European road trip of the month: Albania

For those who doesn't consider Albania as an adventurous destination, they should think it again. The online magazine “Carole Nash”,  a motorcycle insurance brokers in the UK and Ireland writes about Albania and call it the “European road trip of the month”.

Read the article below:

Going on a road trip is an ideal way to clear your mind, and Europe offers plenty of idyllic locations for you to explore. A country that’s worth visiting is Albania because there are lots of wonderful places to see. It’s an underrated locale that’s steadily growing in popularity. With beautiful beaches, historic towns and gorgeous scenery, Albania is worth checking out.

Some of the best sites in the country:

Tirana

Start your road trip off in the capital city of Tirana, which is a thriving cultural hub. While you’re in the city, you should visit Skanderbeg Square, which contains the Clock Tower and the National History Museum. You’ll be able to access the top of the Clock Tower and get amazing views of the entire city. If you fancy getting some good food, then you’ll want to head over to the Blloku district that has some of the best restaurants in the city. The architecture throughout Tirana is stunning, so you’ll have plenty of photographic opportunities.

Mount Dajti

Head outside of the city to Mount Dajti and you’ll be treated to spectacular views of Tirana and beyond. You can reach the top of the mountain by taking the Dajti Ekspres cable car. There’s the chance to see all kinds of wildlife, from wolves to wild cats. The natural beauty of Mount Dajti makes it one of Albania’s most picturesque locations.

Durres

Found 21 miles west of Tirana, Durres is an ancient city that houses Albania’s main port. Durres has popular beaches that come alive during the warmer months, making summer an ideal time to visit. Away from the sea, there are other sites worth seeing, like the Durres Archaeological Museum. It contains artefacts from Ancient Greece and Rome.

Berat

Known as ‘The Town of a Thousand Windows,’ Berat is another ancient town that’s worth visiting for its heritage. Berat gets its nickname from the old manor houses with their many windows. You should check out the The Kala, a fortress within the town that played an important role in Albania’s military history. There’s also the old districts of Mangalem and Gorica, with their white stone houses and terracotta tiles. The districts are connected by the Gorica Bridge, which is steeped in folklore.

Gjirokaster

Gjirokaster has a fairytale quality, as seen from its quirky, stone architecture. A stand out location is Gjirokaster fortress, which overlooks the town. Every five years the fortress is used for the National Folklore Festival to celebrate Albanian culture. There’s traditional music and dancing that gives an insight into the country’s history.

See original article: Carole Nash

Albania among 12 Magnificent Cheap Countries - Bright Side

Albania- exclusive vacations with low prices. Bright Side is an online publisher who writes about inspirations, creativity and destinations. Recently they published an article ranking 12 Magnificent Countries That Offer Rather Cheap Vacation, and among them is Albania.

Brightside recommends their readers to have a look at Albania as a magnificent country with low prices: “Albania is full of magical places: Gjirokaster City, the Blue Eye, Lake Skadar, Ksamil, Butrinti, and more.

It’s easy to find cozy rooms in hostels from €5 and from €10 in hotels and in private houses. Albanian prices on food and alcohol are some of the lowest in Europe. Street food is also very tasty and costs from €1.80. Restaurant prices are rather cheap too, usually from €3.50. The most popular dishes are: Chomlek with meat and vegetables, seafood dishes, oshaf desserts, and tasty coffee from €0.50-€1. You can also count transport expenses: €0.90 for 31 miles (50 km) if you travel by train and €0.90 for 19 miles (30 km) if you travel by bus.

See original article: Bright Side

Albania: Europe’s forgotten Balkan beauty is a new hot spot for 2018–Express UK

There are many reasons for Albania to be on your bucket list for 2018, as recommended by prestigious travel magazines. This time, it is the British media Express UK that promotes Albania as a new hot spot for 2018.

Unesco world heritage site Berat, which dates back to the 4th century BC- Getty 

“Within sight of Italy and Greece, Albania it is an easy-going place with welcoming people and a land stacked with natural and ancient treasures.” writes Maisha Frost, the author of the article.

In Albania you will find authentic beaches resorts and not the typical luxury Mediterranean writes Express UK. “True, its beach resorts lack the luxury Mediterranean touch. But this is a tolerant Balkan beauty of a different cast where fiery red Orthodox icons and swirling Islamic mosaics grace holy places side by side, and limestone ridges add a luminous dimension to hilltop citadels and wildflower meadows.”

But following the Second World War Albania, a country on the edge both physically and culturally, came under the iron grip of Communist rule. Raw traces of those brutal years remain, most dramatically in the shape of concrete nuclear bunkers, mushroom-like humps that mark the landscape.

Tirana

One of the most intriguing cities in Albania is its capital Tirana.

Tirana is lively and safe and rather surreal. Part Mediterranean, part Soviet relic its rainbow-coloured apartment blocks, painted on the orders of a former mayor to bring some cheer, is more faded pastel these days. The city’s cultural highlights include a triumphalist history mural guarding the entrance to the classical, artefact-packed national museum and the pretty 18th-century Et’hem Bey mosque’s minaret and rare floral mosaics.

