Albania - Sunvil

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Albania
Albania
Albania is now opening up to tourism and a visit here offers a
fascinating insight into a country that was closed to the world
for much of the twentieth century.
Albania is a beautiful and historic land
with a most welcoming people. She has
one of the oldest flags and tongues in
Europe, and preserves traditions and
culture unadulterated by the outside
world for centuries. Her long coastline is
washed by the Ionian and Adriatic sea
and hides some wonderful beaches. The
mountain scenery is stunning; not for
nothing do the Albanians know their land
as Shqiperia - Land of the Eagles. Here
was ancient Illyria; and here too that great
Roman road, the Via Egnatia, began its
long march east to Constantinople.
Some scars of the past remain - notably
the many infamous concrete bunkers but these are insignificant compared to
Albania's many treasures and natural
beauty. Our cultural tour will show you
much of what the south has to offer.
Built on top of a Roman port (which
surfaces here and there) Saranda is today
a large modern town of some 33,000
inhabitants. It is, truth be told, not the
prettiest - recent unregulated
development has resulted in a plethora of
high rise buildings, many unfinished. But
before writing Saranda off do take into
consideration the many plus points to a
stay here.
Look outwards, not inwards. Saranda is set
in a beautiful horse-shoe bay, fringed with
pebble beaches and has lovely views to
northern Corfu. The town has an
attractive palm-lined promenade and
there are many restaurants, cafes and
shops, all of which give a warm welcome.
On a hill above the town 16th century
Lekursi Castle is worth a visit for the views
alone, and you can dine there.
Saranda is a very good base for
exploration and has two UNESCO World
Heritage sites within striking distance.
Ancient Butrint is just a 20 minute to the
south and should be seen. The
atmospheric and historic small town of
Gjirokastra is an hour's drive to the north
east, and en route you can pass by the
unusual Blue Eye spring.
For some fine beaches not too far from
town, go to Ksamili near Butrint. It is a 1520 minute drive and there are regular
buses. It is a popular spot for locals, has a
number of pretty small bays and beaches,
and several islets just off-shore which you
can be taken to by boat (or even swim,
some are so close). Good fresh fish
restaurants too.
The Albanian Riviera to the north enables
a stunningly scenic drive high above the
sea, passing close to a number of
traditional villages. The road has been
improved and it now takes only an hour
to the small beach resort of Himara,
where you can have lunch and a swim.
This is one of the last significant stretches
of undeveloped coastline in the Med.
Albania is still rough around the edges so
do not expect the sophistication and
service you are used to receiving in
countries that have been hosting north
Europeans for years. Although on a fast
learning curve, Albania is still one of the
poorest countries in Europe, so you will
need to go with an open mind.
That said, we believe a week here
followed by a week at one of our Greece
resorts makes for an intriguing and
contrasting holiday experience.
ALBANIA INFORMATION
Getting to Albania
Sunday flight Gatwick or Manchester to Preveza
(Birmingham flights on request). Then 2½-3 hours
by taxi (please note, on arrival will be one taxi
from the airport to the Greek/Albanian border
and another taxi from the border to Saranda. The
return will be one taxi all the way Saranda to
airport (or Greek resort if twin centre). An entry
visa is not required for UK passport holders. For
flight details see page 253.
Multi Centre Options
Albania can combine with Lefkas, Meganissi,
Parga, Sivota, Hidden Greece Fly Drive, Sailing.
Transfer times Saranda to Parga or Sivota c 2 hrs.
Lefkas and Meganissi transfers will be via the
airport. For multi-centre information see page 8.
Car Hire
Please enquire for prices.
Representative
We have a local agent in Saranda who can give
any information and assistance required.
General
Albania is 1 hour ahead of the UK, so 1 hour
behind Greece. Main towns have ATMs and the
local currency is the Lek, but there are restrictions
on taking Lek out of the country and may be
difficult for exchange so we'd recommend taking
the bulk of your spending money in the form of
low denomination Euros, which are widely
accepted, and try not to be left with wads of Lek
on the last day. Prices are generally lower than in
Greece (we estimate by c 20%).
