[ad_1]
The fifteen nationwide parks in Albania are inconceivable areas for mountaineering, boating, fishing, wildlife watching, nature footage, and further. For individuals who plan to spend a day, 2 hours, or weeks contained within the parks – this information has all of the belongings you need.
Furthermore thrilling cities in Albania like Tirana, Dürres, and Saranda, there are moreover many pure areas on this comparatively undiscovered nation contained within the western Balkans.
As is the case in most fully fully totally different nations worldwide, the nationwide parks in Albania demand and deserve the spotlight.
Some of those Albania nationwide parks are acknowledged appropriately earlier the nation’s borders, attracting adventurers from near and far. Good examples are Llogara, Theth, and Butrint, the latter of which is usually a UNESCO World Heritage Web page on-line, rich in historic earlier and cultural significance. There are, nonetheless, a dozen additional nationwide parks to uncover in Albania.
Albania is an outdoorsy journey spot the place mountaineering, biking, wildlife watching, panorama footage, and mountaineering are terribly well-liked actions. Getting outdoors is little query one among many must-do elements to do in Albania. Its sheer pure magnificence—and choice—will undoubtedly shock you and make you rave about it to your loved ones members and buddies as quickly as additional residence.
Although it’s a relatively small nation, Albania is nestled on the shores of the Adriatic and Ionian Seas. Albania is crossed by pretty just some totally fully fully totally different mountain ranges, such due to the Albanian Alps, the Pindus Mountains, and the Skanderbeg Mountains. Furthermore, you’ll moreover uncover extraordinary lakes, wild rivers, expansive wetlands, and forested valleys.
For individuals who’re questioning what to do in Albania after exploring Tirana and the Albanian Riviera, a go to to 1 (or additional) of Albania’s nationwide parks is completely suggestion.
Beneath, you’ll uncover a whole overview of all 15 Albania nationwide parks. You’ll uncover that they’re scale back up up between the ten prime parks and 5 less-known alternatives. Analysis on and select a pair to make your Albania journey a bit additional adventurous.
Skip Ahead To My Suggestion Appropriate correct proper right here!
10 Beautiful Nationwide Parks In Albania
1. Shebenik-Jabblanicë Nationwide Park
.jpeg)
A diffusion in elevation—from 300 to 2,200 meters above sea diploma—along with in vegetation varieties, paired with a terribly distant location, makes Shebenik-Jabblanicë Nationwide Park an outstanding park for wildlife watching.
In japanese Albania’s distant mountains, near the border with Macedonia, you’ll nonetheless uncover many enormous mammals that wrestle elsewhere. These embody brown bears, Balkan lynx, gray wolves, and European otters. This park is a hiker’s paradise, that choices fairly loads of mountaineering trails of various difficulties. It’s considerably scenic contained in the autumn when vibrant foliage dominates the slopes and fringes of glacial lakes.
How To Get To Shebenik-Jabblanicë Nationwide Park
Though it’s actually distant and rugged, the park lies solely about 90 kilometers east of Tirana. Due to sluggish mountain roads in path of the perfect, the drive does take about 2.5 hours, though.
For important exploration, elevated areas to base your self are the small villages that embody the park. You’ll uncover pretty just some of them on the SH3 freeway, which parallels the Shkumbin River.
Lodging Near Shebenik-Jabblanicë Nationwide Park Albania
- Resort & Espresso Bardhoshi – this 3-star lodge offering lodging near the park offers room service, free parking, and free WiFi.
2. Mount Dajti Nationwide Park
In central Albania lies thought-about truly one among Europe’s most accessible nationwide parks. Dajti Nationwide Park, usually moreover known as Dajti Mountain Nationwide Park, lies merely east of Tirana, Albania’s capital. In actual actuality, it is so close to the city that you just might get there by cable automobile, the Dajti Ekspress. This scenic journey takes about quarter-hour and covers 1 kilometer, the longest cable automobile journey contained within the Balkans.
