A Day in Albania - From Corfu

You will be accompanied on your tour by an English-speaking guide who will elaborate on the riveting history of Butrint.

Albania is only a short cruise away from Greece down the Corfu Strait, but docking in this emerging nation feels like entering another world.

You will arrive at Saranda, which first appears in historical texts as a port city in the 1st century BC. Here you’ll enjoy lunch and have the chance to look around.

The highlight of your day will be a coach trip to Butrint, designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage site in 1997.

After its decline and abandonment, the ancient town disappeared under layers of silt and vegetation, but archaeologists in the 1920s began to uncover some of the most intact remains of a working town in the Mediterranean.

The Greeks, Romans and Ottomans all left their mark on Butrint, one of the major maritime and commercial centers of the Ancient World.

You’ll see remains of the amphitheatre, which testifies to the cultural refinement of Butrint, as well as the school, pharmacy and temple. Walk through the dense woods and up the hill to the fort, where you’ll learn about the military prowess of the town. Don’t miss the opportunity to take out your camera for spectacular panoramas of mainland Greece.

Located in a marshy landscape between an inland lagoon and the busy straits between Corfu and Albania, Butrint is rich in wildlife, and colorful birds sing above the ruins.

You will be returned to the Dassia Chandris Hotel at tour’s end.