Albania Pre-Departure Guide
- 7 Days, 8 Nights
- Start Point: Tirana, Albania
- End Point: Tirana, Albania
Ahoy, friend!
We’re SO excited that you’ve decided to join us on our Albania Adventure Tour 🙂
Get ready to explore one of Europe’s best-kept secrets. This 8-day Albanian Adventure is your invitation into the heart of the Balkans, a land of towering alpine peaks, crystal-clear rivers, and vibrant, welcoming culture.
Tucked between Greece, Montenegro, and North Macedonia, the tiny Balkan nation of Albania often gets skipped by travellers racing between more “popular” destinations. But that’s exactly what makes it so special.
Our route takes you far beyond the bustling cities and into the wild heart of Albania. You’ll kayak across the fjord-like waters of Komani Lake, trek the legendary Valbona Pass, and dive into the icy, turquoise springs of Theth. Along the way, you’ll share local meals, dance under the stars, and build real connections with your travel crew.
At Elsewheria, we specialise in taking curious travellers to the kinds of places that are hard to get to, and even harder to forget. These are not easy places to navigate alone, but that’s where we come in. With local partnerships, trusted guides, and seamless logistics, we take the stress out of the unknown so you can focus on what matters: connecting with culture, nature, and a like-minded crew of fellow adventurers.
Travelling to Albania with Elsewheria means going deep into one of Europe’s last untouched regions, with none of the stress and all of the soul. This isn’t just a trip. It’s an adventure into the unknown, the unspoiled, and the unforgettable.
This document contains everything you’ll need to join before we embark on our adventure. So grab yourself a cuppa and let’s get into it.
Getting Ready to Experience Albania
Over the next few months, we will be sending you a few forms and documents to return in order to collect the necessary information from you. Please do your best to fill in and return these as soon as you can.
Visa Arrangements - General Info
Many nationalities can enter Albania without a visa for short stays:
- EU, UK, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Israel: Up to 90 days within any 180-day period
- US citizens: Can stay up to 365 days visa-free
- GCC countries (e.g. UAE, Saudi Arabia): Visa-free from May 1 to September 30
If you’re from a country not listed above, you’ll need to apply for a Type C tourist visa:
- Valid for 90 days within 180 days
- Single or multiple entry options
How to Get There
Yep, we’re going remote… that’s the point!
We’re not taking you to Mykonos or Monaco. This isn’t about overpriced beach clubs or pre-packaged tourism. This is a raw, far-flung adventure crafted for travellers who want to go beyond the norm.
Luckily, reaching Albania isn’t actually too tricky at all. Especially if you’re flying from Europe or the UK. The tougher to navigate parts of the trip are all organised by us, once you’ve touched down
Flights to Albania
Arrival Airport: Tirana International Airport (TIA)
Departure Airport: Tirana International Airport (TIA)
Please start looking into flights now; this will allow you to get an overview of prices, routes, and possible connections. Keep an eye out for promo fares, particularly with low-cost carriers.
We recommend using sites like Skyscanner to help with your search. You can also look directly at the airlines’ websites.
Arriving in Albania - When do you need to be there?
To experience the full itinerary, you need to be at the meeting place in Tirana by 1pm on Day 1 of the trip. We will confirm the exact time and meeting place before the start of the tour.
Note: The included tour accommodation does not start until the evening of day 1. If you arrive in Albania in the days before the tour starts, you will need to arrange your own accommodation.
Accommodation in Albania
During our Albanian Alps Adventure tour, we are heading pretty off-the-beaten path, into the wild and beautiful wilderness! Although we aren’t going to be staying in the Ritz, the Elsewheria team have selected the best accommodation we can find in each location. All of the places that we stay will be either homestays or hotels that are very comfortable.
The rooms will be twin shares. We’ll pair you with another solo traveller of the same gender, with each of you having your own bed. However, there are double beds available for couples upon request.
If you’d prefer your own room on the trip, you can select this option when you book your trip. If you’ve already booked and would like to upgrade your package, please get in touch.
