Gegè Tour North Albania and Kosovo (7 nights/8 days)
EN NATURA E GASTRONOMIA
04/02/2019 Release by LIVING ALBANIA
In Sintesi
Gegè Tour, or tour of Northern Albania.
La notizia
Gegè Tour, or tour of Northern Albania, (the Albanian language is divided into two subgroups: South Albania speaks the Toske dialect, and Northern Albania speaks the Gege dialect), from which we also got the name of this tour as we will visit the beauties of nature and discover the history that hides the part of North Albania and also Kosovo.
Eight days around the Low Balkans, in areas that until some years ago were off-limits because of the war that raged in the late 90s and early 2000s. Even today, especially in Kosovo, the fragments of those years are well evident, while the ethnic-cultural division is notable in common life.This two United States although partly from a single ethnic origin and from a language the Albanian, from traditions often similar that reflect a unique cultural identity coming from the times and united by colonization and subjugation occurred by other peoples and fierce and intransigent dictatorships.In fact, the Ottoman Empire lasted almost half a millennium, leaving behind customs, traditions, and its own culture, above all subjecting to its own religion, Islam.
Tirana (about 1.000.000 inhabitants) the Albanian New York, trainer of the Albanian economy and city in evolution on the wave of the western capitalism.
Pristina (with the metropolitan area around has about 450,000 inhabitants) where the ethnic Albanian is tangible everywhere, where the war has left incurable memories.
Valbone, a small village that looks like a real paradise, then Shkoder, the cradle of Albanian culture, the Rozafa castle, where we will relive the ancient and sad legend of poor Rozafa, to go later to the Sanctuary of Shna Ndoi, sanctuary of miracles , visited by people of all religions in Albania.We will be able to taste some local dishes, here in Albania the food and wine is enhanced by natural organic products such as fruit and vegetables, but also by fine wines (from the native grapes of the white Debine and the red Kallmet), with its products highly bio, we will taste some of the most famous dishes among which the 'Tave Dheu and Kosi', the famous and delicious ''Byrek'', which in the north is also called "Fli", a Byrek different from that served in Tirana , the white 'Feta' cheese and the salted sheep butter and then the liquid yogurt, but also desserts such as the 'Bakllava', the 'Kadaif' and the 'Ballokume', you will taste a “teke”(small glass) 'Rakì' the local grappa of grapes but also of blackberries and dogwood, you will warm up with the mountain tea, which the expert hands of mountain women gather in places not very accessible, sweetened with sage honey always local. You will dine in excellent and well-served restaurants, and time permitting outside with the scent of the sea that will conciliate your appetite, where you will find everything you want.
Program
1-st day –Visit of Tirana
Arrival from the airport and accommodation in a hotel in Tirana.
Our tour begins with a visit to the National Archaeological Museum and then continues with a visit to the center of Tirana, to the Scanderberg square (Gjergj Kastriot Skenderbeu, the national hero who for twenty years resisted the invasion defending Albania and Europe and its Christian moral and religious values ,from the Ottoman-Turkish invasion) symbolic place of the City (Ethem Bey Mosque, the Clock Tower). Walk in the Taiwan park and boulevard '(Pyramid of Enver Hoxha, Government Palace, Qemal Stafa Stadium). (Tirana, the capital of Albania, has almost one million inhabitants, hence almost a third of the entire Albanian population, a city of business par excellence, a western city for the quality of life and the way of life of the people of Tirana. nightlife is in fact that of any other European city very different from all other Albanian cities, here it is commonly spoken Italian and especially English).
Dinner in restaurant and overnight in hotel in Tirana.
2-nd day-Visit of BunkArt and Kruja
Breakfast at the hotel.
In the early morning visit to (BunkArt) Bunker's underground anti-atomic bunker of the dictator Hoxha with a photographic and didactic path inside, a true example of the dictatorship to which the country was subjected for almost 50 years. The bunker is inside a military base, to enter you need a permit that we obviously have and it winds underground for six floors, you will not have any claustrophobic feeling because the corridors are spacious and high and is well ventilated, the visit lasts about 30/45 minutes.
