Hike the Coastal Trails of Albania

Marta Marinelli, raised in Italy’s serene Prosecco Hills, dreamed of global adventures, inspired by her father's travel stories. Her passion evolved into a career, backed by a decade of studies including degrees in international tourism and destination management. She’s worked in the adventure travel sector since 2012, living in Italy, the UK, and now sunny Portugal.

Over twenty years, Marta has explored over 55 countries, visiting remote areas like Ghana, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Haiti and Nepal’s Upper Mustang region. As a Senior Adventure Expansion Manager at Much Better Adventures, she focuses on creating life-changing experiences, ranging from multi-activity adventures, challenging treks to ultimate adventures in iconic places. She loves the challenge of finding the best local adventure hosts around the world, collaborating on adventures that offer genuine immersion, pushing beyond the beaten path and working on exclusive itineraries that challenge your comfort zone.

What makes her tick? Enabling people to live adventure-rich lives while positively impacting and empowering local communities around the world, generating sustainable opportunities for both the host, guides, community, and the environment.

The little-known Southern Coastal Trail stretches along 46 miles of Albania’s beautiful southern riviera (approx 4hrs south of Tirana), between the towns of Dhërmi almost all the way to Saranda. Although the area is mainly visited in summer with local and a few international tourists flocking to its dreamy beaches, the cultural heritage, panoramic trails, and culinary traditions of this region can be best experienced along a spectacular multi-day trek from village to village and beach to beach. We've picked the best combination of routes for this trip, with incredibly varied scenery featuring rugged mountain peaks, spectacular coastal trails, secluded beaches, rocky shepherds' paths, terraced fields, olive groves, and plenty of charming stone villages. Views of the seemingly endless blue sea contrasting with the backdrop of dramatic mountain ridges will accompany the trek throughout, and you'll have plenty of opportunities for refreshing swims in the Ionian Sea.

Tap water in Albania is generally not safe to drink. You may find purified water in some of the accommodation which you can use to fill up each morning, so be sure to pack a reusable water bottle or two. To avoid plastic waste where filtered water is not available, we suggest bringing water purification tablets (or an alternative purification system) for extra safety.

Overall, weather conditions down by the coast should be pretty favorable in the months when this trip is scheduled to run, with plenty of sunshine and mild temperatures ranging from 64 to 79°F on average. However, as always, Mother Nature is unpredictable so the best you can do is to be prepared for anything and come equipped with sunscreen, a hat and waterproofs. Your host will be monitoring the weather conditions during the course of the trip and may suggest alternative, safer routes or activities should the weather get particularly bad, or change the order and timings of the hikes. The Llogara National Park sits on alpine heights and forms a weather divide between the Adriatic and Ionian Seas; as such, the park is prone to rapid weather changes and cooler temperatures.

At Much Better Adventures, we work hard to accommodate dietary requirements and allergies so your trip is safe, inclusive, and enjoyable. That said, options can vary by country, location, and lodging, and in some places options may be limited or unavailable. The information below has been provided by your host so you’re fully informed about what will be possible on your trip depending on your individual requirements. This information should be read carefully before your trip to ensure that you are adequately prepared for the situation ‘on the ground’.

Once you have booked your trip, please fill out your passenger information form asap with any dietary requirements. Once you complete your passenger information, your dietary needs and any allergies are automatically shared with your host and, in turn, your guide. Please submit this as early as possible so they can plan accordingly and deliver the best experience. Please also remind your guide about your dietary requirements upon arrival, as mentioning these in person allows your guide to comprehend individual preferences and limitations as soon as you arrive.

BACKGROUND

Albanian cuisine is shaped by a long tradition of simple, resourceful cooking in a rugged landscape where communities historically grew only what the mountains allowed. As a result, meals remain hearty, rustic, and limited in variety, relying on local, seasonal ingredients and the roots of ‘cucina povera’. Rural guesthouses, restaurants, and hospitality providers that mainly serve a domestic audience are often unfamiliar with dietary restrictions and preferences, and special diets are not always well understood. While the food is wholesome and filling, travelers with specific dietary requirements should not expect a wide culinary range.

SPECIAL DIETS

Vegetarian Vegetarian diets can be catered for on this trip, provided that your host is made aware in advance. However, you should be aware that traditional Albanian dishes can be meat-centered, and vegetarian diets are not common in certain areas that this trip visits. Having said this, there are several traditional dishes that are vegetarian by default with meat usually served as a separate side dish. Vegetarian dishes are considered shared dishes and are generally served to the entire group. Vegetarians are often served the same meals as everyone else, minus the meat or fish.

