Courtesy of Moving Culture & Rally Albania

_SWIMMING

_MOTOR BOAT

_ROWING

_HORSE RIDING

_MOUNTAIN BIKE

_AIR SPORTS

_TREKKING

_4X4/MOTOCROSS

_CAMPING

_WATER SPORTS

_XTR SPORT

_FISHING

_BEACH VOLLEY

SPORTS

A D V E N T U R I N G A L B A N I A > >

A D V E N T U R I N G A L B A N I A > >

GEOGRAPHY

07Karpen, Kavajë.Foto_Edvin KASIMATI<<

Prespa e VogëlFoto_Edvin KASIMATI

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AALBANIA BORDERS MONTENEGRO AND KOSOVA IN THE

NORTH AND NORTHEAST, FYR OF MACEDONIA IN THE

EAST, AND GREECE IN THE SOUTH. IT IS WASHED BY THE

ADRIATIC AND IONIAN SEAS TO THE WEST AND SEPARATED

FROM ITALY BY THE STRAIT OF OTRANTO, 82 KM IN WIDTH.

ALBANIA SURPRISES VISITORS WITH THE DIVERSITY OF ITS

LANDSCAPES, WHICH CHANGE QUICKLY AND DRAMATI-

CALLY. ALBANIA IS A MEDITERRANEAN COUNTRY,

BUT DUE TO ITS PARTICULAR GEOGRAPHICAL AND

GEOLOGICAL FEATURES, A VARIETY OF LANDSCAPES

INTERTWINE. LANDSCAPES RANGE FROM TYPICALLY

MEDITERRANEAN IN THE WEST AND SOUTHWEST, TO

MIXED IN THE CENTRAL AREA, AND MOUNTAINOUS

IN THE INNER PART OF THE COUNTRY. THE COAST

HAS BEAUTIFUL, VIRGIN, AND FINE SANDY AND

PEBBLE BEACHES. THE COUNTRY IS ADORNED WITH

NUMEROUS CHARMING INLAND LAKES, NATURAL

LAGOONS, RESERVATIONS, HUNTING GROUNDS, AND SPAS.

09

CLIMATE

Mali i Miletit, Konispol Foto_Edvin KASIMATI

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Velipojë, ShkodërFoto_Edvin KASIMATI

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Feken, TiranëFoto_Edvin KASIMATI<<

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MEDITERRANEAN CLIMATE, IS THE ALBANIA NATURE, BUT

GIVEN ITS MOUNTAINOUS CHARACTER AND BROKEN RELIEF,

IT VARIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. ALBANIA IS CHARACTERIZED

BY HOT DRY SUMMERS WITH BRIGHT SUNNY DAYS, AND GENE-

RALLY MILD WINTERS WITH ABUNDANT RAINFALL. THE WINTERS

ARE COLD AND THE SUMMERS CHILLY IN THE ALBANIAN ALPS IN

THE NORTHERN PART OF THE

COUNTRY. GENERALLY, THE

WEATHER IS SUNNY AND HOT

FROM JUNE TO SEPTEMBER,

AND COOL AND WET FROM

OCTOBER TO MAY. VISITORS

CAN ENJOY THE WONDERFUL

ALBANIAN SIGHTS THROU-

GHOUT THE YEAR. NOTWITH-

STANDING, THE BEST MON-

THS TO VISIT ALBANIA ARE APRIL, MAY AND JUNE, AS WELL AS THE

PERIOD FROM MID-OCTOBER.

11

ADVENTURESPORTS

Kite Boarding, Karavasta Foto_Florian VOKO

Motocross, Shën GjergjFoto_ESA<

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ParaMotor, Tirana Foto_Alket ISLAMI

Paragliding, Mali i ÇikësFoto_ESA<

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Off-Road sunday, Mali me Gropa Foto_Edvin KASIMATI

Rafting, Zabërzan OsumFoto_OA Klub<

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MOUNTAINS

THE COAST

LAKES

NATIONAL PARKS

CONTACT POINTS

Rally, Palasa Beach Foto_Edvin KASIMATI

Kayak, DevollFoto_Edvin KASIMATI

<<<

Biza mountainFoto_Edvin KASIMATI

Camping, KaninaFoto_Edvin KASIMATI

13

MOUNTAINS

Delta Motor, KorçëFoto_Albes Fusha<

SKIING/TREKKING/SPELEOLOGY/AIR SPORTS

MOUNTAINS AND HILLS MAKE UP TWO-THIRDS OF THE TERRITORY OF ALBANIA AND EXTEND

FROM NORTH TO SOUTH. THE MOST IMPORTANT MOUNTAINOUS CENTERS ARE DAJTI,

LLOGARA, DARDHA, BOZDOVECI, VOSKOPOJA, VALBONA AND THETHI. THEY OFFER THE OPPORTU-

NITY TO ENGAGE IN NUMEROUS ACTIVITIES, SUCH AS SKIING, TREKKING, SPELEOLOGICAL EXPEDI-

TIONS, MOUNTAIN BIKING, ETC.

