HIGHLIGHTS Berat Gjirokastra - Lonely...
Transcript of HIGHLIGHTS Berat Gjirokastra - Lonely...
ALB
AN
IA
Albania HIGHLIGHTS Berat Clamber past white Ottoman houses, then look back at the distant mountains hid-
ing behind this Unesco-listed town’s minarets ( p59 ) Gjirokastra Hunt down strange souvenirs in Ottoman shop fronts while negotiating its
slate roofs that melt into the narrow cobblestone streets ( p60 ) Dhërmi Join the beach-brigade heading down to Dhërmi’s busy beach, or pop next door
to Drymades for a more peaceful experience ( p59 ) Butrint Find peace and tranquillity in the natural setting of these jungly, ancient ruins
south of Saranda ( p59 )
It’s been nearly twenty years since Albania opened up to the world and she’s almost an adult, although reaching this milestone hasn’t been challenge-free. Her childhood, featuring one mas-sive financial collapse and resulting rioting, wasn’t ideal. There are plenty of stretch marks. Her streets, car-free until 1991, are now clogged; sections of her picturesque landscape are strewn with rampant development and in places her beaches can’t be seen for the hotels.
Yet, after years of government-enforced isolation and the ensuing growing pains of free-dom, there’s evidence of prosperity in the upgraded roads that swirl past new houses and bar/restaurant/hotel developments, though blackouts and water shortages are nagging signs that
© Lonely Planet Publications
FAST FACTS
Area 28,748 sq km
Budget €40 per day
Capital Tirana
Country code %355
Famous for cool flag, concrete bunkers, international diaspora
Language Albanian
Money lekë; A$1 = 72 lekë; C$1 = 82 lekë; €1 = 130 lekë; ¥100 = 103 lekë; NZ$1 = 57 lekë; UK£1 = 147 lekë; US$1= 97 lekë
Phrases miredita (hello/good day), lamtumirë (goodbye), ju lutem (please), ju falem nderit (thank you), më fal (excuse me/sorry)
Population 3.62 million
Visas no visa needed for citizens of the EU, Australia, New Zealand, the US and Canada; see p61
TRAVEL HINTS
Aim for early-morning departures as few buses run after midday. Torches come in handy during blackouts, at historical sights and for evening pothole-spotting. Toilets rarely have paper: BYO.
ROAMING ALBANIA
Start in Saranda, check out Butrint and Gjirokastra, then head up the coastal route via Dhërmi to Tirana.
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ALB
AN
IA l o n e l y p l a n e t . c o m A L B A N I A
MACEDONIA
ALBANIA
GREECE
GREECE
KOSOVO
MONTENEGRO
Lake Shkodra
Lake Skadar Lake
Fierza Lake Koman
Lake Prespa
Lake Ohrid
ADRIATIC SEA
IONIAN SEA
Narta Lagoon
Corfu
Karavasta Lagoon
Lim
Mor
aca
Zeta
Cem
Jado
vska
Crna Reka
Valbonë
Mati River
Devolli River
Osum River
Drinos River
Pavl
es
Drin
Shkumbini River
Vjosa River
River
Mav
rovska
River
River
River
River
Bun
a R
iver
River
Bistrica
Blue Eye Spring
Gram
moz
M
ount
ains
E65
E762
E65
E65
E851 E762
E851 E65
E851
E65
E851
E65 E853
E852
E90
E90
E853
E853
E92
E90
E55
E951
E65
E851
Perast
Tivat Kotor
Budva Sveti Stefan
Virpazar
Petrovac
Hani i Hotit
Sukobin Muriqan
Ulcinj
Theth
Puka
Fierzë
Bajram Curri
Tropoja
Laci
Kukës
Milot
Shëngjin
Burrel
Kruma
Rreshen Lezha
Gnjilane
Gostivar
Uroševac Gjakove
Qafë Morina
Sopotnica
Debar
Kraste
Klos
Librazhd Struga
Kicevo Bulqiza
Rinas
Kruja
Shijak
Prrenjasi
Gramshi
TushëmishtPogradec
Sveti Naum
Bilisht Kapshtica
Çorovoda
Maliq
Krystallopigi
Kastoria
Florina
Këlcyra
Leskoviku
Memaliaj
Qeparo
Piquerasi
Përmet
Himara
Borsh
Saranda
Ballsh
Radhima
Orikum
Vlora
Dhërmi
Patos
Zvernëci
Kanina
Vuno
Ksamil
Konispoli
Voskopoja
Erseka
Kakavija
Stenje
Prilep
Mesopotamia
Llixha
Koman
Valbonë
Bogë
Koplik
Lin
Drilon
Vajgurore
Dardhë
Mt Lovcén (1749m) Qafë Prush
Divjaka National Park
Mt Jezerca (2694m)
Ðeravica (2656m)
Vrbnica
Mt Dajti (1611m)
Mt Shpat (1830m)
Mt Tomorri(2415m)
Barmash Pass (1759m)
Llogaraja Pass(1027m)
Apollonia
Butrint National
Park
Qafë e Thanës
Blato
Mt Korab (2751m)
Karaburun Peninsula
Sazan
Lura National
Park
Drenova National
Park
Theth National
Park
Valbonë National
Park
Qafe ShtamaNational Park
Lake Prespa National Park
Mt Tomorri National Park
Mt Dajti National Park
Zall Gjocaj National Park
Bay of Vlora
Velipoja
Porto Palermo
Drymades
Livadhi Llaman
Buneci
Jal
Peshkopia
Shkodra
Peja
Bar
Cetinje Podgorica
Tetovo
Kavaja
Kuçova
Lushnja
Durrës
Elbasan
Tirana
Ohrid
Korça
Gjirokastra
Berat Fier
Ioannina
Kerkira (Corfu)
Bitola
Skopje
Prizren
Pristina
ALBANIA 0 60 km 0 30 miles
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