Winter Colors of Albania – 11 Day Tour
11 Days, Private JourneyAn 11-day private winter journey through Albania — from the snow-clad Albanian Alps of Theth and the thermal waters of Benjë, through the UNESCO towns of Gjirokastër and Berat, to Korça, Albania's 'Little Paris', at its most beautiful time of year.
There is a version of Albania that only reveals itself once the snow falls. The peaks above Theth turn silent and white. The stone streets of Berat and Gjirokastër settle into a quieter winter rhythm, their thousand windows catching a softer, lower light. Korça glows through December, and the thermal waters of Benjë steam gently against the cold mountain air. This is winter in Albania — dramatic, uncrowded, and largely undiscovered by the wider world.
Winter Colors in Albania is an 11-day private journey across the full length of the country in its winter season, built for travelers who want more than a checklist of landmarks. Over the course of this tour, you will drive into a snow-covered alpine village, soak in natural thermal baths fed by the mountains, wander the stone streets of two UNESCO World Heritage towns, and experience Korça at its most beautiful time of year. Every detail — the vehicle, the guide, the hotel, the table you sit at for dinner — has been chosen to the same standard: quietly excellent, never generic.
- Snow-covered alpine village of Theth, with an optional hike to the Blue Eye or a visit to Razëm
- Farm-to-table lunch at Mrizi i Zanave
- UNESCO World Heritage towns of Gjirokastër and Berat, the "Town of a Thousand Windows"
- Traditional Gjirokastër cuisine dinner
- Relaxing soak at the Benjë Thermal Baths, with a stop at Këlcyrë Gorge
- Wine tasting and lunch at a family-run agritourism estate near Berat
- Korça's old bazaar, cathedral, and the First Albanian School
- Dardha or Voskopojë, chosen on the day for the better winter conditions — skiing or historic mountain charm
- Traditional kernacka and rakia warmed with honey and cinnamon in Korça
- Lake Ohrid shoreline and Drilon on the return to Tirana
- Farewell dinner or craft beer tasting in Tirana
Day by Day
Your Journey
01Arrival & Tirana
Private transfer from the airport to your hotel, followed by a 1-hour welcome walking tour through central Tirana. Relax at your hotel afterward. Overnight: Tirana
02Tirana · Krujë · Shkodër
Visit Krujë's old bazaar and hilltop castle, along with the Skanderbeg Museum. Enjoy a farm-to-table lunch at Mrizi i Zanave before continuing to Shkodër. Overnight: Shkodër
03Shkodër · Theth National Park
A scenic winter drive into the Albanian Alps to Theth. Explore the snow-covered village, with an optional hike to the Grunas Waterfall depending on conditions, followed by free time. Overnight: Theth
04Theth · Blue Eye · Shkodër
An optional hike to the Blue Eye of Theth for those able to make it, or a visit to Razëm instead — whichever the roads and conditions allow that day. Return to Shkodër. Overnight: Shkodër
05Shkodër · Durrës · Tirana
A morning visit to the Castle of Shkoder before departing for Durrës to explore its Roman amphitheater, Venetian Tower, and seaside promenade, before continuing to Tirana. Overnight: Tirana
06Tirana · Gjirokastër
Depart for Gjirokastër, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore the old bazaar, the castle, and the Skenduli House, with a free afternoon before a traditional dinner featuring authentic Gjirokastër cuisine. Overnight: Gjirokastër
07Gjirokastër · Përmet · Benjë Thermal Baths
A day trip to Përmet, with time to relax at the Benjë Thermal Baths and explore the town of Përmet itself. Return to Gjirokastër with a stop at the Këlcyrë Gorge along the way. Overnight: Gjirokastër
08Gjirokastër · Berat
Depart for Berat — the "Town of a Thousand Windows" — for a wine tasting and traditional lunch at a family-run agritourism estate. In the afternoon, stroll along Berat's pedestrian promenade and across the Gorica Bridge, taking in the town's two historic quarters. Overnight: Berat
09Berat · Korça
A morning visit to the Castle and the Onufri National Museum of Iconography of Berat before departing for Korça. On arrival, enjoy free time to explore the old bazaar, with a taste of traditional kernacka and rakia warmed with honey and cinnamon. Overnight: Korça
10Dardha or Voskopojë · Korça
Depending on snow conditions, visit either Dardha — with optional skiing at Albania's modest mountain slopes — or the historic village of Voskopojë, with its centuries-old Orthodox churches. Return to Korça to visit the city itself, including its cathedral, the First Albanian School, and the main boulevard, with a free afternoon. Overnight: Korça
11Korça · Pogradec · Drilon · Tirana
Depart for Pogradec along the shores of Lake Ohrid, with a stop at Drilon, before returning to Tirana for a farewell dinner or craft beer tasting — your send-off from a winter in Albania. (For guests departing the following day: an additional night in Tirana and a private transfer the next morning can be arranged.)
Inclusions
What's Covered
Everything below is arranged, booked and paid for before you arrive — the rest is listed just as plainly.
Included
11 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, local taxes, parking fees
- Private airport transfers on arrival
- 10 nights in 4-5★ and boutique hotels, including breakfast daily
- Farm-to-table lunch at Mrizi i Zanave
- Traditional Gjirokastër cuisine dinner
- Wine tasting and lunch at a Berat-area agritourism estate
- Traditional kernacka and rakia tasting in Korça
- Farewell dinner or beer tasting in Tirana
- Entrances: Skanderbeg Museum (Krujë), Durrës amphitheater, Gjirokastër Castle & Skenduli House, Berat Castle, Onufri National Museum of Iconography, Benjë Thermal Baths
Not Included
6 items- International flights
- Meals not listed above and personal expenses
- Travel insurance
- Gratuities
- Single room supplement, where applicable
- Any additional night beyond the 10 included, such as an extended stay in Tirana for later flights (available on request, at an additional cost)
Anything here can usually be added to your journey. Just ask
Why This Journey
What Makes This Journey Different
A private journey, start to finish.
You travel in a premium vehicle with your own licensed, multilingual guide-driver — never merged into a larger coach group, never on someone else's schedule.
The whole country, thoughtfully connected, at a comfortable winter pace.
From the Albanian Alps to the UNESCO towns of the south to the highlands of Korça, this route is built to avoid the marathon driving days that shorter winter tours often fall into — with rest days, day trips, and no unnecessary hotel changes.
Genuine culinary experiences, not just meals.
A farm-to-table lunch at Mrizi i Zanave. A traditional dinner in Gjirokastër featuring the town's distinctive cuisine. A wine tasting and lunch at a family-run agritourism estate near Berat. Traditional kernacka and rakia warmed with honey and cinnamon in the highlands of Korça. A farewell dinner or craft beer tasting in Tirana to close the journey. No compromise on quality either way.
Handled with care, down to the smallest logistics.
Your first day is intentionally free of touring — a chance to rest after your flight before the journey begins in earnest the following morning. Every hotel is 4-5★ or a carefully chosen boutique property.
Route
Where You'll Be, Day by Day
Tirana International AirportGjirokastër
Available
From 1700 EUR
Final price depends on group size, season and hotel selection.
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