Local English Bird Guide meets us at the airport and we continue towards Divjaka-Karavasta National Park where we will spend one night. Around 19:00 o’clock we will check in the hotel in Divjaka. Quick introduction and survey of the area which we will have the pleasure to explore the next day. Dinner in Divjaka.
Hotel Pelikan, Dinner at Hotel Pelikan

Ealy morning trip to the southern part of the National Park for Collared Pratincole, Calandra Lark (Melanocorypha calandra) and Short-toed Lark (Calandrella brachidactyla), Stonechat (Saxicola rubicola), Spanish Sparrow (Passer hispaniolensis) etc.  After breakfast at 08:00 am, a boat visit to the nesting colony of the Dalmatian Pelican (Pelecanus crispus), the largest bird of Europe. It is a resident species with a breeding colony from January to June at Karavasta lagoon. At this time of the year, the lagoon shelters also the Greater Flamingo, Common Tern, Little Tern, Pygmy Cormorant, Squaco Heron, Yellow Wagtail etc. After the lagoon tour we leave for Korca. We will stop I the road for lunch as well as observations in Ohrid Lake for Little Bittern, Pygmy Cormorant, Goosander and other waterbird species. After Ohrid lake we will reach Maliq swamp, the last remains of former famous swamp of Maliq, for observations of Black-winged Stilts, Ferruginous Duck, White Storks and several songbirds such as Skylark, Woodlark, Black-eared Wheatear etc.
Jordani’s House, Dinner in Korca

We will start observation at Korca park for some urban nesting birds such as Easter n Bonelli’s Wabler, Wryneck, Goldfinch, European Nuthatch etc. In the way to Prespa, we will stop for a short period at Zvezda pass, where we could sport the Blue Rock Thrush, Rock Nuthatch, Shot-toed Eagle, Kestrel, Crag Martin etc. In Prespa, we will first look for songbirds in the shrubland and oak trees of the hills surrounding Prespa with the very likely observation of Rock Buntings, Cirl Bunting, Black-headed Bunting, Olivaceous Warbler, Red-backed Shrike, Linnet etc. After lunch in Prespa, we will take a boat for Maligrad island. The boat trip would offer observations of the Dalmatian Pelican, Great White Pelican, Alpine Swifts. Dinner at the hotel in Elbasan.
Hotel Scampis (Elbasan), Dinner in Elbasan

We will us morning time to birdwatching in the surroundings of Elbasan for a short stay in a cliff area surrounded by Mediterranean scrubs. This site offers sightings of the Rock Nuthatch and several songbirds (shrikes, warblers etc) adapted to Mediterranean maquis (scrubland).
After morning we will take the road to Valbona reaching first Kukes and Has. In the road to Kukes we will stop along Fani River for observation of bird species related to riparian habitats as well as in Vana gorge for potential observation of Wallcreeper. After lunch in Kukes, we will cross thrugh Has for observations of Shrikes, Ortolan Bunting, finches, thrushes etc. Overnight in Vlabona through a short stop in Valbona plain for Tawny Pipit, Shrikes, finches, warblers etc.

Hotel Izet Selimaj, Dinner in Valbona

All two days dedicated to hiking and birdwatching in the Valbona valley, 850 m over the sea level. Most common birds occurring here are Red-backed Shrike, Cirl Bunting, Golden Eagle, different woodpecker species, Hazel Grouse and other small passerines. Lunch in the field. Dinner at the hotel.
Hotel Izet Selimaj, Dinner in Valbona

We check out at 7:30 am and drive towards the lake of Koman to take the ferry Fierze Koman, one of the most marvelous trips in Albania, in the midst of high mountains and it is very similar to Hurtigerutten. The trip should be used as an opportunity for birding too with Honey Buzzard and Short-toed Eagle strolling occasionally around. The Rock Nuthatch and other Passerines could also be heard at the ferry’s arrival station. Lunch by Mrizi i Zanave, a slow food enterprise. Continue towards Tirana, check in Tirana hotel, short visit at the city and dinner in Tirana.

Hotel Destil, Dinner at Piceri Era

The morning of the last day is dedicated to birdwatching on Tirana Lake Park. This urban park is rich in different species of woodpecker (Syrian and Green Woodpecker, Great, Middle and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Eurasian Wryneck etc.) The park is also inhabited by numerous song birds and potentially the Icterine Warbler.
Arrival at Tirana airport “Mother Teresa”.