A tourism boom over the past few years means that, despite the hype, South Albania’s beaches can feel decidedly discovered — but that’s because most don’t know where to look. This summer, my family and I set off on a research trip to carve out our new South Albania itinerary and proved that even in the height of the holiday season, not everywhere along the coast has been mined by the package holiday giants. Our fact finding mission took us from secluded spots on the Ionian Sea inland to the twin UNESCO lakes of Ohrid and Prespa and rafting on the mighty Vijosa river. Here’s a look at what we got up to – and what’s in store for you if you’re joining us on our latest Albanian adventure. A scenic start: Lake Ohrid We landed in the capital of Tirana and set off towards the sleepy fishing village of Lin, not far from Pogradec, gateway to Lake Ohrid and beyond it, North Macedonia. The three-hour drive was no chore with such incredible scenery to enjoy all the way. Not long after leaving Tirana, the landscape shape-shifted from tower blocks to farming towns and distant hazy mountains. The views only became more glorious the closer we came to our destination. Lin is a place trapped in time with its stone houses, where fishing boats bob in place of a family car and strings of drying red peppers (for ajvar and other Balkan specialities) hang like bunting. After a homemade lakeside lunch of fish soup, carp and homemade chips at a restaurant built on stilts above the water, we set out to explore. Related: Albania: 7 things to see and do with kids - Undiscovered Balkans The Undiscovered guide to Ston, the quieter alternative to Dubrovnik The best things to do
A tourism boom over the past few years means that, despite the hype, South Albania’s beaches can feel decidedly discovered — but that’s because most don’t know where to look. This summer, my family and I set off on a research trip to carve out our new South Albania itinerary and proved that even in
