albania: october 2-9, 2026

This Into the Wild Adventure in Albania is a chance to veer off the beaten path. to take a moment for you. To dive deep into your wild woman self. To rediscover the wonder and beauty of both earth’s nature and YOUR nature. to do something you’ve never done before. To travel among like minded women from all walks of life who are sure to inspire and uplift you.

With stunning mountain vistas and a breathtaking coastline, Albania showcases a wild beauty that's increasingly rare in Europe. Once an overlooked part of Europe, this hidden treasure is ready for discovery with Into the Wild Adventure! Albania's rich heritage reflects influences from the Illyrians, Macedonians, Greeks, Romans, and Ottoman Turks, making it one of Europe’s most intriguing destinations- and it’s a safe place to explore!

Gaining independence in 1912, Albania was the last nation to separate from the Ottoman Empire. It endured years of harsh rule, remaining under communist control long after many other European countries had progressed. Since 1997, Albania has started to stabilize and reconnect with the world. This complex history has left its imprint in a beautiful and historically fascinating way.

Albania is also home to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites—Gjirokastër and Butrint—where we will admire exquisite Ottoman architecture and explore ancient ruins from the Roman period. Additionally, Albania's national parks feature breathtaking landscapes, ranging from rugged mountains to pristine forests, ideal for adventure enthusiasts eager to explore the great outdoors. Are you sick of all the crowds in more popular countries? Do you want to explore something completely off the beaten path of tourists? Are you interested in self-rediscovery? Self-empowerment? Bringing out your inner wild woman?

If so- this retreat is for you, and women like you. Join Wendy, owner of Into the Wild Adventure, and 15 other women on this extraordinarily beautiful and fun adventure! Come as you are and leave as your best self, with new friends, new experiences, and a new zest for life and the outdoors.

Below is the information on what you’ll experience on this exciting and beautiful road trip through Albania. (Ps: your longest time in the car will be about 4.5 hours on one day, so- not a tough road trip!)

Join us and rediscover your wild woman.

overview:

This trip is for women only. You can feel free to come alone and make new friends, or bring some friends along! Either way, you’re guaranteed a great time.

pricing:

This Albanian Road Trip is priced at $2099. You may pay in one or two installments. This price will includes everything except for airfare, alcoholic drinks, snacks, and souvenirs. All Lodging, transport, activities and meals are included. You’ll also need to get travel insurance which isn’t too expensive, but it is required and proof must be provided. You’ll also be required to sign a liability waiver.

when:

October 2-9, 2026. You must book your flight to arrive on October 2 to the Tirana, Albania Airport. Please arrive anytime between 11am and 6pm (if you arrive after 6 pm you will miss the opening dinner, but sometimes that happens, it’s not a huge deal.)

The retreat ends on October 9th at 11 am when hotel checkout occurs. If you can’t find a flight that works before that, it just means you need to self-entertain.

Albania Itinerary:

October 2: Tirana. Everybody meets up, arrive any time between 11am-6pm. For those who arrive in time, join a 1pm walking tour of the best spots as well as some hidden gems in Tirana while we wait for the group to arrive. Opening dinner is at 7pm! 

October 3: Head out for Berat, a city with plenty of gorgeous sites to see(about a 2 hour drive). Today you’ll explore the Mangalem and Gorica neighborhoods in this beautiful town of “windows upon windows”, and we will enjoy the sunset and enjoy another great dinner together. Spend the night in Berat.

October 4: Drive another 2 hours to Gjirokaster, yet another UNESCO heritage city! This city sits on the beautiful steep slopes of the Drino River valley. We’ll wander the cobblestone streets and market/bazaar, visit the castle and museum, and enjoy a delicious Albanian dinner. Spend the night in Gjirokaster.

October 5: Leave Gjirokaster and head to the Albanian Riviera! On the way, we will visit the Blue Eye (an amazingly clear, beautiful spring) and Butrint National Park (yet another UNESCO site) to see the ruins and learn about ancient civilizations who once lived there. We will then head to Himare, a relaxed vibe seaside location that could easily be mistaken for the shores of Italy or Greece- for the next 2 nights. When we arrive we can have free time and meet up for an amazing meal together at sunset. Additionally, if enough people are interested, we will hire a boat to take us along the shore to discover unpopulated beaches and private coves.

October 6: Today we languidly explore the beach town of Himare. Today is our “slow day”- we will beach crawl and eat delicious food, sip drinks under umbrellas, and generally just relax. Not only is the shoreline stunning, but there is also an incredible amount of history here to discover as well. You can rent a kayak or paddle board, swim, relax- you name it. We can even backtrack down the road a little and check out the livelier town of Ksamil, another gem! 

October 7: Early morning to begin our road trip back to Tirana! We are heading through some extremely beautiful countryside today. This ride is in total about 4 hours long, but we will break it up with a snack stop.  Upon arrival, we will drop our luggage at our hotel (2 nights) 

October 8: Short day trip to Kruja! We will visit the castle in Kruje this morning and visit this little town’s amazing, colorful and vibrant bazaar. We will have lunch and then head back to Tirana. For your last afternoon and evening in Tirana, we have a cooking class with locals that is sure to end our experience on a high note. 

October 9: Departure, thank you for coming! The hotel checkout is at 11am, and transfers are provided by Into the Wild Adventure. It’s best to leave in the morning so you don’t have to self-entertain for too long, but you can leave anytime today. 

Who:

Women who like to have fun and explore! Women from anywhere. Women with a passion for the outdoors, travel, culture and meaningful experiences in the wild (and in this case, quaint little towns, too!). Women who want to uncover or rediscover themselves.

Why:

When is the last time you enjoyed a week for yourself? To develop the inner you and to have adventures you deserve? This is a trip not to be missed in a location you need to visit in your lifetime!

What:

A women’s vacation and retreat built to help you rediscover you, your passions, and this beautiful earth you live on. An experience that will make you feel youthful and adventurous. A moment to be close whatever it is that drives you. A bonding experience not to be missed. Memories will be made!

IMPORTANT NOTE: tHIS RETREAT WILL INVOLVE WILD ADVENTURES. WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO STRIVE for and GET TO a fitness level where you could walk a city most of the day if necessary, and do a nature walk of about 3-4km. iF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AT ALL ABOUT WHAT THIS MEANS, JUST ASK! wendy@itwadventure.com

Refund policy: Your ticket can be sold but not refunded. You can advertise to sell your ticket yourself, and we will post it on our instagram as well, should you not be able to attend.

All rooms are shared occupancy unless you purchase a single room supplement. Look for this in the Register Page next to the trip payment options.

Into The Wild is now requiring its trip attendees to provide proof of travel insurance purchase for this trip. Generally this costs an extra $100usd, and can save your bacon when traveling and things go wrong. Please email wendy@itwadventure.com if you have any questions about getting travel insurance.

We aim for friendships to be formed with other wild women- it’s one of the top features of Into the Wild retreats, as stated by women who’ve participated in the past. Whether you come alone or bring a friend, you’ll leave with a lot of extra friendships!

A reminder: your expenses are all paid, except your flights to and from your home, extra alcohol, extra snacks and any souvenirs. We cover lodging (single rooms are extra), activities, food, transport, etc!