Whereas the terminus of the cable automobile is a vacationer refined full of consuming locations, some (un)attention-grabbing actions, and even loads of inns, the precise treasure lies earlier. After having fulfilling with the view of Tirana below, hit truly one among many trails that lead into the forest and hills.
How To Get To Dajti Nationwide Park
Primarily primarily in all probability essentially the most pleasing methodology to get to Dajti is clearly the cable automobile. From the well-known Clock Tower at Skanderbeg Sq., there’s a bus to Teleferiku, after which it’s one fully totally different 5-minute stroll uphill. You possibly can even take a taxi to the Dajti Ekspres drop-off diploma.
Alternatively, do you have to’d pretty defend your toes firmly on the underside, you’ll drive or cycle up Dajti Mountain, too.
Lodging Near Dajti Nationwide Park Albania
- Resort Victoria Tirana is located on the first avenue between the Tirana metropolis center and the Dajti Ekspress. This well-rated lodge has a hottest restaurant that gives free WiFi and incorporates a 70-seat conference center. Attempt the lodge & prices right correct proper right here ↳
- Resort Boutique Vila Verde is a popular lodge contained within the Tirana metropolis center with views of Dajti Mountain, a bar with a terrace, free WiFi and parking, and well-equipped guestrooms. Attempt the lodge & prices right correct proper right here ↳
3. Divjakë-Karavasta Nationwide Park
Important lagoon in Albania and positively one among many largest contained within the Mediterranean, the Karavasta Lagoon in western Albania is a vital wetland designated beneath the Ramsar Convention and the first attribute of Divjakë-Karavasta Nationwide Park.
Its salt marshes, floodplains, estuaries, sand dunes, and coastal meadows host many wildlife. It’s a vital refuge for waterbirds like pelicans and egrets, undoubtedly a sight to behold.
How To Get To Divjakë-Karavasta Nationwide Park
From Tirana, it’s a 100-kilometer or 1.5-hour drive to Divjakë-Karavasta Nationwide Park, which lies on the Adriatic Seashore merely south of Dürres. From Dürres, it’s a reasonably easy drive on the SH85 and SH57 highways. It might be largest do you have to acquired there in spherical an hour.
Lodging Near Divjakë-Karavasta Nationwide Park Albania
- Guesthouse Anila – a really rated lodge in Divjakë, this guesthouse affords every free parking and WiFi and a yard with a terrace. It’s a stone’s throw from the nationwide park and its mountaineering and kayaking alternate decisions. Attempt the lodge & prices right correct proper right here ↳
4. Fir Of Hotovë-Dangelli Nationwide Park
_2.jpg)
The park is located in Gjirokastër County contained within the nation’s southeastern nook. Fir Of Hotovë-Dangelli Nationwide Park is a extremely extremely efficient nationwide park in Albania. The park takes its title from the hotova fir, a typical tree species defending most of its ground dwelling. It’s loads of the underrated pure areas contained within the nation, offering one challenge to do for everyone in every season.
Although the fir dominates these forests, you’ll moreover uncover fully fully totally different bushes like maples, oaks, and black juniper right correct proper right here. Whereas comparatively accessible, it nonetheless encompasses some terribly wild landscapes inhabited by wildlife similar to wild boars, badgers, purple foxes, grey wolves, and even brown bears.
Widespread actions embody mountaineering, backpacking, and whitewater rafting in Langarica Canyon.
How To Get To Fir Of Hotovë-Dangelli Nationwide Park
The closest metropolis is Përmet, which lies alongside the SH75 freeway, which connects to fully fully totally different highways. The closest important cities are on the coast—Vlore and Saranda—every loads of 2.5-hour drive away.
Lodging Near Fir Of Hotovë-Dangelli Nationwide Park Albania
- Resort Permeti – located contained within the metropolis of Përmet, this 3-star lodge incorporates a bar, free WiFi, air-conditioned rooms with a personal toilet, and mountain views. You would start your day with a continental breakfast. Attempt the lodge & prices right correct proper right here ↳
5. Butrint Nationwide Park
Positioned decrease than 20 kilometers south of Saranda in southern Albania, Butrint Nationwide Park is arguably the star of the current contained within the Albania nationwide parks system. A UNESCO World Heritage Web page on-line, it is residence to loads of the important archaeological net pages in Albania—contained within the Balkans even, for that matter.
