8-day self-guided Albanian Coastal Trail

A transfer leads to Kudhës, where the walk begins among olive groves and village houses. Follow the road through the settlement, then join a gradually rising shepherd’s path through oleander and cypress.

From the pass, views extend across the Ionian Sea and towards Corfu. Continue to old Qeparo, a hilltop settlement of stone houses and cobbled lanes.

You can descend directly to Qeparo Beach or continue above the shoreline towards Borsh for a longer stage. Follow the option supplied in the route notes and meet the planned transfer at the corresponding endpoint.

Begin in the hillside village of Vuno, where narrow lanes, whitewashed houses and Orthodox churches provide a short cultural introduction. The route then descends through olive groves and Mediterranean scrub towards the sea.

Reach Jal and the nearby Aquarium cove, both possible swimming stops, before continuing on a red-earth coastal path to Livadh Beach. From here, walk through Himare to the hotel or extend the route to old Himare and its hilltop castle when time and conditions allow.

Although the day remains close to the coast, the repeated ascents and descents make it more demanding than a beach walk.

From Lukovë, a steep shepherd’s path climbs through olive terraces towards the coastal ridge. Views open across the Ionian Sea and towards Corfu, while the inland side looks across sparsely settled hills.

In suitable weather, an optional path continues to Lavani Peak before returning to the main route. The descent follows a broad, exposed gravel track towards Piqeras, with little shade on the open sections.

A transfer returns you to Himare from the village. Carry sufficient water and follow the route option provided in the navigation materials.

Walk through Lukovë’s flower-lined lanes and descend into long stretches of olive groves and terraces shaped entirely by human hands. During Albania’s communist period, political prisoners were used as forced labourers to reshape many of these slopes without machinery.

Continue downhill to Bunec Beach, where the open horizon, calm sea and unusually quiet pebble shore create a striking contrast with the cultivated hillsides. Follow the shoreline past a relic concrete quay, then climb a little-used path above the turquoise water.

The trail continues through Mediterranean herbs and sea breezes towards the long beach at Borsh. There is time for a swim before the planned transfer back to Himare.

Transfer to Llogara Pass, more than 1,000 m above the sea. The most demanding walk of the journey climbs on a broad track towards the radio towers and continues along the ridge of the Karaburun Peninsula.

An optional rocky section leads to Mount Gjipali (1,446 m). The route then descends through mountain pasture and the Deep Pass before entering shaded forest on the approach to Llogara.

You may skip the walk and remain in Himare until the afternoon transfer. When completing the route, follow the weather and navigation guidance carefully, particularly on the partly unmarked section near Mount Gjipali.

A short transfer leads to Llogara Pass (1,043 m). From here, climb through pine forest on a narrow, partly steep path towards viewpoints above the Ionian coast.

The main objective is Dhjopuri Saddle at around 1,600 m, beneath Mount Qorre (2,018 m). The saddle provides views across Llogara Pass, the Karaburun Peninsula and the village of Dukat.

Return by the same route to the pass and meet the planned transfer to Tirana. A morning transfer can be arranged in advance for travellers who prefer additional time in the capital instead of the walk.

Depending on your departure time, there may be an opportunity for a final walk through central Tirana or a museum visit. The journey ends with the planned transfer to Tirana Airport.