1. More Info About Your Albania Trip

1.1 Fast Facts

1.2 Where We Visit

1.3 Weather

1.4 Itinerary Overview

1.5 Included / Excluded

1.6 Hotels

1.7 Room sharing

1.8 Physical Requirements

2. Getting Prepared

2.1 Trip Countdown Timeline

2.2 Cancellations / Trip Moves

2.3 Visa Requirements

2.4 Vaccinations

2.5 Travel Insurance

2.6 Luggage

2.7 Local Currency

2.8 Phone, Internet & WhatsApp

2.9 Arrival Info & Entry Requirements

2.10 Departure Info

2.11 Airport Transfers

2.12 Packing Guidelines / Checklist

3. During Your Tour

3.1 Trip Execution & Tour Leader

3.2 Free Time

3.3 Schedule Changes

3.4 Behaviour On Tour

3.5 Safety Advice

3.6 Spending Money

3.7 Tipping

3.8 Laundry

3.9 Post Trip

4. Readiness Checklist

Checklist

1.1 FAST FACTS

Population

• 2.8 million
• Capital city is Tirana with around 500,000 residents

Geography

• Located in Southeast Europe on the Balkan Peninsula
• Has a coastline along both the Adriatic Sea and the Ionian Sea, stretching about 450 km
• Around 70% of the country is mountainous, giving it dramatic landscapes
• Borders with 4 countries – Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Greece

Language

• Albanian (most people also speak some English and Italian)

Currency

• Albanian Lek (ALL)
• 1 USD = 95 ALL (roughly)
• 1 GBP = 120 ALL (roughly)

Religion

• Majority Muslim (Sunni and Bektashi), with significant Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox communities

1.2 WHERE WE VISIT

Tirana (2 nights)

Dynamic and colorful capital that blends history, culture, and modern energy. At its heart lies Skanderbeg Square, the city’s main plaza, surrounded by landmarks such as the Et’hem Bey Mosque and the National History Museum. Once shaped by its communist past, Tirana has transformed into a lively, artistic hub filled with brightly painted buildings, trendy cafés, and bustling markets. 

Berat (2 nights)

Known as the “City of a Thousand Windows,” this UNESCO-listed town is famed for its well-preserved Ottoman architecture, white stone houses that climb the hillside, and its impressive hilltop Berat Castle, which still houses residents, churches, and ancient ruins within its walls. Set along the banks of the Osum River, Berat’s cobbled streets, Byzantine churches, and traditional quarters create a timeless atmosphere.

Saranda (2 nights)

By the sparkling Ionian coastline, its crystal-clear waters, palm-lined promenade, and relaxed Mediterranean atmosphere, this city is the ideal blend of relaxation and exploration.

Durres (1 night)

Our final night is spent in Durrës, chosen primarily for its convenient location close to Tirana International Airport. This allows for a relaxed final evening together and an easy transfer to the airport the following morning, rather than spending several additional hours travelling on departure day.

Durres is a pleasant seaside city with a long waterfront promenade, beaches and plenty of cafés and restaurants. However, it is not intended to be the highlight of the itinerary in the same way as destinations such as Berat, Gjirokastër or Sarandë. We arrive in the late afternoon, enjoy our farewell dinner by the sea, and the tour concludes after breakfast the following morning.

If you’re planning to extend your time in Albania after the tour, we generally recommend spending those extra nights in another part of the country rather than in Durrës. If you’d like some suggestions, we’d be happy to help.

TRAVELLING IN ALBANIA – Setting Expectations

Albania is one of Europe’s most exciting emerging destinations. While it has been growing rapidly in popularity over recent years, mainstream international tourism is still relatively new here. As a result, the tourism infrastructure, roads, hotel standards and service levels are generally not yet at the same level as more established destinations such as Croatia, Greece or Italy, which have welcomed large numbers of international visitors for many decades.

What does this mean in practice? You may experience things such as hotel check-ins taking a little longer than expected, slower service in restaurants, challenging road conditions or the occasional lack of polish that you might not encounter in more developed tourist destinations.

At Other Way Round Travel, we’ve carefully designed this itinerary and work closely with our local partners to minimise these challenges wherever possible. However, it’s important to understand that some of these experiences are simply part of travelling in a country that is still developing its tourism industry.

Rather than becoming frustrated by the occasional inconvenience, we encourage you to embrace it as part of the adventure. Albania’s appeal lies in its authenticity, spectacular landscapes, warm hospitality and the opportunity to experience a corner of Europe that still feels refreshingly undiscovered. We think that’s exactly what makes travelling here so rewarding.