SKIING IS ESPECIALLY DEVELOPED IN THE AREA OF KORÇA. IN PARTICULAR, VOSKOPOJA HAS A

WELL-KNOWN RESORT THAT HAS ENJOYED INCREASED TRAFFIC THANKS TO THE PROMOTION BY

THE ALBANIAN FEDERATION OF SKIING. ALBANIA HAS NUMEROUS LOCATIONS WHERE SKIING AND

OTHER WINTER SPORTS CAN TAKE PLACE, SUCH AS SHISHTAVECI IN THE DISTRICT OF KUKËS, KO-

RABI IN THE DISTRICT OF DIBRA, THE REGION OF PUKA, GRABOVA IN THE DISTRICT OF GRAMSHI,

AS WELL AS RAZMA, BOGA, THETHI IN THE ALBANIAN ALPS, ETC.. THE ACADEMY OF PHYSICAL

EDUCATION AND SPORTS ORGANIZES EVERY YEAR SKIING COURSES. THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES

EXIST FOR MOUNTAIN CLIMBING AND TREKKING IN PLACES LIKE THETHI IN MALËSIA E MADHE

(THE BIG HIGHLAND) - THE STARTING POINT FOR

THE ALBANIAN ALPS; THE RANGES OF KORABI

AND LURA IN THE DISTRICT OF DIBRA; VALBONA;

MAJA E HEKURAVE (PEAK OF IRONS) AND KOL-

LATA IN THE DISTRICT OF TROPOJA; VERMOSHI,

BOGA, THETHI AND RAZMA IN THE DISTRICTS

OF SHKODRA AND MALËSIA E MADHE; DAJTI

IN THE DISTRICT OF TIRANA; TOMORRI IN BERAT;

THE AREA OF VITHKUQ IN KORÇA; THE RANGES

BETWEEN PËRMETI AND GJIROKASTRA IN THE

SOUTHERN PART OF THE COUNTRY. THE SPREAD

OF LIMESTONE FORMATIONS AND THE PRESEN-

CE OF KARST HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE CREATION OF NUMEROUS CAVES THROUGHOUT THE

TERRITORY OF THE COUNTRY. THEY MAKE FOR VERY ATTRACTIVE SIGHTS WITH THE WEALTH OF

STALACTITES, STALAGMITES AS WELL AS PRE-HISTORIC AND ARCHEOLOGICAL OBJECTS. A NUM-

BER OF GROUPS OF FOREIGN VISITORS AND SPELEOLOGISTS, PARTICULARLY FROM POLAND, CZECH

REPUBLIC AND HUNGARY, HAVE TOURED THE ALBANIAN ALPS FROM THE ‘90S. AMONG THE MOST

INTERESTING CAVES TO VISIT ARE THE CAVE OF JUBAN IN THE DISTRICT OF SHKODRA, THE CAVE OF

PUC IN THE ALPS, THE CAVE OF PËLLUMBAS IN THE RAVINE OF SKORANA, THE CAVE OF VALI IN BIZA

OF THE DISTRICT OF TIRANA, THE CAVE OF PIRROGOSH IN THE DISTRICT OF SKRAPAR - THE LARGEST

IN ALBANIA, THE CAVE OF LEK PETA IN KURVELESH , ETC.. IN THE MOUNTAINOUS AREAS OF THE

COUNTRY, ONE CAN ALSO ENGAGE IN MOUNTAIN BIKING IN AREAS SUCH AS THETHI, BOGA, ETC.,

IN THE ALBANIAN ALPS. ALBANIAN NATURE OFFERS OPPORTUNITIES FOR OTHER TYPES OF SPORTS

Mali me gropaFoto_Edvin KASIMATI

<

Paragliding over Albanian RivieraFoto_Albes Fusha<

15

AND HOLIDAYS ON THE GO, SUCH AS AERONAUTICS, EQUESTRIAN SPORTS, BIKING, EXCURSIONS, AND OUTSIDE GAMES.

OUTDOOR ALBANIA HAS CREATED UNIQUE AND VARIED TOURS IN ALBANIA , DISTINGUISHED BY CREATIVITY, SAFETY, PRO-

FESSIONALISM, AND ENTHUSIASM. THROUGH ITS ACTIVITIES OUTDOOR ALBANIA OFFERS ACCESS TO PRACTICALLY EVERY

CORNER OF THE COUNTRY.

PIONEERING ADVENTURE TRAVEL AND OPENING NEW ROUTES TO ADVENTURE DEFINES OUTDOOR ALBANIA ‘S CREATIVE SPI-

RIT AND DEDICATION. OUTDOOR ALBANIA DESIGNS TOURS THAT OFFER BOTH PRIVILEGED ACCESS AND SPECIAL INSIGHT. THE

OUTDOOR ALBANIA TEAM HAS TRAIL-BLAZED MANY OF TODAY’S COMMERCIAL ROUTES FOR RAFTING, KAYAKING, MOUNTAIN

BIKING, TREKKING AND MOUNTAINEERING.