Vegan Vegan diets are very difficult to cater for on this trip. While your host will do their best to meet these requirements, please be aware that the required produce and ingredients are not abundant in this destination, and you may find the food provided repetitive. Traditional Albanian dishes are meat-centered, and vegan diets are not common in certain areas that this trip visits. While it is possible to follow a Vegan diet on this trip, you need to be aware that options are very limited, lack protein, and can be quite repetitive. Without dairy and eggs, breakfast and picnic lunches are limited to bread and raw vegetables. Dinners are satisfactory in the majority of places, but the lodging hosts may require your input/guidance. Please bring calorie-dense and protein-rich supplements from home - snacks and items such as peanut butter etc - to supplement the meals and ensure you have enough fuel for the adventure.

Kosher Fully certified Kosher kitchens and supervision are rare and usually cannot be guaranteed. Vegetarian or vegan options can often be the most reliable alternative if this is acceptable to you. Please read the related sections above.

Halal Certified Halal supply varies by destination and cannot be guaranteed on this trip. Vegetarian or vegan options can often be the most reliable alternative if this is acceptable to you. Please read the related sections above.

INTOLERANCES

Gluten Free (for Celiac, please see Allergies section below) Gluten-free diets are difficult to cater for on this trip. While your host will do their best to meet these requirements, please be aware that the required produce and ingredients are not abundant in this destination, and you may find the food provided repetitive. At breakfast and for picnic lunches, fried doughs (such as petulla, pancakes) and bread are the staple foods. Gluten-free alternatives beyond the occasional dense and dry corn/maize bread are virtually unknown/unavailable so please do bring plenty of your favorite snacks or food supplements from home to ensure that you always have enough fuel for your adventure.

Lactose Free Lactose-free diets are difficult to cater for on this trip. While your host will do their best to meet these requirements, please be aware that alternative products are not available in this destination, and you may find the picnics provided somewhat limited. As cheese is a staple at breakfast and lunch, we recommend bringing your favorite snacks or supplements from home. Please also see the notes text on the vegan diet above.

ALLERGIES

Our host has confirmed that provision for certain mild and severe or life-threatening food allergies on this trip may be unreliable. Please get in touch with our CX team prior to booking to discuss whether your requirements can be accommodated safely on this trip. This will allow us to carefully consider the sensitivity and severity of your allergy, the available provision on the trip, and the accessibility of medical care should a reaction occur. Your safety is always our top priority. Please note that when traveling overseas, local ingredients, food preparation methods, and labeling standards may vary, particularly in remote areas. It is also worth noting that any allergies may result in more limited options and repetitive provision in some areas. While your guide will help communicate dietary requirements where possible, customers remain responsible for managing their own allergies during the trip.

Sure can! Over 70% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.

Our team of Adventure Hunters co-create exclusive adventures which are run by highly vetted, specialist hosts. The trip is run by our trusted host partner in the destination. We only work with independent, local, in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. Read more information about the local teams we partner with. You’ll be introduced to the host straight after making a booking via the Much Better Adventures platform.

Much Better Adventures refer to the UK Government’s official travel advice when designing trips and monitoring trip operations. We recommend that all customers review the practical information available on the UK Government’s FCDO website, where you can find up-to-date advice by searching for your destination(s).

If you are based in the United States, you can also check the latest travel advisories from the U.S. Department of State.

For customers joining from other international locations, we recommend checking the official travel advice issued by your country of residence, as guidance may vary.

We recommend checking out the country-specific information and also talking to a travel nurse.

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All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. You must be over 18 to join one of our trips.

You're always in good company on one of our adventures.

Our trips typically consist of a mix of solo travelers and small groups of 2 or 3 friends, with most in their 30s-50s.

Our sociable adventures are solo-friendly by design and naturally attract outdoorsy people with a shared mindset; a love for adventure, a desire to push themselves, and meet awesome, like-minded people along the way.

It’s this camaraderie that has so often turned a great adventure into a life-changing one.

Don't just take our word for it:

• 95% of people rate the group dynamics on our trips 5/5
• 90% of people recommend joining a trip to make new friends
• 75% of people have met people on our trips that they would now consider friends

See here for more info about the Much Better Adventures tribe.

The best time to hike in this region is in spring from March to mid-June, or in fall between September and November when temperatures are milder, reaching daytime highs of 72-79°F. While Albania enjoys a great amount of sunshine, rain can be expected at any time of the year so you should be prepared for all eventualities. In Spring, the flowers are in full bloom and the greenery is striking, with slightly fresher water temperatures but the weather can be a little less stable. In Fall the sea is warmer, although the daylight hours shorten and the nighttime temperatures start to lower. The mountainous region of the Llogara National Park is always cooler due to the higher altitude, with temperatures between 59-66°F in spring and fall and the possibility of stronger winds. While villages and beaches are usually very busy in the months of July and August, exploring the region during spring and fall will allow you to avoid the crowds and have the trails and villages almost to yourself – bliss!