Ruins & Archaeology Top Travel Experiences

Lovely trip, beautiful country, nice people, good food, and the local guide « Gary » was exceptional.

Mixed feelings.
Fabulous countryside, mountains & valleys, rivers & greenery. Lovely churches, mosques, museums & old Roman remains.
But towns in 1st week were all pretty dull & ugly. Post soviet era social housing blocks & heavy industries often just left in ruins/abandoned, statues of heroes & warmongers with guns, bunkers, defences everywhere , testiment to their brutal history.
Weather very wet & cold for April sadly.
Hotels similarly variable, Tirana bad, but most others were ok-good standard with lifts.
Nice small group of 14, aged 42-72 & both guide & driver were excellent & had v.good knowledge & manner.
Plenty of variety in visits overall, so something for everyone. Later towns Gjirokaster & Berat were prettier with lovely old Ottoman architecture.
Food & drink plentiful. I'd have preferred less time sat at lunch & more relaxed time over breakfast & evening dinner. Cheap coffees, alcohol & meals.. Drinking water provision by Explore would save a lot of plastic waste bottles (which all end up in landfill in mountain valleys.)
Overall I'm glad I went. It was interesting but some improvements could be made to timetable to allow more time in the prettier greener places I think..

Guide Tedi and driver Tony - brilliant team who were proud to show us their lovely country.
Nothing was too much trouble for either of them.
Tedi was mature way beyond his 21 years and managed a couple of difficult travellers with tact.
Albania is a country with great hospitality, amazing scenery, lots of history and lovely food.
Go now before the masses arrive.

Our tour leader Chantelle was so passionate and knowledgeable about her country.
For small islands there is so much history and places to visit. Leaves you wanting more