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Trek the deserted Karaburun Peninsula where Adriatic and Ionian seas meet Hike shepherds' trails high among the pine forests of Llogara National Park Refuel on fresh seafood and traditional Albanian cuisine
Craving a blend of coastal beauty and cultural discovery? The "Walking Albania's Coastal Trails" trip offers an 8-day moderate adventure that takes you through the Albanian Riviera, from Tirana to the Bay of Vlora and beyond. This guided walking tour is tailored for experienced travelers who enjoy active exploration. Trek secluded beaches along the Karaburun Peninsula, hike shepherds’ trails in the pine forests of Llogara National Park, and wander through authentic stone villages and Byzantine castles. Savor fresh seafood and traditional Albanian fare, and soak up the Mediterranean spirit in the cosmopolitan city of Vlora. The unique selling point: access to untouched Balkan landscapes and trails rarely visited by outsiders, promising a genuine and invigorating journey for those keen to discover Albania’s wild side.
Our tour starts today in Tirana, the colourful capital of Albania. Having emerged from its Communist past in the early 90's, Tirana's vibrant arts scene, café culture, diverse architectural styles and intriguing landscapes create a rich tapestry of styles; offering a great introduction to Modern Albania. There are no other activities planned today, so you're free to arrive in Tirana at any time. If you'd like an airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into Tirana International Airport (TIA), which is around a 40-minute drive from our hotel. Please look out for your driver, who will be waiting outside the terminal in the arrivals area holding a branded sign. You'll need to exit through the doors on the left hand side when you exit the baggage claim area. For those arriving in time, our tour leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception at 7pm for a welcome meeting and for those that wish, there is the chance to go out for dinner. If you miss the welcome meeting, your tour leader will inform you of any essential information on the morning of day two. Tirana is easy to navigate on foot, so if your flight arrives earlier in the day, you might like to head out and explore. The House of Leaves, a museum dedicated to secret surveillance and the headquarters of Albania's secret service throughout the Cold War, is an intriguing stop. If you're into markets, check out Pazari i Ri, an open-air market where you can buy everything from fresh produce to local specialities such as byrek, baklava and honey. Whilst in Albania, we'll have the chance to try the country's delicious cuisine, which is a mix of Turkish, Greek and Italian influences, such as byrek - a spinach and feta stuffed filo pie and barbequed lamb with hearty vegetables such as griddled aubergines, peppers and courgette. Along the coast, there'll be the chance to try some fresh seafood, simply prepared to let the natural flavours of the sea take centre stage. Albania is also home to some excellent local wines and refreshing regional beers, such as Birra Korca, perfect for an evening toast. We've packed in as many of Tirana's highlights as possible on this trip, however, we have very little free time in the city. If you'd like more time to explore, we recommend extending your stay by a night or two.
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The leader was not entirely familiar with the all the trails. The first walk at the Pashaliman Naval Base was mosquito infested, no mention was made of this before departure so no repellent applied or mosquito protective clothing worn. The path was also extremely overgrown with sharp low bushes. Needless to say my face, arms and legs were covered in bites as well as unnecessary scratches to my legs. Our final walk from Kudhes to Qeparo was also spoilt at the end by dead ends and overgrown paths. I appreciate that my trip was at the end of the season when maintenance to the trails was no longer a priority to the authorities. However, local knowledge should have been sort before embarking on both these hikes.
This is the first year for this holiday, so tweaks need to be made. The first walk seemed rather pointless and there were so many mosquitoes we couldn't stop to eat our packed lunch. Albi our leader changed the order of certain elements and thereby improved the offering. Some of the walks were really great. It was the last trip of the season and in the quieter seaside resorts just about everything was closed. Before attracting more tourists Albania needs to address single use plastics, litter, public toilets, planning; please don't make the mistakes of other countries. But people were friendly and helpful.
Albania trip and Explore good. However as a walking trip and I have done a lot with explore it doesn’t work. There are few real trails round the coastal areas. The first walk was to no where and we were eaten by mosquitoes. It needs circular walks but perhaps land access is an issue. A few of the walks were ok. Having said that I enjoyed the trip and the experience but would not recommend it as a walking trip.
A bit of a curate's egg - good in parts. Could have been so much better. The first 2 walks based in Vlore were uninspiring and plagued by insects. The remaining walks based in Himara had interesting sections but were relatively short. All finished in a village or at a beach but there was no time to linger in a cafe or have a swim. We were rushed back to the hotel for no apparent reason. The climbs to the old villages with their narrow cobbled streets were probably the highlight. There was no wow factor and for the first time with Explore I came away feeling a little short changed - clearly a work in progress. Nevertheless, a good group made for an enjoyable week.
Early September in Albania was too hot for walking! It was also very humid on some of the walks, particularly day 1. I enjoyed the coastal walks with opportunity to swim on more remote beaches. Our guide Besi was fantastic. He was well organised and good fun. He took us to some great places to eat.
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