Albania had been on my radar since my Balkans trip back in However, in the last few years, it has been gaining significant popularity amongst European travellers especially. It definitely helped to know a local, to give us some tips and tell us which things to avoid. Huge shoutout Alesia, because so much of the trip was made possible thanks to her.
We began by spending a few days in the capital city of Tirana. A lively, bustling city, albeit with an interesting past, but one which offers cultural and historical treasures free from hordes of tourists. We also got to spend some time with Alesia, which was so lovely!
The next morning, we journeyed to Gjipe Beach, the most famous beach of the region, known for its secluded picturesque beach and crystal clear water. As our car was not at all suitable for off-roading, we parked and continued on foot about 2.
This section of the drive was a breeze compared to the previous one, and in the early evening, we arrived safely at our lovely airbnb, overlooking the entire bay. After some time spent exploring the ruins, we made our way to Ksamil, a small resort town, and the most popular destination along the Riviera, thanks to its sandy beaches and crystal clear water. The following morning, we were in the car and on the road before 9am, beginning our road trip back to Tirana to catch our flight home.
A few hours later, we made a stop for lunch in the cute historic town of Gjirokaster, where we also walked around and explored some of its cute streets and souvenir shops. The consensus among the three of us was quite unanimous - Albania is amazing, and we love Albania. We experienced little to no mishaps along the way, and quite frankly, it turned out to be one of my most memorable vacations to date.
