Taste & Traditions: Albanian Raki & Culinary Discovery Tour

You arrive at Tirana International Airport where your professional English-speaking guide meets you and accompanies you throughout the journey. We transfer to the capital and check in at the hotel before setting out to explore. 

We begin with a walking tour of Tirana, starting at Skanderbeg Square, the city’s central hub surrounded by landmarks including the National History Museum, Et’hem Bey Mosque, and the Clock Tower. The square reflects Albania’s complex history, where Ottoman heritage meets communist-era architecture and modern development. We continue to the New Bazaar, a bustling market where locals shop for fresh produce and traditional goods. 

Our first tasting takes place at Komiteti – Kafe Muzeum, an authentic communist-era bar transformed into a living museum. Here you choose and sample 3 types of raki from over 50 different brands, each with its own character and regional origin. The guide explains the cultural significance of raki in Albanian life and how this spirit has been part of celebrations and daily rituals for centuries. 

The evening is free for dinner. Your guide can recommend restaurants in the Blloku district or around the Grand Park area. 

Overnight at Dinasty Hotel in Tirana (or similar). 

After breakfast, we drive through the Albanian countryside toward Berat. We stop in the village of Belshi at a traditional local bar where we experience village life with Turkish coffee and raki served the way locals have enjoyed it for generations. 

We continue to Berat, a UNESCO World Heritage city known as the “City of a Thousand Windows” for its distinctive white Ottoman houses cascading down the hillside. We visit Berat Castle, one of the largest inhabited castles in the Balkans where families still live within the ancient walls. Inside, we walk through narrow cobblestone streets, visit Byzantine churches, and take in panoramic views of the Osum River valley below. 

Lunch is served at Klea Restaurant (or similar) in Berat. In the afternoon, we transfer to Alpeta Winery in Roshnik. We walk through the vineyards, tour the winery and distillery, and taste three wines and two rakis paired with seasonal fruits, olives, and local cheeses. The winery staff explains the production process and what makes Albanian varieties distinctive. 

We return to Berat for a walking tour through the Mangalem and Gorica quarters, two historic neighborhoods separated by the Osum River and connected by the Gorica Bridge. We check in at the hotel. The evening is free for dinner. 

Overnight at Hotel Onufri in Berat (or similar). 

After breakfast, we drive south through mountain landscapes toward Përmet. We make a stop in Skrapar, known as the “raki capital” of Albania. The guide explains why this region produces some of the country’s most respected raki. 

We arrive in Përmet for lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, we take a walking tour of Përmet and visit Gliko Almeg Përmet to see how gliko is made; a traditional preserve of fruits, walnuts, or rose petals candied in sugar syrup. This delicacy is traditionally offered to guests with coffee. We watch the artisans at work and sample several varieties. 

We check in at the hotel. The rest of the afternoon and evening are free. You may explore the riverside area or find a tavern for dinner on your own. 

Overnight at Hotel Permeti in Përmet (or similar). 

After breakfast, we drive to the Benja Thermal Baths, where natural hot springs cascade into crystal-clear pools surrounded by canyon walls and the 18th-century Ottoman Kadiut Bridge. We have free time to swim, relax in the warm mineral waters, and enjoy the mountain scenery. 

We then transfer to a family-run farm and distillery in the countryside. Lunch is served at the farm with fresh ingredients grown on the property.  

After lunch, we tour the distillery to learn how raki is crafted using traditional copper stills and time-honored techniques passed down through generations. The family explains each stage of the process, from selecting and fermenting the fruit to slow distillation and careful separation of flavors, highlighting what gives their raki its distinctive character. You gain insight into how patience, experience, and local ingredients shape the final spirit.  

The afternoon is free to walk the farm grounds or relax in the rural setting. 

Dinner is served at the farm, featuring home-cooked Albanian dishes and the farm’s own raki. 

Overnight at the farm hotel. 

After breakfast, we drive to Korça, a highland city known for its cultural heritage. We visit the Birra Korça brewery, founded in 1928 as Albania’s first beer producer. We tour the facilities and taste 2-3 different beers while learning about the brewing history. 

The afternoon is free for lunch in Korça. Your guide can suggest where to try local specialties. We then drive back to Tirana and check in at the hotel with time to rest. 

Dinner is served at the hotel restaurant. 

Overnight at Dinasty Hotel in Tirana (or similar). 

After breakfast, you have free time until your flight departure. You may revisit Skanderbeg Square, shop for souvenirs, or relax at a café. 

We transfer to Tirana International Airport for your departure flight.