Bovilla Lake Hiking and Kruja Day Trip from Tirana: Experience the Historical City & Old Bazaar
5.0
36 Ratings
Tirana County
Explore Bovilla Lake and visit the historical city of Kruja on a day trip from Tirana. Discover the Old Bazaar, shop for unique souvenirs, and create lasting memories.
Duration: 9 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Lake Bovilla - This day trip is perfect for those who love a natural escape, but also want to explore the local culture and history of Albania.
What's Included
  • Tour guide services
  • Transportation included
What's Not Included
  • Lunch
Additional Information

Kruja, a city rich in history, stands as a testament to the Albanian resistance against the Ottoman Empire’s expansion in the 15th century. Nestled in the heart of Albania, Kruja sits atop a rugged mountainous landscape about 560 meters above sea level, hugging the slopes of Kruja Mountain.

The Old Bazaar: A stroll down the narrow lanes and past the wooden homes of Kruja’s Medieval Old Bazaar, among the oldest and largest in the Balkans, feels like a journey through time. This market is the prime hub for souvenir shopping in Albania, offering a range from typical items to unique, handmade treasures like carpets and jewelry. “The greatest inheritance we can bequeath to our offspring are joyous memories”.

Location
Lake Bovilla
Hida Rd
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(36 Ratings)
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Rachel_n
Apr 6, 2024
A tremendous day out with stunning scenery, delicious food and engaging history lessons - A big thank you to Gjenc who had organised a terrific day: the stunning Bovilla Lake and fascinating history of Kruja, with relaxing coffee and lunch breaks in between accompanied by amazing views. He was reliable, humorous and knowledgable. It was clear that current issues of the country pains him, but it was tinged with optimism and love for Albania. Gjenc also kindly provided us with a itinerary for our travels south for the next few days. I strongly recommend you to book his tour.
Review provided by Viator
Booster62
Apr 1, 2024
Sublime lake - The view of the lake is truly magnificent We had a good day The visit to the village is also pleasant. A 2 in 1 day with a friendly guide.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Rachel
Mar 31, 2024
Great day trip - Brilliant trip. We all learnt so much about Albanian history off our guide, who was great. The lake is amazing as well as Kruja. Make sure to have the food recommended by the guide at the restaurant, as its a great taste of traditional Albanian food
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Alessandrapavone05
Mar 19, 2024
Recommended to everyone - Spectacular 9 hour hike with the wonderful company and guide of Gjenc. Recommended for everyone, breathtaking views and visit to Kruja all accompanied by information from Gjenc.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Wanderer33145081293
Feb 29, 2024
Don't hesitate! - Gjenc is an awesome tour guide and great photographer on the side. Very eloquent, open, relaxed, knowledgeable about Albania's history and historical sites and great discussions ✌️🍉 would recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Khizar_g
Feb 19, 2024
An amazing tour! - The views and tour were amazing, but the tour guide made it absolutely wonderful! Would 100% recommend this tour!
Review provided by Viator
853etienneh
Feb 17, 2024
A beautiful discovery of albanian countryside with a great albanian guide! - We booked this day trip to escape the city of Tirana and see some nature. We were not disappointed. Our guide Gjenc confirmed via whatsapp he would pick us up at our hotel at 8h55 and was very punctual. This 36 years young man is not only very friendly, he is also very knowledgable and we had very good conversations during the whole trip. He arranged the various stops with perfect timing : first stop, lake Bovilla whith a great view from the ‘mirador that you can reach within 10-15 minutes from the parking via a small ‘via ferrata’. Gjenc is not only a good guide, he is also a very good photographer (he confessed that it is his wife who taught him) and indeed, he is much better than me, so my wife was very happy with the results. Next stop was lunch at hotel Horizont in Kruje, a cliff hanging traditional Albanian restaurant with delicious dishes recommended by our guide. It was nice to share the meal with a spectacular view on the valley in front of us. After that we had drove to the old bazar of Kruje, very typical street and buildings with plenty of souvenirs to buy. Good thing : the people are not pushy at all so it’s quite nice to walk through it before visiting the famous castle with a historical resume by our guide. All in all, a great day, and a great guide! So if you need someone, check Albanian Tourism Guide, you won’t be disappointed !
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lovedivie
Feb 16, 2024
Unforgettable Experience with the most reliable tour guide - My husband & I did this tour today with Gjenc, a very reliable, knowledgeable & attentive man. He’s more than a tour guide, he’s a very honest & respectable friendly host who made the trip enjoyable in all aspects- the punctuality, the explanations, the highlights of the sites visited, the excellent cuisine & best-priced restaurants we dined, the photography provided, excellent management of the itinerary & timing. Perfect combination of fun, informative trip & the care of an awesome Albanian. Highly recommended!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Akram
Feb 16, 2024
Me and my bro - Lake Bovilla and Kruje (very little hiking) - Gjenc messaged the evening before the day tour to sort hotel pickup. He was prompt and we used a small car (usually minibus) to get around traffic (US secretary of State visit). There were another 2 tourists who were friendly. Overall, a great experience to see the beautiful reservoir, scenic views and a fab restaurant. In my opinion, Kruje old bazaar prices were similar to Tirana.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tvkt99
Feb 15, 2024
Guide, Photographer, Historian... what can't they do? - Our host could not have been more committed to making sure we had a great time and the pictures to prove it! This was a whole day of our trip to Tirana and it was well worth the time and money spent. Bovilla Lake was stunning and the views from the top of the hike (about 15 minutes fairly directly up) were stunning. We had a lovely lunch with plenty of advice on things to order or try before heading to the Kruja Bazaar and Castle. Throughout we were taught the history and geography of the area. Would wholeheartedly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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