Evening Standard: Albania famous for its vineyards

Albania now is becoming more popular for foreign tourists, not only for its nature and cultural heritage but also for wine. Evening Standard a British media wrote an article to promote Albanian wine among Serbian and Macedonian wine in the Balkan region.

Kallmet, Albania
Photo source: Evening Standard

Albania is famous for its vineyards, layered over gently rolling hills at an altitude of up to 1,000 metres. As in Macedonia, conditions here produce viticultural diversity — merlot, cabernet, pinot noir, riesling and sangiovese are abundant in this rich soil.

The Zadrima region’s clash of ecosystems — it’s where the Albanian Alps meet the Adriatic — makes for uniquely fertile land producing Mediterranean-style wine. Kallmet, named after the full-bodied, sweet local kallmet grape, produces award-winning red and whites including its “prestige” selection from 30-year-old vines. Arberi and Zadrima have other high-quality examples of native wineries in the area. Expect only locals at these seriously undercover gems.

Arbri Winery, Albania
Photo source: Evening Standard

See full article here!

Telegraph: Albania- Europe's next big beach holiday destination?!

“Albania is like a missing piece in an otherwise completed jigsaw - the final portion of the landmass along the Adriatic which has not become a beach-holiday stalwart”. This is how Telegraph, the UK multimedia news brand describes our country, Albania. This media promoted Albania as a travel destination in several articles and this one is written by the author Chris Leadbeater, who sees Albania as a unique destination different from neighbor countries such as Greece, Montenegro and Croatia.

Ksamil Beach, Credit © 2011 Azem Ramadani 

“But if you take another glance at the map, one remaining pocket of the relatively unknown may just stare back at you. Albania is like a missing piece in an otherwise completed jigsaw - the final portion of the landmass along the Adriatic which has not become a beach-holiday stalwart” writes Telegraph.

Albania, by contrast, is still almost unheard of as a package destination - despite the fact that its 265 miles of seaside are in a prime location. In a rare event, the country can claim to be lapped by not just one sea, but two - the Adriatic and the Ionian are deemed to meet in the sheltered Vlorë Bay (where Vlorë, the country's third largest city sits). That, at this point, the distance between Albania and elbow of Puglia, away to the west in Italy, is just 60 miles, only emphasizes the splendor of this Balkan country's location.

There should be a caveat here, of course. To say that Albania is almost unheard of as a package destination is to overlook the many Albanian tourists who are well aware of their home state's suitability for a week on the sand. There are plenty of rooms, and plenty of paying customers, in the hotel zones of Durrës (the second city, in the north of the country) and Saranda (the key tourism hotspot, in the south, close to the Greek border). It is just that, as yet, there are very few Britons among them. The cat remains in the bag.

Photo source: Telegraph

Albania is already an intriguing country to visit - Tirana is an increasingly cosmopolitan city, while the country's wealth of ancient archaeological sites (including the likes of Apollonia and Butrint) might almost rival Italy. But in a time when question marks linger over traditional beach destinations such as Egypt and Turkey, it could be that, in the next three or four years, its main appeal will be as a place in the sun. Mystery solved.

See full article here!

German Travel Magazine: Albania -Between sea and mountain

DAV (Deutscher Alpenverein) is the largest Mountain Sports Association in the world and one of Germany's major sports and nature conservation associations. DAV recently published an article about Albania, specifically about Southern Albania written by journalist Joachim Chwasczca.

Mediterranean landscapes of the southern Albania can be enjoyed by walking or biking on the roads with spectacular views from the sea. Llogara Pass is one of the most beautiful roads in Albania, is a high mountain pass with the highest point of 1, 027 m within the Ceraunian Mountains along the Albanian Riviera.  The platform allows you to have the best view of all the area. It seems like you are seeing this view from an airplane. 

