The trail is market, but not very well, so be sure to get some instructions from the locals before you go. So what is all the fuss about? And a gallery about the terror of the communism period with pictures of prisons, concentration camps and political murders. Then the adventure starts, from the village you will take a 2 km trail towards the black cave. The beauty of visiting Theth is the virgin and untouched wilderness. Moreover, you can also try the local speciality dish called flija. The Albanian alphabet has 36 letters and the words are spelled phonetically. Albania was invaded by many neighbouring countries throughout the centuries. The main highlights are the old Ottoman Bridge, the thermal springs of Benja and rafting on the wild Vjosa river. Afterwards, continue onwards to the canyon of the river or return to the village for a lovely lunch. The next morning, you can hike across the Valbona Pass to the mountain village of Theth. There is a beautiful Ottoman bridge close to the city of Permet. Weve also got a super selection of hotels on our books 295 of them dotted around Albania in fact. So, whatever your budgets saying, theres bound to be something that suits. If its a three-star hotel, you can expect to pay around 28 a night, while four-star hotels typically come in at 36 per night. The beach is surrounded by a wild landscape and it is enclosed by cliffs. Some of the hidden beaches, like Monastery Beach, require a hike. He had great military skills and fought against the Turkish Ottomans for 25 years. From Fierza, you can take another minibus to the mountain village Valbona. Gjirokastra has houses from the period that Albania was ruled by the Ottoman Turks. There is no beach here, because the bay is naturally rocky. Today it is also called the playground for young Albanian elite. More recently, it served as a submarine base during the communist regime. Therefore, Shkodra is a great place to visit during your Albania holidays, if you are a creative person. No wonder the lake side resort was popular with Kind Zogu and the former dictator Enver Hoxha. The locals in the south had easier contact with Greece and Corfu, then with the North of Albania. During the middle ages, Albania was under the Turkish Ottoman rule for more than 400 years. The best way to explore the Accursed Mountains (or Albanian Alps) is a 3-4 day hiking tour through the mountain range. Moreover, the fortress is on the tentative list for UNESCO World Heritage awaiting a decision on its future. The dictator died and the regime ended, but the heritage remains in Albania and some of the history you can explore as a tourist. The Mesi bridge is about 5km north of Shkodra. Sailors carved symbols and letters into the rocks throughout history. Kind regards, Manon. You can reach the beach by driving from Saranda along the road towards Butrint for a few kilometres. When you drive from Tirana to Shkodra, you will see the Rozafa Castle on the top of the hill. The path is steep and requires some climbing, but it is well marked with red and white markers. The village of Borsh is very picturesque and has a maritime character. Each letter has a specific sound and the sound does not change in the context, therefore, reading and writing Albanian is rather easy. He started a photo business and was assisted by Rrok Kodheli and Kel Kodheli. There was no opposition, because the wrong opinion or action could lead to torture, imprisonment or death. The market has a narrow cobble-stone street with wooden boutiques along the side. You can reach the lakes of Lura by first travelling to the city Peshkopi. Borsh is the largest beach in the Ionian Sea, and therefore, a highlight in the Albanian Riviera. Click here for more information about Ksamil beach. The history of the site is fascinating and dates back to 50.000 BC. KAYAK is a travel tool that searches package holidays to Albania on hundreds of travel sites to help you find the Albania You will see the beautiful flowers all over the historic town. The peninsula is basically, a strip of mountains stretches out into the sea for about 30 km. In Albania, you can still find a perfect white sand beach and have it to yourself all afternoon. Shkodra is the largest city in the North of Albania and it is very popular amongst tourists. Close by are the ruins of the ancient city of Butrint. The bay is very picturesque, from the hill you can look down on the bay, the castle and the beautiful landscape with bright red oleanders. Moreover, there is also a Byzantine chapel on site with beautiful mosaics. However, after the fall of the communism the are has changed drastically. They are the perfect destinations for tours combining nature, religion, ancient culture, hospitable people, and also in combination with their neighbouring countries Albania, Montenegro, Serbia, Bulgaria, and Greece. When you will walk through the country, the Albanians will be exited to talk to you, because simply said there are not that many foreign tourists. Ionian Cruises ferries run from Corfu to Saranda in Albania. Moreover, Shkodra is the biking capital of Albania. With accommodation, return flights, There are many forums on TripAdvisor asking whether you need a 44 or an SUV or any four-wheel-drive car during your Albania holidays. The old houses have many large windows looking down on the town below. It is best to bring some food and drinks along on the hike, so that you can have a picnic once you arrive at the waterfall. Before you reach the beach site, you will first see the St. George Monastery on the top of the hill. But the Byzantine empire built most of the castle in the 13th Century. When you drive up the road, you will be awarded with a spectacular view. The castle was originally built in the 12th century. After a quick visit to the monastery, you can descend the hill towards the beach. Moreover, hotel stays are very affordable. Pickpocketing and petty crime are practically non-existent. The winding road has a new surface and it offers beautiful views over the Albanian Riviera. The National History Museum is the largest museum in Albania and definitely worth a visit during your Albania holidays. However, from the roof of the castle, you will have a superb view of the sea. And finally, you can take a minibus from Theth back to Shkodra city. In the old town you can visit the ruins of a castle. It is the largest bridge in Albania from the Ottoman period. Mirror beach is one of the highlights of the Albanian Riviera. Please remember to bring some warmer clothes on your Albania holidays. The fortress is gigantic size, 60 meters by 90 meters, and a rectangular shape. The bridge is made of round rocks and stone plates and it crosses the Kir river. The peak is the highest mountain in both countries and the 12th highest peak in Europe. Moreover, the water is perfectly clear. The Lock-in tower is to protect the man next in line to be killed. The ruins date back to the Bronze Age, and many houses were built within the old castles