Category: Albania

Albania may have seas as dreamy as the Maldives, beaches like Croatia and even some similarities to Greece, but there are several things that set it apart from its Balkan neighbours and everywhere else.  From vast swathes of landscapes completely untouched by humans to its folklore traditions, Albania is a holiday destination like no other.  And so to honour this Balkan state’s individuality, we’ve listed seven things that are wonderfully unique about Albania. Experience besa Albanian culture has an ancient code of honour called ‘besa’ which literally means 'to keep the promise.' In practise, it means to be courteous, generous and trustworthy and to protect foreign visitors. And it really shows - if your car broke down or you looked lost, an Albanian would feel obliged to help, expecting nothing in return.  Surround yourself with pure, undisturbed wilderness Around 70% of Albania is made up of lakes and mountains and other than the odd remote village and hiking trail, a lot of that remains inaccessible and untouched by humans.  In a world where it’s increasingly difficult to get a moment truly alone - or find somewhere that hasn’t been built on, the Albanian Alps offer a unique opportunity to really get off the beaten path and watch the wilderness unfurl as far as the eye can see. Small shepherd's villages are the only signs of civilisation here and if you travel with us on our North Albania adventure, you'll spend some time in an unbelievably pretty village above Theth, a place that time forgot.  Explore the Albanian Alps on our 7 day North Albania adventure. Kayak Europe’s last wild river The Vjosa is Europe’s only remaining wild, free-flowing river and while it technically starts in Greece, the majority of it is in Albania. In 2023, the area around its estuary