Der Llogarapass an der Südküste Albaniens schraubt sich bis auf 1027 Meter empor und ist bei klarer Sicht eine fantastische Aussichtskanzel. Der Pass ist Grenze und Wasserscheide zwischen dem Adriatischen und dem Ionischen Meer. Steht man oben an einer der Aussichtskanzeln, fällt der Blick wie aus einem Flugzeug nach unten und folgt dem tausend Meter tiefer liegenden Küstenbogen bis zur Hafenstadt Saranda, dem antiken Hafen Onchesmos. Die Insel Korfu zeichnet sich ab, Griechenland ist zum Greifen nahe. 

See original article  here!

Albania - from Lake Koman to Valbona Valley

The beauty of Lake Koman and Valbona Valley of the Northern Albania has attracted a lot of tourists last years. This time a Portuguese travel blogger has visited the Koman Lake and Valbona Valley. "The boat trip to Lake Koman is one of the most amazing things you couldn’t miss in Albania, as it is one of the ten most beautiful boat trips in the world", he says. 

Credits: projecto100rota

After experience with the boat ride along the magnificent Koman Lake they headed to Valbona Valley where they spent the night in a guesthouse.  After having a nice sleep in the guesthouse, the next morning they visited the landscapes of Albanian Alps and the river Valbona, a tour that gave them the feeling of being  in paradise.

 

Credits: projecto100rota

See original article in Portuguese https://www.projecto100rota.com/2017/06/13/albania-do-lago-koman-a-valbona/

Exploring Voskopoja, once the 2nd largest city of the Ottoman Balkans after Istanbul

By Gulia Blocal

We left the car right outside the entrance of Voskopoja. The parking lot was empty and the village looked deserted, apart from a few old men drinking and smoking under the porch of the local bar. Our plan was to visit the frescoed churches, which recall a time when Voskopoja was a cosmopolitan metropolis, a centre of arts and cultures and the second largest city of the Ottoman Balkans after Istanbul.

This mountain village in south-eastern Albania isn’t mentioned in guidebooks, so without any information on how to visit its Byzantine churches we just took the first street off the parking lot and walked our way through the village.

The street was unpaved and the air smelled of that pungent mix of cut grass and goats; we walked past small stone houses until we finally found the first church, enclosed by the traditional wall of red stones, with its Byzantine frescoes in plain view under the covered porch.

We got closer, took our cameras out of the bags and pushed the gate, but it was locked and we couldn’t get in.

 Read more: http://www.blocal-travel.com/road-trip/voskopoja-albania/

#Albania showed its model of religious coexistence and harmony to the world on #Pope 's visit

#Albania showed its model of religious coexistence and harmony to the world on #Pope 's visit to Tirana on 21 September 2014! God bless Albania!

 

 

Walking Albania: Beautiful country and intriguing cities in this Balkan nation

Yet, another writer, Richard Webber from UK,  falls in love with the beauty of our country, stunned by our spectacular mountains and tasty, bio and cheap food! Enjoy the reading.

This forgotten Balkan country has some of Europe's most specular mountains and as it hopes to join the EU, some of its cheapest prices too…

Not far to go, just another hour," said Alix, our ebullient guide, as we bounced along the deeply rutted track. As the bone-shaking minibus crawled its way farther into the rugged mountains, I felt every bump and vowed never to complain about British potholes again.

When the occasional oncoming vehicle meant our driver steered perilously close to the track's edge and the steep-sided valley below, I started wondering if I had been right to embark on an eight-day walking tour of the former Communist country of Albania.

While the main routes are surfaced - there is even a stretch of motorway in the south - many secondary roads, especially in the mountains, are nothing more than rocky tracks.

My fellow walkers, who included a biochemist, vicar, software engineer, supermarket manager, and accountant, and I cheered through sheer relief when Alix pointed towards flickering lights ahead and announced: "There's Thethi!" This tiny village was our base for the next two nights. Surrounded by jagged peaks up to 9,000ft high, Thethi's remoteness means only the most intrepid travellers make it to this scenic spot.

