Southeastern Albania

Southeastern Albania is a region of Albania.

Cities

  • 🌍 Berat – Thought to be one of the oldest towns in Albania, it is a new member of the UNESCO world heritage list. Berat has long been known as the "city of 1001 windows" because of its unique Ottoman/Albanian architecture. It has a well preserved castle with residents still living inside its protective walls. Nearby is located the world famous Osum Canyon.
  • 🌍 Belsh – a municipality in Elbasan County,
  • 🌍 GjirokastĂ«r – Another UNESCO city, located in the south is known for its unique Ottoman period architecture. There is a large castle on the hill in the middle of the city which served as a jail for many generations. A Military Museum and Art Gallery are now located inside. GjirokastĂ«r is also the birthplace of former communist Leader, Enver Hoxha, as well as Albania's most internationally famous author, Ismail Kadare, their homes now serve as museums.
  • 🌍 Jorgucat
  • 🌍 Korçë – several miles from the Greek border, this city is Albania's cultural capital. It is full of life during the summer when you can find couples and families strolling through the city's main park, Parku Rinia. You can hike to the top of the beautiful mountain Moravia and view the city and its surrounding landscape. Don't miss the Korca Brewery (famous throughout Albania) which sponsors a week long Beer Festival every August!
  • 🌍 Librazhd – A small city located in the east of Albania, perched atop the river Shkumbin.
  • 🌍 PĂ«rmet – Nicknamed “The City of Roses,” PĂ«rmet is located in the Vjosa River Valley, approximately 30 km from the Greek border. The city is known for its clean environment and tradition of wine and raki making. Old Permet is worth a look. It is also famous for its nearby thermal springs, located in a beautiful river valley.
  • 🌍 Pogradec – Overshadowed by its glitzy neighbors on the Macedonian side of the lake, the town of Pogradec has been experiencing a revival.
  • 🌍 Pustec — municipality including the Albanian part of Lake Prespa.
  • 🌍 Tepelene
  • 🌍 Gramsh
  • ErsekĂ«
  • Bilisht
  • Leskovik
A picture taken by the air of a castle in Kurvelesh in the Tepelene District

Other destinations

  • 🌍 Shebenik-Jabllanice National Park – A national park inhabited by rare plant and animal species
  • 🌍 Lake Prespa – A region, including Prespa National Park, within Pustec.
  • 🌍 Tomorr National Park – Mountain ridge and national park in the southern part of Albania, not far from Berat. This part of the country is formed by parallel mountain ridges (up to around 2000-2500 m) separated by valleys. Although the ridges are not very long, they offer few days of hiking with enormous scenic beauty and fantastic panoramic views. Tomorri is one of the most known ridges with a Bektash monastery and chapel on the very top.
  • 🌍 Sotira Waterfalls near Gramsh
  • 🌍 Fir of Hotova National Park – North of Permet
  • 🌍 Fir of Drenova National Park – East of Korçë
  • Historic Moscopole (Voskopoja), alpine Dardha, BoboshticĂ«, and Vithkuq villages near Korçë, and BenjĂ«, and LeusĂ« villages near PĂ«rmet

Understand

This is the inland region of Albania to the south of the Shkumbin River. It borders North Macedonia and Greece and includes the great border lakes, Lake Ohrid and Lake Prespa.

Talk

The native tongue of much of the region is the southern, namely Tosk, dialect of Albanian. The official standard of Albanian is based on this dialect.

You will also encounter native Greek speakers in the southern reaches of the region, although the use of Greek is discouraged by the government. In the Prespa region, Macedonian is also spoken by a minority.

Get in

  • From North Macedonia – Qafe ThanĂ« at SH9 road, Tushemisht, or GoricĂ« border crossings.
  • From Greece – KapshticĂ« at SH3 road, Tre Urat, or Kakavia at SH4 road.

Get around

Getting around by car or bus is probably the only available means of transportation. Lack of paving is not uncommon especially inland.

