Albania - Amazing!
Not even sure how I ‘thought’ about going to Albania but Wow!! so glad I did. I sort of had the objective of it being a ‘test’ to see how I could cope with my arm, still less 3 months from the break (for an injury that takes a year to heal) and a full on ‘adventure trip’. My loose plan was to fly into Tirana, head north to do a circular hiking trek that I had heard about and then return to Tirana and pick up a hire car to complete the southern part of the country.
I didn’t need the car for the mountain trek as it takes a few days and is effectively a long circuit but well managed logistically. The ‘circuit’ from Shkoder, involves a ferry trip, transport to one side of the mountain at Valbone and then you hike over to Theth (over the pass into the next valley) and then transport back to Shkoder. Well, it was the best!
It was May and there was still so much snow in the Albanian ‘Alps’ that the hike through the pass from Valbone to Theth was closed. I only found this out at the last minute but I also learnt that if you hired a guide you could do it. As luck would have it, upon arrival at my hotel, I met up with a group of Belgian guys who had hired a guide and I was lucky enough to join them. The weather absolutely made the day!
I had a couple of nights in Theth so did another 2 days full hiking to see the local sights - although the views from the homestay lodging were so good you didn’t really need to go anywhere!
From Theth back to the town of Shkoder was a hair raising bus trip but this trek was the absolute highlight of Albania.
Once I had bussed (4 hours) back to Tirana the capital, I went to pick up the hire car to complete the southern part of the country, more cultural and beaches. Such diversity in this small country, welcoming friendly people and so incredibly cheap.
Briliant and low cost trip, exceeded expectations - and travelling, driving and carrying a bag with my arm all passed the test.