Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea, between Greece in the south and Montenegro and Kosovo to the north
Land boundaries: total: 717 km
border countries: Greece 282 km, Macedonia 151 km, Montenegro 172 km, Kosovo 112 km
Coastline: 427 km
Population: 3,170,048 (January 2008 estimate). Apart from Albanians living in Albania, there are an estimated two million emigrants in the United States, Switzerland, Germany, Greece, Italy, Canada and other countries.
Ethnic groups: Albanian 95%, Greek 3%, other 2% (Vlach, Roma (Gypsy), Serb, Macedonian, Bulgarian) (1989 est.)
Languages: Albanian (official - derived from Tosk dialect), a linguistically a distinct branch of the Indo-European family. First written in 15th century the Albanian language distinguishes two main dialects, Gegerishte spoken in the north and Toskerishte spoken in the south, river Shkumbin being the bordline between the two dialects. Greek is widely spoken in the south of the country, and some state schools there use Greek as the medium of education. Many Albanians speak Italian; some also know English, French or German.
Albanian Counties
Religions: Albania is an extremely secular society. The traditional breakdown is 70% Muslim, 20% Orthodox (the autocephalous Albanian church) and 10% Catholic, but at best these figures indicate nothing more than nominal attachment to each faith. All mosques and churches were closed in 1967 and religious observances prohibited; in November 1990, Albania began allowing private religious practice.
Administrative divisions: 12 counties (alb. qarqe, singular - qark), 36 districts
Capital: Tirana (alb. Tiranë), population 555 848 (January 2008 est.)
Main Cities: Durres (alb. Durrës), Shkodra (alb. Shkodër), Vlora (alb. Vlorë), Elbasan, Korce (alb. Korçë), Berat (alb. Berati), Gjirokastra (alb. Gjirokastër), Saranda (alb. Sarandë)
System of government: Parliamentary democracy.
About Albania:
In the heart of the Mediterranean, on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas, Albania is fast becoming one of the world's most interesting getaways. Still relatively unspoiled by globalization, tourists will notice an inspiring mixture of civilizations and cultures - making this European country truly unique.
Nestled in between Greece, Macedonia, Kosovo, and Montenegro, and across the Adriatic from Italy, Albania boasts blue and turquoise seas, beautiful beaches, snow peaked mountains, rivers, lakes, and forests. As well as stunning nature, Albanians themselves are famous for their hospitality, and tourists are welcomed with heart-warming generosity.
Albanian history and culture is fascinating. Butrint, one of the world's archeological wonders - and a UNESCO World Heritage site - in the south of Albania provides a glimpse of Mediterranean civilization from the Bronze Age through the Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Venetian and Ottoman periods - all atop a cliff overlooking Corfu. It's not to be missed!
Home of both Mother Theresa and the great 15th Century hero Skanderbeg, Albania today offers not only beach and mountain holidays, but also a vibrant city life, a relaxing outdoor cafe culture and you will see that it's quickly evolving in a myriad of directions.
Albanian Hospitality and Culture
Albania is an incredibly hospitable culture and has its own particular traditions of courtesy. They are very closely related to the notion of hospitality, a notion similar to that of the sacred guest from Homer and classical literature. Many Albanian traditions of hospitality come from The Kanun, or "The Code", a 15th-century text written by the powerful Dukagjin clan, although many of the laws written in the code date from earlier times.
As written in The Kanun, the guest will be shown the highest respect by being offered a seat at the head of the table. The guest is then regaled with the best the family has to offer, usually taking the form of homemade raki, traditional liquor.
It is an Albanian tradition to shake hands when meeting one another, and in many cases, they kiss each other on the cheeks, generally four times. One of the most common gesticulation confusions arises from the fact that Albanians nod their heads up and down to mean "no", and shake their heads left to right to indicate "yes". Another specific Albanian gesture that may be confusing to foreigners is when the palm is placed in the chest, it expresses thanks.
Also note that it is unacceptable to exhibit yourself topless in the seaside, or worse, naked; of course, there are many isolated places where you can do this in private.
Albanians are friendly and very open towards foreigners that visit their country. If you are lucky enough to be invited to visit an Albanian's home, you will be treated as royalty. As written in The Kanun, the guest will be shown the highest respect by being offered a seat at the head of the table.
