TORONTO — Intrepid Travel has announced its first standalone trip to Albania that explores parts of the country rarely visited by tourists.
Launched in partnership with MEET Network, the new nine-day expedition begins in the capital Tirana before heading north to the mountain and lakes region of Lake Koman for hiking along the River Shala. The tour then heads down the coast towards Divjaka-Karavasta National Park and Bay of Vlora for bird watching and local craft experiences. Guests will also visit Berat, also known as the ‘town of a thousand windows’ before heading back to Tirana.
The itinerary is priced from US$1,600 per person and includes accommodation, ground transport, select meals and activities. Special highlights include a sunrise breakfast in a bird watching tower on Karavasta Lagoon, two nights in a family-owned village guesthouse by the Shala River, a farm-to-table dinner at Mrizi I Zanave farm, known as one of Albania’s top culinary destinations, homemade raki and a coffee reading in the village of Babunje, and a hike to the old village of Tragjas, where time has stood still since World War II.
This marks the third trip Intrepid has developed in partnership with MEET, which is a network of Mediterranean protected areas that work with tourism operators to create sustainable ecotourism experiences that benefit conservation and local communities. All MEET experiences are nature based and have a low ecological footprint. The MEET experience on the Albania trip takes place in Divjake-Karavasta National Park, which includes a visit to the nature-protected area of Karavasta Lagoon and the conservation tower to learn about bird rehabilitation.
“We’re extremely proud of our partnership with MEET as their ethos of responsible travel aligns with our mission to create positive change through the joy of travel,” says Zina Bencheikh, managing director EMEA for Intrepid Travel. “This trip is another example of Intrepid’s commitment to providing sustainable, experience-rich trips to conscious travellers looking for truly authentic experiences, and to have a positive impact on local communities.”
Alessandro Galli, President of MEET, added: “During the last couple of years, we have experienced firsthand the great need and desire for change in the tourism sector. We have worked tirelessly with our partners in Albania – from Protected Area Managers to tour operators, from hoteliers and restaurant owners to local artisanal craftsmen – to bring to life a totally new concept of tourism based on fairness, local peculiarities and sustainability.”
For more information about the Albania expedition, click here.
