Five ways to discover Albania

ANNIVERSARY WALTZ

Regent Holidays (020 7666 1244; regent-holidays.co.uk) has a 50th Anniversary Tour of Albania – a potted five-day affair – scheduled for May 19-23. It will include visits to Tirana, Gjirokaster, Butrint, Ksamil and Berat. From £1,050pp, including flights.

ILLYRIAN ECHOES

It’s hardly low-budget, but if you want a more detailed glimpse of Albania, the nine-day Origins of Illyria tour offered by Steppes Travel (01285 880980; steppestravel.com) is an excellent choice. A long-standing addition to the company’s brochure, led by historian Carolyn Perry, the trip dissects the country from north to south, halting in Tirana, Durres, Berat, Vlore, Saranda and Gjirokaster. This year’s edition will start on June 3, from £1,995pp; flights cost extra.

SOUTHERN COMFORTS

While Albania’s beaches are not yet package staples, it is still possible to spend an easy week on the sand.

Greece specialist Sunvil (020 8758 4758; sunvil.co.uk) offers holidays to Saranda, where guests fly to Corfu, then hop over to Albania by ferry. A week at the three-star Seaside Saranda starts at £1,028pp (with flights from Manchester).

DOUBLE DELIGHT

Another route to this lessappreciated region is the Albania and Macedonia Uncovered trip offered by Mercury Holidays (0333 321 3144; mercuryholidays.co.uk). As its name suggests, the 11day escorted tour also takes in neighbouring North Macedonia (notably the little city of Ohrid, which sits gorgeously on the lake of the same name). It also visits Tirana, Vlore (for Apollonia) and Durres – checking into the latter for four nights by the beach. From £1,108pp, with flights. Next departure is April 8-18.

BLLOKU PARTY

With a wealth of attractions to complement the bars of Blloku (Bunk’art is a modern art gallery in a former nuclear shelter; bunkart.al), Tirana can certainly sustain a mini-break. A four-night stay at the five-star Hotel Rogner, flying from Heathrow on May 18, costs from £384pp, with British Airways Holidays (0344 493

0787; ba.com/holidays).

As old as time: World Heritage site Gjirokastra is perfect for history buffs Sun, sea and Saranda: enjoy some downtime at the popular coastal town