Albania Horse Trek: In the Footsteps of Lord Byron
9 days starting on Sat 2 Jun 2012‘Land of Albania! Let me bend mine eyes on thee, thou rugged nurse of savage men’.So wrote Lord Byron in his famous poem Childe...
Group Tours in Albania
Starting in June 2012
Wild Walk In Albania (Recce Tour)
9 days starting on Sat 9 Jun 2012‘Land of Albania! Let me bend mine eyes on thee, thou rugged nurse of savage men’.So wrote Lord Byron in his famous poem Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage, where he chronicled the...
Albania Travel Guide
Kruja
Kruja is a town built around the foot of its sheer fortress rock, 610 metres high. The castle, the citadel of the national hero Skënderbeg, is both shrine and monument to the aspiration of the Albanian nation. It is built on an isolated spur of the limestone mountain-wall of the Kruja range and has spectacular views of the surrounding region. The citadel was used by the Illyrian tribes centred on nearby Zgërdhesh as early as the 6BC and became the main Illyrian castle in the area after Zgërdhesh was abandoned in the 4th century. The earthquake of 1617 caused the cracking and collapse of many hill structures, including the citadel, but in 1832, on the Sultan's orders, the Albanian feudal castles were made useless for defence and a centralised bureaucratic government replaced - at least in intention - the former feudal semi-autonomy of such mountain regions as Kruja. Half-hearted attempts were made by the Turks to rebuild sections of the castle, after they tightened their grip on the countryside, for they realised that sudden Balkan uprisings could overwhelm their government, and a defenceless castle is a doubtful asset to a ruling class. In 1968, on the 500th anniversary of the death of Skënderbeg, the city was proclaimed a 'Hero City' by the communist government which had come to power in November 1944.
Gjiorkaster
Seeped in history and enclosed by ancient walls, Gjiorkaster is a well-preserved Ottoman city in southern Albania which has been home to the country’s most influential leaders. Parts of the stone walls have been dated back to 3rd century AD, and nowadays it is still overlooked by the towers of its castle. The souks, mosque, citadel, museums, war mementos and leafy inclined streets make Gjiorkaster a fascinating city to visit today.
Tirana
Originally at Ottoman town, Tirana is now the increasingly flourishing capital of Albania. Recent governmental steps have begun to improve its poor infrastructure, making it an up-and-coming city built on a unique combination of old-world charm and modern architecture and entertainment.
Albania Travel Information
Visa Information
UK Passport holders require a visa to visit Albania and this can be obtained upon arrival.
Your passport must be valid for at least six months after the end of your trip, and it must have at least one blank page for each visa required. Please ensure the passport details we hold for you are correct.
Please note it is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct visa documentation when starting your trip. Country entry regulations can alter daily and it is always best to check with the relevant embassies for any changes.
If you prefer to obtain your visa prior to departing from the UK you can use a visa company such as:
Travcour (UK)
Tempo House
15 Falcon Road Battersea
London
SW11 2PJ
Tel: 020 7223 5295
Fax: 020 7738 2617
Email: info@travcour.com
Website: www.travcour.com
If you are travelling on a non-UK passport, please contact your nearest consulate/embassy for up to date visa information.
Insurance:
Insurance that provides cover for emergency repatriation in case of a medical emergency is compulsory for all tours.
You should be aware that many standard insurance policies may not cover you adequately for all aspects of a Wild Frontiers trip and so we strongly recommend that you purchase a suitably designed insurance policy.
One such policy is the "Wild Frontiers" policy underwritten by Ace European Group Limited (ACE " firm reference 202803), which is available to EU residents (which excludes Norway & Switzerland) through our website or via the insurance company direct on 0845 345 3456. Under this policy there are two different levels of cover available.
Standard policy: a comprehensive travel insurance policy that provides cover for all Wild Frontiers activities, including trekking up to 6,000m. This policy does not provide cover for travel to areas where the FCO is advising against all or all but essential travel.
Elite policy: provides the same comprehensive level of cover as the standard policy. In addition the Elite policy also provides cover for travel to areas where the FCO is advising against all or all but essential travel. The policy will not provide cover for any claims arising from or relating to the reasons why the FCO is advising against travel.
If purchasing the Elite policy you also have the option to extend the cover provided by the policy to include cover for claims arising from a terrorist act in an area where the FCO is advising against travel. You can add this cover to your policy when purchasing online or over the telephone.
These policies are only available to those travelling on a Wild Frontiers holiday.
For more information and to purchase your policy online please visit the Insurance section of our website.
The cover is underwritten by Ace European Group Limited (ACE), and is arranged by Travel & General Insurance Service Limited. Both companies are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). Wild Frontiers Limited is an Introducer Appointed Representative of Travel & General Insurance Company plc, details of which can be found at the FSA's website www.fsa.gov.uk.
To contact them please visit their website at www.travel-general.com or call 0845 408 0583.
Health and Vaccinations:
There are no mandatory immunisations for travellers to Albania, although you should be up-to-date with Typhoid, Tetanus, Polio and Hepatitis A. We recommend you seek advice from your local GP or travel centre as to the correct immunisations and preventative treatments.
We also recommend:
• A dental check-up prior to travelling.
• You inform us of any pre-existing medical conditions or medication.
To be on the safe side you can also check on www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk
Tour Leaders
Dominico Mocchi
Dom has been running horse treks in Asia for more than ten years. A great friend of Jonny's, with the same enthusiasm and love for the countries in which he... Read More
Max Wood
Max was born in Yorkshire and brought up in Lancashire. After studying at university in Coventry he realised that there was much more in this world to... Read More
