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The Happy Traveler US invites you to join ...

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September 23 to October 3, 2026, in

Beautiful

Albania and Greece!  

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  Day to Day Itinerary

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If flying from the USA, please fly:   

  • On or before September 22, to Tirana, Albania, Airport- Mother Teresa (TIA)   

  • October 3 from Corfu Ioannis Kapodistrias International Airport (CFU) 

  • or Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos” (ATH)   

  

Day 1: September 23 – Arrive at Tirana Plaza Hotel, Tirana (2 nights) https://www.plazatirana.com/    

Meals included today: Welcome Dinner  

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Arrive in Tirana, where you will be met by our beloved Tour Manager, Dimitrije Wentner and transferred to our hotel in downtown Tirana, approximately a 30-minute drive, where you will check in and relax until we meet in the lobby of our hotel, where we will go together for a group dinner.  

4:30 Meet in the lobby of our hotel for a walking orientation tour of Tirana.  

6:30  Group Welcome Dinner.

 

 

Day 2: September 24– Tirana & Kruja- Tirana Plaza Hotel    

Meals included today: breakfast and dinner 

  

10:00-12:00  Meet in the lobby of our hotel for a guided tour.  

Today, we explore both the famous and lesser-known corners of Tirana. We will share the soul of the city and its people, who historically have welcomed guests and created a vibrant, inclusive lifestyle. Highlights include:   

  • Skanderbeg Square

  • The Martyrs of the Nation Boulevard

  • The Block

1:30 We will drive for approximately 1 hour to…  

 

The mountain city of Kruja, a charming and important site in Albanian medieval history.  Together with our guide, we will visit:   

  • The Kruja Castle

  • The Scanderbeg Museum

  • A local ancient  artisan bazaar, where we will have free time

 

5:00 We will drive back to Tirana, where a group dinner will be served while we are entertained by folk dancers, singers in traditional costumes — a wonderful introduction to Albanian art and culture. Local wines will be featured as part of this authentic experience.     

 

Day 3: September 25– Tirana via Belshi Lakes Berat      Hotel Beratinus (3 nights)  https://www.bookalbaniahotels.com/en/hotel/beratinus1.html   

Meals included today: breakfast, lunch, and dinner   

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10:00 After checking out of our hotel, we will be driven approximately 2 hours…  

Through the beautiful mountains to Elbasan and the Lakes of the Belshi region home to 84 small natural lakes.  Along the way, we will stop for coffee at a small family farm. This area is where the dramatic story of a dozen young American nurses unfolds, their plane crashed here in October 1943 while Albania was under Nazi occupation. For more information, put this address into your browser

https://www.airforcemedicine.af.mil/News/Display/Article/582964/odyssey-to-freedom-remembering-a-daring-escape-from-behind-enemy-lines/    

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Then we are off to the ancient UNESCO city of Berat, where we will: 

  • See a 2,400-year-old castle

  • Visit the Onufri Museum

  • Enjoy a family-prepared lunch accompanied by local Berat wines

  • After lunch, we will wander through the two historic neighborhoods that give Berat its nickname, “The City of 1001 Windows.”

  • Later, we will have a Group Dinner at Taraca restaurant with a lovely view.  

 

Day 4: September 26, Berat – Pupa Winery– Berat    

Meals included today: breakfast and lunch  

   

10:00 Today, we will travel for approximately 30 minutes to the countryside to a family run winery and farm called Pupa Winery, located on a hill with views of Tomorr Mountain.  

  

Pupa Winery specializes in producing wines from local grapes such as Puls and Debina.  Once here, we will…  

  • Visit the vineyard, learn about wine, and the wine-making process

  •  Have a wine tasting at the winery

  • Enjoy lunch in the winery with local products

  • After lunch, we will drive back to Berat.  

 

Day 5: September 27, Berat – Vlora and Ancient Tragjas    

Meals included today: breakfast, lunch, and dinner   

  

10:00 Today, we drive for approximately 2 hours to the coastal town of Vlora.  

