Albania: You Can't Trust Books, You Have to Go There!
Albania in southeastern Europe is a hot tip among travelers. This little Balkan republic has lots to offer: sunny beaches, majestic mountains and a genuineness that has been swept away elsewhere by mass tourism.
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00:00 This is not the Maldives. This isn't Scotland.
00:02 Or Norway.
00:03 And no, this isn't Switzerland either.
00:06 This is Albania.
00:07 A country that has all of that and much more.
00:11 One of Europe's best kept secrets.
00:14 For a long time, Albania wasn't exactly perceived positively by outsiders.
00:20 It was seen as poor, underdeveloped, criminal.
00:23 But over the past few years, more and more tourists have been arriving.
00:26 So what's changed?
00:28 And what's Albania like to travel in?
00:30 I take you on a road trip through the country and show you how to get around.
00:34 On my schedule for the next few days, beaches and accursed mountains.
00:38 For now though, I'm off to the capital, Tirana.
00:41 This is where North Albania meets South Albania,
00:45 tradition meets modernity, nature meets nightlife.
00:48 Tirana is the heart of Albania.
00:50 And Skanderbeg Square is right at its center.
00:56 If you want to get out of Tirana and discover the rest of Albania,
00:59 you can head here to the bus station.
01:01 These mini-buses can take you to almost every corner of Albania.
01:08 Their schedules aren't always the easiest to understand though.
01:11 And they don't necessarily stick to any specific times.
01:14 So it's best to ask the drivers themselves.
01:16 They're always happy to help.
01:17 If you're a confident driver and willing to take risks,
01:21 you can also get around with a rental car, like I did.
01:24 Let's go.
01:25 The most important driving rule...
01:27 Don't be shy with a horn.
01:30 Albania has never been particularly prosperous.
01:34 And in the 1990s, the country slid into an economic crisis,
01:37 causing many here to lose all of their savings.
01:40 Today, the prospect of a cheap vacation attracts many tourists to Albania.
01:45 New hotels are springing up everywhere,
01:48 and the beaches are being prepared for hordes of tourists.
01:50 Over the years, it has become increasingly easier to get here
01:54 and enjoy the sea and sun without breaking the bank.
01:56 But the rise in tourism has also changed the country.
02:00 Nature conservation versus economic development.
02:06 Wilderness versus tourism.
02:08 This debate is currently being weighed up all across Albania.
02:12 South of here, for example, an airport is currently being built.
02:15 In the north, a new airport is being built.
02:17 In the south, for example, an airport is currently being built.
02:21 In the midst of a protected landscape.
02:23 I'm looking for nature and adventure.
02:25 And now I'm on my way north to Shkodra.
02:29 From the ruins of Rozafa Castle, I watch the sunset.
02:35 The number of tourists here in the cultural center of northern Albania is manageable.
02:40 Entrance to the castle costs 3.50 euros, and the view is priceless.
02:47 Back there will be our next stop.
02:48 And to reach them, I have to leave pretty early in the morning,
02:53 because the ferry across Lake Komani departs from here only once a day.
02:57 The crossing to the other shore, to Fiesa, takes two and a half hours.
03:01 It's a bit windy, but easily worth it because the view is just stunning.
03:10 The reservoir stretches for 34 kilometers.
03:16 From Fiesa, I continue to the Valbona Valley,
03:19 in the middle of Bjeske de Nimuna, the so-called "Cursed Mountains".
03:23 They're called "Cursed Mountains" because for a long time,
03:27 this region was so cut off that people lived here according to a set of their own laws.
03:32 But don't worry, Albania is just as safe for travelers as other destinations in Europe.
03:37 Because although the clichรฉ is widespread that Albania is full of crime, it is just a clichรฉ.
03:42 As a woman traveling alone, I not only feel safe here,
03:44 but also very welcome.
03:46 Most Albanians I've met have been extremely hospitable.
03:50 Valbona Valley is surrounded by snowy peaks, some of them reaching almost 2,700 meters.
04:06 So I do what should be at the top of every visitor's to-do list - go for a hike.
04:11 Stay alert though, there are bears and wolves in the area.
04:14 There are trails for every level of difficulty.
04:18 However, you should be experienced or bring someone with you who is.
04:22 The trails are not always clearly marked.
04:24 Albania really has it all.
04:29 Unspot nature and lively cities, mountains, beaches, sun, snow,
04:34 and all of it sprinkled with that sense of adventure.
04:37 Traveling through Albania might not always be the most straightforward thing, but it's well worth it.
04:42 Bring flexibility and a pair of decent hiking boots and put Albania on your bucket list.
04:48 list.