AERONAUTICS IS ONE OF THE TRENDIEST SPORTING ACTIVITIES IN ALBANIA. IT TOOK OFF AFTER THE ‘90S. THE ALBANIAN

AERONAUTICS HAS SUCCESSFULLY PROMOTED THE SPORT IN ALBANIA. UNDER THE MOTTO “WHO FLIES, LOVES”, IT DRAWS

FLYING ENTHUSIASTS. ALBANIA OFFERS EXCELLENT TOPOGRAPHIC AND NATURAL CONDITIONS FOR ENGAGING IN SUCH AC-

TIVITIES. THE BEST LOCATION IS THE PASS OF LLOGORA IN THE DISTRICT OF VLORA, WHERE THE AIR CURRENTS ARE VERY

FAVORABLE. THE SPECTACULAR VIEW AS ONE SKYDIVES FROM AN ALTITUDE OF 1,052 METERS ABOVE THE SEA LEVEL AND

LANDS ON THE BEACH OF PALASA, MAKES THIS A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE. DHËRMI, SARANDA, DAJTI, MORAVA, ETC., ARE

AMONG THE OTHER FABULOUS LOCATIONS OFFERED BY THE ALBANIAN NATURE, WHERE ONE CAN ENGAGE IN THE CHAL-

LENGING EXERCISES OF AERONAUTICS. EQUESTRIAN SPORTS OFFER OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENJOYABLE EXPERIENCES

IN ALBANIA. THEY HAVE A LONG HISTORY IN THE COUNTRY

AND CAN BE PRACTICED BY VISITING FANS IN NUMEROUS

RESORTS.

THE HORSE-RIDING SCHOOL IN PEZA, EVENTS IN THE DAJTI

MOUNTAIN FOR “DINAMO”, “TIRANA” AND “PARTIZANI” SPOR-

TS CLUBS, THE “ALFA JURI” SOCIETY IN DIVJAKA, “ENKELA-

NA’ IN POGRADEC, THE LOCAL ASSOCIATIONS AND GROUN-

DS IN SHKODRA, SHIJAK, KUKËS, SHISHTAVEC, KORÇA,

VLORA, BUTRINT, AS WELL AS THE LURA SOCIETY PROVIDE

VARIOUS OPPORTUNITIES IN A WIDE GEOGRAPHICAL AREA,

WHERE NATURE AND UNIQUE GEOGRAPHY, HISTORY AND

TRADITIONS INTERLOCK.

Trekkting, MiçekFoto_G. Mati<

Delta Motor, Vrina basinFoto_ESA

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Paragliding, KaninëFoto_ESA<

THE COAST

DhërmiFoto_Petrit SERAILI

Swimming, Gjipe BeachFoto_Delta<

<

SWIMMING/MOTOR BOAT TOURS/SCUBA DIVING/FISHING/BEACH VOLLEY

THE COAST IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT TOURIST DESTINATIONS IN ALBANIA, AMENABLE

TO A NUMBER OF SPORTS. IT IS 450 KM LONG (INCLUDING THE LAGOONS) AND IS OVERALL

CLEAN ACCORDING TO MEDITERRANEAN STANDARDS.

THE LARGEST PART OF THE COASTAL AREA CONSISTS OF THE ADRIATIC SEASHORE, WHICH BE-

GINS AT THE MOUTH OF BUNA RIVER IN THE NORTH AND CONTINUES UP TO THE BAY OF VLORA

IN THE SOUTH. THE BEACHES OF THE ADRIATIC SEA ARE CHARACTERIZED BY SHALLOW WATERS,

MAKING THEM ATTRACTIVE DESTINATIONS FOR FAMILIES. SIGNIFICANT PARTS OF THE SEASHORE

IS SURROUNDED BY PINE FORESTS AND LAGOONS THAT CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PRO-

MOTION OF ECOTOURISM, OBSERVATION OF SEAFOWL, AND FOR NATURE LOVERS IN GENERAL. IN

THE NORTHERN PART OF THE ADRIATIC

SEASHORE, THE BEACHES OF VELIPOJA

AND SHËN GJINI (SAINT JOHN) ARE THE

MOST FREQUENTED, PRIMARILY BY HO-

LIDAYMAKERS FROM THE NORTHERN

ALBANIA. IN RECENT YEARS, THE NUM-

BER OF VISITORS FROM KOSOVA HAS IN-

CREASED. THE MOST IMPORTANT AND

BEST-FREQUENTED BEACH, NOT ONLY OF

THE ADRIATIC SHORE BUT OF THE WHO-

LE ALBANIAN COAST, IS THE BEACH OF

DURRËS, WHICH MERGES WITH THAT

Camping, PalasaFoto_Edvin KASIMATI

Virgin Beach nearby PalasaFoto_Albes Fusha

<

<<

OF GOLEM. THEY HAVE THE LARGEST CONCENTRATION OF TOURISTS FROM KOSOVA, MACEDONIA, FROM OTHER COUNTRIES

TO, AS WELL AS THOSE LIVING IN THE CAPITAL. OTHER BEACHES ARE THOSE OF KARPEN AND SPILLENJA IN THE DISTRICT OF

KAVAJA - TAKING THEIR FIRST STEPS IN TOURIST INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT, DIVJAKA IN THE DISTRICT OF LUSHNJA

- FAMED FOR ITS ECOSYSTEM. THE ADRIATIC SHORE HAS A NUMBER OF LAGOONS. THE LAGOON OF KARAVASTA IS THE MOST

BEAUTIFUL AND IMPORTANT. IT HAS BEEN DECLARED A NATIONAL PARK, AND IS THE LARGEST, WITH AN AREA OF 4,330 HA.