Food in Albania
Albanian cuisine is a delicious blend of Mediterranean heartiness and Balkan soul, deeply influenced by neighbouring Italy, Greece, and Turkey. Expect fresh, seasonal ingredients including juicy tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, wild herbs, olive oil, and rich cheeses.
Meals are often served as large, shareable portions. Below are some common dishes:
- Grilled meats like lamb or beef are staples.
- Tavë Kosi, a baked lamb and yoghurt dish, is pure comfort food.
- Byrek, a flaky pastry filled with spinach, cheese, or meat, is perfect on the go.
- Expect plenty of fresh salads and grilled vegetables.
Bread is always on the table, coffee is strong, and dessert often comes in the form of sheqerpare (syrupy cookies) or baklava.
Daily Meals
Many of the meals on the trip are included and will be Albanian dishes served by our hosts at our homestays. If you have any dietary requirements, please let us know in advance.
Note: Alcohol is not included in the tour. If you would like to buy local beer along the way, you can expect to pay 2-5 Euros (200 – 500 LEK).
Personal Snacks
Once we depart from Shkoder, shops will be very limited throughout the trip. If you enjoy a snack while hiking (like most of us do), I’d highly recommend stocking up on these on day 1 of the trip, before we depart. If you get enough to share, you’ll no doubt become one of the most popular on the trip 😉
Optional Extras on the Trip
We build optional extras into the itinerary so you can shape the trip around what you enjoy most. Not everyone travels the same way – some people want every adventure possible, others prefer slower moments to soak it all in. By keeping these elements optional, you get the freedom to customise the pace, budget, and style of your journey without feeling locked into activities you don’t want. In short: the core itinerary stays solid, and the optional extras let you make it your own.
Optional activities in Albania:
- Kayaking on Lake Koman
- Village hike in Lake Koman (free)
- Boat trip to the Shala River
- Blue Eye in Theth
- Theth Waterfall (free)
We build optional extras into the itinerary so you can shape the trip around what you enjoy most. Not everyone travels the same way – some people want every adventure possible, others prefer slower moments to soak it all in. By keeping these elements optional, you get the freedom to customise the pace, budget, and style of your journey without feeling locked into activities you don’t want. In short: the core itinerary stays solid, and the optional extras let you make it your own.
Optional extras:
- Meals not listed
- Snacks
- Alcohol
- Luggage storage in Shkoder
- Luggage transport from Valbona to Theth (instead of hiking with it)
Staying Safe on this Tour
- You may have guessed, but this adventure tour carries a certain amount of risk since we are heading into the Alps. This is not your average holiday per se.
- Guest Safety is Elsewheria’s #1 priority, and our experienced ground team does everything within their power to set our group up for a safe adventure. The name of the game is security and safety first, and injury prevention. We take it very seriously.
Travel Insurance Requirement
- You cannot join this Elsewheria adventure unless you buy travel insurance. We will ask for your policy information before the trip begins. Check out: World Nomads or Safety Wing
- On Day 1, you’ll be asked to sign a standard waiver releasing Elsewheria, our guides, and our Albanian partners from liability. This is a common practice for group travel and helps ensure everyone’s on the same page.
Medical Considerations Before Travelling to Albania
Before heading to any overseas country, you should always check out your government’s health advice. Below, you can find links to various government websites that outline this for travel to Albania:
- UK: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/albania/health
- USA: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/albania
- Canada: https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/albania#health
- Australia: https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/europe/albania
Most importantly, consult with a quality health care professional or travel doctors before departure to be sure you’ve got all the correct vaccinations, etc.
Money in Albania
The currency in Albania is the Albanian Lek (ALL). While some tourist hotspots may accept Euros or USD, you’ll get far better value by using Lek – especially in local restaurants, shops, and markets.
Albania is largely a cash-based society. Card payments are possible in upscale hotels or international chains, but most transactions happen in cash, especially in smaller towns and countryside areas (AKA where we are going!)
Make sure you exchange or withdraw enough Lek, as ATMs can be limited or unreliable in rural regions.
We highly recommend grabbing yourself a Wise travel card for minimising ATM fees and securing competitive exchange rates while travelling.
How much should you bring?
