albanian tourism?
Isolated from the world behind the Iron Curtain throughout most of the 20th century, Albania has since developed into the fastest growing economy amongst the Balkan nations. An Eastern European feel with a Mediterranean twist, this coastal country bordering Greece is a gem of cultural immersion.
CRAFT + CULTURE
Albania
Journey With Us!
11-18 April 2025
*3 Spots Left!*
Join us on an experiential 7 night, 8 day journey in Albania as we go from urban cities to rural villages exploring craft and culture. Along our immersive trip expect lakeside lunches with breathtaking views, getting hands-on with master artisans and learning a culture and history that’s been shrouded in obscurity.
A relic from a totalitarian and communist state, Albania ended its 45-years of isolation in 1991 when it began its steps to becoming the democracy it is today. Yet, heritage craft, from textiles to ceramics, is still woven into the fabric of society without straying from its roots whilst remaining largely undiscovered by the outside world. Burgeoning alongside is an exceptional culinary scene owing much of its delectable taste from the plethora of organic farms as the country continues to retain its strong agrarian roots.
Our trip begins with two nights in the capital city of Tirana. The modern cityscape is reminiscent of its western counterparts with towering skyscrapers and colourful street art adorning the concrete jungle whilst underlaid by coffee culture and Balkan vibes. Home to approximately a half million people, we’ll roam the streets seeing the sights and take in the cutting-edge contemporary design. The night life is another experience unto itself.
We’ll then leave behind the hustle and bustle of urban life transporting ourselves to the slower rural pace. Our road trip starts by snaking up a mountain to visit rug weavers in the small ancient city of Krujë, home to the Illyrian tribe that was the genesis of Albania.
Afterwards we’ll stay a night at a boutique hotel situated on an organic farm complete with its own art gallery and an intimate wine tasting venue in its cavernous cellar. The farm has been a trailblazing hub in the region incubating growth and development for the entire area, including other farms, as well as being a beacon for agro-tourism. It’s an exceptional, inspiring personal story of hardship and resilience. We’ll also meet and get hands on with a local master ceramics artist at his family owned studio.
Next, we’ll venture further north towards the municipality of Shkodër where we’ll have lunch on the lake bordering Montenegro. Here we’ll observe the traditional societal roles where women weave, men fish and together as a community built the area’s infrastructure when resources from the state were scant.
The following day we’ll have an enchanting excursion by boat sailing across the crystal blue water in a tributary of the Drin River, which is the longest river in the country stretching 177 miles passing through neighbouring Kosovo and North Macedonia. The tranquil and secluded ride is filled with panoramic views of canyon walls and rocky snow-capped mountain tops.
Continuing our adventure, we’ll traverse the winding roads over the Mat Mountains for a unique stay in a contemporarily restored 18th century fortified house. With nearly a week’s worth of immersion accumulated, we’ll delight in a cooking class, cheffing up our own take on traditional Albanian dishes.
Our final night of the trip will be back in Tirana. Seeing the country through newfound eyes, experiencing the immense warmth and hospitality, we’ll have a newfound appreciation for the hardships earlier generations persevered through to bring us here today.
Farm to Table
Agriculture is a significant industry in Albania, which produces some of the best organic foods using sustainable farming techniques.
Heritage Craft
We’ll learn and get hands-on with the best artisans working across textiles, ceramics and more!
Experiential Itinerary
HANDS—ON CRAFT
Crafting traditions are a window to the culture and soul of a country. On our journey you’ll be introduced to many local artisans who produce a variety of goods from textiles and rugs to pottery and design. You’ll be able to get hands-on and have a go yourself, whilst intimately connecting to the cultural experience passed from generations.
BOUTIQUE STAYS
From contemporary boutique hotels to an 18th century fortified house, we’ll be staying at a variety of unique accommodations whilst journeying through the country. Each stay is design-led with its intrinsic beauty that is equipped with comfortable beds, refreshing showers and plenty of space for scenic views and private reflection.