AMONG OTHERS, IT IS THE MOST WESTERN NESTING LOCATION FOR THE CURLY PELICAN (PELICANUS CRISPUS) IN EUROPE,

AND IS UNDER THE PROTECTION OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION OF RAMSAR.

THE IONIAN SEASHORE, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “ALBANIAN RIVIERA” BEGINS AT THE BAY OF VLORA AND EXTENDS UP

TO THE CAPE OF STILLO ON THE BORDER WITH GREECE. IT IS ROCKY, OF A DRAMATIC RELIEF, AND HAS SMALL AND INTIMATE

PEBBLE BEACHES. THE IONIAN SEA IS RENOWNED FOR THE QUALITY AND DEPTH OF ITS WATERS. IT IS THE PREFERRED DESTI-

NATION FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, HONEYMOONERS, AND WATER SPORTS ENTHUSIASTS. THERE ARE ALSO MANY OPPORTUNITIES

FOR DIVING. THE MAIN BEACHES ARE PALASA, DHËRMI, JALI, SPILE OF HIMARA, QEPARO, BORSH, BUNEC, KRORËZ, SARANDA

AND KSAMIL. THE ALBANIAN COAST PROVIDES ALL THE NECESSARY CONDITION FOR ENGAGING IN A WIDE VARIETY OF ACTIVI-

TIES AND SPORTS, SUCH AS SWIMMING, ROWING, MOTOR BOAT TOURS, DIVING, ETC. ONE OF THE MOST SALIENT EXAM-

PLES IS BEACH VOLLEY, ORGANIZED UNDER THE EXCLUSIVE SUPERVISION OF THE ALBANIAN FEDERATION OF VOLLEYBALL.

THE MAIN VENUES FOR BEACH VOLLEY ARE THE BEACHES OF DURRËSI, VELIPOJA, POGRADECI, SARANDA, ETC..

OPPORTUNITIES FOR SCUBA DIVING ABOUND, WITH CHOICE LOCATIONS AT THE CAPE OF RODON, THAT OF LAGJI, THE AREA

ROUND THE PENINSULA OF KARABURUN AND THE ISLAND OF SAZAN, DHËRMIU BEACH ETC.. THEY HAVE A RICH UNDERWA-

TER FLORA AND FAUNA. ONE CAN ALSO ENCOUNTER SUNKEN SHIPS, CORAL REEFS AND OBJECTS OF ARCHEOLOGICAL VALUE.

SUMMER COURSES IN SCUBA DIVING ARE OFFERED EVERY YEAR AT THE DHËRMIU BEACH. PERMITS FOR DIVING ARE ISSUED

BY THE INSTITUTE OF ARCHEOLOGY. THE ALBANIAN COAST IS AN EXCELLENT DESTINATION FOR FISHING. THE NATIONAL ASSO-

CIATION OF FISHING, MEMBER OF THE ALBANIAN OLYMPIC COMMITTEE, ORGANIZES AMATEUR FISHING SPORTING EVENTS.

THE LOCATIONS FOR FISHING ENTHUSIASTS INCLUDE:

- THE MOUTHS OF VJOSA RIVER (FIER - VLORË BOUNDARY), SHKUMBINI RIVER (BETWEEN LUSHNJA AND KAVAJA), DRINI RIVER,

MATI RIVER, BUNA RIVER AND THE WHOLE OF THE ALBANIAN COAST.

THANKS TO THE FAVORABLE CLIMATE, FISHING CAN BE CARRIED OUT THE YEAR ROUND IN ALBANIA. CATCH VARIES ACCOR-

DING TO THE BREEDING SEASON. THE PLEASURE OF FISHING IS ENHANCED BY MEDITATION-INDUCED RELAXATION, AND THE

UNIQUE AND CHASTE BEAUTY OF THE ALBANIAN LANDSCAPE, AT TIMES FIERCE, THEN PEACEFUL.