 

National Historical Museum mural- Getty Images

Kruja

Just after a steep bend the scenery changes dramatically and for a moment I thought I had time-travelled to Game Of Thrones land as Kruja’s fortress ramparts reared above. Through a great stone archway lies a bazaar with low, long-eaved timbered houses and busy cobbled alleyways. Beyond is the tower and castle, now a museum full of sculptures and homages to Skanderbeg who fought the Ottomans and for a while reunited Albania.

Kruja’s old town feels like being on the set of Game Of Thrones- Getty Images

Berat

Dating back to the 4th century BC, the city’s seven-arch Gorica bridge, a favourite Ottoman masterpiece, spans the Osum river and tiers of white gabled houses climb steep cliffs to its citadel. There towering walls form a hilltop cradle for ancient mosques and eight medieval churches, one housing a stunning collection of icons.

My amble took me to the 18th-century traditional Ottoman home that is now the city’s Ethnographic Museum. Behind its covered verandas I got a glimpse of what communal life was like until just a few decades ago as men pressed olives and the women wove cloth and waited on them.

 

The River Osum flows by revitalised vineyards and the lovely town of Berat- Getty Images

See original article: Albania: Europe’s forgotten Balkan beauty is a new hot spot for 2018

 

The Guardian: Albania, 3rd place for the best adventure travel in 2018

Either for beach holidays,  culture or adventure Albania has managed to be on the list by world popular travel magazines. This time, Albania and its coast is in the top 3 recommended for adventure  and hiking trails among “20 of the best adventure travel challenges for 2018’ as listed by the well-known UK newspaper,The Guardian.

Hiking in Albania is popular not only for rugged landscapes,but also for getting to meet locals and know their history and heritage.  All these make Albania very attractive for travelers all around the world.

Photo source: The Guardian

“Albania’s star has been rising, with more travelers each year wanting to explore its treasures, such as the Accursed Mountains of the north, and wild beautiful white beaches of the south. Wild Frontiers has two new group hiking adventures there, one at each end of the country. On its eight-day package to the south, sunny walks along coastal paths and hinterland mountain trails take the group into the Albanian Riviera, Ottoman towns and Butrint national park.”

See full article: https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2018/jan/20/20-best-adventure-travel-challenges-for-2018-cycling-hikes-marathons

June, the best time to visit Albania in 2018 - Swiss media

Albania is the best place to visit in June, during 2018. This is the recommendation of  Travel News, Swiss media. The Travelnews editorial team presented their personal favorites destinations- from January to December and among them is Albania.

They compare Albania with its neighborhood Montenegro and Croatia, claiming that you can go in Albania for cheaper holidays but with remarkable experience.  

Llaman Beach, Albania

“Albania - the country bordering the Adriatic Sea in the west is cheaper than Croatia and receives fewer tourists from the neighboring country of Montenegro. It offers a remarkable variety of mountain ranges and archaeological sites in which time has stood still. In addition to the great wealth of flora and fauna, Albania is also home to various national parks. The hotel prices are incredibly cheap, the beaches are spared from mass tourism and the crystal clear water reminiscent of dream destinations in the Caribbean. In addition, 300 sunny days a year speak for themselves - why not travel to Albania?”

Borsh beach, Albania

See original article: https://www.travelnews.ch/destinationen/7576-dahin-geht-die-reise-2018.html

Albania part of Via Dinarica among of hot new hiking trails of 2018 by National Geographic

Prestigious National Geographic Traveler included Via Dinarica Trail amongst world’s best hiking trail in 2018. Via Dinarica is a mega-mountaineering and hiking trail, connecting natural and cultural sights in across 7 countries.

Albanian Alps

 Via Dinarica, named Outside magazine’s Best New Trail in 2014, Paste magazine’s best trekking path in 2015, a 2016 must-see by both Wanderlust magazine and The Guardian, and National Geographic Traveler‘s “Best of the World” destination for 2017 and this year among “hot hiking trails” by National Geographic.

‘A European odyssey, the Via Dinarica runs like a rocky backbone along the Western Balkans. It starts in the peaks of northern Albania, winding its way through five countries before ending in Slovenia. The challenging White Trail is already beckoning — at 782 miles, it takes in some of the highest summits, with a combined ascent of nearly 170,000ft. Take a tent, or check-in at highland huts and farm-stays. “

See more: http://www.natgeotraveller.co.uk/smart-travel/travel-talk/new-hiking-and-biking-trails/

Head to wild river Vjosa in Albania, best for adventure-The Independent

"Beat the January blues and head to Albania for adventure” this is what recommends the prestigious world known media The Independent. The article lists 10 categories: and Albania is the chosen one for adventure category.

Photo: Albania Holidays 

“Albania’s Vjosa is the last free-flowing river in Europe, enjoying a protected status currently under threat due to the proposed building of a dam.  Up to 2km wide at some points, the river is ideal for exploring by paddle, with rafting and kayaking available.” writes the Independent.

Photo: Albania Holidays 

See original article: http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/blue-monday-travel-holidays-winter-sun-weekend-breaks-la-gomera-prague-valletta-a8143641.html