Albania, seen from the passenger seat, with a local driver.
Private day trips from Tirana and multi-day tours: UNESCO towns, the Alps, lakes and the Riviera. Your own car, never a bus group, and a driver who waits wherever you stop.
New · iPhone betaTour Alb Pocket GuideAsk anything about Albania, even offline.Get it free40 min from Tirana
Bovilla Lake
- No stressDriven to the viewpoint
- No licence neededYou're the passenger
- Private carNever a shared group
- 10% off in cashRetainer holds your date
- No stressDriven to the viewpoint
- No licence neededYou're the passenger
- Private carNever a shared group
- 10% off in cashRetainer holds your date
For guests from the United States
Albania in a few days, without a rental car
Many American visitors add Albania to a Balkan or Mediterranean trip and have only a few days. Without a car of your own, a private driver is the simplest way to reach Berat, Gjirokastër or the lakes from Tirana, and mountain roads are steep and often unpaved.
Trips start and end in Tirana, so you keep the same hotel. For first-timers who care about history, the Bunk'Art cold-war museum day and the stone city of Gjirokastër are the two that people ask about most.
Trips run in English.
Popular with US travelers
Bovilla, Bunk'Art 1 & Mount Dajti
9.5 hours · from €254 · 22,847 ALL for the car · up to 4
Cold-war history and the city's mountain: Bunk'Art 1, Mount Dajti and Bovilla Lake in one day from Tirana.
Gjirokastër, the Blue Eye, Butrint & Ksamil
3 days · from €635 · 57,115 ALL for the car · up to 4
Three days in the south: the stone city of Gjirokastër, the Blue Eye, Butrint's ruins and Ksamil.
Berat, Osumi Canyon & Bogovë Waterfall
13.5 hours · from €318 · 28,558 ALL for the car · up to 4
A UNESCO town, an 80-metre canyon and a hidden waterfall in one long day.
Practical notes for US travelers
- Getting here
- Most itineraries connect through a European hub; check airlines for current routes. The airport is about 17 km from Tirana.
- Time
- Albania is 6 hours ahead of US Eastern time and 9 ahead of Pacific, with small differences for a few weeks in spring and autumn when daylight saving dates differ.
- Entry
- US passport holders do not need a visa for short tourist stays. Check the US State Department's Albania travel information for the current length of stay and passport rules.
- Money & plugs
- Albania uses the lek (ALL). Euros and cards are widely accepted in tourist places; pay our driver in cash for 10% off. Sockets are type C/F at 230 V, so bring an adaptor and check that your chargers handle 230 V.
- Driving side
- Albanians drive on the right, as in the US, but mountain roads are narrow, steep and often unpaved.
From Google
Reviews from all our guests
No guest has written a Google review in English yet. These are from guests of every nationality; every one is real and linked to Google.
★★★★★
“Great experience with this company! We took two trips with two different drivers, and both of them were fantastic. I highly recommend this company to everyone!”
★★★★★
“Had a private tour with Rejdi, who drove me from the start of the bumpy dirt roads until the Bovilla restaurant at the very top. He was an experienced and comfortable driver. And I really enjoyed our talks on the way, discussing the country, nature, political situation, and even tips for my further travel. My warmest recommendation.”
Erland JacobsenGoogle · Aug 2026★★★★★
“Nice people and well taken care of by them.”
★★★★★
“Nice people!”
★★★★★
“Very nice roadtrip to Bovilla lake and Kruje. Our guides were very helpful during the day. Nice guys!”
★★★★★
“We arrived without a reservation. Which wasn't a problem; we waited 5 minutes and off we went. Friendly driver who dropped us off at the restaurant at the top. We made two stops where we could take photos or where the driver took photos of us. He waited for us in the restaurant until we were ready to go back. Highly recommended!”
★★★★★
“Excellent experience!!! The driver is very kind and smiling 😊 the drive itself is an activity in itself 😆 and the view of the lake is magnificent!! Thank you so much”
★★★★★
“Great trip, driver was very patient with us and waited for us when we went exploring, we feel no pressure that we need to rush. Highly recommend! Don't try to get there in your own car.”
