8 Days Albania Highlights Self-Launched: North & South

Start early from Tirana (aim to leave by 08:30). Take a shared taxi or furgon from Tirana's Kombinat terminal toward Kruja (~45 min, £1.50). Stop at Bovilla Lake en route for a scenic viewpoint — you can ask a local driver to make a brief detour or hire a cheap taxi for the morning. In Kruja, buy your own ticket to the Skanderbeg Museum inside Kruja Castle (~£2) and browse the atmospheric Old Bazaar for handmade crafts. In the afternoon, catch a furgon north to Shkodër (~2 hrs, £3). Check into a guesthouse in the city centre. Evening stroll along the pedestrianised Rruga Kolë Idromeno.

🚌Furgon Tirana → Kruja (~£1.50); furgon Kruja → Shkodër (~£3). Total transport ~£5.

🛏Wanderers Hostel Shkodër or Bb Pension Rozafa (budget guesthouse, ~£15–20/night)

• →Self-guided stop at Bovilla Lake viewpoint
• →Entrance to Skanderbeg Museum at Kruja Castle — buy ticket on the door (~£2)
• →Browse the Old Bazaar of Kruja
• →Furgon from Tirana Kombinat terminal to Kruja (~£1.50)
• →Furgon from Kruja to Shkodër (~£3)

Take the daily morning furgon from Shkodër's main square to Theth (departs ~07:00–08:00, ~2.5 hrs, £5 each way). Theth is a spectacular Albanian Alps village surrounded by hiking trails. Popular self-guided walks include the trail to the Grunas Waterfall (1 hr return), the Blue Eye of Theth (different from the southern Blue Eye, 1 hr return), and the Lock-In Tower historic site — all free or very low cost. Return furgon to Shkodër departs Theth in the afternoon (~15:00). Alternatively, book a day-trip via GetYourGuide if you prefer a driver.

🚌Return furgon Shkodër ↔ Theth ~£10 total.

🛏Wanderers Hostel Shkodër or Bb Pension Rozafa (~£15–20/night)

• →Morning furgon Shkodër → Theth (~£5)
• →Self-guided hike to Grunas Waterfall (free)
• →Visit the Lock-In Tower (Kulla) — free
• →Explore Blue Eye of Theth (free)
• →Return furgon Theth → Shkodër (~£5)

Before leaving Shkodër, visit Rozafa Castle independently — entry ~£2, and the views over Lake Shkodër are spectacular. Walk or take a cheap taxi to the castle. Pop into the village of Shirokë on the lake shore for a short stroll. Then head south: take a furgon or bus toward Lezhë (~1 hr, £2), then another toward Fushë-Krujë and on to the famous Mrizi i Zanave agrotourism restaurant near Fishtë for a traditional farm lunch (~£10–15pp, book ahead at mrizizanave.com). Afterwards, continue south by bus/furgon to Berat (~3–4 hrs total from Shkodër, ~£6). Check into a guesthouse in Berat's UNESCO old town (Mangalem quarter).

🚌Furgon/bus Shkodër → Berat via Lezhë ~£6.

🛏Hotel Mangalemi or Guesthouse Berati Old Town (£18–25/night)

• →Entrance to Rozafa Castle, Shkodër (~£2)
• →Short visit to Shirokë lakeside village (free)
• →Lunch at Mrizi i Zanave Agrotourism — book directly at mrizizanave.com (~£10–15)
• →Furgon/bus chain: Shkodër → Lezhë → Berat (~£6 total)

Spend the morning exploring Berat's remarkable 'City of a Thousand Windows' on foot — the Mangalem and Gorica quarters are free to wander. Climb up to Berat Castle (entry ~£1.50) for panoramic views. After lunch, take a bus or furgon south to Gjirokastër (~3 hrs, £5). On arrival, buy your entry ticket to the impressive Gjirokastër Castle (~£3) and visit the eerie Cold War-era military museum and the panoramic views it commands. Also purchase a separate ticket to the Zekate House (~£1.50), one of Albania's finest Ottoman mansions. Stroll the Old Bazaar in the evening.

🚌Furgon/bus Berat → Gjirokastër ~£5.