The situation incorporates ruins, constructions, and artifacts from the Iron Age to the Middle Ages. Quite a few buildings survive right correct proper right here, albeit usually in ruins, along with a Roman amphitheater, an historic baptistery, a big basilica, the city partitions, and two separate castles. Furthermore, the normal metropolis of Butrint lies in an setting of woodlands, waterways, and lakes of monumental ecological significance.
Butrint Nationwide Park encompasses Lake Butrint and the Vivari Channel that connects the lake with the Ionian Sea. This method of channels, rivers, lagoons, and lakes makes this a important dwelling for birds. In actual actuality, the wetland is an internationally protected dwelling beneath the Ramsar Convention, a precise paradise for birds and birders alike.
One fully totally different part of Butrint Nationwide Park is the rocky Ksamil Islands, which shall be solely reachable by boat. You nearly actually have a ship at your disposal, a go to there could also be terribly advisable. Chances are you could even spot dolphins!
How To Get To Butrint Nationwide Park
Butrint Nationwide Park is actually accessible from the coastal metropolis of Saranda. It’s a 30-minute drive if in case you’ve gotten gotten your specific particular person automobile. Alternatively, it is also attainable to get a taxi from Saranda to Butrint. For individuals who do this, you’re instructed to rearrange your return journey with the identical driver, as discovering a taxi on the park could also be a problem.
You possibly can even hop on the bus. There is a direct bus route between the city and Butrint. A bus journey takes about 45 minutes.
For individuals who happen to be vacationing in Corfu, Greece, you’ll hop on the ferry to Saranda and get a bus or taxi to Butrint Nationwide Park. When touring between Greece and Albania, it’s important to know that you just merely merely’ll cross proper into a specific time zone. Albania is GMT+1, whereas Greece is GMT+2.
Lodging Near Butrint Nationwide Park Albania
- Resort Livia is housed in a stunning Albanian-style dwelling. That’s the closest lodge to the first archaeological website online in Butrint. It has a restaurant, free WiFi entry, air-conditioned rooms, and a lush yard with panoramic views. Attempt the lodge & prices right correct proper right here ↳
- Villa Supreme – located merely steps from the seashore in Ksamil, Villa Supreme is a superb base to look out Butrint Nationwide Park and its Ksamil Islands. Taxi boats wait merely down the road to take you to the islands and their seafood consuming locations, whereas rooms embrace a flat-screen TV, a fridge, air-conditioning, and complimentary WiFi. Attempt the lodge & prices right correct proper right here ↳
6. Karaburun-Sazan Marine Park
The one marine nationwide park in Albania, Karaburun-Sazan Marine Park, protects an dwelling of almost 2 kilometers into the ocean. You’ll uncover this lovely shoreline park near Vlore contained within the southwest of the nation. It encompasses every the Karaburun Peninsula and Sazan Island, which is Albania’s largest island.
This distinctive park’s important alternatives are underwater ruins of a variety of ships relationship from Greek and Roman events and World Battle II. There’s moreover ample marine life right correct proper right here, along with corrals, three sea turtle species, and dolphins. Snorkeling and scuba diving are clearly well-liked elements to do right correct proper right here. On the peninsula, likelihood is you may come all via chamois, roe deer, otters, and wild boar.
How To Get To Karaburun-Sazan Marine Park
The center of the Karaburun Peninsula lies solely 37.5 kilometers south of the city of Vlore, merely reached by automobile by way of the SH8 and SH95 highways. The small metropolis of Orikum lies merely north of the park’s border, applicable on the coast.