Recommended Reading
Albania by Gillian Gloyer in the Bradt Travel;
Guide series.
Blue Eye Spring, near Saranda
020 8758 4758 www.sunvil.co.uk
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Albania
Brilant Hotel Saranda
Centrally located in Saranda, set a
little back from the seafront
road/promenade and an organised
pebble beach, the Brilant is a
modern, comfortable town hotel
with good views from its upper
floors.
It has 34 rooms on its 6 floors,
served by a rather fancy lift. Rooms
are rather nicely done, with wooden
floors and warm decor. All possess
double or twin beds, AC (central),
TV, Wifi, fridge, nice modern
bathroom with walk-in shower,
hairdryer and balcony, and most are
Beach below Brilant Hotel
spacious enough for a sofa-bed. The
Superior sea view rooms are on the
top floor and we think worth paying
the extra for their panoramic views
over Saranda and the bay to Corfu.
It is a minute's easy walk to the
seafront road and the beach just the
other side, and there are plenty of
restaurants, cafes and shops nearby.
Being so central there is a risk of
some noise from a high season
nightclub during July and August
when Saranda is busy with the
domestic holiday market.
The Hotel:
3 Stars Plus
Bed & Breakfast
Air Conditioning
Free Wifi
Guideline price £ per person
Price based on 2-sharing a Standard
room for 7 nights including flights
from Gatwick and transfers. Prices for
regional flights, single rooms and
larger parties on request.
Low Season Jul/Aug
Brilant Hotel
£733
£871
Please contact us for a firm costing.
Saranda
Sea Side Hotel Saranda
The Seaside is a little out of the
centre - a 25 minute walk or a short
bus ride - but this may be no bad
thing as the area, although still in
town with restaurants nearby, is
quieter and the beaches less
populated.
You are not actually on the sea here
- in typical Albanian fashion there
are new buildings between the
hotel and the sea now - but it is on
the sea side of the main road (which
is perhaps what they mean!). And
you do get super sea views from the
upper floors and, especially, the roof
terrace.
The hotel has some style and is
personally run and friendly. It has 29
rooms, a mix of twins and doubles
served by a lift. They are attractively
if simply furnished and comfortable,
and all possess AC, TV, fridge,
modern walk-in shower, hairdryer
and a balcony, most with good sea
views.
226 | Sunvil
020 8758 4758 www.sunvil.co.uk
There is a lovely roof-terrace bar,
fashionably furnished with sofas and
bright cushions (Wifi here), and a
well regarded restaurant adjacent.
Views are superb from this crow's
nest position.
It is a 2-3 minute walk down a slight
incline to the pebble beach here,
which has a beach bar/cafe behind
it, and you will find a good choice of
restaurants within a 5-10 minute
walk of the hotel.
The Hotel:
3 Stars
Bed & Breakfast
Air Conditioning
Free Wifi
Guideline price £ per person
Price based on 2-sharing a Standard
room for 7 nights including flights
from Gatwick and transfers. Prices for
regional flights, single rooms and
larger parties on request.
Low Season Jul/Aug
Seaside Hotel
£746
£843
Please contact us for a firm costing.
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Albania
Private Excursions
From Saranda
As stated, Saranda is an excellent base from
which to explore this fascinating and historic
area. We can pre-book a range of private
tours to the best sites with your own guide
and driver, picking you up from your hotel
and avoiding the crowds. They do not cost
that much more than a shared group
excursion. Prices are per person (minimum 2
persons) and include lunch.
