WHY TRAVEL WITH US?
We at Zbulo! Albania & Beyond strive to offer outstanding human-powered outdoor adventures crafted by local travel specialists. With over a decade of experience in making the pristine nature and diverse culture of the Western Balkans authentically accessible and creating unforgettable active holidays for thousands of satisfied clients in Albania and its neighbouring countries, you can count on us to make your dream trip come true.
Zbulo has been at the forefront of Adventure Tourism and Active Holidays in Albania since it was founded in 2013. Our team was involved in the development of the trails and regions popular with hikers visiting the country and its border regions today, making us true mountain tourism experts and helping us operate a line of exclusive signature products to provide the best active holidays to our clients. Our committed office staff and experienced professional guides, regularly trained to the highest standards, aim to create transformative travel experiences for you.
Our company name isn’t just a made-up word - in Albanian “zbulo” (pronounced /zbuˈlɔ/) is the imperative, the invitation and challenge: Discover! Explore! It is our guiding motto and core belief.
Zbulo! started out offering expert-guided walking holidays, as well as hiking and trekking tours in Albania, Montenegro and Kosovo. In addition we have pioneered self-guided individual trips that allow you to explore on you own with the help of a “roadbook”, maps and optional GPS.
Our Values
But offering outstanding services to our clients is only the beginning. We deeply care about Albania and the people who call it their home, especially the people we work with. Since starting out, our little business grew and changed shape from a classical tour operator into a not-just-for-profit destination management company. This enables us to have a lasting, positive impact on the regions and communities we operate in. In this way, commercial tours fund non-profit activities that support rural communities and provide direct benefits and incentives to the people we work with. This means:
- Your money reaches the people where it has the biggest impact.
- Practices that protect the environment are promoted and incentivised.
- New regions are included to spread income opportunities and avoid overtourism.
By establishing a locally-led and economically sustainable business model, our vision is to become the North Star of the regional tourism sector and the rising tide that turns Albania into a global role model for truly responsible outdoor tourism. With our tours, we aim to put a focus on environmental awareness and the protection of natural and cultural heritage as well as interaction with the locals.
To achieve these goals, our network consist of stakeholders that are exemplary in their activities and are often involved in tourism and hospitality like family-run guesthouses, small-scale hotels and restaurants, but also drivers, local guides and other community members. We also work closely with specialist consultants, international development agencies and national tourism associations, as well as environmental NGOs and regional governments, to reach a common vision and tackle shared concerns regarding the development of tourism.
You can expect
Local Encounters
Dive below the surface and really get to know your destination. Create true emotional connections through unique encounters with the locals and fill your holidays with deep experiences.
SIGNATURE PRODUCTS
We have been involved with the scouting and development of touristic regions and trails in Albania, Kosovo, Macedonia and Montenegro for many years. This allows us to carefully curate them to create the best possible, original tours for our clients.
NATURAL & CULTURAL GEMS
Our tours are designed to immerse you in the nature and culture of Albania and its border regions. Discover unrivalled biodiversity and dramatic scenery, as well as ancient Greek and Roman ruins, Ottoman architecture and the archaic highlander way of life!
HIGHEST TRUST
Hundres of 5-star reviews on TripAdvisor and continuous positive feedback from our guests don't lie. Choose the most trusted travel specialists Albania has to offer to make your next trip the holiday of a lifetime.