To cover alcohol, souvenirs, tipping, luggage storage and whatever else you end up buying, we recommend bringing $500 USD. It’s better to come with more and spend less, than the opposite 🙂
Tipping Staff and Porters
The Elsewheria team, including our ground team in Albania, goes above and beyond for guests before, during, and after the trip to make sure that everyone has the best possible ocean experience imaginable.
So, how do you show your guides some love? Well, besides bringing good vibes, good hiking snacks, and laughing at their jokes, tipping is the next best option.
Below we have included the industry standard recommendation to offer our staff some additional compensation based on your overall experience and keeping in mind the length of the trip and how hard we work to ensure you have an incredible time in Albania. Show your staff some love!
A generous tipping budget for your guides is around $5-10 USD per day. You can also opt to tip drivers, wait staff, porters, and other services if you think they have gone above and beyond.
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SIM Cards and Internet Access in Albania
There are a couple of options for staying connected in Albania.
The cheapest option is often to get a local SIM once you’re on the ground. The most popular companies in Albania are Vodafone Albania and ONE (formerly Telekom Albania).
However, we highly recommend an eSIM card for Albania. They might set you back slightly more, but they are so convenient. You can be connected as soon as you set foot in the country, without having to scout out the nearest phone shop.
For Albania, I’d recommend Jetpac if you’d like to opt for the ease of an eSIM.
Note: The hotels that we stay at will also offer free Wi-Fi.
Weather Conditions in Albania in June
June is a fantastic time for us to explore northern Albania. We can expect long, sun-soaked days. In Shkodër, Tirana and Fishtë, things heat up fast – daytime temperatures often climb into the low 30s°C, with evenings staying comfortably warm.
As we journey deeper into the mountains toward Valbona and Theth, the air freshens and the climate shifts. We’ll feel cooler daytime highs in the mid-20s°C, and nights might call for an extra layer.
All in all, June gives us the perfect blend of warm valley days and refreshing alpine escapes – ideal for hiking, ferry rides, and indulging in Albania’s rugged northern beauty.
What to Pack for Albania
Getting your Albanian Alps packing list right is the key to a comfortable mountain adventure. While there are many things you can buy in Albania, let’s just say that the mountains are not the most geared up with travel supplies. This means that coming prepared is extra important, even more so than your usual holiday.
We have collated an all-inclusive packing list that dives into everything you’ll need for our Albania Adventure tour.
IMPORTANT NOTE
When we hike the Valbona Pass, we will be hiking with our gear for 5+ hours. So our biggest and essential packing tip is to PACK LIGHT.
Please do not bring any more than a 40L backpack with you – a 30-35L backpack is ideal.
HOWEVER:
- There is an option to get a horse to carry your luggage during the day of the hike. If you would like to book this option, please let us know in advance so that we can organise this for you at an additional cost.
- It is possible to leave a separate bag in Shkoder (for a small fee), and we can pick it up in Shkoder on our way to Fishte on the second to last day of the trip. If you would like to leave a bag here with clothing for the farm-to-table meal, you can also do this.
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Laundry
Although you might get the opportunity to do laundry along the way through the homestays/ hotels, it is not guaranteed. We are not staying long in each place, so there may not be enough time for the hosts to do it.
Please pack assuming you will not have laundry available (unless you call washing your underwear in the sink, laundry – then yes, you can do this!)
Recommended Reading About Albania
Albania’s history is as captivating as it is complex, and much of its turmoil remains fresh in the national memory. Only in recent years have travellers begun rediscovering its borders, drawn by its breathtaking landscapes and the quiet resilience of its people.
While it’s always wise to research the places you travel to, Albania calls for a deeper kind of understanding. Its people have endured profound challenges over the past century, and exploring their story adds invaluable context to your visit.
Below are some carefully selected resources to help you delve into Albania’s rich culture, its enduring spirit, and its remarkable journey through history.
Spotify Podcasts:
- Enver Hoxha Part 1: The Albanian School Teacher
- Enver Hoxha Part 2: Stalin’s Shadow, Europe’s North Korea
Books:
T&Cs
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Any Questions?
Please check out our FAQs on the tour itinerary page, or email us at hello@elsewheria.com.
Again, we are very excited to get to meet you in person in Albania soon!