23Dushku Lake (Gramsh District) Foto_Edvin KASIMATI<

Tirana artifi cial lakeFoto_ESA

<

LAKESSWIMMING/ROWING/FISHING/HORSE-RIDING

ALBANIA HAS MANY BIG AND SMALL LAKES. THE MOST IMPORTANT TOURIST DESTINATION

AMONG THEM IS LAKE OHRID, LOCATED IN THE SOUTHEASTERN PART OF THE COUNTRY. IT

HAS AN AREA OF 362 KM2, ONE THIRD OF WHICH BELONGS TO ALBANIA. THIS IS THE DEEPEST

LAKE IN THE COUNTRY AND THE WHOLE BALKAN PENINSULA. THE MAXIMAL DEPTH REACHES

ALMOST 300 METERS. THE LAKE IS INHABITED BY ALCORAN, A KIND OF TROUT UNIQUE TO

THIS ENVIRONMENT. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF TOURIST CENTERS IN THE AREA, SUCH AS LINI,

POJSKA, THE TOWN OF POGRADEC, TUSHEMISHT AND THE KARSTIC SPRINGS OF DRILON.

THE VISITORS TO LAKE OHRID COME NOT ONLY FROM WITHIN THE COUNTRY, BUT FROM ABROAD

TOO. THEY USUALLY STAY IN THE HOUSES FOR RENT IN THE AREA OF TUSHEMISHT.

THE LAKE OF SHKODRA IS THE BIGGEST

LAKE IN THE COUNTRY AND OF THE

WHOLE BALKAN PENINSULA IT HAS AN

AREA OF 368 KM2, 149 KM2 OF WHI-

CH BELONG TO ALBANIA. THE TOURIST

CENTERS NEAR THE LAKE ARE SHIROKA

AND ZOGAJ. THEY HAVE SMALL RESTAU-

RANTS THAT SERVE SPECIALTY DISHES

OF THE LAKE FISH (CARP, EEL, ETC.).

THE PRESPA LAKE IS SITUATED IN THE SOUTHEASTERN

PART OF THE COUNTRY. ITS ALTITUDE IS THE HIGHEST

FOR A TECTONIC LAKE IN THE BALKAN PENINSULA. IT IS

ALSO THE LARGEST NATIONAL PARK IN THE COUNTRY,

WITH AN AREA OF 27,700 HA. THE LAKE OCCUPIES AN

AREA OF 285 KM FROM WHICH 38.8 BELONG TO ALBA-

NIA. ITS SHORES ARE KNOWN FOR THEIR QUIET AND THE

CHARMING LANDSCAPES. THE MAIN BEACH IS THAT OF

ZAROSHKA TO THE SOUTH OF THE LAKE. A SMALL ERE-

MITE CHURCH CAN BE FOUND IN THE SMALL ISLAND

OF MALIGRAD. IN RECENT YEARS, EFFORTS HAVE BEEN

MADE TO ENCOURAGE FAMILY TOURISM. THE AREA IS

FREQUENTED BY FOREIGNERS WHO ARRIVE AS PART OF

TOURS ORGANIZED THROUGH FOREIGN AGENCIES SPE-

CIALIZED IN ECOTOURISM.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF SMALL LAKES OF GLACIAL

AND KARSTIC ORIGIN INSIDE THE COUNTRY. SUCH ARE

THE 12 GLACIAL LAKES OF LURA IN THE DISTRICT OF

DIBRA. THEY ARE PART OF A NATIONAL PARK, AND

STAND OUT FOR THE CAPTIVATING NATURAL LANDSCA-

PES AMID THE MANY FORESTS.

THE LAKE AREAS GIVE THE VISITORS THE OPPORTUNITY

Lake Ohrid, Pogradec Foto_Municipality of Pogradec<

Micro Prespa Lake Foto_ESA<

24

Lake Ohrid, PogradecFoto_Municipality of Pogradec

<

Lura, Lake of Cattles Foto_Edvin Kasimati

<

25

FOR ENGAGING IN SPORTS, LIKE SWIM-

MING, ROWING, FISHING, ETC. WIDELY

PRACTICED IN THEM, AS WELL AS

SPENDING THE HOLIDAYS ON THE GO.

IN THE LURA AREA, HORSE-RIDING IS A

LOCAL SPORT, WITH TRADITIONAL HOR-

SE RACES ORGANIZED IN THE FIELD OF

MARES.

27

NATIONALPARKS

Camping Foto_Edvin KASIMATI

Liqeni i Luleve, LurëFoto_Edvin KASIMATI

<

<

The National Park of “Mali Dajtit” (Dajti Mountain) is located to the east of the capital and has an area of 3,300 ha.A typical feature of the Park is the change of the types of vegetation with the increase in altitude. Mediterranean shrubs and evergreen makia type vegetation grow 300 - 600 meters above the sea level. Oak trees and shrubs grow at 500 (600) - 1,000 (1,300) meters of altitude - an area which is also characterized by a mix of tree varieties. Beech grows at 1,000 - 1,600 meters. The alpine vegetation lies in a limited area at an altitude above 1,600 meters. On the western slope, the forest is composed of 200 years old beech trees. Dajti National Park has a rich, diverse and well-developed animal life. It is an important habitat for the large mammals, such as wild boar, wolf, badger, fox, wild hare, otter, brown bear, bats, etc. Dajti Park is also well-frequented by daily visitors. Accommodation for longer stays is available. The Park offers opportunities for excur-sions, skiing, sky sports, mountain climbing, etc..