After lunch we will visit the town of Kruja, located on the side of a mountain, Kruja is the most important city of the Albanian resistance that under the guidance of Gjergj Kastrioti "Scanderbeg" in the 15th century successfully fought the Ottomans for over 25 years.
Visit of the castle and shopping in the beautiful old bazaar.
Climb up to the tower where you can admire a splendid view of Kruja and its surroundings. Kruja Castle was built in the 4th century AD on the remains of a previous Illyrian settlement of the III century BC.
In the early evening return to the hotel, dinner and overnight.
3-rd day-Visit of Pristina.
Breakfast at the hotel.
Departure to Pristina at 08:00 am, passing from "Rruga e Kombit". Arrival at half day, lunch in restaurant.
Pristina, the capital of Kosovo, is the seat of the government and has about 450,000 inhabitants in the hinterland. Located in northern Kosovo it has a beautiful modern center where it is still visible, in some structures the architecture, characteristic of the Tito period.
Easy to find on the streets military of various nations in uniform with Kfor-Nato vehicles, of which many Italians.
Visit to the National Archaeological Museum where is preserved the famous statuette symbol of Pristina. For those who want to visit(there are very strong photos of a massacre of entire families) on the upper floor you can see the Adem Jashari Museum, known in the country as the "legend commander", hero of the UCK, perished during a fight with departments of Yugoslavia together with all the family members (about 64 people, including one third of them women and children).
Walk along Boulevard 'Madre Teresa' practically the living room of the city full of bars, cafes and restaurants.
Continuing to reach the modern National Library in the university area within a green and quiet park.
A visit to the Catholic cathedral dedicated to the Blessed "Mother Teresa" can not be missed.
In the early evening accommodation in hotel and dinner in restaurant.
4-th day-Visit of Prizren, then Valbona
Breakfast at the hotel and departure to Valbona.
We leave to Valbona at 9:00 am going from the town of Prizren, where we have lunch in a restaurant with a typical Albanian menu.
After lunch we will make a short stop at the Orthodox Monastery of Gracanica (XIV century) which is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site where there is an important collection of icons from the fourteenth century and extraordinary example of Byzantine architecture and symbol of Serbian nationalism (subject to protect the UN forces).
Short visit to Prizren, to leave afterwards toValbona.
Arrival expected in the early evening.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
5-th day – Visit of Valbona
Breakfast with the Albanian Alps view.
Even if it is not enough a day to visit all the wonders of the valley, we will try to take the best of the beautiful Valbona, named after an Italian priest, who saw it and said: "Valle buona", and stay forever name of this valley. Closed until a few years ago as a shell because of the missing roads, now we are able to enjoy this small Albanian paradise, not for a long time since the Albanian state will build a hydroelectric in this valley. Those who wish can take advantage of our guide for a trekking to the Valbona waterfall.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
6-th day-Visit of Shkoder, passing from lake Koman.
Breakfast at the hotel and departure to Shkoder.
Leaving behind us the marvelous valley of Valbona, we take the ferry for a short cruise on the Koman lake, surrounded by the Alps and the green of the lake we go towards the city of Shkoder "the cradle of the Albanian culture".
In the early afternoon we will visit the city center, we also visit the Catholic cathedral Shen Shtjefni.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
7-th day- Visit of Rozafa castle and Shna Ndoi Sanctuary.
Breakfast at the hotel.
In the early morning we will visit the castle of Rozafa, located in the entrance of Scutari, from where you can admire the entire city, from the Alps to Lake Scutari, an overview not to be missed.
