Greece and Albania hiking tour debuts from Island Hopping

Published on Oct 8, 2025, 4:29 pm CDT

5 min read

Island Hopping has launched a seven day Greece and Albania hiking tour that blends Corfu's imperial era landmarks with Albania's Riviera trails and karst springs. The itinerary highlights Corfu's Achilleion Palace gardens, the Venetian Old Fortress, Albania's Blue Eye spring, and hikes to Gjipe Beach. Departures run May through October 2025, with limited April and June dates on an introductory offer. Lodging is in small, family-run hotels, and daily guided hikes and key transfers are included. Prices start at €1,699, with select dates currently from €1,359, excluding flights.

Key points

Why it matters: Adds an Eastern Mediterranean hiking option pairing Corfu culture with Albania's wild coast.
Travel impact: Small-group format, daily hikes, and included ferry simplify a two-country trip.
What's next: Nine core departures from May to October 2025, with select promo dates in April and June.
Standard price €1,699, select dates €1,359; twin share; flights extra.
Family-run hotels with air-conditioning and private ensuite bathrooms.

Snapshot

The new Greece and Albania hiking tour opens in Corfu, where travelers walk historic quarters and visit the Achilleion Palace gardens before crossing by ferry to southern Albania. Hikes trace coastal trails and canyon paths to the aquamarine cove at Gjipe Beach, and a day trip reaches the famed Blue Eye spring, a protected natural monument known locally as Syri i Kaltër. The program includes six nights in boutique, family-run hotels, daily breakfast, one traditional Albanian dinner, all internal transfers and ferry tickets, and guided day hikes led by experienced hike leaders. Standard pricing is €1,699 per person, about $1,975, with an introductory €1,359, about $1,580, on limited spring dates. Prices are based on two people sharing, and flights are not included.

Background

Corfu anchors the cultural half of the itinerary with Hellenic, Venetian, and imperial layers. The Achilleion, built for Empress Elisabeth of Austria, is renowned for its hilltop gardens and sea views; the palace complex's outdoor areas and gardens have reopened with posted hours. Across the Strait of Corfu, southern Albania's coast delivers limestone canyons, pebble coves, and translucent water. Gjipe Beach sits at the mouth of Gjipe Canyon, with access via a signed footpath from the ridge road. Inland, the Blue Eye spring rises in a protected reserve and feeds the Bistrica, creating vivid blue and teal rings that are a signature of the region. Together, Corfu and the Albanian Riviera offer a compact, two-country hiking route with minimal transit time.

Latest developments

Promo pricing on select spring 2025 departures

Island Hopping lists nine core departures between May and October 2025 for the seven day program, priced from €1,699 per person. As an introductory offer, departures on April 25, May 3, May 16, May 24, and June 6 are currently advertised at €1,359, a savings of €340 on the base fare. The package includes six nights' lodging in small family-run hotels with air-conditioning and private ensuite bathrooms, daily breakfast, one traditional Albanian dinner, ferry tickets and ground transfers, and daily guided hikes. Prices are twin share, and flights are not included. Currency equivalents provided by recent reference rates put €1,699 at about $1,975, and €1,359 at about $1,580.

Analysis

For hikers seeking an Eastern Mediterranean trip that balances culture and coast without a complex logistics plan, this two-country week is compelling. Corfu provides reliable flight and ferry links and a deep roster of classical and imperial sites. The Achilleion gardens add a marquee stop that remains photogenic even while interior works continue. Crossing into Albania expands the terrain variety quickly: short, moderately graded trails to Gjipe Beach reward with classic Ionian blues, while the Blue Eye spring offers a contrasting forested setting and a protected natural monument. Lodging in family-run hotels keeps group size and local footprint modest, aligning with current demand for small-scale stays. The value proposition improves on the April and early-June dates; travelers flexible on timing can secure the lower fare and milder hiking temperatures. If plans include Athens on the same trip, factor occasional civic marches near Syntagma into transfer timing to and from the city center, and allow buffer on metro connections. See our related advisory: Athens demonstration watch near Syntagma and central metro nodes.

Final thoughts

Island Hopping's Greece and Albania hiking tour knits Corfu's heritage with Albania's Riviera and interior springs in a compact seven day format. With guided day hikes, small-hotel stays, and ferry and transfers bundled, the plan lowers friction for a two-country week while preserving time on trail. The limited-time €1,359 promo boosts value, especially for spring travelers who prefer cooler hiking weather. For hikers comparing coastal Europe options, this new Greece and Albania hiking tour deserves a close look.