Butrint, Albania
Monterrasol Travel minivan small group tour.
Small group tour package 19 days in Albania +GreeceGreece +Albania off-season UNESCO sites tour 19 days from Igoumenitsa. Off the beaten path circle tour exploring Greece and Albania.tour ID: #551
off-season only tour
Tour summaryOff the beaten path circle tour exploring Greece and Albania. Get a seat on Monterrasol Travel minivan small group tour. This page describes details of the multi-day small group car tour #551 offered by Monterrasol Travel. We, Monterrasol Travel, are an independent tour operator specialized in cultural and destination tourism. This sightseeing tour has been developed by Monterrasol Travel for small groups travelers based on our own experiences and belongs to the group of car tours with pre-designed itineraries. If you like this tour but you would like to change something, please do not hesitate to contact us and mention the ID number of this tour: #551. The custom itinerary will cost you nothing, it's free from our side. The tour will start and finish in Igoumenitsa, Greece, and will take 19 days (18 nights). During this tour you will visit such places and attractions as Butrint, Ksamil, Sarandë (Sarande), Lëkurësi (Lekuresi), Blue eye, Borsh, Porto Palermo, Himarë (Himare), Vlorë (Vlore), Apollonia, Berat, Tepelenë (Tepelene), Gjirokastër (Gjirokaster), Vikos, Papingo, Monodendri, Tsepelovo, Kapesovo, Ioannina, Dodoni, Arta, Menidi, Vonitsa, Lefkada, Preveza, Nicopolis, Kassope (Cassope), Necromanteion of Acheron, located in Albania, Greece. Overall, with this tour you will visit 8 UNESCO World Heritage sites and 3 sites from the UNESCO Tentative List (sites that were submitted to the World Heritage Committee, and are awaiting to consider for nomination, and therefore suitable for inscription on the World Heritage List). Additional informationWe will pick you up at any hotel or place, in or around Igoumenitsa. Drop-off can be at the same place as pick-up or, upon request, in another location. We, at Monterrasol Travel, practice the Slow Tourism philosophy. That means that we work our tours at a gentle pace with no rush, allowing our clients to have a more authentic experience and a true exploration of each destination that features in our itineraries. Our tour prices include accommodation in 3-star hotels, which are usually not near historical centers with pedestrian streets. If you would like better accommodation in terms of location and quality level, please contact us. This small group tour is available for solo travelers as well. Please contact us for details. We provide for this tour a special discount for pensioners (seniors citizens). We recommend you consider traveling off-season. Advantages of traveling off-season. Photo galleryPhoto gallery of attractions involved in this tour. This tour starts from €6,131 Tour descriptionWe invite you to travel with us to two beautiful Mediterranean countries, Greece and Albania. With this our off-the-beaten-path circle tour, we will visit several UNESCO sites in each country and come to explore lesser-traveled locations. This tour is also full of contrasts: islands and mountains, coastal and mountain roads, coastal towns with beaches and mountain stone villages with stone bridges, Orthodox churches and Muslim mosques. But each country is very welcoming and friendly, with its own gastronomy, culture, and traditions. We will drive beautiful coastal roads, admire panoramic viewpoints, explore imposing archaeological sites, walk streets of mountain villages, stay on top of ancient stone bridges, see impressive museums and Orthodox monasteries, and every day enjoy food and drinks of local cuisine. In Albania, we will visit: archaeological site Butrint (UNESCO World Heritage site); see beautiful beaches of town Ksamil; see Ottoman castle in Sarande and come to the beautiful natural phenomenon Blue Eye; take a coastal road and see castles Borsh, Porto Palermo, and Himare; pass across Llogara and enjoy panoramic views; explore important archaeological site Apollonia (UNESCO Tentative List site); see town Berat (UNESCO World Heritage site), called The Town of a Thousand Windows; see fortress in town Tepelene; in town Gjirokaster (UNESCO World Heritage site) see its fortress, Army museum, and walk old bazaar streets. In Greece, we will come to see: several stone villages and stone bridges in mountain area called Zagori (UNESCO World Heritage site); important town Ioannina with its fortress, Silversmith museum of weapons and jewelry, and lake island full of monasteries; explore archaeological site Dodoni (UNESCO Tentative List site) and admire its huge theater; see Venetian fortress in town Vonitsa and walk a pass over the sea to small island; come to see town Lefkada and explore whole Lefkada island until its last point, a Cape Lefkatas lighthouse; come via undersea tunnel to town Preveza and see nearby located important archaeological site Nicopolis (UNESCO Tentative List site) with its museum; and on the way back to Igoumenitsa see archaeological sites Cassope and Necromanteion of Acheron. Border crossing for this tripThis route require border crossing. You must have valid travel document with you. Please check with your embassy which documents are requested for border crossing to Albania. Money and paymentsIn each country of your trip you can use main credit and debit cards. You can use ATM to withdrawal cash or pay at purchase point with card. More information on currencies, payments, and use cards you can read on this our page: On the trip: currencies, payments, card use. Last reviewed: 13 August 2025 Tour itineraryTour starts in: Igoumenitsa, Greece day 1: travel to Butrint, visit Butrint archaeological site (UNESCO World Heritage Site), travel to Ksamil to see Ksamil coastal town; travel to Sarande for accommodation Tour finishes in: Igoumenitsa, Greece Planned distance of this tour: 1318 km What is a good itinerary for a multi-day tourHow to understand if this itinerary is good for you? Read our advice: what is a good itinerary for a multi-day tour. If you like this small group tour and itinerary but you would like to change something, please do not hesitate to contact us and mention the ID number of this tour: #551. We do not charge for development a custom car tour itinerary, it will cost you nothing. We will be glad to discuss with you the details of your future trip and plan it following your ideas and wishes. Visited places during the tourOur tour will pass several towns and places along the route. Each town and place has something to offer from a tourist's point of view. We will stop in each place and explore its attractions. The exact attractions for each place or town can be seen in the tour's itinerary. Here is the list of places visited during this tour, in the order they appear in the itinerary. Butrint, AlbaniaKnown for ancient theatre, archaeological site, fortress, park; archaeological site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site Butrint was an ancient Greek and later Roman town and bishopric in Epirus. It declined in Late Antiquity, before being abandoned during the Middle Ages after a major earthquake flooded most of the town. Today it is an archaeological site in Albania, close to the Greek border. The town is considered as one of the most important archaeological sites in Albania. On the strength of the immense wealth of cultural, historical and natural value with a considerable history, Butrint was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1992 and further a National Park in 2000. Ksamil, AlbaniaKnown for beach, coastal town Sarandë (Sarande), AlbaniaKnown for beach, coastal town, fortress, marina, promenade, ruines, viewpoint, orthodox monastery Lëkurësi (Lekuresi), AlbaniaKnown for castle, viewpoint Lëkurësi Castle, a 16th-century Ottoman fortress, crowns a hilltop overlooking Sarandë and the Ionian Sea. Built in 1537 by Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, it guarded against Venetian invasions and monitored trade routes. Lëkurësi Castle merges dramatic landscapes and iconic sunsets with layered history, offering insight into Albania's Ottoman era while showcasing the Riviera's beauty. Blue eye, AlbaniaKnown for lake, nature, park The ＂Blue Eye＂ is a freshwater vertical karst spring and natural phenomenon in southern Albania, near Sarande. The Blue Eye is a popular tourist attraction captivates travelers with its crystal-clear waters and enchanting surroundings. The clear blue water of the river can be seen from a depth of more than 50 meters. Borsh, AlbaniaKnown for beach, castle, coastal town, fortress, viewpoint Borsh is a maritime village in the Albanian Riviera, in the Vlore County of Albania. The village is inhabited by Albanians many of whom have traditionally been Bektashi people. Borsh Castle (also known as Sopot Castle) is a picturesque ruined castle dates back to Antiquity, used in Roman times, by Byzantine empire, and Ottomans. The walls of the castle, which follow the ancient fortifications, survive. Porto Palermo, AlbaniaKnown for castle also known as castle of Panormi, or Ali Pasha Castle, or Ali Pasha Tepelena fortress (don't mix with other castles related to Ali Pasha, especially one castle (sooner small fort) located in Butrint Himarë (Himare), AlbaniaKnown for beach, castle, coastal town, viewpoint Himare is a bilingual coastal town in Southern Albania along the Albanian Riviera. The town mostly is populated predominantly by an ethnic Greek community. Himare is one of the top summer destinations in Albania. The medieval fortress Himara (historical center of the town, otherwise known as Himara Castle) contains ruins which testify to an uninterrupted presence of local Illyrian-Albanian residents for more than 3500 years. Vlorë (Vlore), AlbaniaKnown for beach, castle, coastal town, museum, seaport, orthodox monastery