walls. The home has the traditional set-up, where the downstairs is for the livestock and the upstairs for the family. Our map The building was the former headquarters of the Sigurimi, which was Albanias secret police during the communist regime. Security Moreover, there are also activities outside, like horse-back riding, target shooting or a childrens playground. From the city, you can climb up the hill and enter the castle. Moreover, the cave was one of the earliest prehistoric settlements. The Ottoman style houses are still in use today, and many have been converted into hotels and coffee houses. Or you can drive along the river to Nderlysa, park the car and start your hike there. Around 66% of the area is urban. Activities that you can undertake include swimming, fishing, canoeing and kayaking. Moreover, there are four more sites on the tentative list of UNESCO: The royal tombs of Selca, the amphitheatre of Durres, Apollonia and the Castle of Bashtova. Butrint is a beautiful park surrounded by water with excellent monuments inside the park. The small beach site is very quiet and private, and therefore, a great place to visit during your Albania holidays. During the Ottoman period, the sister of the national hero Skanderbeg oversaw the castle. The communist dictator ruled Albania in a strict communism regime from 1944 until his death in 1985. For that reason, it is best to bring some water and some snacks along on the trail. And finally, you can watch an episode of Top Gear Car show, where the presenters race each other on the Llogara Pass. The UNESCO world heritage site of Butrint is an archaeological site that has historically had settlements from the Greeks, the Romans, Byzantines and the Venetians. You can spend a night in a traditional Guest House. In fact, you will receive a brief introduction before take-off. Dhermi Beach is 42 km south of the city Vlore. There is also the small castle of Lekursi, which offers a stunning view across the town and sea. It was used by the national hero Skanderbeg between 1443-1468, in his resistance against the Ottoman Turks. And you can see large dragon flies on the surface of the lake. With an Albania holiday package, you can save up to on your next exciting escape. It introduces you to the different alphabets up to the alphabet that the Albanians use today. And therefore, the Thermal springs are a great place to visit during your Albania holidays. Then there is a wall displayed that kept Albanias population from leaving the country. Albania holidays: Search for cheap holidays to Albania on KAYAK. The Grunas Canyon is a natural monument in the Theth National Park. If you like to visit historic places, then you must visit Zekate house during your Albania holidays. But most of all, the canyons of Osum are a beautiful place to visit. Albania has a hot and dry summer. In the afternoon and evenings the boulevard is bustling with people, who are gathering in the cafes and their terraces. The bunker has now been converted into a museum about the communist regime. The paragliding experience will last between 15-30 minutes depending on the flying conditions. The bunker was meant to accommodate the local government during the attack that never happened. The main historic highlight is the Rozafa Castle on the hill, which was built by the Venetians in the middle ages. Amongst the locals, the peak is called the crown and the lakes are the pearls of Albania. From the balcony you can see Tirana city, the beach of Durres and the Adriatic Sea. Do not be surprised if one of the locals invites you in for a glass of wine or raki, because they are known for their friendly behaviour. From the beach, you can see little islands across the bay. If you plan on visiting Theth, for instance, do rent a 4-wheel drive for that part of your journey. The Museum of Secret Surveillance is the newest museum in Tirana and therefore a great place to visit during your Albania holidays. The canyons of the Erzen river are spectacular. Experience is not necessary, because most participants choose for Tandem Paragliding. Where you can see old stone houses from the Ottoman period. Alanya holidays Alanya is a city of two halves a rocky peninsula divides its two Blue Flag beaches, while night and day split your holiday into laid-back sunbathing experiences with In Vlore you can visit the Independence Monument on Flag Square. It is in a very good condition, so you can walk on the bridge to take pictures of the landscape and river. Ordinary Albanians were not allowed in and the area was unmarked on most maps. The beach of Gjipe is hidden between the high cliffs of the canyon. There are two main spoken dialects of Albanian, southern Tosk and northern Gheg. Firstly, the Karaburun Peninsula has many hidden bays inside the sea. You can also hike down through the bushes to reach the ocean. Vising Berat is like visiting a museum. Minority languages include Greek, Romani, Serb and Bulgarian. Vlore is a large city, therefore there are many restaurants, hotels and apartments around the beach. The first part of the hike is a steep climb up towards the pass and after the pass you will hike down to the Theth Valley through a thick forest. Before the entrance, you walk through a long, dark tunnel in the hillside with scary music in the background. By boat you can reach the touristic attractions: the Haxhi Ali Cave, the Gramata Bay and the Blue Cave. How can I help you? It is a very popular place to stay for hikers or backpackers the night before their hike from Valbona to Theth. According to the legend, the castle was built by three brothers. During this period, Albania was a part of the Turkish Ottoman empire and Ali Pasha was the Albanian governor of south of Albania. The location is picturesque. And with ABTA and ATOL protection for peace of mind included too, its a win-win. You can find information about all these sites below. On the Albanian shores of the Lake Ohrid, you can visit the lake side town Pogradec. There are moments, where the steep cliffs are so close, it seems impossible for the ferry to continue. In the very south of Albania, you can visit the city of Gjirokastra, set in a valley between the Gjer mountains and Drino. Starting from the ancient Illyrians until post-communism. Korca is also called the little Paris of Albania, because of its beauty. Single cabins now available on 2023 winter cruises, Interest rates and costs of equity release. I arrange your transportation and I am your English speaking guide. Touristic attractions are low in price. Albania uses the standard Euro plug and the Schuko plug, both two-pin. A wise old man told the brothers that they should sacrifice one of their wives to ensure the walls would not fall down. It is possible to rent a rowboat and paddle around the little island. And with more The site will probably remind you of a calming Monet painting, since the surface of the lake is covered in plants and flowers. 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