🛏Hotel Argjiro or Guesthouse Kotoni, Gjirokastër (£18–25/night)

• →Self-guided walking tour of Berat's Mangalem & Gorica quarters (free)
• →Entrance to Berat Castle (~£1.50)
• →Furgon/bus Berat → Gjirokastër (~£5, ~3 hrs)
• →Entrance to Gjirokastër Castle & military museum (~£3)
• →Entrance to Zekate House (~£1.50)
• →Evening stroll through Gjirokastër Old Bazaar (free)

Take a morning furgon or shared taxi toward Saranda (~2 hrs, £4). Ask to be dropped at the Blue Eye (Syri i Kaltër) turnoff — entry ~£2. The vivid turquoise spring is a 10-minute walk from the car park. Continue to Saranda by shared taxi or bus (~30 min from Blue Eye, ~£2). Once in Saranda, take a local taxi or walk up to Lekursi Castle for sunset views over the bay and Corfu (~£1.50 entry, or free access to the castle walls). Saranda is a lively seaside town — check in to a hostel or budget hotel and explore the waterfront promenade.

🚌Furgon + shared taxi Gjirokastër → Saranda via Blue Eye ~£5.

🛏Hotel Nertili, Saranda or City Hostel Saranda (£18–25/night)

• →Furgon Gjirokastër → Blue Eye drop-off (~£3)
• →Entrance to Blue Eye (Syri i Kaltër) (~£2)
• →Shared taxi/bus Blue Eye → Saranda (~£2)
• →Entrance to Lekursi Castle (~£1.50)
• →Evening walk along Saranda promenade (free)

Take a local bus or shared taxi from Saranda south to Butrint (~30 min, £2 each way). Entry to Butrint Archaeological Park — a UNESCO World Heritage site with Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Venetian ruins — costs ~£6. Allow 2–3 hours to explore. Afterwards, hop off at Ksamil village (the bus passes through) for a lazy afternoon on the beach — the turquoise water and small islands make this one of Albania's most beautiful spots. Entrance to the main beaches is free; sunbeds cost ~£3. Return to Saranda by bus or shared taxi in the early evening.

🚌Bus/shared taxi Saranda ↔ Butrint + Ksamil ~£7 total.

🛏Hotel Nertili, Saranda or City Hostel Saranda (£18–25/night)

• →Bus/shared taxi Saranda → Butrint (~£2 each way)
• →Entrance to Butrint Archaeological Park (~£6) — book via GetYourGuide or pay on the door
• →Bus to Ksamil beach (£1)
• →Free swimming and beach time at Ksamil (sunbeds optional, ~£3)
• →Return bus/taxi Ksamil → Saranda (~£2)

Head north along the stunning Albanian Riviera by local bus or furgon — this is one of Europe's most scenic coastal roads. Stop in Himara for a coffee and a swim at Livadhi beach (~1 hr from Saranda, £2). Continue to Dhërmiu (~30 min, £1.50) for dramatic clifftop views and another beautiful beach. The furgon to Vlorë takes around 2–3 hrs from Dhërmiu (£3). Settle into Vlorë, a relaxed port city with a lively seafront. Visit the Independence Museum (free) and the Muradie Mosque if open.

🚌Furgon chain Saranda → Himara → Dhërmiu → Vlorë ~£7 total.

🛏Hotel Bologna or Guesthouse Vlora Centre (£18–25/night)

• →Furgon Saranda → Himara (~£2, ~1 hr)
• →Swimming at Livadhi beach, Himara (free)
• →Furgon Himara → Dhërmiu (~£1.50)
• →Viewpoint stop at Dhërmiu cliffs (free)
• →Furgon Dhërmiu → Vlorë (~£3, ~2 hrs)
• →Evening walk along Vlorë waterfront (free)

Take an early bus or furgon north from Vlorë toward Fier and then Divjakë (~1.5 hrs, £3). From Divjakë, enter Divjakë-Karavasta National Park and arrange a short boat trip through the lagoon channels — home to one of Europe's largest colonies of Dalmatian pelicans (~£5–8 per person, book locally at the park entrance). After the lagoon, continue north by bus or furgon to Tirana (~2 hrs, £4). Arrive in Tirana by early afternoon — time for a walking tour of Skanderbeg Square, Blloku neighbourhood and the Et'hem Bey Mosque (all free). The city has excellent cheap restaurants for a celebratory last dinner.

🚌Furgon/bus Vlorë → Divjakë → Tirana ~£7 total.

🛏N/A — end of trip (airport or onward travel)

• →Furgon Vlorë → Divjakë (~£3)
• →Entrance to Divjakë-Karavasta National Park + boat trip through lagoon channels (~£6)
• →Bus/furgon Divjakë → Tirana (~£4)
• →Self-guided walking tour of Tirana: Skanderbeg Square, Blloku, Et'hem Bey Mosque (free)
• →Farewell dinner at a local Tirana restaurant (~£8–12)