A hundred and fifty kilometres of Ionian coast facing Corfu, two Ottoman towns inland, and prices that belong to Europe twenty years ago. It's also still building the infrastructure to match.
Albania's southern Riviera looks across the strait at Greece, and the sea is identical.
Ksamil's islets and the coves at Dhërmi and Himarë are as clear as anything in the Ionian, and a meal with wine costs a third of what it does in Croatia. What you're trading is polish: the coast road is spectacular and slow, some resorts are half-finished, service is inconsistent, and August brings Albanian and Kosovan holidaymakers in enormous numbers to a coast that hasn't the capacity. Go in June or September and it's one of the best value holidays in Europe. Go in August expecting Croatia and you'll be disappointed.
A coast, two UNESCO towns, and a Roman city almost nobody visits.
Small islets you can swim out to, in water the colour of the Maldives. Beautiful, and packed in August — go June or September.
A UNESCO Ottoman town of stone houses climbing a hillside under a castle. Cool, atmospheric, and an hour inland from Saranda.
A Greek and Roman city in a lagoon, UNESCO-listed, with a theatre and mosaics. Twenty minutes from Ksamil and largely empty.
The coast road climbing to 1,000m and dropping to the sea. One of the great drives in Europe, and slow.
The 'town of a thousand windows' — Ottoman houses stacked up a hill, UNESCO-listed, with a castle still lived in.
A spring of impossibly blue water welling up in a forest, near Saranda. Ten minutes to see and worth the detour.
The southern Riviera is the beach half. Inland is the interesting half.
Facing Corfu. The clearest water, most hotels, and the busiest in August.
Further north on the coast road. Pebble coves, small hotels, and far fewer people.
Inland and UNESCO-listed. Cooler, stone-built, and where Albania is most itself.
Odd, energetic and improving fast. Two nights on the way in or out.
June and September. July and August are hot and overwhelmed; the shoulder months are excellent.
June gives warm sea, open businesses and space. September has the warmest water and the coast empties after the first week. July and August are 32°C with the Riviera at capacity. May and October are quiet and lovely for the inland towns, with some coastal hotels closed. Winter is cold inland and much of the coast shuts.
3 hours to Tirana (TIA), then 4–5 hours south by road. Or fly to Corfu (CFU) and take the 40-minute ferry to Saranda.
Long. Tirana to Saranda is a full half-day. The Corfu ferry route is often quicker and we'll price both.
Albanian lek. Euros widely accepted at a poor rate. Cards work in cities, less so on the coast — carry cash.
Worth it for the coast road and the inland towns. Drive defensively; standards are variable.
We'll check the hotels properly, route you via Corfu if it's quicker, and write the payment plan out in full.
The water is. The infrastructure isn't yet, and it's a third of the price. In June or September the trade is well worth making.
Tirana and a long drive south, or Corfu and a 40-minute ferry. The Corfu route is often quicker and cheaper — we price both.
Yes. Albania has a dated reputation that no longer matches reality. Normal precautions, and the roads are the main hazard.
For the coast road and the inland towns, yes. It's the best way to see the country, and drive cautiously.
Flights, accommodation and transfers as one package. Every one can be reshaped — different dates, different board, a different airport, or a stopover on the way.
Guide prices, per person, based on two sharing, including return flights, accommodation and transfers. They indicate what a holiday of this type has typically cost and are not an offer or a quotation. Your price depends on dates, party, board basis, departure airport and availability, and is confirmed in writing before any payment is taken.
Ready-built itineraries with flights, transfers and internal hops booked as one package, ATOL protected. Every one can be reshaped around your dates.
11 nights · May–Jun, Sep · from £1,149pp
10 nights · May–Jun, Sep–Oct · from £1,449pp
10 nights · Mar–May, Sep–Nov · from £849pp
11 nights · Nov–Apr · from £2,199pp
13 nights · Nov–Mar · from £2,099pp
15 nights · Dec–Apr · from £2,399pp
