prior to the cancellation. Expenses include the bank fee when payment is made via credit or debit card.
7.2.2. If the reservation or booking of the client is cancelled by the client himself 10 to 20 days prior to the tour, the client is to bear transfer fees and 50% of administration expenses. Expenses include the bank fee when payment is made via credit or debit card.
7.2.3. If the reservation or booking of the client is cancelled by the client himself 4 to 9 days prior to the tour, the client is to bear transfer fees and 70% of the administration expenses. Expenses include the bank fee when payment is made via credit or debit card.
7.2.4. If the reservation or booking of the client is cancelled by the client himself in less than 3 days prior to the tour, the client will not profit any reimbursement.
7.2.5. If the client is not present or leaves the tour before the date set by the agency, the client will not profit any reimbursement.
7.3. Cancellation procedures In order for the cancellation to be valid, the client must complete a required form found in the offices of the agency. The client must be present personally or be represented by a member of the group registered to travel with the client. In this case, the client must call the agency to confirm the cancellation, while the representative of the group is still in the office.
8. Price and payment
8.1. Setting the price: The price made public in the online page www.albtoursd.com, or the price given by the staff of the agency is the final price of the offer or package.
8.2. Responsibility of the agency in case of change in price
8.2.1. The agency is not responsible for the change in the final price if this change is made by the hotel, in case of an increase in taxes to be paid in the destination and other impositions made by the Albanian or local authorities.
8.2.2. The agency is not responsible for the change in the final price in different periods of time during the year which are considered to be peak in tourism in the destination chosen by the client.
8.2.3. Charges for children vary according to the policies of the hotel. The agency is not responsible for these charges and for the variations in the price.
8.3. The whole amount of the payment is to be liquidated by the time the reservation is made. In agreement with the agency, the payment will be liquidated 50% by the time the reservation is made and 50% will be liquidated 14 days prior to the departure day. In case of delay in the payment, the agency reserves the right to cancel the reservation. In different periods of time during a year, the agency reserves the right to change the deadline of 14 days.
8.4. The reimbursement in case of a change of the package
8.5. Bank fee
8.5.1. When payment is made via credit card, the fee is paid by the agency.
8.5.2. When payment is made with a card in the office of the agency, there is no fee to be paid by the parties.
8.5.3. When payment is made by cash, there is no fee to be paid by the parties.
8.6. Liquidation of the price is to be made via the following procedures:
8.6.1. Cash in the agency office or in the offices of member offices.
8.6.2. Via credit card Visa or MasterCard, accompanied with an authorization form, a copy of the passport and the necessary data of the card, including the three digit code sent by fax if the client is not present in the office.
8.6.3. Via credit or debit card Visa, MasterCard, Visa Electron and Maestro using our machine if the client is present in the office.
8.6.4. Via bank transfer. The details of the agency’s bank account can be found here. In this case the client must send via fax or e-mail a copy of the invoice.
9. Settling the disputes
9.1. In case of a dispute, the agency will make every effort to achieve a solution with a quick agreement with the client.
9.2. The agency will ensure that every correspondence will be answered within the following period of time:a) no later than 14 days from the receiving of the request of the client; and b) no later than 28 days from the receiving of the request of the client for a detailed answer.
10. Copyright
10.1. VAS DMC declares that the online page www.vasdmc.com is property of the agency. The agency is responsible for each material posted in the page.
10.2. VAS DMC declares that the information on the accommodation and means of transportation is property of the official online pages of said accommodation and means of transportation. The information on www.vasdmc.com is updated frequently. The agency is not responsible if the information on the official online page of the accommodation or means of transportation is not accurate.
10.3. VAS DMC declares that on the online pages of the agency the only information posted is the information allowed to the public by the owners of the online pages of the accommodation and means of transportation. The information is not documented personally by the staff of the agency.
10.4. VAS DMC declares that the agency does not own any content cited in 10.3.
11. Approval of the agreement
11.1. The approval of this agreement is made by the shareholders of VAS DMC..
11.2. Any change in this agreement is made by the shareholders of VAS DMC .