Read the full story here!

http://www.express.co.uk/travel/activity/483037/Albania-walking-holiday

Albania - This is Europe when it was fresh and cheap! - The New York Times 2014

 “This (Albania) is Europe when it was fresh and cheap.” - Thank you so much @nytimestravel and @tim_neville for praising Albania with the 4^th place in you 52 world places to visit in 2014 and the 1^st place in European destinations. We cannot described our country better than what you have done, and probably we need your eyes from outside to see and value our country better. Thank you also for reminding the new Albanian government for the responsibilities they have taken for keeping the coast and Albanian tourism authentic. We do appreciate it !

4. Albanian Coast

On a rugged shore, Europe at its best.

What if you could combine the rugged beauty you’d find on Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast with the ruins of an undiscovered Turkey or Greece, all wrapped in the easygoing nature characteristic of rural Italy — at a fraction of the cost? Turns out you can, on the coast of Albania. The roughly Maryland-size country, between Greece and Montenegro, sits about 45 miles east of Italy on the eastern shores of the Adriatic and has limestone-ringed beaches, ancient ruins like Butrint and waterfront inns where you can stay for less than $50 a night. Rampant development threatened to turn it all to concrete in the years after Communism, but a new government took office in September on promises of keeping the coast authentic. Head to villages like Qeparo, within sight of Corfu, where you can kayak past Cold War submarine tunnels, swim by abandoned forts and watch the tide rise during a dinner of fresh fish at an inn called the Riviera. This is Europe when it was fresh and cheap. — TIM NEVILLE

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/01/10/travel/2014-places-to-go.html?_r=1

"Albania" - We can do it !

Just heard from the media about this wonderful project of Elisa Dushku. This is probably the first initiative of this kind in promoting Albania, even though it is a common thing in promoting destinations all over the world to attract the attention of tourists and investors to visit a country. Greece had a similar campaign few weeks ago which ended with success and reached its target.

I believe that we Albanians can also show that we can do it. I don’t think our Elisa Dushku, Fadil Berisha and the rest of the team are not able to find 60 000 $ to support this promotion campaign, but this should come as support of as many Albanians as possible, because this country belongs to all Albanians and needs our support. So please donate as much as you can!
Especially at this moment when Albania and its tourism is getting the attention from the well known media such as LonelyPlanet, CNN, Frommer's etc. this can be the best promotion material to keep the beat going. The entire Albanian travel industry will profit from this, which means better image for Albania and more money for our economy.

We can and should make it! I believe this can be the best promotion gift Albania tourism can get in its 100^th Independence anniversary.

Kliton Gerxhani
Albania Holidays DMC

Balkans video- Hidden treasures of Europe

A very nice video on Balkan countries. Entitled "Hidden treasures of Europe" this video pictures the best of Balkan countries considering it as integral part of EU, under enlargement.

Under the slogan 'So similar, so different, so European' this clip shows just how gorgeous and surprising Southeast Europe can be. Yes, the region is different and this is what makes it so vibrant, exciting and fascinating. But is it actually that different?

Albania Holidays is also contributing to the  idea of promoting Balkan countries with a new online project.

A Mark of Quality for Albanian Tourism

Albania Holidays has been, and still is, one of the main supporters of this USAID project, which will help putting Albanian tourism back into international standards. Projects such as Quality Mark help classifying tourism businesses in Albania and diminish informality. Soon we will publish at our hotel websites www.albania-hotel.com and www.tirana-hotel.com which hotels are awarded the respective Quality Mark, adding in this way another professional source for tourists to find the right hotels. Below the article:

Country's first Quality Mark boosts membership and advocacy efforts of fledgling sector

A Mark of Quality for Albanian Tourism

Logo Authentic Albania

The visual identity of the Authentic Albania Quality Mark program was developed based on motifs placed on ancient Illyrian vases and amphora, as well as ornamental designs used in Albanian traditional folk costumes. The key symbolizes Albanian hospitality.