SENSORY EXPERIENCES
Albania is an incredibly mesmerising place. With a unique fusion of Balkan, European and Mediterranean influences, the country welcomes you with a glorious array of vibrant colours and organic food to feast upon. From weaving near the lake to cooking classes by a forest, you'll be out there exploring and satisfying all curiosity and senses.
LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS
Get to know the creatives shaking things up, whether it’s a local textile designer or mixed enterprise designer fusing European and Albanian influences. We’ll connect you with the leading inspirations of global culture and authenticity that are sowing seeds and building relationships for a much brighter future.
HIDDEN GEMS
As part of our team is local to Albania (having experienced life before and after the revolution), we have an intimate knowledge of the country, which has filled our colourful black book with the best local gems. We’ll share the joy and excitement these deeply enriching places bring us; expect roadside basket stands, covetable vintage spots and weaving co-ops packed to the brim with inspiration.
sceneic Boating
Along our journey we'll have an adventure filled day driving through winding mountain roads to get to a tributary of the Drin River. We'll then embark on an enchanting boat ride sailing across clear blue waters with panoramic views of stunning natural landscapes. Once we arrive at our destination, we’ll have an incredible farm to table feast, and learn more of the history that shaped this sacred land.
Details
Dates
11-18 April 2025
7 nights, 8 days
Pricing
£2,650
(Currency: Great British Pound Sterling)
Group Size
12-14 Travellers +
majestic disorder travels
Founder + CEO
Frequently Asked Questions
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Our trips are for travellers curiously and creatively inquisitive with an adventurous spirit who are active and ready to step outside their comfort zone.
To maximise your time in Albania, our itineraries involve moving both inside cities and between cities in the country. Major urban cities are not completely representative of a country. So our trips involve immersing you both in urban areas as well as very rural communities.
Each of our trip itineraries are designed for an intimate exploration of culture, craft and culinary delights. The experiences we’ve curated are hands-on and immersive.
There is free time built into the schedule, but expect each day to be filled with wonderous journeying from breakfast through dinner. So if you love trying new things and are excited by learning different ways of life, this trip is for you.
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On all of our trips there will be lots of walking, standing and moving sometimes in warm temperatures on uneven roads, rural terrain and fast-paced urban centres. At any given time, you could be negotiating a roadway with cars, trucks, motorbikes, crowds of people, goats and cattle (or all of the above simultaneously).
Travellers should be willing and able to walk approximately 4 miles in a day as well as being able to walk up and down narrow staircases (sometimes without the aid of a handrail). Elevators and escalators are not always present in the places we visit or stay at.
If you have any questions, concerns, mobility issues or recently had surgery, please contact us at hello@majesticdisordertravels.com prior to booking.
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Our travellers come from all walks of life from all over the globe. Despite this diverse background, you will find the group you are travelling with is very much a like-minded community with many shared interests, passions and careers. If you’re a solo traveller who does not want to travel solo, you will find a very interesting group of people to travel with on our trips.
At each of our accommodations, rooms can be configured to two beds or one bed. Solo travellers will be paired with another solo traveller of the same gender. The option of booking a private single room where you are the only one staying in the room throughout the trip is available with a supplementary cost, whilst supplies last.
Whether you’re travelling with friends, family, your partner or solo — the group starts off as strangers and by the end of the trip becomes like a family. We’ve had travellers who established business connections after meeting on a trip, others who became such good friends they began living together afterwards and many have gone on to travel together again both elsewhere and back on another trip with majestic disorder travels.
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The accommodations we stay at throughout the trip are boutique, which is representative of the travel experience we offer. We prioritise location, character, charm, customer service and being locally-owned.
Our trips are about authenticity, so the places we stay at should embody that experience. Our trips are not high-end luxury, but they are not budget either. Boutique is a sweet spot that encompasses design, individuality and affordability.
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You should arrive in Tirana, Albania at the Tirana airport (airport code TIA) on the day our trip begins. Schedule your flight to arrive in the morning or early afternoon. Our trip begins at approximately 18:30 with a welcome drink at our hotel and then we walk to dinner.
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You can most certainly extend your trip by arriving before our trip begins or staying in Albania longer after our trip ends.