Climate:
Albania has a mild, Mediterranean climate. Many visitors will find that it never gets cold in the lowlands. The Ionian Cost, in particular, is very clement; with aver age winter temperatures of 8-10 °C (46-50F).
In Tirana and in other inland cities on the plains, temperature sometimes drops below freezing, but this is usually only at night, and it is rare for ice or snow to last more than a day.
The country enjoys a good deal of sunny weather, with an average of around 300 sunny days each year. Most of Albania's annual rainfall occurs between late autumn and early spring; outside of the mountainous areas, it is unusual for it to rain in summer.
In the summer, visitors often find the inland towns to be quite hot, with July usually being the warmest month. In Tirana, for example, temperatures occasionally reach 40 °C (104F). Many hotels and restaurants have air conditioning. The best places to be in midsummer are on the coast, where sea breezes keep the average temperatures down to a more tolerable 25-30 °C (73-86F), or in the high mountains.
Adriatic Coast
The Adriatic coast starts in the delta of Buna River by the city of Shkodra. Once upon a time, this was a Dalmatian coast with deep waters and a number of islands. Now it has shallow waters as a result of the delta of the country's largest rivers. A number of fields exist to the south of Buna. The formation of snaking underwater beds has created a number of bays and lagoons. The delta continues to grow every year by several meters. This land expansion is larger in the south in Myzeqe and slower in the north near Lezha.
The artificial irrigation systems build in Durrës in the 1970s quickened the process. This evolution has increased the tourist value of the area with beaches such as: Velipoja, Shengjini, Kune, Gjiri Lalzit, Durresi, Golemi, Mali Robit, Spille, Divjaka, Darezeza and Plazhi i Ri Vlorë.
By the Adriatic coast you will find clean sea waters, high quality service, traditional and modern cuisine, lagoons, lakes and rivers. There are great possibilities for nature lovers, eco-tourists and others. Hunting too can be practiced in the region's rich ecosystem.
It starts in Uji i Ftohtë (Cold Water) in Vlora and continues with few interruptions all the way to the Cape of Stillo. It has a high abrasive intensity because the sea is deep while river deltas are lacking. As a result, waves on the Ionian can reach up to 4 m while the coastline is rocky. On the coast you will find a number of small bays and comfortable beaches. Some of them are rarely visited due to the difficult access roads which may make your experience all the more intimate.
Some large tectonic bays are: Vlora Bay, Porto Palermo, Saranda Bay etc. Here you can dive, sail, fish etc.
The Albanian Riviera coastline has high temperatures and therefore a subtropical flora. The Riviera is one of the most picturesque places of the Mediterranean with a lot of tourist potential. In the last few years, the number of visitors has increased exponentially.
The presence of lakes, lagoons, rivers, deltas and seas in Albania points towards the development of water tourism. The Mediterranean climate offers ideal conditions for holidays in the deltas as well as elsewhere on the coast. Especially in the south, tourists start visiting the beaches in late April and stop in October.
Moreover, since the coastline has a long history of Greek, Illyrian and Roman settlements, visiting Albania's coast can be a great experience for history buffs.
There are a number of historical facts, cultural and archaeological objects that point to a population that lived here since the Paleolithic era. In medieval times too a number of cities in the coast flourished offering visitors a rich cultural inheritance.
Due to its diverse climate and pristine landscapes, Albania has a great variety of plants and is home to a number of rare birds and animals that have either disappeared or are disappearing in the region.
The great plane and oak forests are home to wolves and foxes while the higher pine forests house bears, wolves, wild cats and other animals. Deer, wild goats and wild boar can easily be found in a number of regions.
Mountain and Rural Tourism:
Albania has no less than 14 kinds of bats and 350 local birds, some of them migratory. Pine forests are host to rare wild cocks and woodpeckers. In other localities you can find eagles, hawks and falcons. Also, there are several kinds of owls including the bearded owl and the owl with horns.
In Albania visitors can also find a number of different kinds of reptiles such as water snakes, house boas and others. There are 260 kinds of fish—of the Mediterranean type in salty waters and trout in mountain creeks. Lakes have carp, eel and other common types.
Albania also has a rich flora with over 3,221 types of plants.
Among them, 489 are specific to the Balkan Peninsula and 40 are located only in Albania. Oak forests are typical and comprise 20 percent of the forested area of the country. In other areas visitors can find Mediterranean shrubs up to 800m above sea level and eucalyptus, sea figs and laurels.
