Albania 360°: Tirana, Butrint and Lake Koman
The trip in a nutshell
Discover the captivating allure of Albania—a country that seamlessly combines romance, wilderness, rural charm, and modernity. After years in the shadows, Albania eagerly welcomes travelers from around the globe, and we are thrilled to embark on an unforgettable journey through its breathtaking landscapes, delectable cuisine, and charming city streets. Our group trip begins in Tirana, the vibrant capital, and takes us southward to explore traditional villages, enchanting beaches, and the timeless wonder of Butrint. As we complete the circle back in Tirana, we'll have uncovered the hidden gems of this extraordinary destination. Get ready to be captivated by Albania's authentic beauty!
Trip type
360º - it's our great classic that allows you to discover the destination in all its aspects. We recommend packing a backpack rather than a suitcase as there will be lots of moving around.
Physical rating
MODERATE - this itinerary may involve hiking or other activities that require a moderate amount of physical effort. Be prepared for some potential long transfers and early wake up calls!
Entry requirements
Please visit your country's official government website to find out the necessary requirements for entering the country of destination.
Arrival and departure
The trip begins and ends in Tirana. Aim to arrive by 6pm on the first day - on the last day you are free to leave whenever suits you!
18 people interested
What's included
7 nights accommodation in shared rooms (private bathroom)
All breakfasts
Car rental from day 2 to day 7
Minivan with driver on day 2 for transfer to and from Lake Koman
An exciting boat tour to discover the secrets of the Pirate's Cave
Travel coordinator services
Free cancellation with 100% refund up to 31 days before departure
Itinerary
Welcome to Albania
Check-in: our adventure starts in Tirana
Roundtrip flights or transportation to reach the destination are not included in the package, so you can decide from where and when you want to leave! This gives you complete freedom of choice to adjust your travel itinerary to your needs.
Upon arrival in Tirana, we'll check-in at the hotel and dive into exploring the colourful city. Let's find a delightful spot to taste our first Albanian dinner, perhaps trying the mouthwatering Tavë Kosi, a lamb, egg, and yogurt quiche. Get ready to embark on an unforgettable culinary journey in Albania!
Included: overnight stay, breakfast
Not included: airport transfer, food and drinks
Lake Koman and the Albanian fjords
Kayaking or relaxing?
Let the second day of our Albanian adventure begin! Today, we'll kick off the day by picking up our rental cars and hitting the road. Our destination? The Albanian fjords! Okay, they may not be Norway's fjords, but the breathtaking views along Lake Koman will make you believe otherwise. This narrow and winding lake, surrounded by sheer cliffs and occasional cascading waterfalls, will leave you in awe. Despite being artificial, the beauty of Lake Koman is truly astounding. Interestingly, the three hydroelectric plants built here supply around 70% of Albania's electricity needs. Impressive, isn't it?
We have the entire day to explore this hidden gem, perhaps even by kayak if we're up for it. On our way back to Tirana, we can even decide to treat ourselves to a delightful dinner at a nearby farmhouse. It'll be the perfect ending to an exhilarating day. Get ready for unforgettable experiences and surprises around every corner!
Included: overnight stay, breakfast, rental car, minivan with driver for Lake Koman excursion
Money Pot: petrol and activities
Not included: food and drinks
Southbound: on the road to Berat
To Hirama through Berat
No time for rest! Today, we hit the road again and head south towards our final destination, Himara. But first, we can't miss the charming town of Berat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, along the way. As we drive through rural Albania, we witness the authentic and simple way of life. In Berat, we explore the ancient castle, with its inhabited houses, restaurants, and remnants of churches and mosques. We then wander through the historic districts of Gorica and Mangalemi. From there, we continue our journey to Himara, where we're greeted by the incredible sight of the sea. Get ready for a perfect blend of nature, history, and beach time!
Included: overnight stay, breakfast, rental car
Money Pot: petrol and activities
Not included: food and drinks
On the boat: we sail to the Pirate's Cave!
