Gjirokastër · 13 hours · private
UNESCO slate roofs, Kadare, Hoxha, and a Cold War tunnel.
€395 the vehicle · from €93 each
Photo: Elias Bizannes, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Why go
Gjirokastër — The City of Stone
UNESCO 2005. Slate-roofed fortified Ottoman tower-houses climbing beneath a vast castle. Birthplace of Ismail Kadare and Enver Hoxha. Cold War tunnel beneath the bazaar. A long day from Tirana.
Gjirokastër was inscribed by UNESCO in 2005. Slate-roofed fortified Ottoman tower-houses from the seventeenth to nineteenth centuries climb beneath a vast castle.
It is the birthplace of both Ismail Kadare and Enver Hoxha, which makes it two museums at once. A Cold War tunnel runs beneath the bazaar.
On the ground
What the day holds
- UNESCO stone city and castle
- Kadare and Hoxha houses
- Cold War tunnel
- Bazaar lanes
- Long scenic drive south
Itinerary
Door to door, at your pace.
07:00
Leave Tirana
South through the corridor toward Gjirokastër.
midday
Castle and town
Castle first, then the stone houses and bazaar.
afternoon
Tunnel and museums
Cold War tunnel and house museums as interest dictates.
evening
Return
Late road back to Tirana.
The price
Built from real costs. Check the arithmetic.
The price, in full
€395
one vehicle · €198 each · cash on the day
€475 by card online · retainer €120 holds the date, €275 cash to the driver
How many of you
One car seats four. Five guests means both cars go out — and both cars are paid for.
| People | Cars | Cash | Card | Retainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | €390 (€390 ea) | €470 | €120 |
| 2 | 1 | €395 (€198 ea) | €475 | €120 |
| 3 | 1 | €395 (€132 ea) | €475 | €120 |
| 4 | 1 | €395 (€99 ea) | €475 | €120 |
| 5 | 2 | €745 (€149 ea) | €895 | €225 |
| 6 | 2 | €745 (€124 ea) | €895 | €225 |
| 7 | 2 | €745 (€106 ea) | €895 | €225 |
| 8 | 2 | €745 (€93 ea) | €895 | €225 |
The message writes itself with your dates and party size already in it.
Included
- Private 4x4 and driver for the whole trip
- Door-to-door pick-up and drop-off in Tirana
- All fuel, road and track access
- Bottled water and fruit in the cool box
- Waiting time at every stop — including lunch
Not included
- Your food and drinks
- Gjirokastër castle — about €4 per person
- Tips (never expected, always welcome)
Best months: April–October
Questions
Before you reserve
- Do I have to hike?
- No. Every stop on this route is reached by vehicle. If you want to walk, the driver waits — but nothing requires it.
- How do I pay?
- Cash on the day is cheapest. Card online includes a 20% charge for the processor and currency conversion — that is not our margin. A retainer of 25% of the card price (minimum €30) holds the vehicle; the balance is cash on the day.
- How many people can come?
- Up to eight. One vehicle seats four; five to eight guests means both cars go out, and both cars are paid for. That is the only honest way to price a two-car fleet.
Nearby in spirit