1.3 WEATHER

We choose our trip dates based on when we believe are the best times to visit Albania.

Below shows the weather for Tirana, but it will be fairly similar in all locations throughout the trip.

Tirana Weather Celsius

Tirana Weather Fahrenheit

1.4 ITINERARY OVERVIEW

A summary version of the itinerary. You can find the more detailed version here.

Note: On day 4, we’ll head to the amazing Osumi Canyon. The activity there depends on the water level, which can be a bit hard to predict — if the water is high enough, we’ll go rafting, and if it’s lower, we’ll do tubing instead.

A detailed hour-by-hour schedule will be provided 10 days before the trip.

1.5 INCLUDED/EXCLUDED

Included:-

• 8-days / 7-nights: 2 Tirana, 2 Berat, 2 Saranda, 1 Durres
• Accommodation in hand-picked 3 & 4-star hotels (based on sharing twin room)
• Meals – All breakfasts, 6 lunches & 3 dinners
• Airport pickups and drop-offs
• All transportation & activities within itinerary (excluding optional activities)
• A trip host (“Tour Leader”) plus various local experts

Excluded:-

• International flights to get you to and from Albania
• Alcoholic drinks (except those specifically provided as part of itinerary)
• Water & soft drinks (outside of those provided with meals)
• Additional meals (outside of those explicitly stated as included)
• Optional activities during free time
• Tips (for Tour Leaders, local guides, bus drivers etc…)
• Travel insurance

1.6 HOTELS

As standard, we use the hotels listed at the bottom of our itinerary page.

From time to time we may need to change a specific hotel if for example it’s not available on those given dates. But in such situations, we will always replace with another hotel at the same quality.

Some special notes regarding hotels:-

• Hotel check-in is not until 3pm. Sometimes earlier check-in is possible, however, it won’t be possible to know in advance because it will depend on hotel availability that day (and what time other hotel guests check-out). The only way to guarantee an early check-in is if you’re willing to pay for the hotel from the night before.

• You will be sharing a twin room with a fellow traveler of the same gender, unless you specifically paid extra for a private room (these are dependent on availability, see prices in FAQ section of itinerary page).

• If you are planning to tag on extra days on either side of the trip, we can help book you into our hotels. We can only guarantee this if you let us know more than 70 days before the trip and we can only do this for a maximum of 2 nights on either side. Any longer and we recommend you book directly with the hotels.

1.7 ROOM SHARING 

As standard, the default on all of our trips is that you will share a room with another traveler. These will be twin rooms, with 2 separate beds, and shared by a max of 2 people.

You will always share with another traveler of the same gender, and we will typically pair you with someone around the same age. You will share with this person for the duration of the itinerary.

Note that we operate this way because – by splitting the room cost between two people – it allows us to keep the overall OWR trip price down.

It is however possible for you to pay extra for a private room if you prefer. Prices for this are shown in the FAQ section of the itinerary page. We hold a limited number of private rooms and these will be allocated on a first come, first served basis (therefore please check in with us for availability).

In our experience, most people are happy sharing a twin room and it typically works out well.

Some Important Things to Consider:-

SNORING

If you snore, then we highly recommend that you book a private room. While we understand that this will cost you more, it is important to think of the negative impact/experience the snoring could have on any potential roommate.

LIGHT SLEEPERS

Likewise, if you consider yourself to be a light sleeper and are easily woken by the sounds or movements or others, then we also recommend you also consider booking a private room in order to get the most out of the experience.

In addition…

If you would like to book a private room then it is much better to do this in advance of the trip! If you originally signed up for a shared room and then request to move to a private room during the trip, it will be much more challenging because:-

• We cannot guarantee that there will still be rooms available (since we will have released our OWR allocation by then).

• Our quoted OWR rates will no longer apply (it will be whatever last-minute rates the hotels provide).

Therefore, it is much better for you if you can make this decision ahead of time!

1.8 PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

A low level of fitness is required for this tour.

The main physical activities are:-

• Walking city of Tirana (a few hours on your feet)
• Zipline (no special physical requirements — just a bit of comfort with heights)* 
• Walking Berat Old Town and Castle
• Rafting/Tubing in Osumi Canyon (beginner friendly)
• Walking Gjirokastra Old Town and Castle

We will do all of these activities at a relaxed pace and there is no time pressure.

Keep in mind that some cities in Albania are built on hilly terrain, so walks often involve uphill and downhill sections.

Note on weight limit:
The zipline has a limit of 130kg/286lb.
Tubbing/rafting has a limit of 100kg/220lb.

2.1 TRIP COUNTDOWN TIMELINE

This is what you should expect in the lead up to your trip.

