SEPTEMBER 2024

SHQIPËRIA ALBANIA.

Why would you go to Albania?

This is the question I was given when I first told people I was planning to visit Albania. Some said it wasn’t safe, others claimed there wasn’t much to see, and a few suggested I’d be better off choosing a more "popular" destination. Despite their doubts, I went—and I’m so glad I did.

My trip to Albania was nothing short of wonderful. From the very first morning, when a kind woman offered to pay for my bus to Tirana because I only had Euros instead of Leks, to the warm welcome at the Golden Rooster Hostel by the host, Frank, who made Ella and me feel at home, I experienced incredible hospitality.

The Wanderer’s Hostel in Shkoder made organising our journey to the Albanian Alps straightforward. In Valbone, the family at the Selimaj Guesthouse went out of their way to assist us, and in Theth, the hosts at Zariklis Guesthouse extended the same warmth and hospitality. Initially, I was concerned about navigating Albania, given its still-developing infrastructure. Yet, time and again, the kindness and helpfulness of the locals made every part of the journey feel effortless—well, maybe except for the gut-twisting, headache-inducing jeep ride from Theth to Shkoder. But even that has become a fun memory in hindsight.