"This helps members set themselves apart in terms of quality."

For a small Balkan country that just 20 years ago was completely closed to foreigners, Albania has come a long way to overcome its isolation, building both infrastructure and a reputation for hospitality that has grown a burgeoning travel industry. In fact, Lonely Planet travel guides currently list Albania as one of this year's top 10 travel and tourism destinations in the world.
USAID began work with the Government of Albania and its tourism industry (or ATA) in 2003 to promote the country's image and strengthen tour operator competition. In 2010, in partnership with the ATA, USAID's Rritje Albania ("Grow Albania") project launched the industry's first quality certification system for hotels and guesthouses: the Authentic Albania Quality Mark. USAID has supported assessor training and the design and promotional campaign.
So far, over 60 hotels and guesthouses have applied to the program to have their facilities and services evaluated based on the international hospitality standards and Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria that govern receipt of the Quality Mark. In April 2011, ATA awarded its first 20 Quality Marks to those businesses meeting its standards. The program is encouraging better business practices and providing recipients with an extremely effective publicity campaign.
"This is becoming one of our association's most visible and effective programs," said ATA's executive director, Ms. Matilda Naco. She added, "There is evident value in the Quality Mark for businesses because it helps members set themselves apart in terms of quality. […] It is increasingly important that we can advocate for sustainable tourism development at the national level. This must be the future of tourism in Albania."
USAID has been an important partner in the development of tourism sector since 2003, helping promote Albanian tourism, working with small and medium enterprises in the tourism sector, as well as the ministry to improve Albania's image as a desirable tourist destination.
The Agency will continue to support Rritje Albania until 2013, at which time local tourism authorities will assume full ownership.

Frommer's Top Value Destination in 2012: Albanian Riviera !

Being still the Lonely Planet’s Nr.1 country to visit this year, it’s a pleasure to see Frommers confirming this by choosing Albania as 2012 Top Value Destination. Albania Holidays offers you the possibility to travel to Albania, while with www.albania-hotel.com you can book online a hotel in Albanian Riviera. Below the article:

Top Value Destination: Albanian Riviera

Unsung, undeveloped and eminently affordable, the Albanian Riviera has all the natural attractions of its Croatian counterpart further north but without the crowds and considerable expense. Here you have white-sand beaches, crystal-clear waters, and Mediterranean villages barely changed since long before King Zog.
A coastal road, reconstructed in 2009, allows you a relaxed and jaw-dropping drive from the Llogara National Park in the north to Lukovë, close to Corfu, in the south.
The black pines and Bulgarian firs of Llogara is where Caesar pursued Pompey the Great. Golden eagles and griffon vultures still fly overhead today, above chamois and European wildcats. Paragliding and hiking provide peaceful recreation in a landscape dotted with lemon groves, olive plantations, and castles built by medieval Sultans intent on taking Corfu. Spit-roasted lamb and honey tea, perhaps sourced within earshot, provide memorable sustenance.
Borsh is considered the warmest spot in Albania. Romans, Greeks and Venetians scrapped for its three-mile-long beach, the longest on Albania's Ionian coast. The Greeks stayed put in Himarë, a sleepy hamlet of authentic tavernas, Orthodox churches and a bizarre dialect of archaic Greek no longer spoken in Athens. This is genuinely Greece as it once was.
In nearby verdant Qeparo, Greeks and Albanians live amid olive groves planted before Napoleon, positioned above a beautiful beach you'll barely have to share.
For real isolation, swim between the four Ksamili Islands just south of Sarandë in Albania's extreme southwest, blessed with a beachside bar, maybe two. From the littoral you could walk to Greece but, then again... why would you?
Read more: http://www.frommers.com/micro/2011/top-destinations-2012/top-value-destination-albanian-riviera.html#ixzz1dR7kRrLb

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