Albania is a small country in the Balkans. It shares borders with Greece, the Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo, and Montenegro.

When people speak of touring in Europe, all the familiar countries come to mind. There is one European country however, that is still considered thoroughly untouristed, and it is Albania. Isolated by its communist government until very recently, few people visit Albania. For tourism, it is considered a bit of a frontier.

Traditional Albanian culture honors the role and person of the guest. In return for this place of honor, respect is expected from the guest. Albanians enjoy long walks in the city streets, drinking coffee and, among the younger generations, participating in nightlife activities such as cafe lounging and dancing.

 

---

Weather

Albania has a high number of climatic regions for so small an area. The coastal lowlands have typically Mediterranean dominied weather; the highlands have a more continental influenced climate. In both the lowlands and the interior, the weather varies from north to south.

---

The best time to visit

The best time to visit Albania is summer, when the weather is typically warm and dry, while winter is usually fairly mild and wet. Temperatures can vary quite a bit from one region to the next – the western half of the country, for example, is generally milder – but are rarely that extreme. Unlike its neighbours on the Adriatic and Ionian seas, Albania doesn’t see a mass influx of tourists at any point throughout the year, which can make the country one of the best summer destinations in Europe – particularly if you want to get on and in the water.

---

Roads and Riding

In the past few years, Albanians have been very busy working on their roads. Major routes can be newly paved for long stretches, or they can be old rough road, with potholes and puddles. Minor routes are mostly rough asphalt or dirt tracks. Some of the dirt tracks can be very rutted. The roads along the spectacular coast are brand new, unless they are being worked on, and then they are dirt. There may not be many signs, especially on minor routes. The capital, Tirana, is one of the busiest capitals for traffic in all of Europe, and Tirana drivers have a reputation for being aggressive.

---

Tours which concern Albania:

[justified_image_grid recent_posts=yes recents_include=albania recents_post_type=tour]