Treasures of the Ionian

 Program

  • We stay in the White Dream hotel in Tirana. It is located near the center of Tirana but far enough from it to have a quiet stay.
  • Visit Vlora.
    • Visit Radhima. Radhima is situated in an intermediate position on the only road that connects Vlora with Orikum, Himara and Saranda.
    • In Vlora we will stay in the New York Hotel. It is located in a very attractive part of Vlora Bay also known as the "Cold Water" area because of the fresh water springs nearby, which empty into the clear blue waters of the Ionian sea.
    • Visit Llogara.
      Llogora National Park is declared a national park in 1966 by the Albanian Government. The park covers an area of 1,010 hectares between a height from 470m to 2,018m above sea level and protects the forests on the north side of the Llogara Pass.
    • Boat trip around the Karaburun peninsula. The Karaburun - Sazan National Marine Park is the only national marine park of Albania. The park covers a marine area stretching 1 nautical-mile (1.9 km) along the coastlines of Karabu Peninsula and the Sazan Island near the Bay of Vlora.
  • Visit Dhermi and Porto Palermo.
    • Dhërmi village lies 42 kilometers south of Vlorë and about the same distance
      north of Sarandë. The village is built on a slope of the Ceraunian Mountains,
      at approximately 200 meters altitude.
    • Porto Palermo has a well preserved castle that is commonly asserted by guide books and by the local tourist guides to have been built in the early 19th century by Ali Pasha of Tepelena, but most probably it was built by the Venetians as it has the same triangular plan with round towers found in the Venetian fort at Butrint.
  • Visit the archeological park of Orik. The ancient town of Orikum was founded in the 7th - 6th century BC by Hellenic settlers. The settlement of about 5 ha in extent lies on a low limestone hill right at the southern end of the Bay of Vlora.
  • Visit Zvernec monastery. The Monastery  is a very important cultural monument. It was built in the thirteenth century in Byzantine style and is dedicated to St. Mary. It is located in the center of the island.