Albania - 5 hidden gems in an untouched heartwarming country

by Frederike Higgs (Australia)

A leap into the unknown Albania

Albania - not the most common travel destination in Europe but from our experience certainly one of the best ones. The reactions we've got when we told our friends and family that Albania will be our next destination were: 'Isn't that the country where all the drug smuggling is happening?'. Let's be honest, Albania doesn't have the best reputation, which made it even more interesting for us to explore it. We started our journey flying from Hamburg, Germany to Corfu, Greece to then take the ferry over to Saranda, Albania and immerse ourselves in their culture for 6 weeks. The coming 6 weeks were nothing like what we had expected. Saranda is a buzzing little town near the southern tip of Albania and is known for its large beachfront promenade filled with shops and bars and we got to call it home for the next 6 weeks. Arriving at the Saranda ferry terminal in the blistering heat of European summer wasn't the most pleasant experience so we jumped a taxi to get to our apartment. The taxi driver was super friendly and didn't overcharge us for the ride, which is always a plus when traveling to unknown cultures. Once refreshed, we headed out to explore the beauty of the country, so we hired a car just around the corner from our apartment. Albania is a dream destination for road trips; towering mountains sit majestically above the stunning Mediterranean coastline, the crystal-clear water is sparkling invitingly below as you weave your way along amazing mountain roads. From our 6 weeks exploring, we created a list with our all-time favorite places, we've discovered during our time in Albania: 1. Gjipe Beach - an unexpected hidden gem (seriously the most stunning beach ever) tucked away down a trail which is inaccessible by vehicles. We were blown away after trekking down the 30min to this beach. We got rewarded by a beautiful little cove which was super quiet and we almost had it to ourselves! There is also a small campground at the bottom that sells drinks and that you can stay in if you wish. 2. Gjirokaster - the old town is a UNESCO site and the houses in the old town are very unique and built with a very distinctive character. We entered the town by scooter but soon decided to walk through the old town. We were just in awe of the interesting architecture and building methods, it was nothing like we've ever seen around Europe before. Slowly we were heading up towards the fortress for a brilliant view from above, which didn't disappoint in the slightest. 3. Himarë - the perfect area to base yourself if you wish to spend a few nights in the same place. The seafront of Himare is nicely developed and the beach is beautiful with a good selection of bars and restaurants set back from the water. 4. The Blue Eye - also known as Syri i Kaltër in Albania, is a beautiful natural water spring just outside of Saranda. It comprises a natural pool with a stunning range of color hues and a pit that goes down at least 50m. The water is freezing cold, we are talking 12 degrees Celcius and below, hence why it is quite a challenge to stay committed and jump into the crystal clear water for a nice refreshment. 5. Ksamil - one of the most popular destinations in Southern Albania so in Summertime it won’t be quiet but is still 100% worth it. Ksamil is a picture-perfect bay with the most amazing turquoise water and beach bars right by the ocean. If you like it a little bit more quiet, head to Pema e Thate just 10 minutes outside of Ksamil. From here you can sit back and see the Greek island Corfu in the background. To sum it up, Albania does not only have beautiful countryside but also the most heartwarming people we have met throughout the last 18 months of our travels. Locals invited us to their parties and recommended us restaurants and hidden places to go. Don't let the fear of the unknown creep in and go and explore!