I’d welcome feedback on this rough plan visiting Albania from September 11-28. We’re an active couple in our 60s who love hiking, food, and adventure.
Our tentative itinerary:
• Fly into Tirana
• Tirana - 2 nights (1 full day)
• Shkodra - 2 nights (1 full day)
• Theth - 3 nights (2 full days)
• Hike from Theth to Valbona
• Valbona - 2 nights (1 full day)
• Return to Shkodra and Tirana (spend a night in one of them)
• Pick up a rental car in Tirana (already booked with Avis)
• A week in the south, including at least 3 days in Gjirokastra which seems like a great base
• Return to Tirana for at least our last night before flying out
1) Is 1 full day enough to get a reasonable taste of Tirana at the beginning? We’ll have other opportunities to see the city in the middle and end of our trip.
2) Any suggestions for great day hikes – especially around Theth and Valbona, but also around Shkodra and in the south?
3) When we leave Valbona, should we spend a night back in Shkodra before continuing the next morning to Tirana to pick up our car, or go all the way to Tirana that day?
4) We have 7 days for the southern part of our trip. Do you recommend visiting Berat for the day en route on Gjirokastra, or spending 1 or 2 nights there? In general we prefer to stay in fewer places and explore them more in depth, rather than seeing the maximum number of towns.
5) I’ve read that parking is difficult in Gjirokastra. Is it like some cities where you can leave your car in a big lot on the outskirts even if you’re staying in the center, or should we look for a place to stay with convenient location for a car (which would probably be in a less convenient location for exploring the town on foot)?
6) Any suggestions for other places we shouldn’t miss in the south? Permeti sounds like a good daytrip from Gjirokastra.
7) We’re not big beach people, but we could enjoy a day or two in a coastal town that is culturally interesting (not modern touristy) with a half day relaxing on a beach. I haven’t found such a town; can you recommend one?
8) We love food – from simple/authentic to fancy. Can you recommend any restaurants in these places, or really exceptional ones elsewhere in the country (we are willing to go out of our way)? Are there any great food tours or other unique food experiences?
9) Are there any places to rent good bicycles and ride for a day in/near these towns?
10) Any other suggestions based on the above? We can change anything about the itinerary at this point.
Thanks in advance, and I promise to follow up after our trip with what we’ve learned.