Lodging Near Karaburun-Sazan Marine Park Albania
- Resort Alba-Gert, with its beachfront location in Orikum, is a superb base for journeys into the inconceivable nationwide park. The lodge boasts a restaurant, a shared lounge dwelling, a yard with a terrace, and free WiFi. Private boat excursions to the Karaburun Peninsula could also be organized. Attempt the lodge & prices right correct proper right here ↳
7. Llogara Nationwide Park
A park boasting a formidable variety of setting, from the sun-soaked Ionian Seashore to the peaks of the Ceraunian Mountains, Llogara Nationwide Park is an unimaginable mountaineering journey spot in Albania. Whereas exploring the park’s trails, you’ll see vertical cliffs, pristine forests, and exquisite alpine meadows which shall be a part of the park’s giant hectares. It’s a genuinely sensational getaway from the busy Albanian Riviera below.
Named after the Llogara Go, which splits the mountains right correct proper right into a western and japanese fluctuate, the park affords fairly coastal views. From the swap itself, you’ll look down onto the white seashores of the Ionian coast and town of Dhermi. The swap has a automobile parking space and a few consuming locations,
One fully totally different thrilling attribute of Llogara Nationwide Park is Caesar’s Go, a mountain swap utilized by Julius Caesar himself to pursue his enemy Pompeii.
How To Get To Llogara Nationwide Park
Positioned between the important issue coastal cities of Vlora and Sarandë, Llogara Nationwide Park is reached by way of the SH8 coastal freeway. Llogara Go lies on this avenue, making it fantastically accessible from Dhermi, a seashore metropolis barely beneath the mountains.
The advisable methodology to uncover this home and drive thought-about truly one among Albania’s most scenic roads is self-drive. Lease a automobile in a big metropolis and uncover the park at your specific particular person tempo.
Lodging Near Llogara Nationwide Park Albania
- Llogara Vacationer Village – situated inside Llogara Nationwide Park, is good for exploring this glorious pure setting. It’s best to make use of the free WiFi contained within the lobby, swim contained within the indoor pool, loosen up in saunas or Turkish baths, and chill on the on-site restaurant and bar. Attempt the lodge & prices right correct proper right here ↳
- Resort Hamiti Llogara is an fairly priced Llogara lodge contained within the nationwide park with balconies, personal bogs, a bar, and an in-house restaurant. Attempt the lodge & prices right correct proper right here ↳
8. Lurë Nationwide Park
Comprising {{{the japanese}}} slope of Lura Mountain contained within the Albanian northeast, the prolonged and slender Lurë Nationwide Park boasts a big selection in elevation. This ends in pretty just some totally fully fully totally different ecosystems and rich biodiversity.
Its premier landscapes are twelve glacial lakes and dense forests, the latter consisting of European beech, silver fir, and pretty just some pines. All lakes are named after their most attribute attribute. Good examples are the Large Lake, Lake of Pines, Black Lake, and Lake of Flowers, which shall be coated with primarily primarily in all probability essentially the most pretty of flowers -the white water lilies in summer time season season.
How To Get To Lurë Nationwide Park
Its location contained within the distant northeast of Albania makes this loads of the highly effective nationwide parks in Albania to get to. It’s away from any important metropolis, requiring pretty just some hours of driving, normally on small roads.
The closest large metropolis is Shkoder, a 4.5-hour drive away. Getting there from Tirana metropolis entails a equally prolonged drive. The closest village with inns and fully fully totally different companies is Fushë Lurë, merely north of the park.
Lodging Near Lurë Nationwide Park Albania
- LURA Resort – an outstanding base to look out Lurë Nationwide Park; this lodge incorporates a shared lounge, bar, and restaurant, whereas all rooms have a balcony, some with mountain views. Attempt the lodge & prices right correct proper right here ↳
9. Theth Nationwide Park
One amongst many important well-known and good nationwide parks in Albania, Theth Nationwide Park, lies contained within the coronary coronary coronary coronary heart of the Albanian Alps, a veritable exterior lover’s paradise. It lies in northern Albania, encompassing fairly a couple of the unbelievable Shala Valley, and likewise alternatives waterfalls, dense woodlands, jagged mountain peaks, rivers, and interesting rock formations. The park borders Valbona Valley Nationwide Park (see below) to the east.