Whether your extension is for 1-night or week(s), for an additional fee, we can plan this extension for you, which will be customised to your needs.
Any extension planning request should be submitted to us at the earliest convenience, ideally 60 days before the start of your trip, as accommodations book up fast and our small team are very busy especially during peak season.
Travel FAQs
If you have a question that we did not answer on this page, we may have answered it on our frequently asked questions at the link below, or send us an email.
Journey With Us!
New friends, unforgettable experiences
Fine Print
DETAILED ITINERARY: We will provide a daily itinerary detailing all activities, accommodations and schedule of the journey one month ahead of the trip after you have completed full purchase of the trip.
ARRIVING: Book your airfare to Tirana Airport (airport code: “TIA”) arriving on Friday, 11th April 2025. We recommend arriving morning to mid-day, if possible. Once you land in Tirana, we’ll have a driver pick you up and take you to our hotel.
LEAVING: Book your airfare from Tirana Airport (TIA) departing on Friday, 18th April 2025, and we’ll take you to the airport.
EXTENSIONS: If you wish to arrive earlier or stay later, we can assist developing and facilitating your itinerary for an additional fee.
WHAT IS INCLUDED:
Accommodation for the duration of the journey: 7 nights, 8 days from 11-18 April 2025
Airport transportation from and to Tirana airport (RAK) on the 11th and 18th
Three meals per day for most of the trip
All in-country transportation for all activities in the itinerary
Curated activities and their accompanying participation expenses as noted in the itinerary
Guide and service: our team will be accompanying the group during the entire trip, offering in-depth knowledge and available to accommodate any need
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED:
Airfare in and out of Albania; although we are happy to assist you with finding flight options, we do not facilitate flight bookings
We do not offer airport pickup from any airport other than Tirana (TIA)
Passport and/or Visa entry fees if applicable
Covid-19 tests and/or quarantine fees, if applicable
We will provide dinner on the first night, but if you arrive earlier you must cover meal expenses; we will cover breakfast on the last day, but if you depart later you must cover meal expenses
There will be two nights scheduled in the itinerary with a free evening for you to dine on your own
Travel insurance
Alcohol, but various places throughout our itinerary will have it available
Incidental expenses, such as but not limited to, flight cancellation, lost luggage, property damage, personal injury, etc..
INSURANCE: This is compulsory where travellers should have an appropriate package covering unforeseen incidentals, such as but not limited to, flight cancellation, lost luggage, damaged property, personal injury, etc…
ACCOMMODATIONS: During our trip we will be staying in design-led accommodations that focus on sustainability. All of our stays include rooms with two beds for two people or one bed for two people who book together, requesting this option. During the trip, you will be paired with a fellow traveller of the same gender whom you’ll share a room throughout our journey. At booking please let us know if you are booking with someone else and wish to be staying with that person. There will be an additional charge for a private single room, if available, so please email us before booking.
SPECIAL NEEDS: Please let us know prior to booking if you have any special need such as dietary requirements, allergies, limited mobility, visual and/or hearing impairments, etc… We will do our best to accommodate any and all special needs notified prior to booking, but it is possible in order to suffice special needs, additional costs will be excised.
PRICING: The total price for this trip is £2,650 (currency: Great British Pound Sterling). For those booking a single room, the total price is £3,950.
PAYMENTS: A 40% initial non-refundable deposit (£1,060) per person is required to reserve a spot and is included in the total price. Final payment of the trip balance (£1,590) is due no later than 45 days prior to the trip starting date. Any booking made after 25 February 2025, the entire trip cost of £2,650 is due upon booking.
PAYMENTS SINGLE ROOM: For those booking a single room, the total is £3,950. A 40% initial non-refundable deposit (£1,580) is required to reserve a spot and is included in the total price. Final payment of the trip balance (£2,370) is due no later than 60 days prior to the trip starting date. Any booking made after 10 February 2025, the entire single room trip cost of £3,950 is due upon booking.
BOOKING TERMS AND CONDITIONS: Please read our Booking Terms and Conditions for the details of our service transaction, which you agree to when booking a trip.