Hike the Coastal Trails of Albania

This is the first organised trip that I've been on and I've such a long list of ones I want to go on next. It was brilliant. Great walks, beautiful views, chance to swim in the sea. Really well organised trip and a beautiful country. Our guide, Menduh, was so friendly, informative and enthusiastic about his country. Couldn't have asked for a better guide.

The accomodation was comfortable and in great locations.

Most of all, it was the group dynamic which made the trip. We ranged from late 20s to early 50s with all different backgrounds but at no point was there a branching off into smaller groups. Everyone walked and ate with everyone else. Really made the trip for me. If anyone's in doubt as to whether they should book due to fear of holidaying with strangers, just go for it; the type of people who book these holidays will be your type of people.

I cannot praise this tour highly enough. Albania is a relatively unknown destination for UK travellers. While rough around the edges, the scenery is stunningly beautiful. We were looked after every step of the way by our wonderful guide, Mend, whose encyclopaedic knowledge and love of his country was remarkable. A shout out to my roommate Seve, who made me laugh so much and all the other guests who added tremendously to a holiday that I will remember for the rest of my life. I will be back!

From the moment we got into Tirana it was clear this was going to be a good holiday; Tirana is a lovely city, and then we headed out to a really perfectly located hotel looking out over the sea as far as Corfu and even Italy.

Hikes were a good length and difficulty, the view as you come round a corner to a UNESCO World Heritage village on the last day is really something!

Fantastic trip with a great mixture of mountain and costal walking with swimming onroute . Albania is a very beautiful country and our guide anton was great fun and very informative about the history . Everyone in our group was so lovely .

This was my first trip with MBA and I wasn’t sure what to expect. However, from start to finish this trip was well run and they communicated with us throughout the trip, any issues were sorted promptly by the local company they used. Our guide Mend was excellent, he was so passionate about Albania and telling us all about its history. The country is beautiful. The hikes were very manageable while also providing a good challenge. The relaxing beach swims were a joy. I travelled on my own as did many others in the group, it was a lovely group, and everyone got on well. The accommodation was comfortable and clean. The food all the way through was excellent, all fresh and local. I have no complaints about any part of the trip.

My first trip with MBA exceeded my expectations! The local tour company and our guide, Mend Zavalani, were outstanding, going above and beyond to meet our every need. Mend’s deep knowledge and passion for his country and culture made the experience truly enriching, and I learned so much along the way.

The accommodation was clean and comfortable, and the authentic food was absolutely delicious. Hiking through Albania’s stunning and diverse landscapes was a real privilege. The trails offered a good challenge, with rewarding climbs each day, balanced by relaxing beach swims and downtime.

If you're curious about Albania, enjoy manageable hikes, and love beautiful scenery, I highly recommend this tour!

Our guide Mend was incredible. Very knowledgeable, passionate and articulate. The tour was well planned out and ran smoothly. Our experience was maximized every step of the way. If you appreciate authentic and laid back this trip is good choice!

This was my first trip with MBA and it was everything I hoped it would be. The group dynamic was brilliant, we couldn’t stop chatting from the very first dinner! The hotels were clean, comfortable and peaceful with stunning views over to Corfu and lovely friendly staff.

Albania is a rich and diverse landscape, with echoes of communism scattered through the hillsides. Signs of development abound in the coastal areas so now is the time to see it before it looks completely different. We barely saw another human on the trails (plenty of goats though!) and beaches were deserted.

The food was mostly Greek influence; delicious salads, seafood and grilled meat and veg. Wholesome and sustaining for our hikes.

Dramatic mountains and calm turquoise seas, quaint abandoned villages carved into the rocks and the scent of oregano, thyme and sage enveloping us as we walked. I couldn’t speak more highly of Albania and its people. Go see for yourself!

The trip was fantastic!! Our guide, Nik, was knowledgeable of his culture, humorous, kind, and generous. The group was well looked after by him and our excellent driver.

We stayed in clean and comfortable hotels, were offered delicious food, and experienced beautiful sceneries throughout. It was overall a great escape from UK weather.

I highly recommend to anyone wanting to experience Albania's enchanting natural beauty and rich culture. ​

Absolutely fantastic trip, would definitely recommend. The group was great and we had such fun together. The food included was delicious and there was plenty of it!

I loved the variety of landscapes, both the beautiful coastline and beaches but also the mountains and villages.

The hiking was challenging enough with some tougher climbs but there was time for relaxing and would be great for someone relatively new to hiking. Most days ended with time swimming at the beach!

The guide Nik was excellent. He also adapted our days for the weather to make sure we were safe and not caught in storms.

