Albania's Last Wild Jewel & Corfu — Self-Launched
12 days · Albania & Corfu (Greece)
InAlb TPP Shpk charges £1,580
No-markup version: ~£575 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of InAlb TPP Shpk's 12-day loop from Tirana through northern lakes, the Ohrid shoreline, stone villages of the southeast, Gjirokastra and the Riviera, with a two-night hop across to Corfu. Do the same route on local furgons, intercity buses and the Saranda–Corfu ferry, stay in guesthouses and budget hotels, and book boat trips, Butrint tickets and the Paxos/Antipaxos day cruise yourself via GetYourGuide, Klook or directly with local operators. Costs are backpacker/budget-traveller estimates in GBP and exclude international flights.
Day-by-day
Tirana → Kruja → Shkodra
Shkodra
Land at Tirana airport and take the public Rinas Express bus into the city (~250 lek / £2). From Tirana's northern bus terminal (Dritan Hoxha) catch a furgon to Kruja (~45 min, £2), climb to Skanderbeg Castle and the bazaar, and on the way down ask the driver to stop near the Sari Salltik cave shrine on the mountain road. Continue to Shkodra by furgon/bus (~1.5 hrs, £3). Evening stroll along Kolë Idromeno pedestrian street and dinner in the Rozafa area.
🚌Rinas Express airport bus £2; furgon/bus Tirana–Kruja–Shkodra £5
🛏Hostel/guesthouse in Shkodra old town (£12–18 dorm or budget private)
- →Skanderbeg (Kruja) Castle — ~500 lek
- →Kruja bazaar wander
- →Sari Salltik cave shrine stop
- →Shkodra centre evening walk
Koman Lake & Shala River day trip
Shkodra
Book the Koman Lake ferry/boat day trip directly with a local Shkodra operator or via GetYourGuide (roughly £25–35 including transport to the pier, boat and a stop at Shala River). The morning boat through the fjord-like gorge is the highlight; pack water and a picnic as food options at Shala are limited and pricey. Back in Shkodra for the evening.
🚌Shared van to Koman pier included in boat trip
🛏Hostel/guesthouse in Shkodra
- →Koman Lake boat crossing
- →Shala River swim and short walk
Shkodra → Lin → Ohrid → Korça
Korça
Long travel day south-east. Take a morning bus/furgon to Tirana then a service onward toward Elbasan/Pogradec (~4–5 hrs combined, £7–9); ask to be dropped at Lin for a short lakeside wander and lunch, then continue to Ohrid old town for a couple of hours (bring your passport — you're crossing into North Macedonia). Finish with the afternoon bus across to Korça (~2.5 hrs, £4). Check into a guesthouse near the old bazaar.
🚌Bus/furgon chain Shkodra–Tirana–Pogradec–Ohrid–Korça ~£13
🛏Guesthouse in Korça old town (£15–22)
- →Lin fishing village stop
- →Ohrid old town and lakefront
- →Korça bazaar evening
Korça → Voskopoja → Dardha → Leskovik
Leskovik
Hire a local driver for the day through the hills (negotiate ~£40–50 per group, split between travellers) or use morning furgons where they run. Visit Voskopoja's painted churches and then Dardha's stone alpine village for lunch. Arrange in advance with a Leskovik guesthouse or via your Korça host for a bee-keeping visit at a small family farm en route (£10–15 with honey tasting). Overnight in rural bungalow-style guesthouse near Leskovik.
🚌Hired local driver or furgons ~£15 pp
🛏Farm guesthouse/bungalow near Leskovik (£15–20)
- →Voskopoja churches
- →Dardha alpine village
- →Family bee-keeping experience and honey tasting
Leskovik → Permet → Benja thermal pools → Gjirokastra
Gjirokastra
Morning at a small farm near Leskovik (Sotira-style farm visit — ask your host to arrange, £8–12). Continue by bus/furgon toward Përmet (~1.5 hrs, £3), then a local taxi to the Benja thermal baths for a soak (£8 return shared). Press on to Gjirokastra by afternoon bus (£4). Optional: pre-book a Vjosa River rafting trip via a local Permet operator or GetYourGuide (~£35–45) if you want the adrenaline version — it adds a half day.
🚌Buses Leskovik–Përmet–Gjirokastra £7; shared taxi to Benja £8
🛏Guesthouse in Gjirokastra old town (£15–20)
- →Farm morning with animals
- →Benja thermal pools
- →Optional Vjosa rafting
Gjirokastra → Blue Eye → Saranda
Saranda
Explore the UNESCO-listed old town on foot — castle entry ~400 lek — and the bazaar, then take a mid-afternoon furgon to Saranda via the Blue Eye spring (Syri i Kaltër). Get off at the Blue Eye turn-off (or ask the driver), walk 20 min to the spring, then flag a passing furgon for the last stretch (~45 min, £5 total). Traditional home-style lunch at one of the small family tavernas en route (£8). Evening on Saranda's promenade.
