Hiking the Albanian Riviera

Welcome to Albania! You will be picked up at Tirana airport or in the city, then a 4-hour journey will take you to the south of the country. You will be taken to the Albanian Riviera via the Vjosa River, the salt marshes of Narta Lagoon and above Vlore Bay with a view of the coast. You will finally reach the small seaside town of Himarë, where you will stay for 5 days in a waterfront hotel.

Dinner on your own. Night in a hotel in Himare.

You start the morning with a 20-minute transfer along the coast to the foot of the village of Kudhes, in the hinterland. You will follow a rocky shepherd’s path decorated with bright pink laurels and lush green cypresses. You will emerge onto terraced fields, from which the view opens onto deep blue sea and the island of Corfu in the background. You will then arrive at the village of Qeparo where time seems to have stopped in the maze of stone houses and paved streets. From a “hidden” viewpoint overlooking the olive fields and quiet shoreline, you can descend to New Qeparo by the beach or continue the walk above the shore, across the hill towards Borsh, to enjoy the coastal landscape a little longer.

20-minute return transfer to the hotel.

Dinner on your own. Night in a hotel in Himare.

This day is a perfect mix of hiking and swimming. The route takes you through hills and Mediterranean landscapes and from beach to beach, each more stunning than the last. A transfer of about thirty minutes to the coastal village of Vuno, famous for its white houses stacked on the hillside and its centuries-old Orthodox churches. You then begin an idyllic descent towards the famous Aquarium beach. Accompanied by impressive colours and the sound of crashing waves, you then walk along the red earth path to Livadhi beach. You can choose to stop here for a little more swimming, cross the town to reach your hotel, or take the ancient paved path to the old town of Himara and its ancient castle.

Dinner on your own. Night at a hotel in Himara.

Today you will be taken to the southern part of the Riviera for a mountain hiking excursion. A shepherd’s path will take you to a ridge from where you will see terraced hills plunging into the Turquoise Sea. Weather permitting, you can even climb to Lavani peak, the highest point which offers one of the most beautiful views of the stay. The descent follows a wide exposed gravel road, allowing you to immerse yourself in the view all the way to Piqeras, where you reconnect with civilisation. Return transfer to Himara. In the evening, you can take a night walk in the lively centre or sip a cocktail by the beach.

Transfer: 40 minutes there, 40 minutes back.

Dinner on your own. Night at a hotel in Himara.

A charming and varied walk takes you again to the south shore of the Riviera. Starting from Lukova, you will walk through flowering houses, old paved alleys and even discover a small waterfall. You will continue over endless hand-built olive terraces. After a gentle descent, you emerge onto Bunec beach. The clear horizon, calm sea, and unusual emptiness of the pebble shore give the impression of being in a film scene as you walk along the shore. As you continue your walk along the hillside, soaking in the Mediterranean atmosphere, Borsh beach, which seems to stretch endlessly, slowly appears. It calls for a refreshing swim and a final mental image of the romantic setting, before returning for the last night in Himara.

Outbound transfer: 45 minutes Return transfer: 25 minutes

Dinner on your own. Night at a hotel in Himara.

Today, the heights of the Ceraunian Mountains and Llogara National Park are calling to you. You can also skip the most challenging hike of this journey, spend the day in Himara and head up in late afternoon. A driver will take you to the summit of the Llogara Pass at over 1000 metres altitude. Here, a wide gravel path leads gradually along the ridge. Panoramic views of the rugged Albanian Riviera and Vlora Bay on the other side accompany the walk along the backbone of the peninsula. A rocky and steep trail offers the opportunity to climb Mount Gjipali (1446m) for a high-altitude picnic break. Then you descend into a mountain pasture and enter a green corridor resembling a tropical forest that offers generous shade in the afternoon. This is an important biosphere reserve, famous in particular for its black pines and firs that are 500 years old. In the evening, you will spend the night in a comfortable mountain hotel within the national park.

Transfer: 1h

Dinner free. Night and breakfast at the hotel.

A short transfer will take you to the starting point of today’s trail, at the summit of the Llogara Pass (1043m). A narrow and partly steep trail will lead you through ancient snake-bark pines. During communism, these giant trees were exploited for their resin; today they rest peacefully surrounded by chamomile and sage. Today’s objective is found below the rocky peak of Qorre (2018m) at the Dhjopuri saddle (1600m). There, you can rest and enjoy the view of the Llogara Pass, which separates the Karaburun peninsula from the rest of the Riviera, and the village of Dukat at the foot of the mountain. Why not take this time for a high-altitude picnic? The descent is made by the same path.

A driver will come to pick you up and take you to Tirana, the modern capital of Albania, where you will arrive in late afternoon.

Option to skip this hike and be transferred to Tirana first thing in the morning.

Transfer: 4h

Dinner free. Night and breakfast at the hotel in Tirana.