★★★★★
“Our driver was very friendly, always smiling, and provided us with explanations about the tour throughout the entire route. Thank you, Hammed, for this wonderful experience! And the view, wow! Breathtaking!!”
Show all 30 reviews ↓Show 21 more reviews ↓Show fewer ↑
★★★★★
“Easily reachable via WhatsApp. A nice driver who drives very carefully, waits for you while you walk around, and tells you about the history and emerging tourism in Albania along the way.”
★★★★★
“Absolutely fantastic! They took us on at the last minute. 30 minutes up, 2 hours at the top, and 30 minutes down, perfect timing! Highly recommended!”
★★★★★
“This is the best service I ever had in Albania so far. The staff is so professional and friendly.”
★★★★★
“Very kind, attentive and well-trained driver. Which is essential here 😀. Don't ruin your own car, the RAV 4 is the perfect choice for this terrain. Beautiful view, absolutely worth it, I highly recommend it.”
★★★★★
“Amazing service! We reached out after we saw the condition of the road. Driver replied super fast and picked us up immediately.”
★★★★★
“What a nice but above all skilled driver. To take us up like that in his comfortable car over such a terrible road. Don't drive this yourself!!! Hire him and he will take you safely up and back. Beautiful view at the restaurant where he drops you off, and then you can do a short but exciting climb to the viewpoint. He takes his time!”
★★★★★
“Fantastic trip to Lake Bovilla. Beautiful view and a lovely swim! Highly recommended over the big tours.”
★★★★★
“The driver was very friendly, smiling, and professional. Everything went very well! Thank you for the tour.”
★★★★★
“Good experience. I suggest not to take your rental car to these roads (it is usually forbidden). Location is precise in maps, stop there and ask in the shop if necessary.”
★★★★★
“Great experience! The road was bad but the view was so worth it, he got us to the lake and back safely, I recommend this tour as he was friendly very knowledgeable of the area.”
★★★★★
“If you want to visit Lake Bovilla, I highly recommend taking a taxi! The road to get there is winding, and you wouldn't be able to get there with a regular car; you'll need a 4x4! Furthermore, rental companies prohibit driving on dirt roads.”
★★★★★
“Very skilled and friendly driver! Good price and responds quickly, definitely recommended!”
★★★★★
“Excelent service, very nice guy, the road was unpaved and very bad but the views are insane, definitely recommend this tour as he was a very good driver.”
★★★★★
“Very friendly, reasonable price, and speaks good English. Highly recommended, don't drive up yourself!”
★★★★★
“Had a great time during the drive. Very friendly, professional, and affordable. Everything went smoothly and the experience was comfortable and enjoyable. Definitely recommend to anyone looking for a good and reliable service.”
Mr GhostGoogle · May 2026★★★★★
“We hired this taxi service to take us from Zall-Herr to Bovilla Lake because the road conditions were quite challenging, and it was definitely the right decision since our rental company prohibited driving off-road.”
★★★★★
“The driver who took us was very nice and courteous, showed us places to go swimming in the water and answered our requests.”
★★★★★
“A good driver, great experience. Would recommend”
★★★★★
“Great and professional service.”
★★★★★
“Super good driver and nice man.”
★★★★★
“A real adrenaline rush ⛰️🔥”
Do I need a visa to visit Albania as a US citizen?
US citizens do not need a visa for short tourist stays, but rules and passport requirements can change. Check the US State Department's Albania page before you go.
Is it better to rent a car or hire a private driver?
Main roads are fine in a rental, but mountain and gravel roads are steep and often unsigned, and many rental contracts forbid them. A private driver handles that, and you can enjoy the view.
Which day trips from Tirana should I pick first?
Bovilla Lake and Krujë, Berat with the Osum canyon, Durrës, and Shkodër with Rozafa castle. Times and prices are on our day trips from Tirana page.