• Book trip (secure your spot with a deposit)

• Book international flights (these can be booked at any point after we’ve confirmed your spot – don’t leave too late as price will go up closer to trip)

• Purchase travel insurance (this will cover for issues leading up to trip as well as during)

> 70 Days Before Trip (cancellation penalties kick-in beyond this point)

• Full balance must be paid
• Fill out OWR questionnaire: requests flight information, dietary requirements, health conditions, emergency contacts etc…(you can access customer portal with email address here)

> 10 Days Before Trip

• OWR sends day-by-day schedule, optional activity recommendations & some final info to prepare you for trip

> 3 Days Before Trip

• WhatsApp group created with all trip attendees + Tour Leader

> Trip Start Date

• Welcome meeting is typically scheduled for 6pm on first day. This is where you will meet your Tour Leader and other guests (note – we may change this time depending on overall group arrival times. If it changes we will notify you).

2.2 CANCELLATIONS / TRIP MOVES

The £200/$250 deposit is non-refundable. However, if you need to cancel at any point, you can put this towards any future trip you book with us (in any location).

The rest of the balance is refundable up until 70 days before the trip. From that point the following cancellation terms will apply:-

> 30-70 days before trip – 50% refund

> 0–30 days before trip – 0% refund

Important Note – it is not possible for us to make exceptions to these terms since from the 70 days mark we will commit payments to our local suppliers in Albania and will be bound by their strict cancellation terms. This is why it’s very important for you take take out a travel insurance policy which includes trip cancellation (from the point of booking the trip).

This applies also to requests to change to an alternative future OWR trip, when such requests are made within 70 days of your scheduled trip departure. 

2.3 VISA REQUIREMENTS

Citizens from US, Canada, UK and Australia/NZ can enter Albania for 90 days without a visa.

(if you are from a different country, please check requirements specific to your country)

2.4 VACCINATIONS

There are no mandatory vaccinations for entering Albania, only recommendations. 

Standard travel vaccinations – information online tends to vary, we recommend checking with a reputable source such as those below (or the equivalent from your own country) 

US: 

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/albania

UK: 

https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/country/2/albania#Vaccine_Recommendations

Please read through these and compare with your current vaccination status (it is your responsibility to ensure you are adequately vaccinated).

In addition to vaccinations, we advise to take measures to avoid mosquito bites throughout the trip. Good practise includes using mosquito repellant and also keeping arms and legs covered with long sleeve shirts and trousers in areas where mosquitos are more prominent.

2.5 TRAVEL INSURANCE

It is mandatory that all guests have travel insurance in place prior to joining our trips.

Some important info relating to this:-

• You must have travel insurance in place to join the trip. No exceptions.
• We will ask you to provide your policy number and 24hr emergency contact number (this will be part of the OWR survey 70 days pre trip).
• At a minimum it must cover the mandatory elements mentioned in our booking terms (personal accident, death, medical expenses and emergency repatriation).
• However, we strongly recommend you also include the “trip cancellation” coverage. This will cover you for things that can happen between booking the trip and the trip actually starting. Examples are: changes to your personal circumstances, destinations becoming unsafe to travel, flight issues stopping you from joining the tour etc…
• We recommend that you start your coverage from the point of booking the tour.
• It is your responsibility to ensure your policy covers all of the activities specified on the trip itinerary in addition to any optional activities you plan to do.
  As is common with most travel insurance policies, activities such as ziplining, rafting, and tubing are often not included. Please check your policy to confirm whether these activities are covered.

  There are numerous policies on the market and you should choose whichever is most appropriate for you. Here’s a small selection to consider:-

World Nomads

Allianz Travel Insurance

BattleFace

Tru Traveller

2.6 LUGGAGE

• You can travel with a suitcase or backpack, the choice is completely yours.
• In general it will be helpful to you if you pack light as you’ll have to take your own luggage on and off of multiple vehicles during the trip.
• Please keep it to a limit of 20kg/45lb
• It’s worth considering whether you could do the trip with cabin luggage only – this would mitigate any risk of lost luggage by the airlines on your international flights (which is not frequent but does happen from time-to-time).

2.7 LOCAL CURRENCY

The local currency is Albanian Lek.

2.8 PHONE, INTERNET & WHATSAPP

In most locations there is good phone signal and internet access and WIFI is available in hotels & restaurants.

Check out the plan of your phone provider to understand if data roaming is included as part of your package. If not, it is very easy to buy an e-sim for Albania, in which case we recommend Holafly or Airalo services.

You can also buy a local Albanian sim. Ask your Tour Leader for instructions.