Apollonia, AlbaniaKnown for ancient theatre, archaeological site, museum, orthodox monastery; archaeological site is a UNESCO Tentative List Site Apollonia was an ancient Greek city located in the Fier County, in modern-day Albania. The Museum of Apollonia (also called Fier Archaeological Museum) contains artifacts unearthed from the ancient Apollonia. Apollonia flourished in the Roman period and was home to a renowned school of philosophy, but began to decline in the 3rd century AD when its harbor started silting up as a result of an earthquake. It was abandoned by the end of Late Antiquity. Apollonia is UNESCO Tentative List site. Berat, AlbaniaKnown for architecture, bridge, byzantine empire, castle, historical center, medieval old town, museum, river, venetian empire; historical center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site Berat is the ninth largest city by population of the Republic of Albania. Berat, UNESCO World Heritage Site from 2008, comprises a unique style of architecture with influences from several civilizations that have managed to coexist for centuries throughout the history. Like many cities in Albania, Berat comprises an old fortified city filled with churches and mosques painted with grandiose wealth of visible murals and frescos. Berat is one of the main cultural centers of the country. Tepelenë (Tepelene), AlbaniaKnown for castle Tepelene is a historic town well know as the birth place of Ali Pasha, Vizier of Ioannina (1741-1822). The castle, completed in 1819, was built by Ali Pasha to enclose his palaces, is the most important monument in Tepelene. Gjirokastër (Gjirokaster), AlbaniaKnown for fortress, historical center, medieval old town, museum, old bazaar, viewpoint; historical center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site Gjirokastër is a city in southern Albania, in a valley between mountains, at 300 metres above sea level. Its old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, described as ＂a rare example of a well-preserved Ottoman town, built by farmers of large estate＂. The city is overlooked by Gjirokastër Fortress. Vikos, GreeceKnown for hiking pass, mountain town, river, scenic road, viewpoint, cultural landscape; cultural landscape is a UNESCO World Heritage Site Vikos is a small and serene village located in the heart of the Zagori region in Northwestern Greece, nestled within the rugged Pindus Mountains. Vikos overlooks the dramatic expanse of the Vikos Gorge, offering visitors stunning natural vistas and a peaceful mountain atmosphere. Vikos is known for the Voidomatis Springs Trail, a captivating hiking route that begins near Vikos and follows the crystal-clear waters of the Voidomatis River, one of the cleanest rivers in Europe. Papingo, GreeceKnown for bridge, hiking pass, mountain town, scenic road, viewpoint, cultural landscape; cultural landscape is a UNESCO World Heritage Site Papingo consists of two neighboring villages, Mikro Papingo and Megalo Papingo, nestled at the entrance of the Vikos Gorge, are surrounded by stunning limestone peaks and lush forests. Both villages are a showcase of Zagori's famous architecture: stone houses, slate roofs, and cobbled alleys, appears to belong seamlessly with the mountainous landscape, an effect that earned the region its UNESCO status. Monodendri, GreeceKnown for hiking pass, mountain town, museum, scenic road, sightseeing, viewpoint, cultural landscape, orthodox church, orthodox monastery; cultural landscape is a UNESCO World Heritage Site Monodendri is a picturesque village located in the heart of the Zagori region in Epirus, Greece. Situated at an altitude of 1060 meters, it is part of the Central Zagori area within the prefecture of Ioannina. The village is nestled near the edge of the breathtaking Vikos Gorge, the world's deepest canyon, and the Voidomatis River, a tributary of the Aoos River. Tsepelovo, GreeceKnown for hiking pass, mountain town, scenic road, cultural landscape, orthodox monastery, orthodox church; cultural landscape is a UNESCO World Heritage Site Tsepelovo is a charming mountain village located in the heart of the Zagori region in Northwestern Greece. Nestled on the southern slopes of Mount Tymfi at about 1,080 meters altitude, it is the largest and most populous settlement among the 46 Zagorochoria villages. Tsepelovo offers panoramic views of impressive mountainous landscapes. Kapesovo, GreeceKnown for mountain town, scenic road, viewpoint, cultural landscape; cultural landscape is a UNESCO World Heritage Site Kapesovo, founded in the 16th century, is a picturesque village located in the Zagori region (UNESCO World Heritage Site) of Epirus, northwestern Greece. Kapesovo featuring impressive stone manors with intricate interior frescoes and architectural details, cobblestone pathways and stone bridges. Ioannina, GreeceKnown for ancient settlement, fortress, lake, museum, park, venetian empire, orthodox monastery The charming