Finally at the sea: let's discover the Pirate's Cave
Oh, the sea at last! And what a sea it is! Himara is renowned for its stunning beaches, often regarded as some of the most beautiful in Albania. Today, it's time to put that reputation to the test. Are you ready for the first dip of our trip? But lazing around on the beach isn't really our style—though we wouldn't mind it either, there's just so much to see! So, without wasting a moment, we hop on our private boat and set sail to discover the Pirate's Cave. Get ready, crew, for an exciting adventure on the open seas!
Included: overnight stay, breakfast, rental car, boat excursion to Pirate's Cave
Money Pot: petrol and activities
Not included: food and drinks
Butrint and Ali Pasha's Castle
History and culture
Today, our journey takes us further south, all the way to Butrint—an extraordinary archaeological site dating back to the Greek era. Prepare to immerse yourself in the ancient history of this country that shares borders with Greece. You'll be amazed at how close we are to Corfu, as if we could reach out and touch it! Here, the traditions of Albania seamlessly blend with those of its neighboring countries. Before making our way back north, we'll have the opportunity to visit the magnificent Ali Pasha Castle, overlooking the sparkling sea. Our final destination for the next two nights is the vibrant coastal town of Saranda. Get ready for some exciting nightlife experiences tonight!
Included: overnight stay, breakfast, rental car
Money Pot: petrol and activities
Not included: food and drinks
Beaches and party in Saranda
Among the most beautiful beaches
Get ready for a day of pure bliss as we soak up the sun and dive into the crystal-clear waters of Saranda. This vibrant coastal town is a beloved destination along the Albanian coast, especially adored by young people— and guess what? We've arrived! Saranda derived its name from the ancient monastery perched atop the "40 Saints" hill and has always been a hub of energy and excitement in Albania. From June to September, the city comes alive with a plethora of restaurants, bars, and clubs, offering an unforgettable nightlife experience.
Of course, the real gem of Saranda lies in its stunning beaches, and we won't miss a single one. We can either spend a leisurely day aboard a boat, exploring the coastline, or simply relax and unwind on the shore. Today is all about embracing a laid-back pace to fully immerse ourselves in the beauty of this coastal paradise.
And tonight, get ready to party like never before!
Included: overnight stay, breakfast, rental car
Money Pot: petrol and activities
Not included: food and drinks
Back to Tirana
Returning to Tirana
On our last day in Albania, we bid farewell to the stunning beaches of Saranda and hit the road back to where it all began, the capital city. While the journey may be long, we have a cultural stop planned at Apollonia, where we can step back in time and explore the fascinating archaeological site near the Vjosa River. As it's our final stretch on the road, let's soak in the captivating Albanian landscapes along the way. We'll arrive in Tirana around lunchtime, check in at the hotel, grab a bite to eat, and then embark on a discovery of the capital city, known as the "Land of Eagles." In the afternoon, we'll have ample time to explore Tirana, a city with ancient roots dating back to the Paleolithic era. Today, the city blends both modern and historical influences, showcased in its diverse architectural styles. We can also squeeze in some last-minute shopping for souvenirs to share with friends and family back home. As the evening approaches, we'll gather for our final dinner together—a perfect moment to reminisce about the incredible days we've spent traveling side by side.
Included: overnight stay, breakfast, rental car
Money Pot: petrol and activities
Not included: food and drinks
Goodbye Albania
Check-out and goodbyes
We say goodbye and look forward to the next WeRoad adventure!
Not included: airport transfer, food and drinks
End of services. The itinerary may undergo some variations that differ from what is stated above. These variations may not be predictable nor depend on WeRoad’s will, i.e. climate conditions, national holidays, strikes, etc.







The travel coordinators
Our travel coordinators are chosen because they are people like you. Not only are they the best travel buddy you could hope for, but they're trained professionals guaranteed to show you a travel experience like never before
Info to know
Staff
Our trips are led by a Travel Coordinator who has been specifically trained by us to lead group travels to ensure you have the best time. A WhatsApp group with all travel participants will be created two weeks prior to departure by your Travel Coordinator.
