Berat & Durres and Belsh Lake – 1 Day Tour from Tirana

The meeting point is at your hotel/location in Tirana. After you will start the journey to Berat. On the way to Berat. You will have a stop at the city of Durres. You are going to visit the Old Byzantine Wall, which was built in the 13th century, as a fortress to protect the old town that was inside. You will also see the ancient Roman Amphitheater built in the second century BC. After you visit the Venetian Tower, you will go nearby Adriatic Sea to walk along the promenade to enjoy the endless sea.

First, you will visit Berat Castle, which dates back to the 4th century BC. The castle is one of the biggest inhabited castles and has many Byzantine churches, as well as some mosques built during the Ottoman era, which began in 1417. Then you will learn about the history of Berat which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, more than 2400 years old. It is the most attractive city in our country. Berat is a very old town established by Ilyrians with a fortified castle known as the city of Antipatrea.

Our next stop is in the old quarters of Mangalem and Gorica (old Berat) which are connected by the Gorica Bridge over the Osumi River. The bridge was built in the 18th century. It was originally made in 1780, during the rule of Ahmet Kurt Pasha, and it was rebuilt with stones. Then if you like, will have a traditional lunch with homemade specialties and good wine tasting.

Visit King Mosque, also known as the Sultan’s Mosque or Sultan Bayezid Mosque, is a mosque and a Cultural Monument in Berat. The mosque was built in the 15th century by the Ottoman sultan Bayezid II for the local Albanian population. The King mosque became a Cultural Monument in 1948.

Visit Halveti Tekke. The Halveti Tekke is a Cultural Monument of Albania, located in Berat. The Tekke was built in 1782 by Ahmet Kurt Pasha and pertained to the Khalwati order, a Sufi sect. This Tekke has great architectural values, its ceiling is unique in its kind, as far as the paintings and carvings inside it are unique.

The Ethnographic Museum, which is a rich collection of 1,300 objects, is an important testimony to the culture and the interesting and rich traditions of Berat. It is a museum of great value, which is worth seeing during your visit to Berat. (Optional)

Leave Berat and continue the journey on a road with many views and picturesque, to arrive at Belshi Lake with a wonderful view. You will enjoy the beauty of the lake and take wonderful photos there (30′).