National Park of “Lura”, with an area of 1,280 ha, is located in the eastern slope of the massif “Kunora e Lurës” (the Crown of Lura). In an altitude of 1,350 - 1,720 meters above the sea level, 14 glacial lakes offer a most picturesque and captivating sight. The most notable among them are: the Big Lake - 32 ha, the Pine tree lake - 13 ha, the Black lake - 8 ha, and the Lake of Flowers - 4 ha. During the winter the lakes freeze. A meadow called the “Filed of Mares” lies in the southern part of the Park. Its diverse vegetation with multicolor fl owers and century-old coniferous trees creates a relaxing environment. Lura Park is a potential destination for ecotourism, winter sports, horse-riding.The Park’s fl ora is characterized by two tiers: beech and alpine. Coniferous woods are among the

29Kepi i Rodonit, Foto_Edvin KASIMATI<

Krej Lura Foto_Edvin KASIMATI<

Kamping at Theth, Foto_ESA<

richest in variety in the country and unmatched in the whole Europe. One finds also ensembles characterized by two layers of woods. Mountain pine-wood, fir, the black pine, more rarely Taxus baccata, and some medicinal plants are to be found in Lura.

National Park of “Thethi”, with an area of 2,630 ha, is situated in the Albanian Alps, in the proximity of Bje-shkët e Namuna (Cursed Mountains). It lies 70 km from the city of Shkodra. Thethi River, flowing at 1,000 - 1,300 l/sek., and rich in mountain trout, runs through the Park. The canyon at the ravine of Shkalla e Thethit (Stair of Thethi), an area inha-bited by wild doves. Grunas cataract is especially picturesque and captivating with water falling from a height of 30 meters.Thethi Park stands apart for its diversity of habitats and kinds of vegetation, mostly beech forests. Nearly 1,500 types of plants grow in the park. They represent almost half of the varieties that exist in the country. Among the, 100 are medicinal plants. Worth mentioning is the presence of the relic tree of Taxus baccata. The fauna of the Thethi Park is diverse too. Twenty types of mammals live there, 50 kinds of nesting birds, almost 10 kinds of reptiles and 8 amphibians. The Park gains importance given that it represents the largest population (50 heads) of bob-cats (lynx-lynx) in the country, a species in danger of extinction. The native population is progressively moving to the plains, but they come back during the summer to spend their holidays and make efforts to promote the family tourism.

Sailing, KsamilFoto_ESA<

Shpella e PiratëveFoto_Delta

<31

Visitors to the Park can engage in a number of activities, such as mountain climbing, winter sports, fishing, kayaking, speleological expeditions, mountain biking.

The National Park of “Llogara” is situated 40 km to the southeast of the city of Vlora on the border between the Adriatic and Ionian seas. The altitude increases from 470 meters to 2,018 meters. In the proximity of the Pass of Llogara one encounters trees of very unique shapes, a result of wind currents. One such is the “Flag Pine-Tree”, a rare natural monument with scientific and touristic interest. This Park proposes wonderful and captivating landscapes inside, at places of unique cha-racter or from vantage points. From the Pass of Caesar (whose name recalls the passage of Julius Caesar through this pass in the year 48 B.C. during his incursion against Pompeii), one can see Karaburun, the entrance to the field of Dukat and the inlet of Orikum. From the Pass of Llogara, the view encompasses sights within 3 km of straight-line distance, including the Ionian sea, a good part of the Albanian Riviera (the villages of Palasa, Dhërmi, Vuno.The Park is traversed by the national road Vlorë - Himarë - Sarandë as well as by pathways that promote visits by eco tourists. The dominant vegetation is coniferous consisting of the black pine and fir. Juniper and moun-tain pine-wood also grow there. The environment in Llogara is characterized by heterogenei-ty, manifested in the variety of trees and plants. Hence, the ecosystem includes numerous habitats that sustain a great number of species, 105 kinds of birds, among which 6 both rare

Sailing, VloraFoto_Ervin PANIDHA<

National Park of LlogoraFoto_ESA<

Air Sports from The Pass of LlogoraFoto_Delta<

<

Divjaka National ParkFoto_Albes FUSHA<

Kanoe, DevollFoto_Gent MATI

<

and under danger of extinction. The mammals in the park include the wolf, wild cat, deer, marten, badger, squirrel. The most frequently met mammal is the fox.The Park of Llogara is an important tourist destination, but also a bridge to the Ionian seashore. It is amenable to the promotion of ecotourism, sky sports, excursions, trekking. It is a climacteric location where the mountain air combines with that of the sea. The Park offers accommodation for the enthusiasts of sky sports.

