Albanian Adventure

Sole of Corfu presents an 8 day walking adventure through Albania. Explore the limestone mountains and hidden lakes all the while experiencing its breathtaking scenery. Our experienced guide will talk you through your journey.

Accommodation is included in the price; a mix of hotels and guest houses along your route.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Mother Teresa Airport Tirana — Shkodër (88 km)

On arrival at Mother Teresa airport you’ll be met by our guide, who will drive you to Shkodër, the most important town in the mountainous northern region of Albania. Once the capital of a powerful Illyrian kingdom, in those days Shkodër occupied the spot where you can now see the imposing Rozafa fortress as you enter the city. The fort was built by the Venetians, who occupied the region in the 15th century, but it later fell to the Ottomans. The Italian influence returned to the town in the early 20th century, as you'll notice in the style of the architecture as we take a stroll in the newly renovated pedestrian area in the evening. Then we'll have dinner in a beautiful traditional stone-built restaurant.

Day 2 - Shkodër — Theth (77 km)

After an early breakfast, we drive towards Lake Shkodër in Koplik, then turn right through lush fields of lavender, before starting to climb through stunning limestone mountains. Once past Boga village, we wend our way uphill, each switchback turn revealing ever broader vistas of breathtaking scenery. Finally we pass through the neck of Thore and arrive at the mountain village of Theth in the midst of the Thethi National Park. There follows a familiarisation tour of the village, starting with the church, which dates back to the late 19th century. Nearby, on the far side of a field, is the “Kulla e ngujimit” or “Lock-in Tower”, a forbidding prison cell that bears witness to the fierce codified system of rules known as the “kanun”, which, however cruel it may seem to us today, kept the peace in isolated communities for centuries. We also pay a visit to the old water mill just below the tower, which was used by the locals to grind corn. From there we follow a footpath up to the bridge of Gerla, suspended more than 30 metres above Thethi canyon. The rock walls disappear down on either side, narrowing into the Thethi canyon far below, which is barely two metres wide. At the spectacular Grunasi waterfall, the water plunges tens of metres to a deep pool. It’s so cold, anyone planning on a swim is deterred the moment they dip in a toe. We'll spend the night at a local guesthouse in Theth.

Day 3 - Theth — Valbona (no driving)

The Valbona Valley National Park is one of the great attractions of Albania. During the decades when the country was communist, the region was forbidden to all but politicians, the handful of people who lived there, and occasional visiting foreign dignitaries from the very few countries with whom Albania still had cordial relations, such as Russia, Bulgaria and Poland. More recently open to all, the park’s treasures are only now being properly appreciated. These 8,000 hectares of untrammelled natural beauty boast forests and pastures, rivers and mountain lakes, and multifarious flora and fauna, not to mention the wonderful hospitality of the locals. Today’s walk, which will last about eight hours, will introduce us to all this and more. Making our way through some of the country’s wildest scenery, we pause at Valbona pass (1950m) to admire the fantastic views. While we enjoy the highlights of our day — the verdant forests and glittering waterfalls, and the quaint village of Rragam — our luggage is being transported by horse to our guesthouse for the night. There we will catch up with it, tired but satisfied, and brimming with stories to tell our friends when we get home.

Day 4 - Valbona (no driving)

Today’s six-hour walk is a mountainous trek onto the so-called “White Circle” — the region of the Albanian Alps where many of the mountains are in excess of 2,000m, which is to say, higher than most Swiss ski resorts. The day will include spectacular views and a chance to experience admire such lofty peaks as Jezerca (2694m) and Maja e Herurave (2561m). A friendly guesthouse awaits us in the evening.

Day 5 - Valbona — Koman Lake — Kruja — Tirana (250 km)

We rise early to catch the Koman Lake ferry. This spectacular boat trip takes us across the artificial lake that was created to service the hydro power stations of the Drin river. Its depth has lent it the colour of green opal, while the sheer walls of the surrounding mountains give it the look of the Italian lakes. Having stepped off onto dry land, we drive to the fortress of Kruja, which was the centre of the Albanian resistance to the Ottomans in the 15th century, led by the country’s national hero, Skanderbeg. This lion of a man, with his long nose and the beard of a Norse god, effectively harried and hampered the Turkish invader for a quarter of a century — in recognition of which the Pope named him “Athleta Christi”, which is to say the athlete or champion of Christ. At the Skanderbeg Museum we’ll absorb the fundamental points of Albanian history. Then we’ll drop in at the Ottoman bazaar, which is one of the best places in the country for picking up antiques and traditional handcrafts. The day ends with an overnight stay in the capital, Tirana.

Day 6 - Tirana — Kepi Rodonit — Tirana (115 km)

A drive of 55km takes us to the beautiful peninsula of Kepi i Rodonit. We pay a visit to the 15th century Church of St Anthony, which is believed to be a special place of healing. From there we fast-forward to the 20th century, taking in some of the huge anti-aircraft bunkers that were built by Enver Hoxha’s communist regime. The fantasy was that Albania, a country then mired in poverty, was the envy of the rest of the world, and an invasion from hostile foreign powers was imminent. To fuel this illusion, Hoxha ordered hundreds of thousands of military bunkers to be built all along Albania’s coastline. Now they remain as witness to his oppression. A walk of about two hours through the lush landscape takes us to Skanderbeg Castle, overlooking the sea. Returning to Tirana, we explore some of the capital’s main attractions, including the National Museum of History.

Day 7 - Tirana — Berat — Durres — Tirana (260 km)

After breakfast we drive to Berat. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is known as “the town of a thousand windows”, owing to the way windows are crammed together on its white-painted houses, which cluster the slopes descending to the river Osum. We pay a visit to Berat Castle, which is still inhabited to this day. At one time there were over 40 churches within its walls. Now seven remain, including St Mary’s Church which is now a museum devoted to the work of the esteemed Albanian icon painter, Onufri. We take lunch in a family-run restaurant known for their traditional homemade food. Then it’s on to Durres on the coast, where we explore the ancient amphitheatre, said to be the largest in the Balkans. The day ends with our return to Tirana.

Day 8 - Tirana — Airport (20 km)

After breakfast, there is free time in which to explore the city, before transfers to the airport for the flight home.