After we leave to Tirana, with a stop to the city of Laç, to go to the most famous and visited sanctuary of Albania, Sanctuary of St.Antonio or Shna Ndoi as they say in Albania. A place known for the miracles, where you find people of all Catholic, Orthodox and Muslim religions too,a place that prove that the only religion of the Albanians is "Being Albanian".
In the early evening return to the hotel in Tirana.
8-th day- Turning back at your country.
Breakfast in the hotel.
Departure for the airport “Mother Teresa” Rinas Tirana.
(The program of the last day will change due to the air departure hours.)
End of the service
QUOTES INCLUDE:
- 7 overnights in standard double room at Hotel 4* e 5* .
- 7 breakfasts in buffet at hotel;
- 7 lunches in restaurant included water 0.33 l. and 1 glass of wine or a beer p.pax. coffeè and other exluded.
- 7 dinners in restaurant included water 0.33 l. and 1 glass of wine or a beer p.pax. coffeè and other exluded.
- Transport with car or bus (dipends on the number of the group) for all the programm with expert driver in albanian roads.
- Tourist guide in english language for all the mention program.
Transport from and for the airport for groups +20pax.
Paid admissions included in the price.
1. Tirana: National Storic Museum,BunkArt.
2. Pristina: National Archaeological museum.
3. Shkoder:Castle of Rozafa
4. Kruja: Skanderberg’s museum.
5. Ferry ticket for the Koman lake.
QUOTES DO NOT INCLUDE:
a) Air tickets from your country to Albania.
b) Drinks for meals (exept those mentioned in “the quotes include”).
c) Drinks, snacks ecc…during the tour.
d) Medical inscurance (obbligatory) supplement of € 20 pax.
e) Personal extras and all not mentioned at the “quotes include”.
f) Single room.
g) Tips.
h) All not written in this program.
NOTES:
The package is scheduled with arrival in the port of Durres and / or at the "Nene Teresa" airport of Tirana on the first morning of the first day and departure for your country on the morning of the 8th day.
Any changes to the aforementioned program consequent and / or due to delays or other factors not depending on our company will not be imputable to LivingAlbania and will not be subject to any refunds and if this involves additional costs they will be charged to the group leader / or responsible for the reservation.
The above quotation is reported and valid only for the months of March, April, May, June, September October and November 2020.
The prices are to be considered blocked only when the appropriate confirmation deposit is paid and the signing of the relative contract therefore up until that date they may be subject to increasing variations. Therefore to avoid such increases we recommend to block the package with the booking as soon as possible.
Methods of payment will be provided upon confirmation.
Quote
50 pax €. 680 pax
SUPPLEMENTS
* Single room 7 nights €. 150,00
HOTELS
Our 3/4* hotels are selectionated personally by us.
Hotels may vary according to availability at the moment and in Albania the assignment of the "stars" "*" is free and decided usually by the managers and not by Associations of category Bodies or state structures. The stars shown are credited on Booking.com
GENERAL INFORMATION
-For entry into Albania it is sufficient to show a valid identity card
-No health prevention is necessary.
-The only precaution is to avoid drinking tap water, better to use bottled water as elsewhere.
-Mandatory medical insurance
-The local currency is the 'Leke' which is now changed to about 120 Leke for one Euro (it is advisable to change some Euro for own expenses to avoid non regular exchange and therefore a loss).
The visits are not difficult and demanding, they are quiet and affordable for everyone, but being the ground often in cobblestone and / or in stone sometimes uneven and up and down serves especially to pay attention in walking.
It is recommended for visits to the places indicated sports shoes with sole with a little 'tank, and given the season clothing practical "onion".
We will make appropriate "technical stops" during motorway transfers or in facilities where normal physiological needs can be met, usually halfway between one place and another, but in any case every one and a half hours (unless required) details).
Livingalbania has been operating for years in Albania, knows the country as few others and as they say here of us better than an Albanian, also counts in its customers, with its own satisfaction, customers of the "Third Age" thanks to the standard with which it is careful to the needs of people who are no longer young.
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