A guide to Albanian food and wine

Albanian food and wine

Albania is a great destination for foodies. From hearty meat dishes to fresh vegetables and quaffable wines to wash it down with, food is at the heart of the culture. You will never go hungry on Albanian food, that’s for sure. But where do you start? Here’s our guide to traditional Albanian dishes and wine,

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12 fun facts about Albania

While Albania may be known for its beaches, there are lots of interesting things about this Balkan superstar. From Stephen Fry’s almost royal connection to the communist leader’s love for British comedy, here are 12 fun facts about Albania. 1. Albania is home to more than 170,000 bunkers Communist dictator Enver Hoxha was a paranoid

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Where is the Balkans anyway?

So it’s come to our attention that not many people actually know where the Balkans is—or which countries are in the Balkans. To make matters more confusing, people from the Balkans can’t always agree on which countries are Balkan. As a travel company specialising in holidays in the Balkans, we thought we should set the

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Albania is not the “Maldives of Europe”—here’s why

Travel journalist Laura Sanders has visited Albania twice with us and guest blogs this week to explain the problem with coining Albania the “Maldives of Europe.” You will not catch me referring to Albania as the “Maldives of Europe.” For one, that only refers to the 25% of the country made up of coastline. The

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The best kayaking spots in the Balkans

We’ve been kayaking in the Balkans since 2004—long before it became cool on Instagram. Back then, it was just us, a couple of battered kayaks, and the endless blue of Lake Skadar—or Shkodër, as it’s known in Albania—the largest lake in the region and the place we now call home. Since then, we’ve explored the

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Where to find hot weather & adventure in the Balkans in September 2025

Booking your September sun holiday in Europe and not sure where to go? Look no further than the Balkans. Croatia, Albania, Montenegro and Bosnia & Herzegovina all remain hot and sunny well into October (which is why lots of our trips run until then). In fact, our active holidays such as hiking and kayaking trips

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Inside our traditional guesthouse stay overlooking the Vjosa

Are you exploring southern Albania with us? This mountain farmhouse in Përmet on the Vjosa river is sure to whet your appetite. Built more than 120 years ago, Kristaq and Florida Kalllufe’s family home is truly unique. Now listed as a National Monument of Culture, you’ll have the chance to stop there the night before

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How fit do you need to be for an active holiday? (plus 8-week training plan)

Hikers happy to reach a mountain peak and rest stop in the Balkans on a sunny day

Let’s get one thing straight: many of us who love outdoor adventures as adults weren’t sporty kids at school. I certainly wasn’t. I was a chunky tween who dreaded Sports Day and usually came last. In fact, it took until my twenties to discover I even liked the outdoors. My first real adventure? A three-day

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Undiscovered Balkans 14 years on, through the eyes of our first guest

As a business, we don’t often sit back and look at how far we’ve come in the last 15 years. But the return of our very first guest to Villa Miela a couple of weeks ago took us on a trip down memory lane. In case you haven’t read our story, we started out as

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The 8 best hikes in the Balkans

Having travelled extensively in Africa and Asia, Undiscovered Balkans co-founders Ben and Emma thought they’d seen it all—until they came to the Balkans. This wild corner of Europe continues to amaze them even after 20 years—and they’re not easy to impress. So when we say the Balkans is home to not only some of Europe’s,

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