Review: Tirana, Apollonia & Ardenica Monastery Guided Trip
Thinking about checking out Albania? Very cool! Specifically, have you thought about a day tour from Tirana that takes you to Apollonia and the Ardenica Monastery? Well, you’re reading the right thing if that is something that you want, or need a better perspective of to decide.
Setting off From Tirana
Alright, let’s set the scene first. You are likely starting this adventure right in Tirana, Albania’s main hub. You are probably stepping into the heart of a town that seems to constantly be hopping, so just get a good sense of your bearing first. You know, it’s pretty colorful, with tons of energy kind of bouncing all over the place. But beyond just that vibe, the city has stories tucked into every little corner. That’s, in some respects, what got me amped up for the rest of the day.
The tour guide is really a point person to have on deck, mostly ’cause they have knowledge ready to go, stories to be heard, and little facts that you would just never get from a book alone. Very important stuff! I was lucky to get one who could also talk about the area like they basically grew up in it (whether they had or hadn’t). So, getting a rundown of what was coming made it a more lively ride all around.
Apollonia: Echoes of the Ancient World
From Tirana, the bus—probably comfy, I hope— takes you down to Apollonia, is that right? It’s pretty interesting how much things switch up when you move from the city toward some more distant spots in Albania. Like, imagine stepping way, way back in history. That’s Apollonia. I am talking back to when Greeks and Romans were calling the shots.
Apollonia isn’t really just any old pile of rocks. Rather, the story this old city is very intense. So, it used to be an economy center, basically a main stopping place, as our guide let us know. As I understand it, big shots in the old days probably hung out there, so being able to just wander where they did thousands of years prior can be pretty exciting for history buffs. You know, the theaters, the monuments, and those old streets, you have got to take the time to think on them. Think of how alive they would’ve seemed at one time! It gives you pause.
What is almost as good, you can walk around what is left. Then imagine how it must have all looked way back when. Parts of those former homes and civic centers have weathered it pretty badly over time, yet the general vibe is totally intact. And if you want those perfect, Insta-worthy travel snapshots? Dude, you have so many possible angles to take photos from there. It’s all very scenic, like your shooting an epic documentary series that very few people will see.
Ardenica Monastery: A Peaceful Retreat
From the worn-out relics of Apollonia, get ready for a gear shift up to Ardenica Monastery. Instead of the bare, open-air ruins, what if you are thrown into a zone of total zen instead? Like, the monastery sits up super high on a hilltop, very private. I imagine for people looking to chill, that seclusion was the entire reason it got made. So, if that kind of vibe is your kind of thing, that’s a good thing to have a look at.
I suspect what made Ardenica something worth taking note of is probably because it mixed artwork with its quiet vibe. It is almost an active monastery with crazy art painted inside, mostly telling Bible stories if that is something you’re into, or really not into. So, they have paintings by artists who actually matter inside, and are historically notable. Taking the time to stare at all the fine details and effort the monks put in will probably take you a bit if that sounds appealing to you. It made my head spin!
There is something really calming to be said, by the way, about staring out from the monastery grounds. What’s even more fun is trying to picture all the different periods of turmoil and triumph those buildings bore witness to, so being that still and centered gave me time to wonder about humanity at large, as cheesy as that probably sounds. Point being, whether or not your into faith or history, Ardenica brings an entirely different outlook to the entire experience, so that made it cool and worthwhile, for me personally.
Lunch and Local Flavors
What is neat is that tours sometimes get planned with lunch in mind at the midway point. Usually, this is wherever gives you the biggest fill for your money. That is very important to get done if you plan to keep running around after filling your belly!
My own experience had me seated at this place with local eats I probably never would have found without the guide basically holding my hand and steering me into there. In fact, I don’t know about you, but that can really make the trip; being able to chow down where people from the area chow down. Typically, if you eat near other eating people, it means the kitchen in question kicks serious butt at their meal preparation game, so I basically treat those cues as guarantees that something of great quality is about to get put down in front of me.
In Albania, things might get very traditional, in a good way. Perhaps expect lots of things that come out of the ground as a base for just about everything, that being vegetables! So, salads, roasted meats with those veggies piled alongside, and bread baked that day. Those will probably be all you ever need to be pleased with Albanian eats, which will definitely save a buck as opposed to more extravagant food fare.
Making Your Day Trip a Great Memory
Okay, so let’s just spitball here, so that if you actually head out, you are set up well before things actually take off.
Dress smart and comfy. You will thank yourself for this at the end of the day! Think of the fact that you will get hoofing out in sunshine a bit, so maybe a sun hat of sorts to keep some light off of your face and noggin would be neat to do. Yet if you decide that this thing will happen when it’s colder, bring layers in case that mountain wind has a bad attitude on any particular day.
As far as conduct goes, show the sites some respect. As I would bet you already know, just tread carefully on the grounds and for God’s sake, chuck your trash away where trash gets dumped, please. Another nice thing to think on, specifically inside of churches, dress in a respectful fashion when you’re roaming around religious hubs like the Monastery. Common decency probably wins in almost every country on Earth.
Then plan for cash. Perhaps most places will do the credit thing now, so keep some Lek on hand to grab the small-cost items, specifically stuff sold on the roadside. It probably gets those merchants going and you’ll contribute to someone’s bottom line in real time, that seems pretty worthwhile, at the end of the day. If the place you’re looking at will allow for a tip at the end of things, show some love, I say! Tour guides probably go absolutely crazy on a daily basis to please the flock, and so something extra after hours will probably come as welcome love and acknowledgment.
- Good shoes: Super important. You’re gonna walk a lot.
- Water: Stay hydrated, so BYO or budget to purchase some when you’re out.
- Sunscreen: So you don’t fry yourself like a lizard in a microwave.
The day trip from Tirana to Apollonia and the Ardenica Monastery gives, I am inclined to believe, some serious flavor for those willing to absorb it. What you have are relics from long before you got here and a bit of Albania away from the Capital to better get some knowledge under your hat. Very cool stuff to fill up your travel scrapbook!
It just might be worth figuring out for your itinerary. Safe trips to you all!