Welcome to Tirana, Albania’s dynamic capital, known for its bold architecture, vibrant café culture, and creative art installations. Upon arrival, our team greets you at the airport and transfers you to your hotel in the stylish Blloku neighborhood, which was once closed to the public and now the city’s cultural heart.

In the evening, we gather for welcome drinks and dinner, an opportunity to get to know one another and meet our local guides, Rozafa Ukimeraj and Bleron Melzenxhiu. Through their personal stories and perspectives, they help set the stage for our journey into Albania’s rapid democratic transformation and its path toward EU accession.

Overnight in Tirana
Accommodation: Xkeho Imperial

Our first full day in Tirana takes us into Albania’s recent past, when the country was isolated from the rest of the world under the rigid communist rule of Enver Hoxha (1944–1985). Accompanied by a local historian, we visit Bunk’Art 2, a striking museum built inside one of the hundreds of thousands of bunkers constructed during Hoxha’s paranoid preparations for foreign invasion. The experience offers a powerful introduction to the psychological and political legacy of isolation that still shapes Albanian society.

We then gather for coffee and lunch with leading regional activist and analyst Agon Maliqi, who offers insight into Albania’s distinctive post-communist trajectory in the Balkans: its democratic gains, regional dynamics, and the shortcomings that continue to challenge its institutions.

Enjoy a few hours off to explore the city or take nap.

In the evening, we reconvene for dinner with Sali Berisha, Albania’s first non-communist president, whose leadership ushered in political pluralism and opened the country to Western markets and democratic governance.

Overnight in Tirana
Accommodation: Xkeho Imperial

We begin the day at Vila 31, the former residence of Albania’s communist dictator, Enver Hoxha. After a guided visit to this once-sealed enclave of power, we hear from renowned writer and former political prisoner Fatos Lubonja, whose personal testimony brings the human cost of dictatorship into sharp focus.

From there, we proceed to Albania’s Parliament, offering a rare opportunity to step inside the heart of the country’s contemporary democracy. Meeting with Romina Kuko, a current Member of Parliament and key figure in Albania’s EU accession efforts, we gain firsthand insight into how democratic reforms are debated, negotiated, and implemented today—connecting Albania’s authoritarian past with its European future.

The day concludes with a private dinner with Pandeli Majko, former Prime Minister and a central figure in Albania’s democratic transition. Known for his role in stabilizing the country after the 1997 crisis and strengthening democratic institutions during a fragile post-communist period, Majko reflects on the challenges of building trust, political pluralism, and democratic resilience in a newly open society.

Overnight in Tirana
Accommodation: Xkeho Imperial

We begin the day with Sonila Maço, an independent journalist whose personal story highlights the challenges of practicing free and investigative journalism in a country with few independent media outlets. Her perspective offers an important look at press freedom within Albania’s evolving democracy.

Afterwards, we depart Tirana and drive through Albania’s countryside to Berat, a 2,400-year-old city that showcases a remarkable blend of Byzantine and Ottoman architecture. The city’s distinctive white Ottoman-era houses, known for their many windows, cascade down the hillside toward the Osum River. The historic Mangalem and Gorica neighborhoods, located on opposite banks of the river, reflect centuries of religious coexistence and architectural harmony. Set against the Tomorr Mountains and the winding river below, Berat’s landscape feels timeless and deeply rooted in Albania’s history.

We enjoy lunch at Eni Traditional Food before a short break. In the afternoon, we convene for a guided tour of Berat Castle, a vast hilltop fortress that has been continuously inhabited for more than two millennia. Within its walls are ancient fortifications, Byzantine churches, Ottoman homes, and sweeping views over the city and surrounding valleys. The tour concludes at sunset, when the warm light illuminates Berat’s rooftops and river below. The evening is free to stroll through the old town and enjoy dinner at one of several recommended local restaurants.

Overnight in Berat
Accommodation: Berat Plaza Hotel

At noon, we depart for Alpeta Agrotourism and Winery, a scenic 45-minute drive into the hills above Berat to the village of Roshnik. Here, the Fiska family has cultivated vineyards for more than three decades, creating one of Albania’s most respected agrotourism experiences. Set among rolling hills, sun-warmed vineyards, and fragrant fig and olive trees, Alpeta offers a peaceful rural retreat that highlights the deep connection between land, food, and tradition.

The experience is as much about place as it is about wine. Alpeta fully embraces the spirit of agrotourism, partnering with local farmers to supply ingredients for its on-site restaurant. Guests enjoy a leisurely lunch featuring regional specialties such as house-made byrek, paired with generous tastings of local wines and raki. Following a guided tour of the winery and vineyards, there is time to relax with a glass in hand and take in the sweeping countryside views.

Overnight in Berat
Accommodation: Berat Plaza Hotel

Today we venture beyond Berat to Apollonia, approximately a one hour and fifteen-minute drive through the Myzeqe plain. Founded in the sixth century BCE by Greek settlers, Apollonia grew into one of the most important cities of the Adriatic world and a renowned center of trade, culture, and philosophy. Walking through its expansive and remarkably preserved archaeological site, we encounter the Bouleuterion, Odeon, ancient library, and surrounding ruins, gaining a vivid sense of sophisticated urban life more than two millennia ago.

We then continue to Ardenica Monastery, one of Albania’s most significant religious and cultural landmarks. Dating to the thirteenth century, the monastery is beautifully preserved and celebrated for its richly painted frescoes, intricately carved wooden iconostasis, and serene hilltop location overlooking the Myzeqe plain. Traditionally believed to be the site of the wedding of Skanderbeg, Albania’s national hero, Ardenica holds deep national symbolism and provides insight into Albania’s Orthodox tradition, medieval artistry, and enduring spiritual heritage.

Following our visit, we enjoy lunch at Albanica Restaurant and Winery, where regional cuisine and local wines provide a relaxed conclusion to the day’s exploration.

The evening is open with options to join an intimate dinner at a local chef’s home or to book at one of the many delightful restaurants in Berat.

Overnight in Berat
Accomodation: Berat Plaza Hotel

‍Mid-morning, we depart Berat and drive back to Tirana for the conclusion of our journey. Along the way, we stop for a short hike to the top of Petrela Castle, a medieval hilltop fortress offering sweeping views over Tirana and, on clear days, all the way to the Adriatic Sea. The walk is gentle and rewarding, providing a final opportunity to take in Albania’s dramatic landscape.

Continuing toward the capital, we stop for lunch at an organic farm and restaurant for a true farm-to-table experience featuring locally sourced, seasonal ingredients. During the meal, we are joined by Ben Blushi, a prominent writer and political figure, who shares reflections on Albania’s cultural identity, political evolution, and contemporary public life, bringing thoughtful closure to the tour.

Our time together concludes around 4:30 pm, allowing for final personal exploration of the city, last-minute shopping, or a relaxed farewell coffee in one of Tirana’s many lively neighborhoods.

Overnight in Tirana
Accommodation: Xkeho Imperial