Just a few villages dot the luxurious Shala Valley, providing fully excellent bases to look out this pure wonderland. Actions are fully fully totally different and thrilling, ranging from mountain biking and mountaineering to mountain biking, fishing, kayaking, and wildlife watching.
Theth Nationwide Park is considered truly one among Albania’s premier areas to see iconic animals contained within the wild. Stop by the park, which is residence to golden eagles, wild goats, and a extremely extremely efficient lynx inhabitants in Albania, for an unforgettable experience. Furthermore, large mammals like brown bears and gray wolves moreover inhabit these mountains and forests, although they’re not usually seen.
How To Get To Theth Nationwide Park
There is only one important avenue into Theth Nationwide Park, the SH21, a side avenue of the SH1 from Shkoder. So, that primarily means you’ll must get to Shkoder first. Using public transportation, you’ll take a bus to Shkoder from Tirana after which a mini-bus into the park from there.
It is attainable to drive your self, too, nonetheless you have to know that the ultimate phrase a part of the SH21 from Qafe e Terthores to Theth is exceptionally winding and bumpy and runs alongside a deep ravine. Assure you’ve got gotten an trustworthy rental automobile for this journey, and defend your eyes on the road.
Actual adventurers might hike into Theth Nationwide Park from Valbona Valley Nationwide Park. The outlet from Valbona to Theth is barely 13 kilometers. The rugged terrain, nonetheless, makes it a hike of 6 to eight hours. This hike between two nationwide parks is little query one among many epic Albania mountaineering trails you’ll uncover.
Lodging Near Theth Nationwide Park Albania
- Velezrit Guri – truly one among many many inns near Theth Nationwide Park, Velezrit Guri has numerous services to make your go to cosy, along with a sauna, an on-site American restaurant, a small bar, and even ski storage companies.
- Guesthouse Bujtina Kometa, a basic however fairly priced alternative, is situated only some hectares away from the central part of the park. place to stay near Theth Nationwide Park, serving a continental breakfast and offering free WiFi and parking. Attempt the lodge & prices right correct proper right here ↳
10. Valbonë Valley Nationwide Park – Valbona Valley Nationwide Park
Positioned contained within the far north of Albania, bordering Montenegro to the north and Theth Nationwide Park to the west, Valbonë (or Valbona) Valley Nationwide Park is one fully totally different sensational journey spot for Albanian Alps mountaineering journeys.
With its dramatic, barren summits and forested vales, glacial springs, and waterfalls, it’s a heavenly and explicit place for every folks and animals. The park’s Gashi River is part of the multi-unit UNESCO Primeval Beech Forests World Heritage Web page on-line, which encompasses net pages all via Europe. Together with floral vary, Valbonë Valley could also be residence to fairly a couple of wildlife and affords ample particulars regarding the native ecosystem. This accommodates brown bears, lynx, chamois, grey wolves, wild goats, and pretty just some rooster species.
Climbing is little query one among many hottest elements to do right correct proper right here. Totally fully totally different actions on present embody nature footage, mountain biking, fishing, boating, and mountaineering. For households who love the ground, it’s the proper place to ship youngsters for the afternoon.
How To Get To Valbonë Valley Nationwide Park
The village of Valbonë is the touristic focal point on this gorgeous park. As a consequence of it lies deep contained within the Accursed Mountains, nonetheless, getting right correct proper right here takes some effort. Your first alternative is to drive your self, which may in all probability be an prolonged and winding journey on pretty just some SH roads. The underside line is to not rush it. Take your time and don’t forget that getting there could also be half the pleasing, notably amid such fairly setting.
Hazard amount two is touring by mini-bus, arguably Albania’s hottest strategy of transportation. Outlining an itinerary or schedule on-line is kind of unattainable, though, as there’s not a official system for this. Your largest wager is the ask-around.