I have wanted to go to Albania since looking down on its landscape from a mountain in Montenegro many years ago and had been wowed back then. This tour and Albania lived up to that first sighting.

Albania has everything, crystal blue seas, lush mountains, hills, and a raw history seeping through its landscape. I have been shouting about the country, ever since I got back. You get to experience it all on the tour.

The tour was just great. Led by Nik and Tesi and our driver Gizim, who were so incredibly generous and patient with us. I felt safe and comfortable with them immediately.

It was great to get to know our guides who were a similar age to us. They made the experience very special. Being able to get to know them during the tour and find about their hopes, and dreams for themselves and their country, made the holiday for me, as conversations with them were something that can’t be put on an itinerary or learnt from a book about Albania.

The group were all truly kind, open and sociable. We spent most of the time giggling and we had a lot of fun. I have made some friends I know I can message shamelessly (and I will!) if I am ever in their area/country.

Having been the last communist dictatorship in Europe, Albania is a country just about to pop. So go soak it all up now before it does, and book this tour!

Fantastic holiday and the tour leader, Toni, was amazing!

I had absolutely no idea what to expect going into this trip, no knowledge of Albania, had never been on a MBA trip before, and going in as a solo traveller. And let me tell you, it was magnificent. Such a unique and special country, unlimited natural beauty dotted with the weirdest, coolest relics from the communist days. Our guide and driver were phenomenal, just the right combo of laid back fun and attentiveness. The group became fast friends as we ascended mountains together. The hikes were stunning and we did them at a nice chill speed so no one felt rushed or left behind. The food at dinners seemed unlimited with endless delicious courses coming out one after another, I ate my weight in cheeses and meats and vegetables. And the accommodation far exceeded my expectations, every place we stayed was lovely with ocean or mountain views. I definitely recommend spending a couple days in Tirana before or after the trip too because the city itself was amazing to wander through. Overall, the entire experience was epic and Ill definitely be booking a MBA trip in the future.

This trip was truly stunning. I had a fabulous time in this beautiful country. The holiday was all the more enhanced by our wonderful guide, Anton, and super driver, Denis. Anton's extensive knowledge, good humour and determination to give us the best experiences on our trip was evident from the pick-up at Tirana airport. No request was too big or small. Our driver Denis was also superb and I felt completely safe and secure on the roads at all times. This was a truly special trip and I would recommend it to anybody who is interested in visiting a currently still (though not for much longer...) little discovered by tourists to enjoy its stunning scenery and the warm hospitality of its people.

De trip was geweldig! Onze guide Anthoni, zorgde voor een top sfeer. Een van de accommodaties was wat minder. De andere twee accommodaties waren geweldig.

De hikes waren prima te doen en op sommige momenten uitdagend. Prima hikes om een aantal dagen achter elkaar vol te houden. De hikes verschilden qua uitzicht. Soms in de hoogste toppen van de bergen, soms langs de kust maar altijd even adembenemend mooi.

Ik kende Albanië niet goed maar ik zou iedereen aanraden om hier naartoe te gaan. De mensen zijn enorm vriendelijk en het is geen doorsnee land. Echt een unieke en geweldige ervaring!

My second MBA trip and first to Albania. There were some beautiful locations for the hikes from mountain to coastline. The abundance of wildflowers, wild oregano and thyme which made the walks even more immersive for the senses. Anton our guide was fab and answered all our questions. Accommodation was all good (enjoyed the coastal one the best for the alfresco dining) and there was plenty of food for breakfast, lunches and dinner. I loved trying Albanian dishes - the fish at the coast and salads were a highlight.

If you enjoy hiking, have some ability to hike uphill, yet at a leisurely enough pace to soak up nature and local culture then this is the trip for you. We came in May when the hills of southern Albania were breathtaking: lush green, literally carpeted with wild flowers as far as the eye could see, scenting the air all around. The tour was well organised with good daily briefings on what to expect. We thought the hikes were perfectly pitched with a mix of uphill days and more coastal walks and choice of final hike was excellent with the most unforgettable views of the coast. We thought the accommodation was well pitched: comfortable with en suite and air conditioning throughout the trip whilst still rustic in keeping with the theme of being with nature. What made the trip outstanding for us was the exceptional tour leader Toni Pepaj. He hit just the right note between juggling the needs of each tour member, keeping everyone motivated whilst making the arduous task of managing logistics look effortless; it’s a rare gift. My only little feedback for Much Better Adventures would be to provide packing lists that were more tailored to each trip and season. The list was so litanous it was hard to decide what was necessary and we ignored items we should have brought (like a tupperware for lunch) which would have been useful.