On our guided tour today, we will visit:  

  • The old neighborhoods of Vlora

  • Flag Square

  • The Road of the Hebrew

  • The Kuzum Baba Shrine, which is an important Sufi site emphasizing spirituality and coexistence here we will enjoy great views

Next, we will have lunch in a local fish restaurant in Vlora.  

 

Once here, we will take local transport…

  • Up to shepherd huts in the mountains, where we will meet local shepherds, Sofo and Dhurata

  • Enjoy a glass of raki (an alcoholic beverage made of twice-distilled grapes flavored with aniseed) while sitting near their summer hut, watching goats in the pasture, listening to Sofo explain the daily life of a shepherd. This is a magical moment, connecting you to traditions that have barely changed for centuries

  • We will enjoy a group dinner that features a traditional shepherd’s meal. Sofo will play his fyell and teach us about polyphonic singing (singing involves multiple independent melodies sung simultaneously)

  • Guests can even try their own polyphony chorus while sipping raki! This evening is a deep dive into history, lifestyle, authenticity, and culture.

 

Day 6: September 28– Sazan Island & Vlora Bay    

Meals included today: breakfast and lunch    

  

10:00 We leave for Sazan Island, taken there by two speedboats. Historically a military base controlling the Bay of Otranto, an important historical link between Italy and the Balkans.  

Here we will:  

 

  • Explore the island and hike to the old abandoned city, once home to families during the communist era

  • The island is now under NATO use and has recently attracted international attention for its beauty

  • Then we will continue our boat ride to the cave of pirate Haxhi Ali and learn about the legends surrounding him

  • For lunch today we will visit a nearby beach for a cozy picnic right on the shores of the turquoise Bay of Vlora

  • On our drive back to our hotel in the late afternoon, we will enjoy the views of the bay and the surrounding mountains.     

The rest of the afternoon and evening are free.  

               

Day 7: September 29, Vlora – Along the Albanian Coast – to Gjirokastra  Cumaku Hotel (2 nights) https://cumaku.al/   

Meals included today: breakfast and lunch  

  

10:00 Today, we take a scenic drive along the Albanian Riviera to the Bay of Porto Palermo.  

Together with our guide, we will visit:  

  • The beautiful and romantic Castle of Vasiliqia, made famous in Alexander Dumas’ The Count of Monte Cristo and poet George Gordon Byron’s Child Harold’s Pilgrimage

  • In the afternoon, we will stop in Qeparo for lunch at a local restaurant.

 

Then we continue to Gjirokastra, where we will:

  • Stop at the world-famous, beautiful Blue Eye Spring

  • Explore an ancient bazaar, and enjoy a coffee break

  • Visit the Skenduli family house, a labyrinthine home that brings Ismail Kadare’s Chronicle in Stone to life.  

In the late afternoon, we will be back at our hotel. The rest of our time is free.  

   

               

Day 8: September 30– Gjirokastra - Butrint & Ksamil – Gjirokastra Hotel Argjiro Gjirokastra  https://argjiro.albaniahotels.org/        

Meals included today: breakfast and lunch  

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10:00 Today we drive to Butrint, the third UNESCO site of our trip.   

Here with our guide, we will:  

  • Explore the ancient ruins, learn about the region’s history from prehistoric times, and enjoy the lush, forested surroundings — a unique combination of luxury and antiquity.   Group

  • Lunch will feature the area’s famous mussels (alternative options available).   In the afternoon, relax and explore the shores of Ksamil.  

Once back at our hotel in Gjirokastra, our evening is free.  

   

               

Day 9: October 1– Transfer to Corfu Hotel Corfu Holiday Palace (2 nights) https://corfuholidaypalace.gr/     

Meals included today: breakfast and a late lunch or dinner  

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Time TBD In the morning, we will check out of our hotel and Albania!  

 

Today we travel by public ferry to ride for approximately 1 ½ hours to arrive in Corfu Greece!  

