Ron Janowitz

First and foremost, our guide Adriatik was incredible. He is a delightful and well informed young man. He displays all the attributes of a perfect guide. He is compassionate and helpful. He is always concerned with safety and our comfort. His knowledge of the trails and history of the area is impressive. He was liked by everyone in our group. He made the trip a success.

I would like to thank you for providing the transportation and lodging for Adriana from Kruje back to Tirana, since she had to leave a day early. It was generous of you to cover some of her extra travel expenses.

The logistics (buses, cars, mules, etc.) were perfect. It is obvious a lot of thought went into making these arrangements.

The overall trip was fantastic. We loved the area, the hiking, the beautiful mountains, the exposure to some foods unique to the area, and the local people we met.

We loved the boat ride on Lake Koman and the guesthouse on the beach. It was a treat after 11 days of hard hiking. We all enjoyed the amazing lunch at the Agri Tourisimo on our drive to Kruje.

Most of our lodging was good. The hotel stays were fine. Most of the guest houses were adequate. There were at least two guest houses that were unacceptable. The guesthouse in Lepushe was not prepared for us when we arrived at 16:00. Some of the beds were not made, there were not enough clean towels for everyone, and the hot water had not been turned on. Ten people had to share one bathroom upstairs. The guesthouse Kujtim Gocaj in Cerem was too crowded. The owner crams too many beds and guests into some uncomfortable rooms. There was no room for our duffles in the large room where 8 of us slept. There were other groups staying at the guesthouse, and about 30 people had to share two bathrooms. I assume there are better guest houses in these two places. Most Americans would gladly pay a little more money for better accommodations. The trip would have been perfect had we stayed in guesthouses with no more than 2 to 4 beds in a room with an ensuite bathroom. If this is not possible in a particular location it should be made clear in advance so that expectations are set properly.

This was a near perfect trip with a perfect guide. Thank you for making it possible.