We will use WhatsApp as a means of communicating with the group while on tour and recommend you download this to your phone if you don’t already have it.

2.9 ARRIVAL INFO & ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

This tour starts in Tirana and ends in Durres (we will get you between the two cities over the 8 days). 

To join the trip you will arrive into Tirana International Airport (airport code TIA).

Ideally you should arrive at the hotel by 6pm on the first day. This is when we have our welcome meeting and afterwards go for dinner (although if you arrive later it’s fine to catch up).

There will be someone there to meet you upon arrival as you walk through the gates (they will have a sign with your name on it). 

Hotel check-in is not until 3pm but if arriving earlier you can drop off your bags and go explore the surrounding area. 

Please ensure that you have read all of the Albania entry requirements (it is your responsibility to ensure you comply):-

US Citizen Entry Requirements

UK Citizen Entry Requirements

CA Citizen Entry Requirements

(if from a different country, please check those requirements specific to your home country)

When going through passport control in Albania you may be asked to show the following:- 

• Passport (have a ‘date of issue’ less than 10 years before the date you arrive and have an ‘expiry date’ at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave the country)
• One blank page
• Evidence of return flight leaving Albania
• Tirana hotel name and address

Please have this information on hand.

2.10 DEPARTURE INFO

You should arrange your flight home from Tirana International Airport (airport code TIA). We will arrange your airport transfer according to your flight time.

You can leave at any time on the last day. There are no activities scheduled for that day.

2.11 AIRPORT TRANSFERS

Airport transfers are included at both the start and end of the trip.

The following conditions apply:-

• We only do transfers between airports and our selected hotels. No other locations (other hotels, Airbnbs etc…)
• For those tagging on extra days, we will endeavour to include transfers up to 2 days outside of official tour dates. Beyond this we will not include transfers

• Arrival and departure details must be submitted via our traveller questionnaire no later than 30 days before the trip start date. Flight dates, times, and flight numbers must be correct so that we can track flights and arrange transfers accordingly. If this information is not provided by the deadline, we cannot guarantee your included transfer.

• If your flight changes or is significantly delayed (by more than 30 mins), please notify us by email or WhatsApp as soon as possible. As transfers are arranged and paid for in advance, we cannot guarantee changes to existing transfer bookings.

• If a new transfer is required, we will do our best to arrange one based on your updated flight details. However, if it is within 24 hours of your initial scheduled arrival, this will be charged as an additional transfer due to our local transport provider’s cancellation terms. In this case we will invoice you for the additional transfer. Alternatively, you can make your own way to the hotel by taxi, Uber, or other local transport.

• Any additional costs due to rearranged transfers may be covered by your travel insurance, so it is worth checking your policy to see what is included.

   

2.12 PACKING GUIDELINES / CHECKLIST 

Our trips take place during warm, pleasant weather, though temperatures can drop a bit in the evening.

We don’t recommend specific clothing items – because everyone has their own personal style – but below are some things to think about.

Documents

• Flight info (especially important to be able to show you have a flight leaving Albania)
• Travel Insurance info (especially your policy number & 24hr emergency number)
• Passport  (with 3 months validity and not older than 10 years from the date of issue)
• Supporting documentation for medications – see advice here

Things To Think About

• Beachware/swimsuits
• Water shoes (recommended for pebble beaches)
• Beach towel
• Sunglasses
• Hat for sun protection
• Comfortable shoes/trainers for walking day-to-day (hiking shoes not necessary)
• Day backpack/bag
• Power supplies/batteries – for phones, laptops, cameras etc…
• Power adapters (to convert to local supply) – see type required for Albania
• Sunscreen
• Camera
• Mosquito/bug spray
• Ear Plugs (if sensitive sleeper)
• Personal entertainment (books, podcasts etc… for travel time)
• Toiletries
• Personal Medication
• Travel sickness pills (recommended for winding roads in Albania)
• Light rain jacket
• Sweater/light jacket for for evenings
• Refillable Water bottle

Other

• Download WhatsApp on phone (to be used for group comms while on tour)
• Set up data roaming

3.1 TRIP EXECUTION & TOUR LEADER 

You Tour Leader is responsible for leading the group throughout the trip, they will be there from the welcome meeting at the start until the last morning when the trip ends. We will connect you with your Tour Leader – via WhatsApp – in the days leading up to the trip.

They will be your first point of contact for any issues during the trip but you can also contact us at [email protected]

3.2 FREE TIME

At various points during the trip the trip schedule will show ‘Downtime’ and ‘Free Time’ 

Downtime is where there are a couple of hours or so free between activities. There is probably enough time to go for a coffee, relax or go for a wander but not quite enough time to go do another activity. 

