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Tailor Made Rail · Tailor-made rail holiday

Albania by Rail

London to Tirana overland by Eurostar, TGV and Adriatic ferry

Illustration of Albania by Rail

Tailor Made Rail operates this 6-day tailor-made journey from London to Tirana, Albania, travelling entirely overland and by sea. The route starts with Eurostar from London St Pancras and a TGV to Lyon, continues by train through Milan to the Abruzzo coast at Pescara, and crosses the Adriatic on an overnight ferry from Bari to Durrës in a 2-berth cabin. A private transfer then takes travelers to Tirana for a 3-night stay, with days free to explore Skanderbeg Square, the Bunk'Art museums, and the Dajti Ekspres cable car. As a tailor-made package, the trip is self-guided rather than escorted, with travel documentation and tickets sent by email, and the operator offers proactive rerouting if strikes or disruptions occur. Return travel from Tirana is left to the traveler, by air or by retracing the overland route with different stops. The itinerary suits travelers who want an involved, multi-country rail-and-ferry route rather than a conventional single-country trip.

What to know before you look closer

  • Return travel from Tirana is not included; travelers choose and arrange their own return, either by air or by retracing the overland route with different stops.
  • Single supplement for sole occupancy is not included in the from-price; pricing is based on two people sharing a twin or double room.
  • Optional day trips to Lake Ohrid and Kruja are not included in the base price.
  • Day 3's overnight is spent in a 2-berth ferry cabin crossing the Adriatic, not in a hotel.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Lyon

    London to Lyon

    Eurostar service from London St Pancras to Paris or Lille, transferring onto a high-speed TGV direct to Lyon. Check in for an overnight stay. Evening exploring Lyon's old town.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Pescara

    Lyon to Pescara

    Direct train across the Italian border to Milan, changing onto a domestic Italian journey down to the Abruzzo coast and the city of Pescara, arriving in the evening.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Ferry (Bari-Durrës)

    Pescara to Tirana (via Bari and overnight ferry)

    Morning discovering Pescara, including the Ponte del Mare. Train to Bari, then overnight ferry to Durrës on the Albanian coast in a 2-berth cabin.

  4. Day 4overnight: Tirana

    Arrival in Tirana

    Dock in Durrës, meet a private transfer driver to Tirana. Check in for a 3-night stay.

  5. Day 5overnight: Tirana

    Tirana

    Discover the Albanian capital: Skanderbeg Square, Et'hem Bey Mosque, the Bunk'Art museums, the Dajti Ekspres cable car, and the Blloku district.

  6. Day 6overnight: Tirana

    Tirana

    Second day discovering Tirana at leisure.

  7. Day 7rail

    Depart Tirana

    Fly back to the UK or travel back by ferry and rail with different stops on the way. Optional add-on day trips to Lake Ohrid or Kruja available.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris or Lille, connecting onto a high-speed TGV direct to Lyon, with an evening exploring Lyon's old town.
  • Day 2Direct train across the Italian border to Milan, changing onto a domestic Italian train south to the Abruzzo coast at Pescara.
  • Day 3Morning in Pescara taking in the Ponte del Mare, then a train to Bari followed by an overnight ferry to Durrës in a 2-berth cabin.
  • Day 5A day discovering Tirana: Skanderbeg Square, the Et'hem Bey Mosque, the Bunk'Art museums, the Dajti Ekspres cable car and the Blloku district.

Included

  • All rail journeys, in standard class
  • Seat reservations where required
  • 5 nights' handpicked hotel accommodation with breakfast
  • An overnight journey by ferry from Bari to Durrës in a 2-berth cabin
  • Private car transfer from Durrës to Tirana
  • Easy-to-follow travel documentation
  • Despatch of tickets by email
  • Proactive rerouting in case of strikes or disruptions

Not included

  • Single supplement (for sole occupancy)
  • Return travel from Tirana (tailored - fly or overland)
  • Optional day trips (e.g. Lake Ohrid, Kruja)

Questions travellers ask

Is all the train travel included?
Yes. All rail journeys are included in standard class, including seat reservations where required: Eurostar from London to Paris or Lille, TGV to Lyon, and Italian rail on to Milan, Pescara and Bari.
Is this trip escorted or independent?
It is a tailor-made, self-guided package. The operator provides easy-to-follow travel documentation and despatches tickets by email, and offers proactive rerouting in case of strikes or disruptions.
What is included in the price?
All rail journeys in standard class with seat reservations, 5 nights' handpicked hotel accommodation with breakfast, the overnight Bari-Durrës ferry in a 2-berth cabin, and a private car transfer from Durrës to Tirana.
What is not included?
The single supplement for sole occupancy, return travel from Tirana, and optional day trips such as Lake Ohrid or Kruja.
How do travelers get back from Tirana?
Return travel is tailored to the traveler: fly back to the UK, or travel back overland by ferry and rail, with the option of different stops on the way.

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