Luggage
Backpacks are mandatory to allow easy transfers - we recommend a 45L backpack for our trips.
FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions
Round-trip flights are not included in any of our trips because we like to give you autonomy and flexibility: you can choose the airline you want to fly with, the departure airport that suits you best, and how many and which stops you want to make.
Since flights are not included, you also have more flexibility with your travel dates: if possible, you can arrive at your destination a few days earlier or return home a bit later – or even continue independently to a nearby destination!
This is the question of all questions, and here’s the answer, broken down into points!
The Money Pot is a common fund collected in local currency from all tour participants and managed by your Travel Coordinator.
It is used to streamline paymentsfor extra activities, goods and services that the whole group decides to do and to guarantee flexibility in choosing activities and excursions at the destination in line with the mood of the group.
It is typically collected on the first day of the trip in local currency, although at times, the Travel Coordinator may ask for it to be paid before departure.
You’ll find the amount of the money pot on the website under the section ‘What’s included in the money pot’ – how do you get there? Look for ‘What’s included’, scroll down to ‘Money pot? Click here’, and you’ll find the details.
The amount varies depending on the destination chosen.
It is used exclusively for group expenses that ALL participants decide to take part in.
It is estimated based on the experiences of other groups but can vary depending on the needs of the group itself. As such, the Travel Coordinator may need to increase the amount during the trip.
If not all of the money pot is used, the difference will be returned to all participants at the end of the trip in equal amounts.
The Money Pot also covers the Travel Coordinator’s share of the activities included in the money pot, except for those activities that are free for the Travel Coordinator.
If you pay in advance part of the money pot before the trip for certain non-refundable optional activities, unfortunately, the amount cannot be refunded in case of trip cancellation.
We offer several payment methods to meet all needs:
1. Credit or debit card from Visa, Mastercard, or American Express.
2. Installment payments for certain countries only
If you choose the deposit and balance option, you can pay the balance from your MyWeRoad Personal Area via bank transfer.
Anyone who books a WeRoad trip has the option to cancel or modify the trip – including both the dates and the destination – free of charge up to 31 days before departure. In case of cancellation, you will receive a 100% refund of the WeRoad trip price. If you make a change, a price adjustment will be applied to the new trip chosen – meaning, if the new trip is cheaper, we will refund the difference; if it’s more expensive, you will need to pay the difference.
If you’ve purchased the Flexible Cancellation Option (which you can add in the first step of the booking process), you can request a cancellation or trip change until 8 days before departure. In case of cancellation, you’ll receive a 100% refund of the WeRoad trip price, minus the cost of the Flexible Cancellation option.
How to request a cancellation or change to your trip? Send us an email at [email protected] or a WhatsApp on +447716573700. Please share the booking reference for the trip you want to cancel or change, and, in case of a change, the new trip you would like to join.
In general, we always choose local accommodations, avoiding large hotel chains, because we love to experience the culture of the place and, whenever possible, contribute to the local economy. Typically, our accommodations are hotels, apartments, guesthouses, and hostels run by local entrepreneurs, with the same standard maintained across all trips in the same destination.
For our Collection trips, which are our premium category, the accommodations are always 4 or 5-star or carefully selected boutique hotels.
The list of accommodations for your trip will be shared with you by your Travel Coordinator between 5 and 3 days before departure, along with other useful details for your adventure!
If you're wondering why WeRoad trips have a money pot, we’re assuming you already know what it is. If not, or if you have any doubts, we invite you to read all the information here!
Let’s quickly recap: The Money Pot is a common fund collected in local currency from all tour participants and managed by your Travel Coordinator. It’s used to speed up payments for extra activities, goods and services that the whole group decides to do and to guarantee flexibility in choosing activities and excursions at the destination in line with the mood of the group.