National Park “Butrinti” is situated approximately 25 km to the south of the town of Saranda. The area of the Park is 2,500 ha. The sector Canal of Çuka - inlet and islands of Ksamil is especially appealing and relaxing. The islands are like an oasis of wonderful sights of the sea and land. They are covered by lavish typical Mediterranean vegetation. The antique town of Butrint lies inside one such forest, a true subtropical jungle, dominated by high trees and laurel. This is an area of particular importance for tourism in Albania, primarily the cultural tourism targeting the antique town of Butrint, protected by UNESKO-s, the blue tourism in Ksamil, ecotourism, water sports, fishing in the lake of Butrint, etc..

The National Park “Pisha e Divjakës” (The Pine-Tree of Divjaka), with an area of 1,250 ha, is located 5 km from Divjaka and nearly 40 km from the center of the town

ButrintFoto_E.Panidha<

33

National Park of TomorrFoto_Edvin KASIMATI<

National Park of PrespaFoto_ESA

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of Lushnja. It is part of the ensemble of the Lagoon of Karavasta, an area under the protection of the International Convention of Ramsar from the year 1994. The Park vegetation is mostly coniferous with plants like the wild pine-tree, and less frequently, the cultivated variety. What draws attention is its multilayered character, starting with herbaceous plants to move up to high pine-trees with umbrella-like tops. Divjaka Park constitutes one of the most important ecosystems in the whole of Albania thanks to the rich fauna sustained by numerous and diverse habitats within this ligattinous, coastal ensem-ble. These habitats are used as winter destinations, for nesting, or migration by many kinds of birds. Observations made so far have recorded 229 kinds. The most characteristic inhabitant is the curly pelican (pelicanus crispus), whose colony represents nearly 6.4% of its population worldwide. Karavasta is the westernmost nesting location of this bird in Europe. Tern, a species under grave danger of extinction, lives in the park too. In Karavasta one meets also, though very rarely, the wild cow. In the Park, the visitors can engage in ecotourism, blue tourism, hunting, seafowl observation, fishing, etc..

The National Park “Mali i Tomorrit” (the Mountain of Tomorr),with an area of 4,000 ha is situated to the east of the museum-town of Berat. The beauty of the Park is manifest in every season of the year. Caverns and caves have each their own legend. Castle ruins found in the proximity of the Tomorri village testify to the antique history of the region. The territory of the park is traversed by numerous paths and footways. One of them takes the vi-sitor to the Tyrbe of Kulmak (a place of worship), 1,200 meters above the sea level, which houses the tomb of Abaz Aliu. Every year, at the end of August, thousands of people climb to this location in a week-long ritual of the Bektashi sect. Visitors interested in religious traditions would find this pilgrimage of great interest.The Park is endowed by a rich flora and fauna. Typical are beech-only forests or those mixed with mountain pine-wood. The most frequently seen animals are the brown bear, wolf, fox, marten, bad-ger. Visitors can engage in winter sports, mountain climbing, trekking, and pilgrimages.

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DevollFoto_ESA

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Gliding, HimaraFoto_Albes FUSHA

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The National Park of “Prespa”, with an area of 27,750 ha, is located where the natio-nal borders of Albania, Greece and Macedonia meet. It is composed of the lakes of Prespa Major and Pre-spa Minor, as well as their reservoir basin. Prespa stands out for its rich vegetation consisting of nearly 1,500 kinds, 71 of which trees and under-growth. Its significance is augmented by its fauna with 6 species of mammals, 15 reptilians and 11 fish. The area of Prespa is also one of the richest cultu-rally with the eremite byzantine churches, as well as those post-byzantine; the cave of Tren in the Lake of

Prespa Minor where exploration has uncovered signs of a settlement belonging to the early Bronze period; the castle of Trajan, one of the major prehistoric settle-ments in the area; the protective wall in Zvezde, built in the 8th century B.C.; the church of Saint Mary in the island of Maligrad, erected in the 14th century, etc.. This region is considered of great potential for tourism, currently unexploited, considering its geographical po-sition as a nodal link between the three neighboring states. By an agreement signed at the prime ministe-rial level, the Lake of Prespa Major (the Macedonian part) and that of Prespa Minor (the Greek part) are included in the Balkan Park of Prespa.

Trial in Tomorrica valey,Foto_Edvin KASIMATI<

Marava (Drenova National Park),Foto_Edvin KASIMATI<

The area offers many opportunities for the promotion of tourism, ecotourism, recreation, fishing, gathering and selling of medici-nal plants, family tourism, observation of seafowl, blue tourism, water sports, etc..

The National Park “Bredhi i Drenovës”`(Fir of Drenova), is situated 10 km from the city of Korça and lies against the Mountain of Morava. The Park has an area of 1,380 ha. It is among the closest to residential areas and mostly frequented by the inhabitants of Korça. The Park is rich in water springs that remain active throughout the year, a feature that contributes to the frequency of visitors. Most well-known are the spring of Shën Gjergji (Saint George), the Spring of the Old Woman, the Spring of Pilica, the springs

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of Izvor, the spring of the Bear, etc.. The Park is dominated especially by woods of fir. The fauna of the Park is also very rich. Observed birds are mainly of the genus Passer. There one finds also a few kinds of woodpeckers. Of particular interest are some relief formations carved by the wind, like “Guri i Capit” (the Stone of Cap), which has the shape resembling a sitting camel. The Park has undeniable potentials for the promotion of ecotourism, winter sports, mountain climbing, excursions, etc..

