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Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Albania is an incredible destination which deserves more attention..It’s about time the rest of the world opens their eyes to the natural beauty which rivals that of neighbouring Greece, Montenegro and Croatia for half the price.

Borsh Beach Albania
Albania is an unknown destination for so many people but it needn’t be. It’s a beautiful country with a fascinating history and culture dating back thousands of years. It’s a safe and affordable destination and with more airlines planning to offer cheap flights it’s about to become much more accessible.
Kruja Mosque and Bazaar
People often ask me what I like about the country and it’s simple. It’s natural beauty, stunning landscapes, Mediterranean weather and welcoming people. Not to mention it’s dirt cheap compared to almost everywhere else in Europe. Even for city loving people like myself, Albania’s scenery will blow your mind. Massive mountain ranges, pristine lakes and springs and some of the best beaches in southeastern Europe, Albania is an incredible destination which deserves more attention.
Watching the sunset from a bunker in Saranda
If you don’t know much about this small Balkan nation, here are a few of the highlights I’ve experienced after spending 6 months in the country.

Albanian Riviera

If Albania is known for one thing it’s the riviera. Travellers from Italy, Greece and Albanian speaking countries (Kosovo and Macedonia) have been enjoying Albania’s beautiful beaches for decades. It’s about time the rest of the world opens their eyes to the natural beauty which rivals that of neighbouring Greece, Montenegro and Croatia for half the price.
Ksamil Beach
Ksamil, Himara, Borsh and Dhermi beaches are great getaway destinations, especially if you avoid the crowds in July and August. In September you can have the beach and surrounding sights almost to yourself and in my opinion it’s the best time to visit Albania.
Himara Albania

Llogara Pass

Driving in Albania can be a little challenging at times but the drive from Vlora through the Llogara Pass towards Saranda is one of the most spectacular drives I’ve ever experienced. The mountains, the valleys, the views over the sea, countless beaches and remarkable scenery, the entire coastline is outstanding. I can’t speak highly enough of this drive. The drive from Tirana to Saranda should have only taken 5 hours but it took us 9 as we couldn’t resist stopping to take photos. If you only do one thing in Albania, take this road trip through the pass down to the coast.
Llogara Pass
Llogara Pass Scenery

Berat

A city of a thousand windows is the tagline for Berat, its Ottoman stone houses with endless windows looking down over the rest of the city. It’s an ancient city with heritage listed buildings on both sides of the Osumi River as well as in the city’s citadel, Berat Castle.
Berat's Ottoman Old Town in Mangalem
Driving towards the city you can’t miss the formidable Mt Tomorr in the background, Berat’s 2,416 metre high mountain which dominates the skyline at every turn. You can drive up parts of the mountain at certain times of the year but from what I hear it’s not the safest road. I think it’s one mountain best admired from the safety of the city.
Mt Tomorr in Berat
Berat may be a little remote as it’s not on the way to anywhere but it’s worth visiting for its history, architecture and stunning scenery. Berat is definitely on my must see destinations in Albania even if only for a quick visit.

Butrint

Butrint National Park and UNESCO listing covers the white sandy beaches at Ksamil, the wetlands and its precious wildlife as well as the ancient ruins of the old Illyrian city. Mussels are farmed in the pristine waters and you’ll see some locals fishing but otherwise the park remains untouched. Even the low tech car crossing has little impact on the environment.
Butrint Car Crossing
Walking through the ancient city, it reminded me of Rome and parts of Athens which isn’t surprising as much of the Butrint you see today was built by the Romans and Greeks. The theatre provided entertainment for the residents who shopped in the market place and socialised at the great basilica. They were protected from invaders by massive city walls and an acropolis on the hill. Try to make it to Butrint in time to watch the sunset over the Greek island of Corfu.
Butrint Sunset

Gjirokastra

They grey slate roofs of Gjirokastra’s Ottoman houses give the city a muted look not seen in the rest of the country. It’s an historic UNESCO listed town surrounded on all sides by stunning mountain ranges. A visit to Gjirokastra Castle with its captured US spy plane and unrestricted views over the valley is a must as is wandering the winding back streets. Albania’s former dictator Enver Hoxha and acclaimed writer Ismail Kadare both left their mark on their hometown, one of the most interesting cities in the country. If you dare, take a side trip to the mafia controlled village of Lazarat.
Gjirokastra US Spy Plane
Ottoman City Gjirokastra

Blue Eye Spring

Hidden away deep in the forest, the Blue Eye (Syri i Kalter) is a natural spring where crystal clear water bubbles up from 50 metres below the surface. The frigid water gently passes over the white sand producing a stunning turquoise colour which turns into a pretty green as it travels around the mountains.
Blue Eye Spring near Gjirokastra
An unexpected oasis in the middle of nowhere, don’t miss the sign for the turnoff on the highway half way between Gjirokastra and Saranda.

Tirana

Tirana is unlike any European capital I’ve visited. The city is bustling at all times of the day and night, traffic is crazy and the architecture unique to say the least. Highlights of a visit to Tirana include climbing the abandoned concrete Pyramid (if you dare), admiring the massive Communist era mosaic on Skanderbeg Square and drinking up in Blloku. Tirana isn’t the prettiest of cities and there aren’t many sights so most visitors should be able to see all there is to see in a day or two.
Tirana's Pyramid
Mosaic in Skanderbeg Square

Getting There

Even tough there are talks of budget airlines opening routes to Albania this has yet to happen and flights to Tirana are still quite expensive. If flying from the UK, British Airways (at Gatwick) is the only airline with direct flights to Tirana.
There are regular ferry services to and from Italy (Bari and Ancona). Schedules change with the season so check before turning up to the port.
Crossing into Albania by road is usually painless although there can be long waits at the border in the summer months. If arriving from Montenegro cross the border via Ulcinj and not from Podgorica as the mountainous road on the Montenegrin side is mostly used by trucks and is not in good condition (last time I was there).

Getting Around

Albania’s famous furgons (mini-buses) have now been banned from operating in most parts of the country leaving official buses as the only public transport option. I suggest renting a car or taking your own. It’s more convenient although Albanian roads are notoriously bad. Watch out for potholes, missing manhole covers, stray dogs, donkeys and pedestrians on the roads, even on the ‘motorways’.

Albanian Cuisine

Albanian cuisine is a mixture of Balkan, Mediterranean, Greek, Turkish and Italian cuisines. There’s a lot of grilled meat, pizza, pasta, soups and salads plus fish in the coastal regions. The food is generally tasty but not particularly interesting and not at all inventive.

Accommodation

There is plenty of affordable accommodation in Albania. Decent budget hotels and holiday apartments can be found from as little as €20 per night, especially in the off season. Book one of my recommended hotels or go directly to the hotel and ask for a discount. The practice of charging more for foreigners is annoying but usually unavoidable (unless booking online). Many hotels close down in the off season but if you ask around someone will always help with finding somewhere to stay.

Questions or Comments

If you have any questions regarding travelling in Albania, follow the links in the top navigation bar or ask at ourforum.http://www.rearviewmirror.tv/albania/

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