Walking Albania's Coastal Trails

Our tour starts today in Tirana, the colourful capital of Albania and one of Europe's most underrated cities. Emerging from its cold communist past (the country spent decades under Stalinist rule), Tirana is becoming a not-so-hidden gem thanks to its vibrant arts scene, café culture and intriguing landscape - think communist-era architecture set against a rugged mountain backdrop. For those arriving in time, our tour leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception at 7pm for a welcome meeting and for those that wish, there is the chance to go out for dinner. There are no other activities planned today, so you're free to arrive in Tirana at any time. If you'd like an airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into Tirana International Airport (TIA), which is around a 30-minute drive from our hotel. Please look out for your driver, who will be waiting just outside the arrivals area near the Vodafone stand, holding an Explore signboard. If you miss the welcome meeting, your tour leader will inform you of any essential information on the morning of day two. Tirana is easy to navigate on foot, so if your flight arrives earlier in the day, you might like to head out and explore. The House of Leaves, a museum dedicated to secret surveillance and the headquarters of Albania's secret service throughout the Cold War, is an intriguing stop. If you're into markets, check out Pazari i Ri, an open-air market where you can buy everything from fresh produce to local specialities such as byreks, baklavas and honey. Whilst in Albania, we'll have the chance to try the country's delicious cuisine, which is a real mix of Turkish, Greek and Italian influences, like byrek - a spinach and feta stuffed filo pie, and in the more rural mountainous areas barbequed lamb and 'earthy' vegetables such as griddled aubergines and mushrooms are particularly popular. Along the coast, there'll be the chance to sample fresh seafood, too. Albanian red wine is especially good and also local beers, such as Birra Korca. We've packed in as many of Tirana's highlights as possible on this trip, however, we have very little free time in the city. If you'd like more time to explore, we recommend extending your stay by a night or two.

This morning we drive to Vlora where we'll stop off on the way to the hotel and go on a short walk from Sheriste Village to Kanina Castle. The route starts from a village behind Vlora and leads up to Kanina Castle, offering a stunning view over the bay and the Adriatic. We'll pass by a traditional restaurant after the walk where we can stop for a typical Albanian lunch after the walk. In the afternoon, we'll transfer to the hotel and check-in. After check-in we'll have the option to visit Zvernec Monastery Island, which is a beautiful lagoon area, often with flamingoes hanging around. If there's time in the evening you can take an early evening stroll along the Lungomare, a recently constructed five-kilometre long promenade which forms part of a broader goverment initiave to revitalise the city's coatline and boost tourism. Cafes, restaurants and ice-cream shops line this pedestrian promenade, while locals fish or swim at low tide. Today's 4km (2.5 mile) walk is expected to take around 1 hour with a total ascent and descent of 250 metres (820 feet).

This morning we depart Vlora and head to a naval base on the Karaburun Peninsula, we'll then hike along the Karaburun Pensinsula in the Karaburun Sazan Maritime Park. We'll head past quiet bays and up to the ridge for stunning views of the West coast of the pensinsula. We return back on the same route and we'll refuel with lunch at a roadside restaurant with panoramic views. We'll then head back the way we came before transfering to the coastal Himara Bay. In Himara Bay, a popular seaside town on the Albanian Riviera, we'll have free time, which is a great opportunity to relax and explore, ready for the day ahead. Today's 12 km ( 7.4 mile) hike is expected to take around 4 hours with a total ascent and descent of 450 metres ( 1476 feet).

This morning, we head down to the seafront to catch a boat along the coast to the start of today's walk at Gjipe Bay. 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 enjoy the beach at your leisure. In season, there are usually kayaks and paddle boards available to rent. The restaurants in Himara serve up freshly caught seafood and a mixture of Albanian and Greek dishes. Italian cuisine is also popular and of a good standard, as many Albanians have spent some time living and working in Italy just a short hop across the Ionian Sea. This morning's 8 km (5 mile) hike is expected to take around 2.5 hours with a total ascent of 256 metres (840 feet) and descent of 160 metres (525 feet).

Our hike today enjoys beautiful views of the Albanian Riviera, passing through terraced landscapes of wild olive groves, verdant green shrubbery and the occasional citrus tree. We'll transfer to the starting point at the small stone village of Lukove, following a rough and rocky path downhill for almost three-and-a-half kilometres (two miles) before arriving at Buneci Beach. Constructed during the communist era by prisoners from a nearby concentration camp (alongside student volunteers), this first part of today's route is known in some parts as the 'Prisoner Trail'. At Buneci Beach, we walk a short way along the pebbled shore, reaching a path that climbs steadily, and steeply in parts, up the mountainside, before flattening off into a gently undulating trail with endless sea views. After arriving in Borsch we'll return to Himara where we have the rest of the day free. Today's 12 km (7.5 mile) 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 in Kudhes. We start ascending immediately, on a concrete path that winds up to the charming old village of Kudhes. Here, stone houses perch on the hillside, with citrus trees and grape vines flourishing in terraced gardens. Out of the village, we follow an ancient rocky shepherd's trail that continues to climb upwards through a forest, before descending through meadows and past olive terraces to Old Qeparo. This sleepy village occupies a picturesque hilltop location and has stunning views across the Albanian Riviera, with the island of Corfu in the distance. From Old Qeparo it's around a one hour descent 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 (7.5 mile) hike is expected to take around 4 hours with a total ascent of 435 metres (1427 feet) and a descent of 430 metres (1411 feet). While some of the trail is gently undulating, the ascent and descent is predominantly straight up and straight down.

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 in 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 then transfer back to Tirana. We should be back in Tirana by mid afternoon (the drive is around 4-5 hours) to check into our centrally located hotel, after which our tour leader plans to guide us on a brief orientation walk so we can make the most of our short time here. The Albanian capital is one of the most dynamic cities in 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, your flight will 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; it's easy to navigate and has lots to offer.