9:00 Following a hearty breakfast and with a picnic-lunch in hand, start hiking in the direction of Bjeshket e Namuna (Cursed Mountains) to visit the Cave of Paja; the trek is around 8 hours.Another memorable dinner in Lepushe.
Arrival in Mother Teresa Airport and traveling to the town of Lezha to visit the Scanderbeg memorial, the grave and the castle.The famed traditional restaurant Mrizi i Zanave offers delicious lunches and refreshing coffee-breaks. Upon arrival in Shkodra, a visit to the Rozafa Castle and Museum, the Lead Mosque, Pedestrian Street, Marubi Studio for a full afternoon of fun and learning.Dinner at the Tradita restaurant is an event in itself before a peaceful sleep in Shkodra.
8:00 Local variations of breakfast and picnic- lunches to prepare for the longer hike towards the pass of Thethi. The unforgettable 9 hours include requisite pauses and lunch in a breathtaking venue. Local guides and reliable horses are at the ready for packing and assistance should anyone become a bit faint from the sheer beauty! 17:00 The evening meal and repose is fit for Illirian royalty.
Tuesday-13th of SeptemberThe fourth riding day. Another loop stage offers a relatively relaxing excursion through 150 km of eastern Albania’s remote forests and valleys. Mud and soft soil. Difficulty, easy-medium.
8:00: Filling breakfast and a drive towards Gjirokastra. The Vjosa River remains Europe’s single undammed; its Valley is enticing. Quick-stop in Virua for a coffee break and a visit to the entrance of the Viroi cave whose underwater treasures have been explored only by professional speleologists. 13:00: Arrival in Gjirokaster and lunch. Afterwards, a visit around the old town, the castle, and the bazaar pass (the ancient route between the city’s market and the neighboring hills).19:00: Arrival at the Blue Eye Source, a protected national monument and a testimony to Nature’s enduring beauty. Dinner there or in Saranda, enhanced by a mini-concert offered by Argjiro, an admired local folk-music group.
First stop, Kruja: Visit the castle, the museum, the old bazaar, and the ethnographic museum. Lunch or dinner depending upon arrival time.18:00 Into Tirana to enjoy the city center, a memorable dinner and a taste of the local beer.A comfortable night in Tirana.