The National Park of “Lugina e Valbonës” (the Valley of Valbona), with an area of 8,000 ha is considered a miracle of the Albanian Alps. It is located 25 - 30 km from the town of Bajram Curri and lies in between high rugged mountain tops, amidst a fantastic blend of colors in every season. It draws enormous interest from a scientific, touristic, and recreational standpoint. Moreover, its biodiversity is significant both nationally and internationally. The high imposing rocky mountains, sides covered by woods, the brooks and Valbona River, create the semblance of a giant crater of gorgeous natural beauty. The waters flow from the slopes of the Mountain of Jezerca (2,693.5 meters), the highest of the Park and the Albanian Alps. Valbona River is the biggest of the Alps, and it flows into the Drini River. Its flow calms down by the village of Valbona (Selimaj) and continues spiritedly towards Dragobia. Its waters are clean, clear and transparent up to one meter deep. Valbona runs through a diverse terrain, suitable for sightseeing, fishing, relaxation, recreation, mountain climbing and winter sports. There are many caverns and caves inside the Park. The best-know is the Cave of Dragobia, which served as shelter for Bajram Curri, a national hero and leader from the area.Besides its unique forests that match the beautiful landscape of the surrounding area, other vegetation in the Park includes the beech, mountain pine-wood, chestnut, walnut, apple, etc.. Whereas the most notable mammals are the brown bear, wolf, wild cat, wild goats, etc.. Valbona River is rich in silver trout. The village of Valbona is the most important touristic center, with several resorts. It has a number of springs with clean, cold and clear waters.

DevollFoto_ESA

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Kayak at ValbonaFoto_Gent MATI<

Skiing at Boga, ThethFoto_Gent MATI<

ADVENTURE SPORTSDESTINATIONSALBANIAPHYSICAL MAP

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The index of the most important areas of sports and adventure in Albania01- Theth (trekking, skiing, climbing, m. biking)02- Valbona Valley (trekking, river fi shing, canoe)03- River Shala (water sports, kayak)04- Lake Shkodra(Shiroka) (rowing, fi shing)05- Franz Joseph Islet(R. Buna) (fi shing, hunting)06- Lura (camping, horse riding, 4x4)07- Lezha Lagoons (fi shing, hunting, wind surfi ng)08- Zall Gjoçaj (trekking)09- Shna Ndue (Laç) (trekking)10- Cape Rodon (diving, motocross, 4x4)11- The Pass of Shtama (camping, trekking)12- Biza (skiing, camping, speleologhy)13- Dajti (skiing, paragliding, trekking)14- Divjaka (fi shing, hunting, kite boarding)

15- Lake Ohrid (fi shing, swimming, canoe)16- Guri i Kamjes (trekking) 17- Lake Prespa (fi shing, camping)18- River Devoll (rafting)19- Voskopoja (skiing, trekking, hunting)20- Mount Tomorr (climbing, rock crawling)21- Drenova (air sports, trekking)22- Kanina (air sports)23- The Fir of Hotova (camping, trekking)24- The Pass of Llogora (air sports)25- River Vjosa (rafting, fi shing)26- Dhërmi (swimming, diving, fi shing)27- Butrint (rowing)28- Karaburun Peninsula (diving)

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LINKS

Albanian Federation of SkiingPresident: Shkëlqim MemaGeneral Secretary: Astrit HutkaTel.: ++ 355 4 228499 Mob.: ++ 355 69 21 82 095

Albanian Federation of Alpinism President: Koço JaniGeneral Secretary: Ilir CuleMob.: ++ 355 4 228499

Albanian AeronauticsPresident: Alket IslamiSky photo reporterFlying instructorFax.: ++ 355 4 36 70 71Mob.: ++ 355 69 20 4 22 22 E-mail: albaniaopen@yahoo.com albaniaopen@yahoo.comwww.albanianair sports.comwww.flyozone.com

Outdoor Albaniatrekking, mountaineering, rafting, kayakingExecutive Director: Gent MatiSpecialised Outdoor GuideE-mail: info@outdooralbania.comwww.outdooralbania.comTel/Fax: +3554272075Mob.: +355692188845

Association of Amateur HuntersPresident: Bujar HykaGeneral Secretary: Jorgo LakoTel.: ++ 355 4 23 28 84Mob.: ++ 355 69 21 29 059

4x4, Valamara MauntainFoto_Edvin KASIMATI

Altea Beach Lodges , Dhermi, South Albania.

Leave the national road and turn right. After 300 meters turn again right and continue down to the beach for 3 km.

As soon as you reached the beach,turn again right to the end of the bay.

You have reached your destination

You are coming from Tirana

For more info please contact: Email: info@movingculture.org Tel: +355 (4) 2275628