Butrint & Lekursi Castle £45 pp
Albanian Riviera, Villages and Himara £67
Blue Eye & Gjirokaster £69
Private Cultural Tours Of Southern Albania
We offer an in-depth 6-day tour with your
own guide and driver. The tour includes an
overnight in Saranda at either end, covering
the highlights of this fascinating region –
three places on the tour are UNESCO World
Heritage sites. The tour can be combined as
a two-centre with Greece, with a week based
at any of our accommodation in Lefkas,
Meganissi, Parga or Sivota. We can also offer
a shortened 4-day tour by missing out Tirana
on days 4 and 5.
Itinerary
Day 1: Flight to Prevesa (Sunday). Transfer to
Saranda and overnight.
Day 2: Guided tour to ancient Butrint. Visit to
Blue Eye spring en route to Gjirokaster for
overnight.
Day 3: Walking tour of Gjirokaster, including
the castle and museum. Drive to Berat.
Walking tour and visit to icon museum.
Overnight Berat.
Day 4: To Tirana via Durres. Sightseeing tour
of Tirana including the National Museum.
Overnight Tirana.
Day 5: Drive to historic Kruja and explore the
town, castle and old bazaar. Overnight Tirana.
Gjirokaster
Day 6: Turn west towards the sea. Visit
Ardenica Monastery and the famous site of
Apollonia. Then head south for the attractive
small seaside resort of Himara for overnight.
Day 7: Enjoy a well earned morning’s R & R –
perhaps a swim from Himara’s splendid
beach. After lunch a scenic coastal drive
along the Albanian Riviera to Saranda for
overnight.
Day 8: Transfer to Prevesa Airport or to a
Greek resort for your second week.
Notes on towns and main sites
Ancient Butrint
Butrint. Ancient Buthrotum. Important and
impressive Greco-Roman city, now a UNESCO
World Heritage site, south of Saranda on a
bluff of land half-circled by a large lake.
Inhabited continuously from the 7th C BC
until abandoned in 18th C. Impressive
cyclopean walls and deep well within the
gate, reminiscent of Mycenae – but most
excavated remains are Roman.
Gjirokaster. This fascinating and historic
small town is also on UNESCO’s World
Heritage list. Largely medieval, with some
lovely architecture to admire reflecting the
town’s wealthy past, it is built on a hill
overlooking valley and mountains. Excellent
views from the large castle above, which
houses a weapons museum! Some good
restaurants in the narrow cobbled lanes of
the old town.
Berat. Another member of the UNESCO
club, Berat is called ‘the town of a thousand
eyes’ because of the many-windowed old
houses that crowd above the river Osrum
and up the hill. High along the ridge is a 14th
C citadel, its walls enclosing no fewer that
fourteen small painted churches (hence the
presence of the famous Onufri icon
museum). The Turkish influence may be seen
in the town’s three mosques and tekke, also
worth visiting.
Ardenica. 12th C monastery converted into
an inn, it occupies the whole of a rocky
outcrop amid pine and cypress trees and is a
landmark visible for miles across the plain.
The church, dedicated to the Virgin, is
characteristically Greek, and has a
magnificent iconostasis and high-quality
wall-paintings.
Apollonia. Another most important
archaeological site. Founded in 588 BC by
Greeks from Corinth, it rose to become a
renowned cultural centre in the Roman
period. Memorable are the elegant façade of
the Bouleuterion and the great Stoa. Below
stands the beautiful 13th C church of
Shenmari, built out of the antique stone.
Price Guide
Prices are per person and include flights
from LGW (supplement for MAN and
BHX), transfers, 3 star BB hotel
accommodation for 7 nights, 6 lunches
(days 2-7), entrance fees. It is a private
tour with your own guide and driver.
Single room supplement will be quoted
on request.
2-3 persons
Low Season from £1365
July/August from £1479
4 plus persons Low Season from £1175
July/August from £1298
We can also offer a shortened 4-day tour,
as above but taking replacing Days 4-5
(Tirana) with an extra 2 nights in Saranda
on BB at the start or end of the week.
2-3 persons
Low Season from £1185;
July/August from £1289
4 plus persons Low Season from £986
July/August from £1232
Berat
020 8758 4758 www.sunvil.co.uk
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