Ioannina, the capital and largest city of the Epirus region, with a picturesque historic center, a castle built in 528 AD that is the oldest Byzantine fortress in the country, among other landmarks worth discovering, is a great year-round destination. Undoubtedly one of the most atmospheric cities in this corner of the country, Ioannina is set on the shore of Lake Pamvotida. Dodoni, GreeceKnown for ancient theatre, archaeological site; archaeological site is a UNESCO Tentative List Site Dodoni, located in a narrow valley at the foot of Mount Tomaros in Epirus, is an ancient city that travelers should visit. It is home to the oldest and most prominent oracle in the country. Arta, GreeceKnown for bridge, byzantine empire, castle, museum, orthodox cathedral Arta is a city in northwestern Greece, and was known in ancient times as Ambracia. Arta is known for the medieval bridge over the Arachthos River, for well-preserved 13th-century castle. Byzantine period in Arta's history is reflected in its many Byzantine churches. Menidi, GreeceKnown for coastal town Vonitsa, GreeceKnown for bridge, castle, coastal town, island, promenade Vonitsa, a serene and authentic Greek town nestled on the southern shore of the Ambracian Gulf. This charming destination offers visitors a genuine slice of Greek life, combining a rich historical tapestry with stunning natural beauty and a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere. The main attraction is the magnificent Venetian Castle on pine-covered hill. Another attraction is a charming pedestrian stone bridge connecting mainland and green island of Koukoumitsa. Lefkada, GreeceKnown for bridge, coastal town, fortress, museum, tourist attraction, viewpoint Preveza, GreeceKnown for castle, coastal town, historical center, marina, museum, promenade, orthodox church Preveza, a town with an insular atmosphere and magnificent natural environment, where a walk along the lively seaside esplanade is a delight. Also, Preveza is a heaven for seafood lovers. Nicopolis, GreeceKnown for ancient theatre, archaeological site, museum; archaeological site is a UNESCO Tentative List Site Kassope (Cassope), GreeceKnown for ancient settlement, ancient theatre, archaeological site, viewpoint Cassope is notable for its well-preserved example of a city built on a rectilinear street grid, following the Hippodamian plan. This urban design is one of the best remaining examples in Greece. The site includes various civic buildings, private houses, and public structures such as the agora, theater, and civic buildings. Necromanteion of Acheron, GreeceKnown for archaeological site #551 Tour mapDue to the length and duration of this route, we were unable to put all the tour attractions on one map. Because of that, here is a general map of this tour. Please click on "Tour maps detailed" to see detailed maps of this tour. Tour starts in: Igoumenitsa, Greece 
day 1: Butrint archaeological site, Ksamil coastal town; accommodation in Sarande Tour finishes in: Igoumenitsa, Greece Planned distance of this tour: 1318 km #551 Tour maps detailedDue to the length and duration of this route, we were unable to put all the tour attractions on one map. Instead of one general map, here are a few detailed maps of this tour. Detailed map for part: Albania part  Detailed map for part: Greece part  Detailed map for part: Greece, Zagori area  Detailed map for part: Greece, Preveza area  Availability of this tourPlease check below for the availability of this small group tour for a specific month and year. In addition, for this tour, a 45 days cut-off period is in effect. Of course, you are always welcome to contact us with questions about availability. Check availability for specific period:
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Price from€ 6,131
The min amount of people in this tour: 2 This small group tour is not available from 12 May to 31st August. SRS means single room supplement. Prices above depend on the season. Read our pricing policy. Maybe you want?What the tour includes• transport with driver • transportation in car with air conditioner • the car is minivan by default • company's tour guide • English spoken driver and tour guide • tour guide all the time with you • accommodation in 3-star hotels or pensions • accommodation with breakfast only What the tour does not include• lunch and dinner • accommodation in single rooms • hotel tourist tax • professional tour guide • entry fees and tickets • flights tickets • ferry tickets • travel insurance • country visas Safe TravelsThe Safe Travels stamp allows travelers to recognize destination companies around the world that have implemented health and hygiene protocols that are aligned with WTTC's Global Safe Travels Protocols. Monterrasol Travel Small group tours has implemented health and hygiene protocols. Monterrasol Travel is the Safe Travels company.  |
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