An informative and exciting journey back in time to the communist past of Albania, where the country was closed off from the rest of the world for 50 years. You will visit the still clearly visible contemporary witnesses and learn all the important facts about this significant part of the country's history. And so by the way you have the chance to get to know the natural beauty of Albania.
Day 1 | The Communist Tirana
Arrival in Tirana and check-in at the hotel.
Our journey into the communist past begins in the Bunk' Art 1 Museum. There we dive into the Albanian history of the last 100 years. The former nuclear bunker, built for the communist dictator Hoxha, tells the story of Albania and the dictator in an interactive and descriptive way by means of photographs, exhibits and documents.
After leaving Bunk' Art 1, we will make our way to lunch at "PAZARI I RI" (The New Bazaar). Typical street food in Tirana is "Gofte" (meatballs) or "Byrek" - just taste it.
After lunch we visit the National Art Gallery to admire many works of socialist realism. Expressive images that convey an impression of how propaganda was made with "realistic" art.
We visit the Pyramid, the former "Mausoleum of Enver Hoxha". Its marble walls, once white, are now crumbling and full of graffiti. Our travel guide will give you an insight into the history of the former dictator.
Coffee break at the coffee museum - Komiteti. Here you can taste different kinds of raki, desserts and coffee.
We will stroll through the area of Blloku, where we will discover the house of Enver Hoxha and other important members of his regime. We stop at the Blloku post office memorial, which honours former political prisoners. The whole area once was a forbidden zone for ordinary people. We take a break in one of the numerous pastries in the area.
Afterwards we continue our tour. We visit the Surveillance Museum, which used to be the headquarters of the secret police "Sigurimi" and the heart of the telephone tapping network of the communist regime. The "Laubhaus" (as the locals call it) could tell many stories. From 1943 to 1944 it was the headquarters of the Gestapo. Later it was used by the Albanian secret police as a "house of investigation and torture".
We finish our tour with a visit to the Bunk Art 2 museum. On the basis of videos and photos you will get to know the procedure of the system and the secret police "Sigurimi".
Meal included: Dinner
Day 2. Vlora and Sazan, the island that didn't exist.
Early in the morning we drive to Vlora. From there we take a boat to the island of Sazan. Sazan is a fortified island with an extensive network of bunkers and tunnels built to withstand nuclear attacks. It was a high-security area. The island was officially opened to tourists for the first time in 2017. The island resembles one of these islands as we know it from the James Bond movies.
During the communist regime, the island of Sazan served as a military base. The island was used by the military and their families - almost 10,000 people worked and lived there.
Afterwards we continue to the Karaburun peninsula to visit majestic caves with pirate names and hidden bays surrounded by wild nature.
Free time on the peninsula and return to Vlora, free evening.
Day 3 | Saranda and the Albanian Riviera
On our way to Saranda we stop in Orikum, the former Pashaliman military base. Today there is a NATO base here.
Continue to the National Park of Llogora, where we have lunch in a restaurant with typical Albanian cuisine. We stop at the "Balcony of the Riviera" from where you can enjoy a spectacular view of the mountains and the Albanian Ionian Riviera.
A second stop is in a beautiful natural bay called Porto Palermo. The bay used to be a military base in the past and still is today. Caves were dug into the rocks used for the submarines. During the Cold War, one of these caves contained up to 4 submarines. Afterwards we visit the castle of Ali Pasha Tepelena. This fortress was used by the regime as a weapons depot.
On the way to Saranda we have a coffee break at the waterfalls of Borsh. Arrival in Saranda and evening at your disposal.
Day 4 | Butrint, The Lekursi Castle and Gjirokastra
We set off for a guided tour of the Butrint Archaeological Park. The amphitheatre, the castle, the churches and the Lion's Gate bear witness to a history of more than 2,500 years.
After exploring Butrint we have lunch in beautiful Ksamil.
The castle of Lëkurës was built in 1537 by Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent when he attacked Corfu. From here the harbour of Saranda and the road that leads him with Butrint could be controlled.
The region traditionally belonged to the southern part of the Himara region. At the end of the 18th century the castle of Ali Pasha was attacked by Ioannina and the surrounding settlement was attacked. The fortress was used during communism as an important air defence and artillery base for the region. Today it serves as a tourist facility and houses a rustic restaurant with breath-taking views of Saranda, Kerkyra Island and the upland valley.
Arrival in Gjirokastra - the city where Enver Hoxha was born and the place where his house was converted into an ethnographic museum.
A local guide, who will also tell you about the status of the city in communist times, will guide you through the Enver Hoxha House. Afterwards we set off to the castle where we will learn everything worth knowing about the history of the castle and enjoy the view of the "stone city" from above.
The overnight stay will be in Gjirokastra (UNESCO).
Day 5 | Korça passing through Permet
In the early morning we leave for Korca and make a stop in Permet. Permet has always had an important role in Albanian politics. In 1944 the Congress of Përmet took place, which created the provisional government that gave way to the communist regime.
One of the most beautiful buildings in Përmet that we will visit is the Church of St. Nicholas. Although an important part of this large building was destroyed during the Communist regime's atheist campaign, the elements of its perfect construction are still evident.
This quiet city, which today has 12,000 inhabitants, was considered an unofficial capital during the communist regime.
Continue to Korça and coffee breaks in Leskovik, on the border to Greece.
Lunch in Farma Sotira, where we will taste trout from the mountains.
Arrival in Korça in the late afternoon, where you will have a guided tour of the city and then some free time to stroll around in the town. Korça is the city where the old dictator went to school. He studied at a French secondary school and read the "Manifesto of the Communists“ for the first time.
Day 6 | Korça, Pogradec and return to Tirana
We visit the city of Korça, which is famous for having opened the first Albanian school on March 7,1887. Now that the school has become an education museum, we will visit it.
In the late morning departure to Pogradec with a stopover in the nearby village of Tushemisht, on the shore of Lake Ohrid and near the border to Macedonia. In Tushemisht the Drilon Park is located, which was the most popular travel destination of Hoxha. Today it is a popular place for fun and relaxation. On the shores of the lake there are also many bunkers to visit. We have lunch in a restaurant in Drilon Park.
Short stop near Qafe Thana where we can see different kinds of bunkers outdoors. From there we continue to Tirana.
Arrival in Tirana in the late afternoon. We're gonna enjoy our last dinner together.
Day 7 | Departure day
The morning is at your disposal to do your last shopping or to stroll through the city.
Transfer to the airport for your return flight home.