Kruja, Lezhe, Shkoder and Mes: one day tour from Tirana

Guided day tour from Tirana to discover the wonders of northern Albania. Visit Kruja, the ancient Albanian capital, the Skanderbeg Mausoleum in Lezhe, the Rozafa Castle in Shkoder and the village of Mes.

Trip to northern Albania, discover the history of the country

Northern Albania is an area full of wonders. A landscape that changes kilometer after kilometer, where in a short time you can see high mountains and valleys, rivers, lakes and wonderful coastal area. With this day tour of northern Albania we want to take you to discover some sites of great importance historically as well as with the landscape. In Kruje you will immerse yourselves in the history and atmosphere of traditional Albania. With the second stop, in Lezhe, you will discover what commemorative energy and level of devotion lies behind the cult of Skanderbeg, the Albanian national hero. Finally, in Shkoder you will discover the ancient castle and one of Albania's most modern city centers, a perfect blend of nature and culture.

Northern Albania day tour: Inclusions

First stop: Kruja

At 7 am you will meet our guide and driver directly at the hotel in Tirana. After the pick up, you will head north and after about 1 hour you reach the town of Kruja, where the national hero of Albania, Georgi Kastriot Skanderbeg lived. The first stop on our journey is to visit Kruja Castle. Located in the upper part of the village, the castle has an excellent state of conservation of its central structure. Visiting it, you will enter the symbol of the glorious medieval period, a time of redemption for the Albanian people. In fact it was Kruja, the historical outpost of the Illyrians, who in the XII century AD became the capital of the first independent Albanian state. From 1190 to 1255 Progon, a valiant local nobleman, led the Principality of Arbanon, which had obtained substantial independence from Byzantium. Just in that historical phase the Kruja castle was erected. Built with white stone, elegant even in its raw state, the fortress is surrounded by an imposing network of walls, towers, moats and fortifications. During the visit we will discover some details of the defense system and its architecture, connected to the military strategy.

Inside Kruja castle, the Skanderbeg Museum awaits us, a real immersion into eight centuries of history of the Albanian people. Leaving the museum, we slowly descend towards the historical center of Kruja, passing through the ancient bazaar. Here you will have free time for shopping and refreshments. The bazaar is a truly well-preserved and maintained market area, where you can buy unique souvenirs and admire the old artisan traditions that are carried on with sincere passion.

Second stop: Lezhe

Starting from Kruja, in about 1 hour of travel we are in Lezhe. Not yet touched by the chaos of mass tourism, Lezhe is a small town close to the coast, whose history sinks into the mists of time. It was the sovereign Dionysius of Syracuse who in 385 BC he founded it. Today Lezhe is the site that more than any other represents Albanian pride and national identity. Here in fact in the 80s of the last century the Mausoleum dedicated to Skanderbeg was raised. Built on the ruins of a mosque and an Orthodox church, the mausoleum is the place where the figure of the general is celebrated who dedicated his entire existence to the defense of the sovereignty and identity of a people against the Ottoman invader.

Third stop: Visit Mes and Shkoder

After leaving the mausoleum of Lezhe, we reach a farmhouse for a free lunch based on local specialties. In the early afternoon, in about 40 minutes by car, we reach Shkodra and we dedicate time to a relaxing walk with a visit to the pedestrian center of the city. Shkodra is a pretty city full of light and things to do, including cafes, shops and beautiful sights on each corner. Continuing the visit we reach Ura e Mesit (the middle bridge), a bridge located bridge located in the village of Mes, on the Kir river, about five kilometers north-east of Shkoder. This bridge connects the city with the ancient site of Drisht, which preserves important testimonies of Roman and medieval architecture. Our tour culminates with a visit to the legendary Rozafa Castle, whose original core was raised by the Illyrians in the 4th century BC. Subsequently the fortress was enlarged during the Middle Ages and the Venetian period (1396-1478). Here we have the opportunity to see Shkodra, its lake and mountains from a unique vantage point.

•Due the moderate amount of walking to reach the main attraction sites could be better to wear comfortable shoes and clothes.

•We suggest this tour to customers who are able to climb and descend streets and stairs.

•This tour is not suitable for customers in wheelchair. 

•In case of hot weather we suggest you to bring a cap with you.

•Please reach the meeting point 15 minutes before the departure time.