Glamorous Ionia; Saranda & Ksamil (Including Vlora & Tirana City Tours)

Day 1 Istanbul – Tirana – Vlora – Saranda Meeting at Istanbul Airport International Departures terminal in front of the Turkish Airlines counter 3 hours before departure. After luggage, ticket, and passport procedures, we will depart to Tirana with Turkish Airlines flight … at 08:00. Arriving in Tirana at 08:45 local time, our waiting vehicle will take us on a panoramic city tour including Skender Bey Square, Ethem Bey Mosque, Clock Tower, National History Museum, and Parliament Building. After the city tour, we head towards the famous turquoise sea of the Ionian Sea. On the way, we stop in Vlora, one of Albania’s important coastal cities, where we will do a panoramic city tour including Independence Square, Flag Square, and the seaside promenade. After the visit to Vlora, we continue towards Saranda, known as the pearl of the Albanian Riviera with its turquoise sea. Transfer to the hotel and overnight in Saranda. Day 2 Saranda – Porto Palermo - Dhermi - Saranda After breakfast at the hotel, guests who wish can join the extra organized tour **"Glorious Porto Palermo – Dhermi" (80 Euro)**. Enjoying unique scenery, our first stop on the Albanian Riviera is Porto Palermo. Porto Palermo is a small but impressive bay located between Himara and Dhermi on the Albanian Riviera. Known for its turquoise sea and the historic castle on the peninsula, the bay’s most notable structure is **Porto Palermo Castle**, built in the early 19th century by Ali Pasha Tepelena. Following the Porto Palermo tour with postcard-like scenery, our next destination is Dhermi, one of the popular seaside towns of the Ionian Sea, known for its turquoise waters, white pebble beaches, and stone houses. We will do a panoramic city tour here. After the tour, we return to Saranda and stay overnight at the hotel. Day 3 Saranda – Ionian Sea – Ksamil Boat Tour After breakfast at the hotel, guests can join the extra organized tour **"Magnificent Ionian Sea – Ksamil Boat Tour (90 Euro)"**. Leaving from Saranda port, we set sail on the turquoise waters of the Ionian Sea for an unforgettable journey. Throughout the day, swimming breaks will be held in beautiful bays, and guests can enjoy the sea in the bright blue waters. During our lunch break, we will do a city tour of Ksamil with a seaside view and enjoy a pleasant meal. The boat tour ends with our return to Saranda and overnight at the hotel. Day 4 Saranda – Gjirokastër Tour After breakfast, guests who wish can join the extra **"Magnificent Gjirokastër Tour (70 Euro)."** Gjirokastër, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, is famous for its stone houses and historical texture, with architecture dating back to the Ottoman period, making it one of the most impressive cities in the Balkans. Our city tour will include Gjirokastër Castle, the historic bazaar, and characteristic stone houses. After a panoramic viewpoint of the valley from the castle, we will enjoy a walk through narrow streets, taking a journey back in time. After leisure time, return to Saranda for overnight at the hotel. Day 5 Saranda – Divjaka-Karavasta National Park – Tirana – Istanbul After check-out and breakfast, departure from Saranda at 09:00. Leaving behind the Ionian coast, we start our journey. Along the way, with the participation of the entire group, we will do an extra organized **"Magnificent Divjaka-Karavasta National Park Tour (40 Euro)."** Divjaka-Karavasta National Park, one of Albania’s most important natural areas located along the Adriatic coast, boasts the country’s largest lagoon ecosystem, famous for its rich bird population and natural habitats. We will observe the lagoon from wooden walkways and viewing points, taking a short nature break. After enjoying the turquoise waters of the Ionian Sea, we will explore a different face of Albania. At the indicated time, we will head to Tirana Airport. Upon arrival, after baggage, ticket, and passport procedures, we will fly back to Istanbul with Turkish Airlines flight TK1078 at 19:50, arriving at Istanbul Airport at 22:35 local time, marking the end of our tour.