Albanian Mountain and Rural Tourism
The territory of Albania has several regions where mountain and rural tourism is well-developed. Among the most important are:
Albanian Alps: Western Alps - Razëm - Bogë - Theth - Vermosh
Razëm
The alpine tour of Albania is not complete without a visit to the Western Alps (Alpet Perëndimore). Here you will enjoy something unique: you will walk, breath, sleep and eat amidst the legends starting from Homer and ending with the modern tales of our days. This tour gives you the chance to enjoy a unique place at the heart of the Albanian Alps, Gropa e Thethit.
Boga
The road will lead you from Razma to the village of Dedaj and then onto Boga, a village surrounded by the Alps and described by Edith Durham in her book The Burden of the Balkans. Boga is the perfect place for mountain climbing, skiing, and spelunking. Among the most famous caves, you can visit the Cave of Mulliri (“Mill”), Akullore (“Ice Cream”), and Njerëzve të lagun (“Wet People”). The Cave of Puci is one of the most attractive, situated at 1,087 m above sea level. It is 5 km long and rich in stalactites, stalagmites, and wall veils. The cave has many levels, five alone in the center. By passing through its galleries you can connect with another cave, the Cave of Husi.
Vermosh
Another interesting spot of the Western Alps is Vermosh, part of the northern-most region of the country. Vermosh is 95 km away from the city of Shkodra. Vermosh is part of the region of Kelmend, a name that originates from the Roman word "Clemens", meaning gentle, simple, and good. The first thing that catches the eye during this journey is Qafa e Rrapshit where you can see the crystal-clear waters of the Cemi River that create a beautiful contrast with the surroundings. During summer, the ponds of the river are perfect for sunbathing.
Llogara (The National Park)
The Llogara National Park lies approximately 40 km south of the city of Vlora. It is situated in the Llogara Mountain and has a surface of 810 hectares, with heights of between 470 and 2018 m above sea level. It combines the beauties of a mountain and seaside climate. You can enjoy part of its magical natural beauty while traveling along the Vlorë-Sarandë National Highway at Qafa e Llogarasë, 1025 m above sea level. Here, medicinal and decorative plants mix with masses of pine trees. The park also is home to many different kinds of animals.
Palasa
After passing Qafa e Llogarasë through a road that dates back to the Pompey period, you descend into the Albanian Riviera. This warm Mediterranean zone has nearly 300 sunny days a year, and the average temperature of July is 25°C (77° Fahrenheit). The list of places to visit begins with the beach of Dhraleo (Palasë) known for its clear waters. Pompey and his army stopped at this beach in ancient times, when it was known as Palestra.
Dhërmi
Dhërmi is famous for its crystal-clear waters, and small, intimate pebble beaches like Jaliksari, Shkambo, and Gjipea. Gjipea is a rare beauty, for it is situated at the foot of a 70 m high cliff. Close to Dhërmi is the legendary Cavern of the Pirates.
Dhërmi is a picturesque village of a particular atmosphere. It is thought to have first been inhabited in 49-48 B.C. In Dhërmi there is the Monastery of Shën Mëria, the Church of Shën Todhri, the Church of the Ipapandia and the Church of Shën Mitri with its frescos from the 12th -14th centuries
Vuno
Eight km south of Dhërmi there is the village of Vuno, well known for its traditions and patriotism. From here, the road goes to the wonderful beach of Jala, whose fantastic gulfs are distinctive from those in the rest of the Riviera. Vuno is a unique village, built on a hill facing the sea. Here you can visit old churches like the Church of Shën Spiridhoni, built in 1778, and the Church of Mesodhia with paintings from 1783. There are also several architectural landmarks such as the ruins of the House of Odise Kasneci and the tower-like House of Shane Kote.Himara
Continuing your tour towards the south, you will come across the small city of Himara, which has two neighborhoods: Old Himara built on the hill, and New Himara in the gulf of Spille. The beaches of Himara are Spille, Llamani, Potami, and Livadhet. They are all gravel beaches with deep, clear waters. Himara comes to life during the summer tourist season, when visitors take up residence in the hotels or in rented houses.
Qeparo
Close to the gulf of Porto Palermo stands the village of Qeparo with its own distinctive beach. Old Qeparo, built on the hillside, has several objects worth seeing, such as the three-story Towers of Ali Pasha, the Monastery of Shën Dhimitri, and the House of Minella Gjika.
