Fancy going someplace that gets more than 300 days of sunshine per year? Why not visit Albania, also known as the Maldives of Europe.
I’m just back from a quick visit to this beautiful country. Although it was only a day trip, I’ve already added it to my list of places I need to return to. Albania is a pretty small country with a population of approximately 2.8 million. It’s a largely mountainous region and is known for it’s rich biodiversity, with numerous national parks and protected areas and distinct natural beauty, which include, beaches, mountains and historical sites. Because of these, tourism is a rapidly growing sector.
Albania has a rich cultural heritage, with influences from Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Italian cultures and lots more.
While Albania is still considered a developing country, it’s making huge improvements each year to attract tourists. Because of it’s close proximity to Corfu (Greece) it’s easily accessible to visit. The coastal city of Saranda can be reached in less than one hour by Hydrofoil from the port in Corfu (Greece) We took the early morning ferry across so we could explore this beautiful city and I’m so glad we did. It was everything we imagined and more.
Saranda is a stunning coastal city where you can enjoy the sun, sea, sand and history. It’s a great place for discovering the natural wonders of the Albanian Riviera. Blue Eye Spring and Nature Reserve, Butrint National Park and the Ksamil Islands are all within a stones throw of Saranda and because of its close proximity to Greece and burgeoning port it has solidified Saranda as a gateway to Albania.
There is plenty to see and do when visiting Saranda. Enjoy a stroll along the coastal boulevard, take a hike up to Lekirsi Castle overlooking the beaches of Ksamil (Maldives of Europe) or a walk through the ruins of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Butrint. You could easily spend a few days here as Saranda has something for everyone, beach, party, culture etc…
We decided to visit The Blue Eye, (A water spring and natural phenomenon) a place where stunning landscapes and rich biodiversity coexist in harmony. The park offers a unique adventure through waterfalls, ancient forests, crystal clear waters and a variety of wildlife. Discovered by travellers and scientists in the 19th century The Blue Eye is believed to be over 50 meters deep which is the source of its unique blue colour. Legend has it that the ancient warriors who drank from it’s waters gained strength and courage before battles. I drank from it, and trust me it was refreshing fresh spring water. In fact, I too gained strength for the climb back down!!
The park is well serviced with toilets and restaurants serving tasty snacks and drinks. We ordered three glasses of wine and a sprite and the total cost was seven euro fifty cent. There is also a souvenir shop selling trinkets and all things blue eyed. We spent a total of three hours exploring the park and even dipped our feet into the icy cold waters. Officially, as the signs indicate, you’re not allowed to swim, but you still see people jumping into the glacier cold water. At 10*C it’s baltic and it stays at that all year round so dipping our feet in was a nice way to cool down from the 34*C we were experiencing at the time.
Albania is cheap to say the least, you just need to know where to look and how to bargain. We took a taxi from the port in Saranda to The Blue Eye (40 minutes drive) the first guy we approached wanted €120 for a wait and return trip so we said we’d think about it and headed off for a coffee and a croissant. When we came back we approached another guy and haggled with him for the same trip and got it for €85 for the three of us. We were happy to pay it as it meant we were under no pressure to seek out a return taxi and were guaranteed to get back to the port in plenty of time for the ferry back to Corfu. On the return the guy dropped us at a nearby beach where we got to spend a couple of hours before returning to the port.
I look forward to returning to this country and exploring more of it before it becomes too touristy and more expensive. Overall, we found the Albanian people to be warm and hospitable with a strong desire to assist and ensure your experience is a good one. In my experience, the tourist potential of the coast and mountain areas of Albania is exceptional, if you haven’t visited yet, put it on your list!!