Kayaking the Ionian Sea & Exploring Albania

9 days
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5/5 Excellent
31 reviews  
97%
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Small Group Tour
ROW Sea Kayak Adventures’ Albania Discovery trip is a creative mix of walks, paddles, and explorations. Along our way, we meet various local leaders who join us as special guests to enrich our understanding and appreciation for this part of the world. The rich history of Albania has left the country scattered with ancient Greek and Roman sites, Byzantine chur...
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$4,313
From$3,195
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Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

    • Three days of kayaking on the Ionian Sea
    • Visits to the classical site of Butrint, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
    • Easy to intermediate hiking through stunningly beautiful countryside
    • Full immersion in the local culture and customs.

What's this trip about?

    ROW Sea Kayak Adventures’ Albania Discovery trip is a creative mix of walks, paddles, and explorations. Along our way, we meet various local leaders who join us as special guests to enrich our understanding and appreciation for this part of the world. The rich history of Albania has left the country scattered with ancient Greek and Roman sites, Byzantine churches, Ottoman-era towns, mosques, and bridges. The landscapes are spectacular as well, with a coastline of picture-perfect sandy coves, wild lagoons and marshes, brooding mountains, and dazzling alpine peaks.

Details

Itinerary focusActive and Outdoor Sports
Group sizeIntimate group - 12 max
Age range12 years and up
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityTirana, Albania
End CityTirana, Albania

Travel Themes

  • Cultural
  • National Parks
  • Nature & Wildlife
  • Rafting, Kayaking, Canoeing

Destinations

  • Europe
  • Albania

Attractions

  • Berat
  • Gjirokaster
  • Kruja
  • Tirana

Activities

  • Culture
  • Hiking
  • History
  • Kayaking
  • Nature
  • Ruins & Archaeology
  • Swimming

Popular Trips

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1: Arrival, Kruja

Meals: Dinner

Arrive at the Mother Teresa airport in Tirana, capital of Albania. A short transfer takes us high in the mountains north of Tirana, to the city of Kruja. This city was the center of Albanian resistence to the Ottomans in the 15th century. Along wi...

Day 2: History Museum, Ethnographic Museum

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

After breakfast, a walk amongst the historic fortress leads us to two museums. The first is the History Museum, housed in a building designed by the daughter of Enver, the communist leader for most of the 20th century. The mus...

Day 3: Kayak beneath the Lightning Mountains

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

We enjoy a traditional breakfast before heading to the sea for a kayaking orientation and the beginning of our paddling journey. Our paddle is suitable for beginnier kayakers, although more advanced kayakers will enjoy it as w...

Day 4: Himara

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

This morning, we pack our things and head south, paddling along cliffs, caves, beaches and forested mountains. We stop for lunch on an secluded beach for a picnic in the shade of olive trees and a refreshing swim. By mid-after...

Day 5: Saranda

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Soak in the beauty of the sea and sun as we glide through the sparkling waters of the coastline. There’s plenty of time to swim, soak in the sun's rays and peer into the depths of the clear Ionian. We paddle through the bay of...

Day 6: Butrin; Gjirokaster

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Today we begin with a visit to Butrint, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This Greco-Roman ruin has one of the most tranquil and picturesque settings of any ancient site. Situated on the Straits of Corfu, a port from Hellenistic t...

Day 7: Dhembeli Pass

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

We depart from our hotel and drive across the Vjosa valley, through the narrow gorge of Suha, to the Zagoria Valley where our seven-mile (11km) hike begins. This hike ascends to Dhembeli Pass (1500 meters/ 4500 feet), and we’r...

Day 8: Osumi River Canyon

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Four-wheel drive vehicles take us through the remote Skrapar region this morning, featuring beautiful and remote landscape known as the “Raki Lands.” The region is named after the strongest liquor in Albania, raki. After two h...

Day 9: Departure

Depart Berati in time to reach any flights scheduled from the Tirana Airport or continue your travels!

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Dates & Availability

Price From $3,195
Price per day$355
Single supplement (single occupancy)$500
Last Updated: 10/23/2019

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with ROW Sea Kayak Adventures.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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ROW Sea Kayak Adventures Reviews & Ratings

5/5  Excellent
Excellent
30
Great
1
Average
0
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Other ROW Sea Kayak Adventures Reviews

K

Karen

Mar 2020

Written on

one of the best things we had ever done

When my partner and I went on a whale watching trip with Sea Kayak Adventures five years ago, we concluded that it was one of the best things we had ever done - espe...

J

Jacquie

Feb 2020

ROW Sea Kayak Adventures Company Reviewsby ROW Sea Kayak Adventures

This was a very magical trip!

This was a very magical trip! Sherman, Edgar, Amaranta, and Monica were so passionate about the whales, birds, flora, and kayaking it was contagious. We so enjoyed s...

B

Barbara

Feb 2020

Written on

had an amazing time

I was recently on a trip with your company from Mag Bay on the Gray Whale tour 2/10-2/15 and had an amazing time. I was on this trip with my 9 year old granddaughter...

