Tirana International Airport
Arrival – transfer to Shkodra, Koman lake – Valbona Valley photoshoting, drive through Kosovo – Prizren *UNESCO – Tirana, Tirana & Dajti Mountain, Karavasta Lagoon – Tirana Return Flight
8 Days
All year
Arrival – transfer to Shkodra
Meet at airport with our guide and drive for about 1hour 45 minutes to Shkodra the most important town in the North of Albania. Photo shooting in the old town, the stony street promenade with a big influence from the Italian and Austrian architecture testimony to this town historic links with both these countries. Photo shooting from the castle of rozafa, located at the top of the hill, overlooking the city and the river surrounding it. In Shkodra we can visit the first museum of Albanian Photography, Marubi Museum, with photos from the 1800. In the afternoon we can photoshoot as well local people with folkloric dresses, in the garden area of a local traditional house. Dinner with a traditional menu of the region and overnight in Shkodra.
Shkodra – ferry ride to Koman lake – Valbona valley
Today we head towards Valbona Valley, one of the highlights of the Albanian Alps. For almost 3 hours we take a spectacular boat trip through the artificial lake ok Koman. The lake is created by the hydropower stations built on Drin River. The depth of the lake has given it an opal green color, while being surrounded by high mountains, Many visitors call this areas as similar to the norvergian fjords. After the ferry trip, drive through the alpine villages towards Valbona. Valbona Valley is an authentic village, where it looks like time has stopped since many decades. In the valley we can sleep in a alpine style hotel; in guesthouses or with a local family Dinner can as well be organized in a local family house for a more authentic experience.
Valbona Valley photoshoting (2 Full days)
We can spend 2 days in the village, photo shooting the villages of valbona and nearby, photo shoting the unique flora of the valley and the forests, being between the rugged and breathtaking mountain peaks the panorama makes a festival of colors and contrasts. We walk to the Valbona River, a is crystal clear river well known for its clean water, where visitors can swim, catch fishes and do canoeing and kayaking.
Valbona – drive through Kosovo – Prizren *UNESCO – Tirana
Today we leave the village and drive for 2 hours to the Unesco town of prizren in Kosovo. We take a lunch break and spend time photoshoting in the city, famous for the ottoman style bridge & the castle overlooking the city. Further we transfer to Tirana in 3.5 hours driver, for free afternoon or evening photoshoot of the city central areas.
Tirana & Dajti Mountain
Today we can spend the morning photo shooting in the city, in the old bazaar and touristic areas if the group is interested. If not we can sped the full day in Dajti Mountain. The mountain is located closed to Tirana, and provides many panoramic spots to overlook the city. The transfer to Dajti mountain is done by the longest cable car ride in the region, which takes more than 15 minutes. In Dajti we can spend the day photo shooting the park, and the view of Tirana from mountain top.
Tirana – Karavasta Lagoon – Tirana
Today we can spend a full day in the lagoon of Karavasta. It is located only 1.5 hrs drive from Tirana and is an amazing spot for landscape and nature photography. It is the largest lagoon in Albania and one of the largest in the Mediterranean Sea. There is a Mediterranian Pine Forest near the Karavasta lagoon, and it contains one of the most interesting faunas of the country. The lagoons provide living conditions and breeding sites above the 5% of the world population of this bird. The islands in the lagoon are one of the most important features of the area for the conservation of birds. Although in the past, the Dalmatian pelicans have nested in other parts of the lagoon, they now only nest on these islands, owning to disturbance elsewhere. In addition, many of the other important breeding birds of the lagoon nest on the island because they are safe from predators and human disturbance. These include Collared pratincole (Glareola pratincola) and Little tern (Sterna albifrons).
Tirana Return Flight
Free morning in the city and apt transfer.