Free Time is where there is a sizeable chunk of time available – half day or full day – where you could feasibly go off and do another activity (outside of the OWR itinerary). It is there to give you flexibility to go do your own thing and explore your own interests. 

We will provide recommendations of possible activities for you to do during Free Time (we will send this 10 days before the trip).

We don’t recommend booking anything prior to arriving in Albania as typically most things can be arranged at short notice and often our guests decide to do things with other people in the group. 

3.3 SCHEDULE CHANGES

While we endeavour to operate all trips as described in the published itineraries we always reserve the right to change the trip itinerary. 

Changes may be necessary as a result of unforeseen circumstances, operational concerns, concerns for your health, safety, enjoyment or comfort. 

Any changes are at the discretion of OWR. 

This includes the right to replace Tour Leaders, alter accommodations, change transport, modify the order in which places are to visited, and make any other changes to the itinerary. 

We will inform you of any such changes as soon as reasonably possible.

3.4 BEHAVIOUR ON TOUR

We request that all guests take responsibility for their personal behaviour on the tour, specifically to:- 

• Respect the decisions of the Tour Leader (and raise concerns respectfully)
• Show respect and consideration for the other members of the group
• Drink alcohol responsibly
• In addition we have an absolutely zero tolerance no drugs policy.
• Be on time to start activities as per the schedule (be respectful of the time of other members of the group)

We also ask that you read about our OWR Trip Style prior to joining the trip.

3.5 SAFETY ADVICE

In general Albania is a very safe country to travel. 

Thousands of foreigners visit every year and the vast majority of those are trouble free. 

However, we do recommend taking some extra precautions and being more vigilant than you typically would in your home country. 

• Leave jewellery / expensive handbags at home
• Don’t go wandering outside the tourist areas without a local
• Don’t flag taxis – get the hotel / restaurant to call them
• Use ATMs inside banks / shopping malls rather than on the street
• Keep only small amounts of cash on you when out and about
• Drink alcohol moderately, avoid making yourself vulnerable (and don’t leave drinks unattended)
• Avoid walking alone at night
• Don’t go off to party with people you’ve just met! 

We also strongly recommend reading the travel advice provided by your government / consulate / foreign office.

3.6 SPENDING MONEY

We include include just about everything on the tour. 

The itinerary was designed so that while you’re in Albania all you need to do is focus on enjoying yourself. 

With that said you will likely need a little spending money which we estimate as follows: 

• $250 – $350 (US)
• £200– £250 (UK)

(for other currencies please convert)

These estimates factor in lunches and dinners not included within the itinerary; snacks and water; a couple of alcoholic drinks each day; and optional activities during free time. 

You may need more depending on your tastes and for additional items such as souvenirs. 

We also recommend you have access to additional funds in case of emergency.

3.7 TIPPING

Tips for guides are not included and are therefore completely at your discretion.

You will encounter various local guides and drivers during the trip and if you are planning to tip it is useful to carry some cash for this purpose. A little goes a long way in Albania and guides will be extremely appreciative of anything you give.

At the end of the trip you my also want to tip your Tour Leader who would have been with you for the full duration of the trip. A recommended amount is $5-$10 (£4-£8) per day (per person), but this is completely up to you and you should only tip what you feel comfortable with.

3.8 LAUNDRY

Some travellers prefer to pack light and do laundry while on tour. There will be various points throughout the trip to do laundry (your Tour Leader will inform you during the trip).

3.9 POST TRIP

We will send you a survey asking for feedback on your experience.

If you enjoyed the tour we would love it if you could recommend us on Google and/or Facebook.

We also have some special offers to those on our trips:

• If you book a new trip within 2 weeks of your current trip ending, you get a £200 / $250 discount.

• If you book a new trip after this point, we still offer a £100 / $125 discount.

We know this is a lot of information to digest, therefore, here’s a quick checklist to ensure you’re ready for your upcoming trip.

Have you:-

• Purchased your international flights to/from Albania?
• Purchased travel insurance?
• Paid your full balance with OWR?
• Checked your passport validity? (more than 3 months from exiting Albania and older than 10 years from the point you enter the country).
• Checked that you have the recommended vaccines?
• Obtained visas if necessary?
• Completed the OWR questionnaire? 
• Checked our packing guidelines?
• Set up your data roaming + downloaded WhatsApp?
• Changed money or made plans to withdraw cash in Albania for tips etc…
• Read our OWR Trip Style document to ensure you are comfortable with what to expect?

If so – you are good to go!