A wonderful trip with a lovely group, and fantastic guides. Parts of the hikes were challenging, but very managable - and the incredible views and sea swims at the end of them made all the hard work worth it! Hotels were comfortable and had all we needed, and the planning, transport and itinerary worked really well - even on a really new trip! I would totally recommend going - Albania is an undiscovered gem, that is only going to get more popular whn people realise how beautiful, friendly and accomodating it is.

Brilliant week in Albania. Our guides Krishnik and Tesi were great and so was the group. The hikes were interesting with nice views looking out to Corfu. There was a good balance of walking and swimming. The accommodation was good, hot showers after the hike very welcome. Take some mosquito spray, didn’t bother me too much but I expect there are more about as temp rises. I went end April and it was sunny and perfect weather for hiking, a little cool in evening, early morning.

Best trip so far with MBA. The hikes were not too difficult, with time to stop and enjoy the views and even time for the beach, swimming and some cocktails! Our guides Krishnik and Tessi were fabulous and our driver was great too. Such a lovely bunch of people on the trip to hike with too. Accommodation and food was good, and the trip was well planned out and went smoothly. Albania is far more beautiful than I imagined and I had a truly wonderful week.

A gorgeous few days spent hiking through southern Albania, with varied routes through stunning mountain landscapes, bright spring flowers and blue sea. Our guides Nik and Tesi were amazing, taking us through trails we'd never have found alone, and sharing insights into Albania's history and culture. They looked after us so well throughout the week and were a joy to get to know, as were the rest of our lovely group.

Accommodation was great - had all we needed - and the food was lovely, with picnics most days and delicious evening meals. Would highly recommend the tour!

A very enjoyable week very well led by Nik and Tes and supported by driver Gizim. The grouped gelled very well and the hikes were a good mix of diverse and challenging also with some time to relax and explore. I would highly recommend this trip and will hope that other tours match the standard set by this one, my first with MBA. Albania is a wonderful country and the scenery is beautiful.

The Albania hiking trip was far and away the best holiday we've had in a really long time. The whole week had routes boasting absolutely stunning scenery, every day brought new views and a different perspective on Albanian ways of life. The hikes were spaced really well in terms of difficulty - days 1 & 3 were more challenging with easier hiking on days 2, 4 & 5. Our group instantly gelled, which was a great help to make the week unforgettable. So many laughs and our guides Nik and Tessi were super involved too and made the whole thing even better. Hotels & guesthouses were well above my expectations on a hiking trip, and the food was plentiful. Overall, if you're looking to book an Albanian adventure, don't even hesitate, there's nothing not to love!

By far the best trip I've ever been on! The hikes and swimming spots were perfect - we had all the hiking trails and beaches almost completely to ourselves. Our guide Anton & driver Denis were both amazing and went out of their way to make sure we had the best time. The hiking routes were beautiful and varied day to day so it felt like we saw the riviera from all perspectives. The hotels were clean, comfy and quiet, and the hotel in Himare was right on the beach, perfect for a pre-breakfast swim! The food was incredible - I don't eat meat and was catered for well. The group were all lovely and bonded straight away which made the experience even better. One of my first times travelling solo and I felt so safe and comfortable. I could have stayed for weeks to see more of the beautiful country! Will deffo book with MBA again :)

An amazing time in Albania - Anton our guide went out of his way to make the hikes work ( around the weather and trail conditions) and Dennis ( the driver) was in my words - the safest driver in all of Albania - the organisation ( particularly with meals in rural areas) was very well executed - and the secret beach excursion was a real highlight- the best way to explore this emerging country.

The hike was exceptional and overall product what was expected. Really enjoyed getting out and exploring Albania. The hotels were very comfortable to recover for the day especially the hotel in Himare. Our guide, Anton was knowledgeable and did a great job of keeping us all interested and excited for each day!

Words can't describe how amazing this trip was! The professional service of guide Anton and driver Denis was incomparable with anything I experienced before. Both were witty and very easy-going, ready to help without asking. The group gelled instantly which made this adventure very special. The trip was meticulously organized, no teething issues at all and nothing to complain about. Communication was always proactive and on time. Accommodation was comfortable and clean, food was abundant and delicious, transport was spacious and safe. And Albania... oh let the photos do the talking, although they won't fully describe the raw beauty of the country and the hospitality of its people. Hiking to the sound of goat bells and being surrounded by the scents of sage, thyme and rosemary have become my core memory. I wish I could stay for another week or five. Don't overthink it, book it! You won't regret it.