🚌Furgon Gjirokastra–Blue Eye–Saranda ~£5
🛏Budget hotel/guesthouse in Saranda (£18–25)
- →Gjirokastra castle and bazaar
- →Blue Eye spring
- →Saranda seafront
Butrint & Ksamil
Saranda
Take the local bus or furgon from Saranda to Butrint (£2, 20 min) and buy your own ticket at the gate (~1,000 lek) to wander the Greco-Roman ruins and museum at your own pace — an audio guide is a cheap alternative to a group tour. Midday continue to Ksamil (£1.5) for a long swim and beach afternoon. In the evening book a table at a taverna with live Albanian folk music in Saranda (£15–20 dinner) rather than a packaged 'Albanian Night'.
🚌Local buses Saranda–Butrint–Ksamil ~£4
🛏Budget hotel/guesthouse in Saranda
- →Butrint archaeological park
- →Ksamil beach swim
- →Albanian folk music dinner
Ferry to Corfu
Corfu Town
Book the Saranda–Corfu passenger ferry in advance online (Ionian Seaways / Finikas lines, ~£12–20 one way, 30–90 min depending on service). Drop bags at your hostel in Corfu Town and spend the afternoon in the UNESCO old town: Spianada Square, the Liston arcade, the two fortresses (Old Fortress entry ~€6). Cheap gyros dinner (£5–7).
🚌Saranda–Corfu ferry £15
🛏Hostel/budget guesthouse in Corfu Town (£22–30)
- →Corfu old town walk
- →Liston promenade
- →Old Fortress
Paxos & Antipaxos boat day
Corfu Town
Join a shared Paxos/Antipaxos day cruise — book on GetYourGuide or Klook, or directly at the Corfu harbour kiosks (~£30–40 with swim stops at the Blue Caves). Bring your own snacks and water; onboard food is expensive. Back in town for the evening, maybe a cheap seafood taverna away from the Liston.
🚌Walk/pickup to port; boat trip included
🛏Hostel/budget guesthouse in Corfu Town
- →Paxos and Antipaxos cruise
- →Blue Caves swim stops
- →Voutoumi-style bay swimming
Ferry back → Borsh & Qeparo → Himara
Himara
Morning ferry back to Saranda (£15). Take the coastal furgon/bus south, stopping at Borsh's long beach and the hillside village of Qeparo (£3), and get off for Porto Palermo castle with its little bay (entry ~300 lek). Continue to Himara for the night (£2). Sunset over the Ionian from the old town.
🚌Corfu–Saranda ferry £15; coastal bus hops £5
🛏Guesthouse in Himara (£18–25)
- →Borsh beach
- →Qeparo village
- →Porto Palermo castle
Himara → Dhermi → Llogara → Vlorë
Vlorë
Early swim off Himara's town beach, then the bus north to Dhermi (£2) for a coffee above the bay. Continue up through Llogara National Park (£3) — hop off at the pass for the viewpoint and the deer park, then catch the next bus down to Vlorë (or a shared taxi, £5). Evening on Vlorë's Lungomare with a cheap seafood dinner.
🚌Bus Himara–Dhermi–Llogara–Vlorë ~£8
🛏Budget hotel/guesthouse in Vlorë (£18–25)
- →Himara morning swim
- →Dhermi
- →Llogara National Park viewpoint
- →Vlorë Lungomare
Vlorë → Tirana (or airport)
Tirana
Morning stroll past the Independence Monument and a last market or beach walk, then the bus/furgon to Tirana (~2 hrs, £4). If you're flying out same day, connect to the airport by Rinas Express (£2) — or stay a final night in Tirana if your flight is early next morning. Trip ends.
🚌Vlorë–Tirana bus £4; airport bus £2
🛏None (or optional Tirana hostel £15)
- →Independence Monument
- →Vlorë market
Self-launched vs. InAlb TPP Shpk
| This itinerary (self-launched) | InAlb TPP Shpk | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£575 | £1,580 |
| Duration | 12 days | 12 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,005 per person (64%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more InAlb TPP Shpk-style trips? Check them out here.~£575
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Albania's Last Wild Jewel & Corfu — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £575 per person for 12 days in Albania & Corfu (Greece). This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with InAlb TPP Shpk?+
Yes — InAlb TPP Shpk charges around £1,580 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £575 — a saving of roughly £1,005 (64%) per person.
How long is the Albania & Corfu (Greece) trip?+
This itinerary runs 12 days, covering 12 day-by-day stops through Albania & Corfu (Greece).
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, culture, beaches trip through Albania & Corfu (Greece), self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
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