Albanian Riviera Hiking Tour
8 days / 7 nights
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Highlights
- Hike from hilltop villages down to turquoise coves on the Ionian Sea
- Unpack once and wake up by the sea in Himarë for five nights
- Wander the stone lanes of Old Qeparo, the village the coast left behind
- Cool off with a swim at Jal, Livadh, Bunec or Borsh after the walk
- Swap the beach for pine forest with a night in Llogara National Park
- Climb to 1,600 m under Maja e Qores, with the Ionian Sea far below
What’s included in the price?
Carefully selected 3- and 4-star hotels, guesthouses, and B&Bs, all with private en-suite rooms and breakfast included. Expect comfortable, well-appointed rooms with attentive hospitality, typically in convenient and scenic locations — some properties also offer on-site dining.
These are examples of the type and standard you can expect. Actual properties may vary depending on availability.
What to bring to the tour
- Hiking shoes/boots
- 25 to 45-liter backpack
- Base layer
- Sports T-shirts
- Hiking shorts
- Hiking water-repellent pants
- Waterproof jacket
- Midlayer
- Sports socks and underwear
- Leisurewear for evenings
- Down jacket
- Gloves
- Shade hat/cap
- Warm headwear
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Headlamp
- Hiking poles
- ID card or passport
- Snacks
- Cash
- Water bottles or hydration pack
- Sleeping liner
- Toiletries
- Toilet paper
- Small first aid kit
The Albanian Coastal Trail links the stone villages above the Ionian Sea with the beaches below them: the Riviera most visitors never see from the coast road. Five of your seven nights are in one hotel in Himarë, so the bags stay put and a car takes you to the start of each walk.
The walks run downhill more often than not: three of the four coast walks finish by the sea, at Borsh, in Himarë and above Borsh again. You walk old paths between the villages, past olive terraces, oleander in the streambeds and small chapels. Most days are 8 to 12 km, with time left for a swim or a long lunch.
Then the trip climbs. Llogara is a pine-forested national park on the pass above the Riviera, and your last two walks are mountain days: one along the ridge west of the pass, one up to a saddle at 1,600 m under Maja e Qores. You sleep a night among the pines, and the air is noticeably cooler than in Himarë.
Spring and autumn are the seasons for this coast. April, May and early June bring wildflowers and empty paths; September and October bring a sea still warm enough to swim in. In July and August the heat on the open tracks is too much, so we do not run the tour in those months.
As on all our trips, you walk on your own, at your own pace, with the route in the app. Every transfer is booked for you, from Tirana airport on day 1 to Tirana airport on day 8, and a support line is open around the clock if anything changes.
Want the mountains too? The Albanian Alps Hiking Tour crosses from Valbona to Theth over the Valbona Pass, and in September the two fit into one trip: the Alps first, then the coast. Check the Himarë forecast on yr.no before you pack; the Llogara ridge can be cloudy and windy while the coast is in sunshine.
Frequently Asked Questions
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