• A professional and qualified tour leader

• Single timed Tirana Airport transfers on arrival and departure

• All accommodation as described

• All meals

• Entrance fees where applicable

• All land transport required by the itinerary

• Baggage transfers by vehicle between accommodation

• Travel insurance

• Tips

• Miscellaneous expenses - drinks and souvenirs etc.

All meals, from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on day 8, are included.

Whilst we can cater for vegetarians, albeit sometimes with a more limited choice, we cannot always provide for special diets.  Due to the nature of some of the trips that we operate and the countries in which we operate them, it can be very hard (and sometimes impossible) to cater for a wide range of dietary choices and you may have to supplement your meals with food/snacks from home.  If you have specific dietary requirements please do speak to our sales team and they will be able to advise you whether or not we will be able to offer your specific choice.  Please note that we are unable to provide separate menus and cannot accept liability for any problems arising from special dietary requirements or intolerances.

Water from the taps may not be drinkable in all locations on this trip - please check with your guide. We recommend taking water purification tablets and a reusable bottle with a filter such as Water-to-Go, which can both be used to help make safe other water sources. Please note that we do not encourage the purchase of single use plastic bottles.

With a mix of Balkan, Greek and Italian influences, Albania offers a rich variety of dishes with a Mediterranean flair, utilising the seasonal produce of the region. In the mountains, you can expect hearty meat dishes such as stews or grilled meats, typically with lamb. A national specialty to try is Tave Kosi, a baked casserole of lamb, yoghurt, eggs and rice. The popular side dish of stuffed peppers filled with rice and herbs, or even meat or cheese are delicious. At the coast there will be plenty of excellent seafood options, with freshly caught fish such as bream, sea bass, octopus, squid, shrimp and so on. With the Italian influence you can also expect pasta and pizza to be readily available, plus coffee is a way of life. While in Albania, you should try the Byrek, a popular snack of filled filo pastry. Meat-free dishes are also readily available, with grilled or baked vegetables, cheese dishes, soups and salads.

To satisfy your sweet tooth, make sure you sample some baklava with layers of thin filo, honey and nuts; or a variation with shredded filo called kadaif. Fried dough balls called petulla are a popular snack any time of day, with a variety of toppings such as chocolate, jam, honey or cheese.

In hotels breakfast are continental style, with cereals, bread and jam, meat, cheese, tea, coffee and sometimes eggs and fruit. You may also have the chance to try a more traditional Albanian breakfast of flavoured rice.

Included picnic lunches usually include bread, vegetables such as tomato, cucumber or pepper, cheese, boiled egg, sometimes with some cured meat. Fruit may also be included depending on the season. You may wish to bring some supplementary snacks, it is often nice to have your favourite trail food with you on your hikes.

If you would like to sample some locally-produced drinks, Albania produces lagers and wines, or you might also like to brave the strong grape liquor known as raki. These can be purchased from most hotels and shops along the way.

On this holiday, you will stay 4 nights in comfortable small hotels with private bathrooms and 3 nights in traditional guesthouses, 2 of which have shared bathrooms.

Whilst we do our best to accommodate rooming preferences, in some locations, dormitory-style accommodation is the only option. However, we always ensure that male and female participants are separated. The village guesthouses, whilst charming and friendly have basic facilities but the warm welcome more than makes up for the lack of hotel facilities! Staying with local families is all part of the overall Albanian trekking experience and allows us to experience traditional Albanian hospitality.

If you are travelling by yourself, you will be paired up with another single client of the same sex for the hotel nights. Single rooms are available for a supplementary cost.

If you are planning on extending your holiday additional nights in Tirana are available on request. Alternatively, why not extend your stay with some extra nights on the coast? Please contact us for further information.

The group will be led by a professional English speaking tour leader and one or more support vehicle drivers(s).

This holiday does not involve any significant ascent to altitude and we would not expect any altitude issues with this trip.

Approximately £100 to £150 should be allowed for miscellaneous expenses including your bar bills and reasonable tips for the guide and support staff.   If you intend to buy expensive souvenirs, you should budget accordingly. Albania's unit of currency is the Lek but the Euro is also widely accepted. ATM machines are available at Tirana Airport and in larger towns and cities. Credit cards can be used to purchase goods and services in some shops, hotels and restaurants in Albania.

Tips do not form part of the wages of local staff but they are very much appreciated.  It is important to remember that tipping is voluntary and should be dependent on good service.  It is best if the tip is given at the end of the trip by the group as a whole.  We recommend that each group member contributes around £25 and that tips are then distributed between the guide and support staff as the group feels is appropriate.

Your main luggage will be transferred between each accommodation. We ask that you please ensure your luggage is limited to one soft bag (duffle bag or rucksack) max 15kg per person. Suitcases or flight cases are not suitable for this trip. You will also need a daypack to carry your daily essentials with you.

For each holiday there is a minimum number of participants required to enable it to go ahead. Once the minimum number is reached, the trip status will change from 'Available' to 'Guaranteed to run'. You can check the trip status for each departure in the ‘Dates and Prices’ table. Other than in exceptional circumstances, we will not cancel a trip once it has achieved this guaranteed to run status so you are free to proceed with your international flight booking and other travel arrangements.

The group will meet at Tirana Airport in the early afternoon of Day 1.

A single timed group transfer is provided from Tirana Airport to the group hotel in Dhermi mid-afternoon on Day 1. The transfer will take approximately 3.5 hrs.

An emergency contact number and the details for the group hotel will be provided with your booking confirmation.