8-Day Albanian Coastal Trail

The scenic morning drive along glistening bays ends at the foot of the inland village Kudhes. The winding cement road takes you through olive trees and houses up to the heart of the village, where the generous shade of the plane trees invites for a coffee in the company of the friendly locals. The rocky shepherds' path that follows upon exiting the village is adorned by bright pink oleanders and lush green cypress trees. Slowly ascending, flocks of goats grazing the grounds raise their heads towards you with curiosity. Arriving at the terraced fields, the view opens to the deep blue sea and over to the island Corfu in the close background. Soon, you arrive at the Oldtown Qeparo on the hilltop. Time seems to stand still in the maze of stone houses and cobbled streets, and a “hidden” viewpoint overlooks the olive fields and tranquil shore. From here, you can descend to the New Qeparo by the beach or continue the walk above the shoreline, across the hillside towards Borsh, to enjoy the coastal landscape a little longer.

Instead of mountains, today's route takes you across cliffs and through Mediterranean macchia from one dazzling beach to another. It is by no means a flat walk, but it offers the perfect hike & swim day through the beaches that have turned the Albanian Riviera into a rising hot-spot. In the morning, a 30-min drive takes you to one of the most distinct upper coastal villages, Vuno. The white, stacked up houses on the hillside, the centuries old orthodox churches, the central open-air café and the partisan memorial next to it invite for a exploratory stroll. The idyllic descent through olive groves is enjoyable, as you slowly feel the salty aroma nearing the sea. Jal was dubbed the country’s Ibiza, and close to it is the secluded “Aquarium”. Reachable on foot only, it is named after it’s unusually clear water. Accompanied by the awe-inspiring colors and the sound of the crashing waves, you walk the red-earthed trail until you reach Livadhi beach. You can choose to stop here for some more swimming, walk through the city to reach your hotel or go the thousand-year-old cobblestone path up to old town Himara and it’s castle of ancient origins. The hilltop town offers a similar atmosphere to Qeparo, a high-up view of the surroundings and is especially beautiful right before sunset.

Today you visit the lesser known southern part of the riviera for a coastal mountain hike, opposite to the beaches. From Lukova, an initially steep shepherd’s path takes you towards the ridge, with views of the terraced hills plunging into the turquoise sea. Soon, Corfu appears in the horizon too, and once at the pass you peek at the wild, solitary inland on the other side of the mountain. Weather permitting, it’s even possible to follow a steep and trail-less, yet straightforward path up to the Lavani peak, the highest point in sight. The olive tree covered coastal landscape and the bays of tomorrow’s walk offer one of the most special views of the entire trip, yours to fully enjoy in peace on your picnic break. The descent follows a wide, exposed gravel road, allowing you to immerse yourself in the views all the way down to Piqeras, where you regain contact with the world again. Driving over the serpentine, you're transferred back to Himara for some rest. In the evening, you can go on an evening stroll at the busy center or for a cocktail by the beach.

A relaxed and diverse walk takes you to the Southern side of the Riviera once more. Starting in Lukova, you walk through the flower adorned houses, down the old cobblestone alleys and even discover a small waterfall. Continue through uniform paths and endless terraces of olive groves, constructed by human hand only, without the help of any machinery. Here, during communism, political prisoners were converted to forced labourers. After a smooth descent, you land in Bunec beach. The open skyline, tranquil sea, and the unusual emptiness of the pebbly shore make it seem like a scene from a stranded film. You walk along the shoreline, pass by a relict concrete quay and ascend on a little-used path, admiring the shimmer of the turquoise waters from above. Continuing the stroll along the hillside, dwelling into the Mediterranean atmosphere, the endless seeming Borsh beach slowly comes to view. It calls for a refreshing swim and one last mental picture of the romantic surroundings, before returning for the final overnight to Himare.

Today the heights of the Ceraunian Mountains and Llogara National Park are calling. Alternatively you may skip the most demanding walk of this journey, spend the day in Himare and transfer up in the late afternoon. A driver will take you to the highest point of the Llogara pass at above 1000 meters above sea level. Here a wide gravel path steadily leads to the radio towers at the ridge, where the lush green Karaburun Peninsula's western slopes plunge steeply into the deep blue Ionian Sea. Panoramic views of the rugged Albanian Riviera and the Bay of Vlora on the other side accompany the walk along the peninsula’s spine. A rocky, partly trailess path gives the opportunity to climb Mt. Gjipali (1.446 m) for a high-up picnic break, taking a moment to memorize the harsh beauty of the entire coastal line. Afterward, you descend into a mountain pasture and then enter the Deep Pass and enter a rainforest-like green corridor that offers generous shade in the afternoon. This is an important biosphere reserve, famous in particular for its 500-year-old black pines and firs. The curious shapes the trees take from the winds, especially when engulfed by fog, create the atmosphere of an enchanted forest. Tonight you spend the night in a comfy mountain hotel in the national park.

A short transfer takes you to today's trailhead, at the highest point of the Llogara Pass (1.043 m). A narrow, partly steep trail takes you up through ancient snakeskin pines. During communism, the tree giants were tapped for resin, today they rest peacefully surrounded by chamomile and sage. You steadily walk up the zig-zag shepherd's trail, and the first viewpoint rewards with views over the endless blue of the Ionian Sea and the Albanian Riviera. Today’s goal lies beneath the rocky peak of Qorre (2.018 m) at the Dhjopuri Saddle (1.600 m). There you can take a rest and enjoy the views of the Llogara Pass, separating the Karaburun Peninsula from the rest of the riviera, and the village Dukat at the foot of the mountain. Why not use the time for a high-up picnic? Later on, stroll down the same way down to one of the beer-garden restaurants. A driver will pick you up from here for the transfer to Albania's modern capital, where you will arrive in the later afternoon. If you prefer to spend more time in Tirana, please let us know in advance to arrange a morning transfer instead.

Time permitting, Tirana invites you to explore its streets and sights on a stroll. Sip an espresso in one of the charming bars, observe the busy morning flow and select special treats as edible souvenirs at the lively “New Bazaar”. Interested to learn more about the communist past? “Bunkart 2” and “The House of Leaves” provide insights and are only a 5 min walk away from Tirana’s main "Skanderbeg Square". Your multi-faceted journey in Albania ends with a 30 min transfer to the airport. Thank you for joining our adventure, we hope to see you again in the country of warm hospitality, countless mountains and sun-kissed beaches.

Not ready to leave yet? Ask us what more to do in the mountains, exploring the cultural highlights of Albania’s historic cities or a laid-back beach extension - there’s always more to explore in the Balkans!