This is a day tour which will give you a good idea about Tirana city’s history and culture and then a nice walk into nature to visit a special bats cave, 15 km east.
For 3 hours we will wander in Tirana’s main neighborhoods talking about its history from Romans, Ottomans, Communism time, and present. We will walk on the Main Square, Toptani area, Main Boulevard, and ex-Blloku.
After that, we will head southeast towards Pellumbasi village to visit the cave located in that area, driving about 30 min. Once there we will take the path leading to the cave. The path passes along the Erzeni River with clear blue water during summertime and nice canyons. After walking for just about 1 hour we will see the entrance of the cave. We will get prepared to enter with head or hand lights, change the shoes if possible as it’s very muddy inside, get an extra t-shirt, the temperature is colder than outside. Pellumbasi cave is of karstic origin and is about 150m long, 10-15m wide and 45m in height.
Meet and return at: Scanderbeg Square, in front of Et’hem Bey Mosque
9 am at the meeting point
7 – 8 Hours
English, Italian and Greek
Discover Tirana, the capital of Albania, by a walking tour and a nice hike to Pellumbasi cave for a full day of history and adventure. The tour is an easy walk, with many visits to historical and cultural sites then a short drive to Pellumbasi village where we will start a nice hike and explore the Bat’s Cave. The hike is of medium difficulty around 3 hours overall. The weather most of the time is very nice and comfortable, only during July and August you should bring your hat, sunscreen, and water.
Our tour begins in the center of the city where we will visit the Ethem Bey Mosque, built-in Albania by Mulla Beu, from Petrela, around the end of the XIIX century. The son of Mullah, Haxhi Et’hem Beu, completed the minaret and portico of the mosque, made the decoration with paintings and so he could finish the mosque in 1830-1831. Next to the Mosque, we have the Clock Tower of Tirana, built in the XIX century, between 1822-1840. Its 90-degree spiral is 35 meters high and until 1970 has been the capital’s highest building. Scanderbeg Square and its buildings are next on our way.
We continue our tour passing by BunkArt 1, underground bunker showing communism atrocities, Tirana Castle complex, and then to the main boulevard with its building of diverse architecture, as per the time they were constructed, pass by the Pyramid, Dictator Hoxha’s Ex Museum. On our visit, we cross the Blok area and the dictator Hoxha’s villa and you can judge by yourself what this area means for Tirana today.
We will head southeast towards Pellumbasi village to visit the cave located in that area, about 30 min driving time. Once there we will take the path leading to the cave. The path passes along Erzeni River with clear blue water during summertime and a nice small canyon. After walking for just about 1 hour we will see the entrance of the cave. We will get prepared to enter with head or hand lights, change the shoes if possible as it’s very muddy inside, and get an extra t-shirt because the temperature is several degrees colder than outside. Pellumbasi cave is of karstic origin and is about 150 m long, 10-15 m wide and 45 m in height.