But let’s get to the point: why the money pot? First of all: it gives us a lot of flexibility. In all WeRoad trips you will have a bunch of Must See/Must Do activities already included - these are experiences, places or activities that simply cannot be missed! Any extra activities is decided by the group, why? Because each group is unique and may have particular wants or desires and the Money Pot allows each group to customise their trip to make it perfect for their requirements!
It also helps us speed up payments – imagine being in the subway in New York City, one by one purchasing the ticket...a nightmare right? Thanks to the Money Pot, the Travel Coordinator can simply purchase the tickets for everyone making the entire processes smoother! Any leftover money will be returned at the end of the trip and split equally amongst all participants.
In some destinations, buying goods or services on site is more economical as you are able to negotiate the price - places like Morocco, or South East Asia, bargaining is part of the culture. As such, our Travel Coordinators will be able to secure the best deal for all participants.
The amount of the money pot is specified in each trip – look for this button
which will take you to a detailed breakdown for each trip, like this:
WeRoad is not authorised to provide this information due to privacy reasons.
However, there is a solution - you can connect with your travel buddies by joining our Facebook group. Look for a post related to your trip, or ask the group admins for help in connecting with your future travel companions!
If a Travel Coordinator has already been assigned to the trip you're interested in, you can easily find their introduction post in the group via the website: in the tour list, click on 'Ask the coordinator', or in the trip details page, in the coordinator section, click on 'Ask [coordinator's name] for information on this trip in our Facebook group'. For both cases, see the screenshots below!
Tour List
Trip details page
In all our groups, the Travel Coordinator and participants speak English – knowing how to speak and understand English is therefore a fundamental requirement to participate in our trips.
On average the groups are made up of 6-15 people, with a minimum of 3/4 participants and a maximum of 15.
All our travellers are in theirs 20s, 30s and 40s. If you're very curios to know the age range of the group for a tour you're interested in, you can contact us by WhatsApp at +447716573700
Regarding the male-female ratio, this is not guaranteed and varies trip by trip.
The WeRoad Travel Coordinator is an experienced and skilled traveller and will be the perfect companion for your trip. They will be available for any eventuality and will manage all the logistical aspects of the itinerary (transports, timings, accommodations, meeting points, etc.), so you can enjoy the trip without any worries!
You will have the chance to get to know them when the WhatsApp group is created approximately 2 weeks before departure - this will be the moment to ask any pre-departure questions and get to know the rest of the group! If the trip you are interested in already has a Travel Coordinator assigned, you can contact them before booking – their details will be specified in the schedule or on the trip page, or you can search for their name here. After booking, you will find their contact details in your Personal Area, under ‘Bookings and Trips’ > ‘Your Upcoming Trips’ > ‘Trip Details’.
Yes, in all our trips you will share a room with other same-sex travellers, and the bathroom will either be private or shared only with fellow participants of the trip. The rooms we select can be doubles, triples, quadruples, or multi-bed (up to 8 people in exceptional cases), depending on the destination and availability.
There are never dorms with people outside the WeRoad group, except in certain cases for local experiences, which are specifically mentioned in the itinerary or communicated before booking. These typically involve specific nights in unique accommodations like tents, homestays, or camping, offering a more adventurous travel experience in exchange for some comfort.
During the booking process, you can also choose to opt for a mixed room: in this case, if needed, only those who have agreed to this option may share a room with travellers of a different sex. If you are booking for multiple people together and select this option, the room will not be exclusive to your group but may be shared with other travellers in the group.
When you set off on a WeRoad trip, you’re officially a WeRoader – and as we often say, 'Once a WeRoader, always a WeRoader'. This means that once you’re part of the community, a little piece of WeRoad will always stay with you, even if you no longer travel with us.
But you’re not just a WeRoader during your trips, far from it! The community is alive and active all year round: you can stay in touch by following and interacting on our social media channels, like the Facebook group or the Instagram profile. We can also meet up for a dinner or a trek together at one of the events organised by our coordinators around the world!