Albanian National Parks
Dajti National Park
Located just east of Tirana, the Park covers approximately 3,300 hectares. It is only 50 km from the airport and 26 km from Tirana. The park contains a number of beautiful 200 year old beech trees that are really worth seeing. The Park is frequented by daily visitors and it is considered Tirana's "natural balcony." Accommodation is available for tourists interested in more than day-long stays.
Lura National Park
Spans approximately 1,280 hectares to the east of "Lura's Crown." The most picturesque feature is the 14 glacier lakes of Lura which are frozen in the winter. To the south you can visit the "field of mares" which has a wide variety of colorful plants and coniferous trees. The Park has great potential for developing eco-tourism.
Divjaka Pines National Park
This Park is 40 km east of the city of Lushnja and 5 km from Divjaka. The Park consists of 1,250 hectares and contains part of the Karavasta Lagoon which has been under the protection of Ramsar International Convention since 1994. The Park area contains one of the most important ecosystems in the country. The Park is rich in exotic fauna such as eel and is also home to 5% of the global population of the threatened Dalmatian Pelican.
Llogara Park
Located about 40 km southeast of Vlora, this Park marks where the Adriatic and Ionian Seas meet. Near the Llogara Pass, a cut in the mountains along the national road, thanks to strong wind currents one can observe a number of interesting tree shapes, just ask for the "Pisha Flamur" (The Flag Pine) who’s shape reselbes that of the eagle on the Albanian Flag.
From the Llogara Pass, visitors can hike to see the Ionian Sea, the steep slopes of the Vetëtima (Lightning) mountain and a good part of the Albanian Riviera. It is a great spot to enjoy the mixed mountain and sea micro-climate as well as a excellent place for air sports.
Fir of Drenova National Park
Located 10 km from the city of Korca, the park has an area of 1,380 hectares. It is visited frequently by locals as well as tourists. Many locally famous drinking water sources such as Shen Gjergji, Plaka, Pllica and others are located in the Park.
Valbona Valley National Park
With an area of 8,000 hectares this Park is considered the gem of Albanian Alps. It is located 25-30 km to the northwest of the town of Bajram Curri. It lies between high mountain peaks and it is a festival of colors and contrasts as well being rich in biodiversity. Valbona village is the focal point of the Park. Its configuration, hydrology, forests, flowers, rustic dwellings and the hospitality of its people make this park an ideal place to visit.
Tomorri Mountain Park
With an area of 4,000 hectares, the Park is to the east of the museum city of Berat. From afar, the mountain of Tomorr gives the impression of a gigantic natural fortress. Here is also the grave of Abaz Aliu (Tyrba e Kulmakut), 1,200 m above sea level. Every year, during the third or fourth week in August thousands of pilgrims go up to the holy site of Tyrba for a week of celebration of a traditional Bektashi festival.
Fir of Hotova National Park
With an area of 1,200 hectares in the region of Frashër, it is located about 35 km northeast of Përmet. The Park takes its name from the Hotova Fir which is considered one of the most important Mediterranean plant relics of the country. Thanks to its beautiful natural surroundings, healthy climate and proximity to living quarters, this Park has great recreational value year round.
Shtam Pass National Park
With an area of 2,000 hectares, the Park is 25 km northeast of Kruja. The water source "Queen Mother" is one of the most attractive spots in the Park with clean, cold and curative waters. The Park is frequented by a large number of visitors.
Zall Gjocaj National Park
Covers 140 hectares 40 km north east of the town of Burrel. It is a very picturesque park with numerous underground water sources and creeks.
Prespa National Park
Covers approximately 27,750 hectares and straddles the borders of Albania, Greece and Macedonia. It contains the lakes of Big Prespa (Prespa e Madhe) and Little Prespa (Prespa e Vogël) and their water source. It is an area rich with cultural tradition. Eremite Byzantine churches exist by the cave of Tren, Prespa e Vogël Lake, Trajani's castle, St. Mary's Church and on the island of Maligrad. The two lakes have now become the Balkan Prespa Park.
Butrint National Park
This Park is located about 25 km south of the city of Saranda. It has high scientific, tourist and archaeological value as well as rich in biodiversity. The park is 2,500 hectares. The Park and surrounding region offer entertainment for all types of tourism beaches in Ksamil, ecotourism in Butrint Lake, fishing, hiking , water sports and more.
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