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Tour Operator

ROW Sea Kayak Adventures

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ROW Sea Kayak Adventures, founded in 1993, was born out of a passion for whale watching, sea kayaking, and wanting to share the experience with fellow nature-lovers. For over 20 years now, Sea Kayak Adventures has been providing unique kayak tours for active, outdoor-minded travelers to world-renowned destinations and some of the most celebrated natural areas, including Alaska, British Columbia, Baja, the Galapagos Islands, Patagonia, Quebec, Scotland and Corsica. Each destination has its own unique wilderness experiences and most offer once-in-a-lifetime wildlife encounters. Travelers head home at the end of their trip feeling rejuvenated by their time spent in nature, meeting great people, kayaking amidst wildlife and sleeping under the stars.

At ROW Sea Kayak Adventures, we select the very best places on Earth to whale watch and sea kayak. And we don’t just watch whales; we join them! Many of our trips are in UNESCO World Heritage Sites and National Marine Parks, providing unparalleled whale and wildlife encounters, and calm paddling waters.

Kayaks are largely non-intrusive to wildlife, which mean you’ll have a rare view of animals that normally scatter at the approach of humans and large boats. In sturdy kayaks you’ll be at eye level with playful dolphins, inquisitive sea lions, and incredible whales.

Whether you are an avid sea kayaker, or it is your first time, you’ll enjoy these incredible trips, and share in our passion for adventure, commitment to conserving the environment, and relishing unique experiences. For those new to the sport, kayaking is easy to learn in the sheltered waters that we visit, and we provide all of the camping gear, kayaking equipment and guidance needed. In addition, we keep our groups small to allow you to not only travel intimately among nature, but to ensure you receive the necessary attention from our guides.

Most of our guides are with us for the long-term, despite the seasonal nature of the industry. Our top-notch equipment, unique itineraries, and perfected operations attract extraordinary guides, many of whom are highly sought after in the industry. ROW Sea Kayak Adventures guides know their outdoor skills as second nature. Each trip has 2-3 guides to assist, inform and lead the way so you get the most out of your adventure. They love to share conversations, knowledge, games and laughter – and they’re great cooks!

We know that it’s our job to provide uncompromising comfort & safety and quality service & gear. We provide all of the gear you need – kayaks, camping gear, etc – teach you necessary skills to perform the various activities, and always have your safety in mind. In addition, our legendary wilderness meals, prepared daily by our guides using fresh, healthy ingredients, include savory dishes like chiles rellenos, baked salmon and vegetable lasagna. We even serve delicious desserts like brownies and pineapple upside-down cake! Each morning, we serve up freshly brewed coffee. Throughout the day we provide an abundance of local fruits and vegetables. Wine and mixed drinks are served with hors d’oeuvres each evening for happy hour. We also accommodate special dietary requests. “Camping Plus” is all about truly “getting away,” but not quite “leaving it all behind!”

While we provide certain creature comforts, we are all about practicing “Leave No Trace” ethics. Respecting not only the wildlife we encounter, but also the environment we visit is of utmost importance. Rest assured you will leave the special places you visit as pristine as you found them. 

In 2013, we furthered our conservation and responsible tourism efforts by becoming the first kayak tour operator to join the Responsible Whale Watch Partnership. We represent the organization with just 30 other companies in an effort to raise the standards of whale and dolphin watching worldwide.

We make unique and meaningful trips easier for you by taking care of the details so you can just show up and focus on being totally engaged in your adventure.

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Logistics

Cancellation policy

Cancellations and Refunds

If you find it necessary to cancel your trip, you should notify ROW Sea Kayak Adventures in writing, by e-mail or fax immediately.  If written cancellation is received (call to verify) before the final balance is due, you will be given a refund less the amount of the deposit.  Deposits are not refundable.  If cancellations are made on or after the final balance due date, no money will be refunded.  If you are unable to go on the trip, you are welcome to find a replacement for yourself.  Any replacement participant must be able to meet trip criteria, complete a trip application, sign a waiver form and agree to the Terms and Conditions. Please understand that once you’ve signed up, we lose the right to sell your reserved space to other individuals or groups. Therefore we regret that we cannot make exceptions for personal emergencies. For this reason as well as those listed above we strongly recommend you consider purchasing a travel protection plan.

ROW Sea Kayak Adventures, Inc. must normally make substantial payments to its suppliers far in advance of scheduled departures. If a trip is canceled due to force majeure (acts of God, war, labor strikes, flooding, earthquake, etc.), ROW Sea Kayak Adventures, Inc. will promptly refund the portion of the trip cost not advanced to suppliers and use its best efforts to recover and refund the balance as promptly as possible. However, ROW Sea Kayak Adventures, Inc. does not guarantee recovery of any or all of the advance payments made, and our use of best efforts to recover these payments will not include the institution of any legal proceedings in foreign jurisdictions.

Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Meals Included

7 Breakfasts, 7 Lunches and 8 Dinners

Age Requirements
12 years and up
Additional Information
Trip ID
rowsea-KayTheRow

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