Day trip to Albania

My daughter and I own a yoga studio and led a yoga retreat to Corfu, Greece, in September ’08. In researching activities for our group, I discovered that Albania is just across the border and easily accessible. Since I find border crossings irresistible, I was determined to visit. I found an excellent Albanian tour company that I thought other ITN readers might like to know about.

It is Albania Holidays Sipa Tours (Lagjia Nr3, Rruga 1 Maj, Ap/ Cakalli, Saranda, Albania; phone/fax 00355 85226675, mobile phone 00355/ 686024 700, e-mail info@sipatours.com or arben@sipatours.com or visit www.sipatours.com). Or contact their branch in Corfu, Sotir Ben Cipa (Milia-Kinopiaston-Pandora, P.O. Box 14, Vrioni, Achilion, T.K 49084, Corfu, Greece; phone/fax 0030/26610 56415 or mobile phone +30/6976 650713).

Sipa Tours provided our group of nine excellent service on our full-day trip. For €90 (near $125) per person, we had round-trip bus transportation to and from the port in Corfu; hydrofoil transportation to and from Albania; bus transportation in Albania, and a delicious lunch at a castle with dramatic views.

We visited the UNESCO World Heritage archaeological site of Butrint as well as the Blue Eye, an interesting geological site.

The company’s owner, Arben, was helpful and responsive from the initial planning, almost a year prior, all the way through to the end of the tour.

While one can make one’s own way to Albania from Corfu, I had reason to be thankful that we used Arben’s services. On our return journey, the Corfu bus had mechanical problems that entailed an hour’s delay, which would have made us miss dinner at the retreat center. Arben, who was traveling back to Corfu on the same hydrofoil, negotiated on our group’s behalf, and the bus company agreed to split cab fares with us.

Other passengers traveling independently or with another company watched as we drove away in taxis, and we returned in time for our dinner.

Sipa Tours also offers longer tours in Albania.

NANCY TAN

Fresno, CA