- August-September 2025
Albania 🇦🇱
In recent years, Albania has quietly become one of Europe’s most exciting and affordable destinations. With its dazzling coastline, wild mountains, historic villages and buzzing cities, it offers a mix of experiences that still feel authentic and unspoiled by mass tourism. The people are incredibly welcoming and there’s a real sense of discovering somewhere special before the crowds arrive.
For us, it’s the kind of place that fits perfectly with how we like to travel, laid back, drawn to raw beauty and happiest when we’re surrounded by nature rather than polish. Albania has that balance of culture and wild landscapes, with plenty to uncover at our own pace. Whether it’s long days by the sea, winding road trips, or stumbling on hidden corners, it feels like a country that rewards curiosity and a love of the outdoors.
We’ve gathered some of our favourite moments and discoveries, hope you enjoy exploring Albania with us!
First Impressions of Tirana, Albania 🇦🇱
Arriving in Tirana for the first time, we weren’t quite sure what to expect. Within hours, though, the city had completely won us over. Tirana has this laid-back vibe that immediately makes you slow down and take it all in, exactly what we needed after the rush of travel.
The city is colourful, lively and spacious. Unlike some capitals that can feel overwhelming, Tirana gives you breathing room. We wandered through wide boulevards, leafy squares and cosy corners without ever feeling crowded. It’s busy, but not hectic, full of life, yet relaxed.
Food quickly became part of the adventure. From traditional Albanian dishes to incredible coffees and cocktails, everything is rich in flavour and surprisingly affordable. Sharing plates, trying local wines and just sitting outside people-watching has already become one of our favourite things to do here.
What we didn’t expect was how friendly and open people are. Locals are quick with a smile, helpful with directions and plenty of patience as we stumble through words in Albanian. That warmth adds so much to the experience and makes you feel like you belong, even as a visitor.
After just two days, Tirana feels like the perfect blend of history, culture and modern energy. It’s the kind of city where you can dive into museums and landmarks, or simply linger in a café and feel just as satisfied. If anyone’s wondering “Is Albania worth a visit?”, our answer after only 48 hours is a big yes.
Discovering Shkodër: Albania’s Northern City
Shkodër was our first taste of northern Albania and it’s a city that leaves an impression. Described as “a laid-back, cultural city with an artistic vibe.”
At first glance, it felt busy, chaotic even, traffic weaving through the streets, bikes everywhere and the main strip of the old town lined with cafés, shops and people spilling out into the squares. It wasn’t entirely our scene, but the more we wandered, the more the city revealed its quieter charms.
The real beauty of Shkodër lies away from the polished centre. Down side streets, the old buildings tell their own stories, their faded paint and crumbling balconies holding far more character than anything newly built.
Around corners, splashes of street art appear, giving the city a creative, youthful energy. These little discoveries made us slow down and look closer.
And then there are the coffee shops, Shkodër knows how to do them well. Small, inviting places where you can sit for an espresso or cappuccino and just watch the city go by. In a place that can feel hectic, those cafés became little sanctuaries of calm.
For us, Shkodër wasn’t about ticking off sights or following the main strip. It’s about wandering off-course, finding the mix of old and new, noise and quiet, chaos and creativity that makes the city so unique. It was also our way to the mountains and it felt good to be leaving the chaos.
From the Chaos of Shkodër to the Calm of Theth
It was time to swap the city buzz for the stillness of the mountains. We boarded a small bus heading north, a two-hour journey that felt like stepping into another world.
The road wound its way higher and higher, leaving behind the flat lands and opening up into dramatic mountain views. At times, it felt as if the bus was clinging to the edge of the road, twisting through hairpin bends while the scenery grew more and more breathtaking. Villages dotted the hillsides, streams tumbled down into valleys and every turn seemed to reveal a sharper peak.
Arriving in Theth felt like another world compared to Shkodër. Gone was the noise and movement, in its place was fresh mountain air, wooden houses scattered across green fields and the sound of nothing but birds and running water.
The village is small, remote and beautiful in its simplicity, the perfect contrast after the city’s intensity. The pace here is slower and calmer.
Theth isn’t about rushing around. It’s about walking slowly, breathing deeply and soaking in a landscape that feels almost untouched. This is where I feel most at ease.
The highlight of Theth is simply being outdoors. Hikes lead in every direction, from gentle walks through the valley to longer treks up into the dramatic peaks.
The famous Theth church, with the mountains towering behind it, looks like something out of a postcard. Even just sitting outside with a coffee feels special when the backdrop is this wild and beautiful.
The evenings are peaceful, with starry skies and the kind of silence you rarely find. It’s a place to rest, reset and remember how good it feels to be surrounded by mountains.
Crossing the Vabona Pass: From Theth to Valbona on foot
Leaving the peaceful valley of Theth behind, we set out on what is known as one of the most beautiful hikes in the Balkans, the trail to Valbona.
The route took us up and over the Valbona Pass, a seven-hour journey through rugged alpine terrain, winding forest paths and sweeping meadows.
The climb was rewarding and every step revealed something worth pausing for – mountain views, wildflowers scattered across the hillsides and the distant sound of cowbells echoing through the valleys.
As we ascended, the views opened up to reveal dramatic peaks that felt almost within reach. At the pass itself, the reward was breathtaking. There were jagged mountains all around us, the Theth valley fading away behind and the Valbona valley stretching out ahead, waiting to be explored.
The descent brought us through pine forests and rocky trails until finally, the first glimpses of Valbona appeared. By the time we reached the village, tired legs were quickly forgotten, replaced with the satisfaction of crossing from one valley to another on foot, surrounded by some of the most stunning landscapes Albania has to offer.
Valbona
Valbona is tucked deep in the Albanian Alps, it’s a place defined by its raw beauty and simplicity. Mountains tower all around, but the valley itself is quiet, scattered with a handful of guesthouses and traditional homes.
What struck us most was the ruralness, no shops as such, no cafés, no bustle of town life. Just a couple of small places to eat, basically your guest house and beyond that, pure stillness.
That “nothingness” is exactly what makes Valbona so special. It forces you to slow down, to soak up the silence and to appreciate the wilderness in its truest form. Sometimes, less really is more.
From Peaks to Lakes: Journey to Komani
After our time in the Albanian Alps, we swapped hiking boots for a bus seat and wound our way down the mountain roads. A couple of hours later, the landscape opened up to reveal the stunning Komani Lake where we took a boat ride.
Surrounded by dramatic cliffs and deep turquoise water, it already felt like we’d stepped into another adventure.
But as beautiful as it was, we couldn’t help but notice the less-perfect side too. In certain areas, plastic bottles and rubbish floated in the water, a reminder that even the most untouched places are not immune to pollution. It was disappointing to see, especially somewhere so breathtaking and it left us wishing that more could be done to protect and preserve this gem for the future.
As the boat carried us further along Komani Lake, the scenery became even more dramatic. Towering cliffs rose sharply on either side, carving out a gorge so narrow in places it felt like we were gliding through a hidden passageway. The stillness of the water contrasted with the sheer height of the rock faces, creating a surreal, almost otherworldly atmosphere. It’s the kind of landscape that makes you feel very small in the best possible way.
Komani Lake is often called one of Albanias hidden gems and despite its challenges, it’s easy to see why. With the right care and intervention, it has the potential to remain one of the country’s most magical natural wonders.
Albania 🇦🇱 – South – Part 2 – to follow
Mary's Outdoor Adventure's 