After checking into our hotel, we will:  

  • Have a guided tour of Corfu Town

  • Then, free time to explore the little shops and the town’s beauty. Corfu Town is known for unique and picturesque streets resembling those of Venice, as the island was under Venetian rule for a very long time

  • We will enjoy a casual group late lunch or dinner (depending on ferry arrival time).   

 Our evening is free.

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Day 10: October 2– Olive Oil Tasting   

Meals included today: breakfast, lunch, and dinner  

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10:00 We will drive approximately 50 minutes to visit one of Corfu’s most prominent olive oil producers.   

  • We will have the chance to learn everything about olive oil and especially Corfiot olive oil, which is known for its medicinal properties

  • Then we will enjoy a wonderful lunch at the vineyard.  

Once back at our hotel, we will spend the rest of our day at leisure and to pack.   We will meet for our Farewell Dinner.      

               

 

Day 11: October 3-

Meals included today: breakfast  

  

After breakfast, and hotel check-out, we will be transferred to the airport Corfu Ioannis Kapodistrias International Airport (CFU) to fly to Athens for international flights or for the Greece optional extension. The drive is approximately 15 minutes from our hotel to the airport.   

  • Flight from Corfu to Athens included (Provisional booking A3 285 ETD). Time of departure will be confirmed on a later date.

  • Once in Athens will continue our optional Greek extension tour, or you ay proceed to your international flights.    Please note that if you are NOT joining us on the additional days in Greece, your airline may require that you book your return flight from Corfu. 

The optional extension to Greece will be emailed to you.   

             

This program includes:   

  • The daily services of our Tour Manager, Dimitrije Wentner, throughout  the entire program

  • All accommodations in 4-to-5-star hotels, noted above or similar

  • Local Tour Guides in each destination as noted

  • All tolls, taxes, and fees imposed by the Albanian Government

  • Flight from Corfu to Athens

  • All breakfasts (7), Lunches  (6), Dinners

  • All ground transportation via private bus, with a private driver, private boat(s) to Sazen a public ferry to Corfu

  • All entrances to museums, historical houses, and events

  • Transfers from the airport in Tirana, Albania (TIA), and from our hotel in Corfu to the Airport (CFU)

  • Porterage in each hotel (1) piece of luggage per person, you may also have a small backpack or piece of baggage on the bus with you

  • All gratuities

  • The company of delightful Happy Traveler US companions!

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Not included in this program:

  • Air tickets (except for Corfu to Athens)

  • Travel insurance (highly recommended, suggestions will be made)

  • Transfers to and from the airports in your home country

  • Souvenirs, laundry, and other personal expenditures

  • Anything not listed in “This program includes”.    

 

The cost of our wonderful program, based on 20 participants in double occupancy, is:

 $5,625   

For those who prefer a single room, there is a supplement fee of $950 

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Payment Schedule: 

A deposit will save your place on this trip, now due: $2,500  

The balance of $3,125 is due May 1, 2026  

Single supplement of $950 is due June 1, 2026  

 

Cancellation Policy:   

March 1, 2026, to April 1, 2026, a full refund is available  

April 2, 2026, to May 2, 2026, $1,500 is refundable, *less any unrecoverable costs

May 3, 2026, to June 3, 2026, $2,800 is refundable, *less any unrecoverable costs  

June 4, 2026, to July 1, 2026, $2,200 is refundable, *less any unrecoverable costs  

July 2, 2026, to July 14, 2026, $1,500 is refundable, *less any unrecoverable costs 

After July 15, 2026, no refund is available  

*Unrecoverable costs are fees that have been paid, such as nonrefundable hotel deposists, tickets, entrances, and the like that have been paid on your behalf and cannot be recovered from vendors.                   

 

Please contact Rosemary Swade for any questions and registration information:

TheHappyTravelerUS@gmail.com  

While it is unlikely, hotels listed in the itinerary and the itinerary itself may change for the highest good of all concerned. 

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