Walking Albania's Coastal Trails

Our trip begins in the arrivals hall at Tirana Airport (airport code TIV) at 3.00pm. Look out for your tour leader who will be holding an Explore signboard. The latest time you should book a flight to arrive at is 2.30pm. We'll travel together as a group to Vlora, the 150 kilometre journey should take us around two-and-a-half hours.



After some time to freshen up upon arrival, your tour leader will hold a short welcome meeting at the hotel followed by dinner at a local restaurant for anyone wishing to join.

Vlora is Albania's third largest city and enjoys a stunning location on a sweeping bay protected by the Karaburun Peninsula. Expanding rapidly in recent years, it's becoming a popular holiday destination with both Albanian and international visitors.

This morning we head south along the coast from Vlora to set out on our first hike of the week from close by the Pashaliman naval base. Our route takes us along the Karaburun Peninsula, a stunning and rugged 16 kilometre-long stretch of land that marks the boundary between the Adriatic Sea to the north and Ionian Sea to the south. The unpopulated peninsula, with its rolling hills and secluded beaches, is part of the Karaburun-Sazan Marine Park, known for its rich biodiversity and natural beauty.



Our hike takes us along quiet bays and up on to the ridge for stunning coastal views. Sazan Island can be seen across Vlora Bay. A mysterious island with a legacy that goes back to Albania's communist period, it was only reopened to the general public in 2010 and today is still a military base with around 3600 bunkers and many miles of tunnels dating back to communist times.



Returning to Vlora in the afternoon, there's time to join in with the locals taking an early evening stroll along the Lungomare, a recently constructed five-kilometre long promenade that is part of a broader government initiative to revitalize the city's coastline and boost tourism. You can also pay a visit to the restored Old Town area which offers a picture-postcard setting with some great cafes and restaurants.



Today's 8 km hike is expected to take around 4 hours with a total ascent and descent of 390 metres (1280 feet).

This morning we depart Vlora for the Llogara Pass (1043m), the highest point along a road that was until very recently the main route south along the southern Albanian coast (the alternative Llogara tunnel route was opened in July 2024). Our drive up to the Pass takes us through the Llogara National Park, a diverse terrain of alpine meadows, dense coniferous forests and dramatic rock faces.



Our hike ascends steeply at first on a narrow, zig-zagging path through the pine forest, climbing on a shepherds' trail to the saddle, the Dhjopuri Pass. The views from here down to the sea and Karaburun Peninsula are simply stunning. We return back on the same route and plan to refuel with lunch at a roadside restaurant with panoramic views.



Continuing for a short while in our bus, we'll stop off to take a shorter contrasting hike this afternoon. This route takes us alongside Gjipe Canyon and down to the beach where there's the chance to take a refreshing swim in turquoise waters. We then follow the coastal path to Monastery where we pick up our bus for the onward drive to Himara, where we stay for the next four nights.



Sited between the Ceraunian Mountains and the Ionian Sea, on a coastline that is widely known as the Albanian Riviera, Himara retains a small town charm and makes for a great base from which to enjoy the best of the region's coastal walks and attractive beaches.

This morning's 5 km hike is expected to take around 3.5 hours with a total ascent and descent of 480 metres (1575 feet). The afternoon 3 km walk will take us around 1.5 hours with an ascent of 80 metres (262 feet) and descent of 300 metres (984 feet).

This morning we head down to the seafront to catch a boat along the coast to the start of today's walk at Jala Bay. The first part of our route hugs the coast along a path towards Livadi Bay before heading uphill inland to the village of Old Himara, a maze of narrow streets and traditional stone houses around 240 metres above the coast. The focal point of Old Himara is its ruined castle which dates back to the Byzantine era although parts of its ancient walls are believed to date back as early as the 5th century BC.



We return to our hotel in Himara by bus and the afternoon has been left free for you to relax and explore at your leisure. You may like to spend some time down at town's beach where kayaks and paddle boards are available for rent in season. The restaurants in Himara serve up freshly caught seafood, traditional Albanian dishes and Italian cuisine is also popular and of a good standard, many Albanians having spent some time living and working in their neighbour just a short hop across the Ionian Sea.



This morning's 6 km hike is expected to take around 2.5 hours with a total ascent of 256 metres (840 feet) and and descent of 85 metres (279 feet).

Our trek today enjoys beautiful views of the Albanian Riviera, passing through small stone villages along the way and terraced landscapes used for the cultivation of olives, lemons and oranges. Constructed during the communist era by prisoners (alongside military personnel and local volunteers), the route has become popularly known as the 'Prisoner Trail'.



Today's 12 km hike is expected to take around 4 hours with a total ascent of 175 metres (574 feet) and descent of 400 metres (1312 feet).

A short bus transfer takes us to the start of today's hike, the villages of Khudes. We follow an ancient shepherd's trail out and above the village before descending through forests and past terraced fields and groves of olives to Old Qeparo, a sleepy village occupying a picturesque location with stunning views. From here we continue down to the beach and the modern settlement of Qeparo. We've time to refresh ourselves with a dip in the sea before returning to Himara for our final night on this wonderful stretch of coast.



Today's 12 km hike is expected to take around 4hours with a total ascent of 235 metres (771 feet) and and descent of 430 metres (1411 feet).

Today we leave the coast behind and head back to the Albanian capital Tirana. Before our route heads inland, we'll stop for a look at the Ali Pasha Fortress at the beautiful bay of Porto Palermo. The fortress was built in the early 19th century by the Ottoman Albanian ruler Ali Pasha of Tepelena. We'll explore the different rooms and tunnels of the fortress before admiring the views from its terrace.



We should be back in Tirana by mid afternoon and check into our centrally located hotel, after which your tour leader plans to guide you on a brief orientation so you can make the most of your time here. The Albanian capital is one of the most dynamic of the Western Balkans and surprises many first-time travellers with its lively restaurant, bar, and cafe scene worth discovering by both day and night. Tonight there's the opportunity to go as a group for our last dinner in the city.

The trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in Tirana.



There are no activities planned today, so you are free to depart from Tirana at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you would like an airport transfer today, you need to depart from Tirana airport (airport code TIA), which is around 30 minutes from our hotel.



If you want more time in Tirana, why not book some extra nights before or after the tour? The capital is a safe and friendly city, easy to navigate and has lots to offer.