Heading to Gjirokastra UNESCO Site

Departing Tirana at the dawn of 8 o’clock, we shall journey towards Gjirokastra, a place 230 kilometers away, renowned for its remarkable preservation of the Ottoman architecture and its prominent agricultural land. We will traverse through the depths of Southern Albania, admiring the green fields that the countryside has to offer. Along our path, we shall be accompanied by the Vjosa River, one of the few untamed rivers of Albania and the surrounding Balkan region.

Gjirokastra Bazaar

Once we arrive in the city, you will soon recognize that this metropolis is unlike any other. At the heart of the city lies the main square, proudly named after the renowned Albanian Patriot of the 19th century, Cerciz Topulli. Here, the cobblestone streets culminate in a splendid spectacle, their journey from the castle’s lofty heights finally at an end.
Dating back to the 17th Century, the Ottoman era saw the flourishing of a bustling epicenter that sent its vitality reverberating throughout the city. A hub of economic activity, this was the place where news, gossip and rumors were propagated with remarkable swiftness. All manner of transactions were conducted here, as well as leisurely gatherings over coffee. Countless unions were arranged here, providing the perfect milieu for families to come together prior to the wedding rites.
This day, the city proudly displays its history to all who visit, with a splendid array of souvenirs and stories shared by the affable inhabitants.

Gjirokastra Castle 

Majestically, we tread through the bustling Bazaar to reach the grand Gjirokastra Fortress. Upon the hilltop’s natural defenses, it was the first settlement of the city, deeply rooted in the captivating legend of Argjiro, the young princess who sacrificed herself. Thusly, it is commonly referred to as the Crown of the City. Renovated significantly in the 19th Century, it has been used as a fortress and prison by countless regimes and political parties of the past. Undeniably, the Fortress holds great historical significance, yet its stony visage still provides a stunning view of the city, placidly spread along the hills.

Skenduli House Tour

The remarkable Fortress-style of the houses throughout the city of Gjirokastra has earned it a place amongst the UNESCO Heritage. These unique dwellings are not only aesthetically pleasing, but serve an essential purpose – they are equipped with independent systems of collecting, filtering, and preserving water. The house we are to visit today encapsulates the beauty of the Balkans from long ago, boasting its own “private bunker” in case of any bombardments. Step into this timeless abode and you will be transported to a different era.

Accommodation

Hiking , Fishing , Discovering  the hidden Eremit Cave Churches 

We start hiking through the Valley at 8 in the morning and hike for about 1 hour to get to our destination “Ali Pasha Wall”, built by the ruler of 19th century and abandoned after not being able to gather the water of the spring that feeds the Vjosa River creating a beautiful blue like colour hidden into the nature forgotten by people.

We throw the nets to the side of the river as a local fisherman helps us with the tools and shows us the local methods of river fishing, and meanwhile we prepare a small fire where we would cook the fish if we’re lucky enough or go with plan B and prepare a modest picnic meal.

In the meantime we will head a couple minutes further to discover the Eremit Caves on the side of the valley. 

Accommodation in same hotel in Tepelene 

National Park Divjake-Karavasta 

Leaving Tepelena behind we will head to another National Park to learn more about the wild life of Albania and endemic animals living in the lagoon.

Our first stop will be the Tourist Center where we will visit the exhibition wildlife of Karavasta room inside the facility used for the Lagoon Forest Ranger. We can see two pelicans saved from rangers that now ‘serve’ on the facility, the largest species of pelicans in the world : the Dalmatian Pelican native to the Lagoon and the only place in the world where they lay eggs.

We can climb the tower to have a 360′ panoramic view of the whole lagoon reaching the Adriatic Shores. 

Possible to take a local boat and get into the lagoon bird watching towers, to closer inspect the wildlife of this protected nature park.