Lastly, as talked about above, it is also attainable to hike between Theth and Valbonë Valley Nationwide Parks. That extraordinary 13-kilometer mountain trek takes between 6 and eight hours.
Lodging Near Valbona Valley Nationwide Park Albania
- Resort Margjeka is a 3-star lodge contained within the coronary coronary coronary coronary heart of the nationwide park that choices free WiFi, a shared lounge, a yard and terrace, and a personal toilet. Attempt the lodge & prices right correct proper right here ↳
- Guesthouse Kukaj – offering entry to an excessive amount of exterior adventures, this guesthouse is well-liked for its free WiFi and parking and full English/Irish breakfast contained within the morning. Rooms have shared bogs. Attempt the lodge & prices right correct proper right here ↳
5 Totally fully totally different Nationwide Parks In Albania: Hundreds less-Acknowledged Alternate alternatives To Uncover
11. Fir Of Drenovë Nationwide Park
One among many smallest nationwide parks in Albania, Fir Of Drenovë Nationwide Park, consists of forests. Silver firs dominate these woodlands, subsequently the park’s title. Totally fully totally different alternatives embody the Lenies Lakes, fairly loads of pure springs, and rock formations, such due to the Cave of Tren and the Stone of Capi.
12. Prespa Nationwide Park
Positioned on the border with Greece and Macedonia, Prespa Nationwide Park incorporates an infinite array of water alternatives. Its wetlands, reed beds, meadows, salt marshes, and lakes make it a big dwelling for birds. It’s included in worldwide preservation features identical to the European Inexperienced Belt, UNESCO Biosphere Reserves, and Ramsar Convection.
13. Shtamë Go Nationwide Park
Named after a surprising mountain swap, the road between Kruja and Burrel, Shtamë Go Nationwide Park is primarily an undeveloped mountain panorama. Although there are some historic alternatives, the first sights on this park are mountaineering and scenic driving.
14. Tomorr Nationwide Park
An enormous mountain in southern Albania, towering 2,416 meters above sea diploma, Mount Tomorr has a deep historic earlier and is the centerpiece and namesake of Tomorr Nationwide Park. It’s residence to every an home Bektashi temple and winter sports activities actions actions actions companies. It lies solely 25 kilometers east of the city of Berat, truly one among many important Albania vacationer sights.
15. Zall-Gjoçaj Nationwide Park
Sharing a border with Lurë Nationwide Park, Zall-Gjoçaj Nationwide Park is a tiny nationwide park of fewer than 2 km2. Nonetheless, it nonetheless properties alpine meadows, mountains, pristine forests, ravines, and lakes. Wildlife like lynx, wild boar, and wolves abound right correct proper right here.
Most attention-grabbing Time To Go to Albania’s Nationwide Parks
For nationwide park adventures in Albania, summer time season season is usually top-of-the-line time. Whereas it might be pretty scorching by way of the day, that’s undoubtedly the time of 12 months with primarily primarily in all probability essentially the most sunshine and least precipitation. Visiting a nationwide park in summer time season season, notably do you have to’d want to hit among the many many many unbelievable Albania mountaineering trails or be energetic in a single fully totally different methodology, is largest completed contained within the morning or late afternoon for two causes.
One, you’ll beat the day-trippers that arrive in path of midday, which can be a busy time in some parks. Two, it’s solely pretty slightly lots cooler then and far more good bodily (and probably mentally as appropriately).
Nonetheless, some mountain parks like Theth and Valbonë Valley are at their prime in every spring and fall. Spring comes with snowmelt and roaring waterfalls, wild rivers, and wildflowers. Fall, then as quickly as additional, brings with it unbelievable foliage contained within the forest-covered valleys.
Phew, we did it; there are so many unimaginable nationwide parks in Albania – which was your favorite? Inform us contained within the options below.
MORE ALBANIA TRAVEL BLOGS
[ad_2]
WanderlustJenna
The cultural significance of Butrint National Park stands out, alongside its natural beauty. It’s fascinating how historical ruins are integrated into such beautiful landscapes. I look forward to exploring these parks one day.