See

  • 🌍 KĂ«lcyrĂ« Gorge (Gryka e KĂ«lcyrĂ«s) (near KĂ«lcyrĂ«).  This is a 13 km long gorge along the Vjosa River. Small waterfalls sprout along its walls while a number of tourist areas exist in the region with the main being at RrepĂ«t e GrykĂ«s. Further down are Langarica and Carhova River Canyons. 
  • 🌍 BenjĂ« Thermal Waters and Katiu Bridge (Llixhat e BenjĂ«s dhe Ura e Katiut) (8 km from PĂ«rmet in Petran Commune). Small thermal water lakes have been formed from the many water sources with varying temperatures. Nearby is located the Katiu or Ali Pasha Ottoman Bridge built by the latter in 19th century. 
  • 🌍 Cold Water of Tepelena (Uji i FtohtĂ« TepelenĂ«) (8 km south of TepelenĂ«). is a natural fresh water source found along the GjirokastĂ«r-TepelenĂ« highway (SH4). The area features a rest area with a restaurant of traditional cuisine, and a bottling complex of the famous Uji Ali PashĂ« Tepelena company. 
  • 🌍 FrashĂ«r village (  Inside Fir of Hotova National Park boundaries, 30 km NE of Permet).   FrashĂ«ri Brothers Museum House and Tombs (ShtĂ«pia Muze dhe Varrezat e VĂ«llezĂ«rve FrashĂ«ri). The brothers are the leading figures of Albanian National Renaissance movement (Rilindja Kombetare) initiating Albania's break from the Ottoman Empire in 1912. There is also found Bektashi Tekke of Frasheri 
  • 🌍 Church of Leusa (Shen Maria), Leusa (LeusĂ«) village (near Permet).  The Church features outstanding iconography paintings. Probably the most spectacular church in Albania, it was not burned in WW2 from it resembling more an art gallery than a church. 
  • 🌍 Viroit Park and Lake (Parku i Viroit) (E 853 road west side 2 km north of GjirokastĂ«r). Is a park encompassing the Viroi Lake and surrounding hills located along the SH4. The park features a relaxing environment and an accommodation area. 
  • 🌍 Shelegur Lake (Rezervuari i Shelegurit), near Leskovik in Kolonje District (NE 10 km of Leskovik). 'Managed Nature Reserves' 
  • 🌍 Bogova waterfalls (from Berat (SE) toward Corovode 35 km). 
  • 🌍 Libohove village (southeast of Gjirokaster). Myfit Bey Sarajet and Castle, and the Tombs of Ali Pashe Tepelena's Sister and Nephew Visit the 400 year old olive tree at the centre of town. 
  • 🌍 Dardhe village (DardhĂ«), DardhĂ«, Korçë District. Shen Pjeter and Shen Gjergji Churches 
  • 🌍 Prespa Lake, Mali Grad Island. Church of Mali Grad Island 

Do

  • Rafting in the Osum and Langarica Canyons of the region
  • Hike the surrounding mountains of Dardhe alpine village and skiing at a modest local ski resort
  • Horseback or walking tours along the footsteps of Lord Byron's visit of 1809
  • Visit Old Permet and examine the architecture of Benje and Leusa villages
  • 🌍 Hike along Via Egnatia. Via Egnatia was an ancient road constructed by the Romans in the 2nd century BCE. 

Thermal springs and baths

Tregan
  • Elbasan – Has two main spa centers about 12 km south of the city, Llixhat and Tregan, with proper hotels and curative centers.
  • Banjat e BenjĂ«s – Near PĂ«rmet, one of the most popular hot springs and thermal pools in Albania, although free for everyone to enjoy in a picturesque river valley with an old Ottoman bridge.
Holta Canyon
  • 🌍 Holta Springs. 4 semi-warm hot spring (≈24°C) at the picturesque entrance to a canyon in the river valley. There was a spa here before, but it has stopped being run due to the lake of tourists. (updated Dec 2021)
  • 🌍 Postenan spring (near Leskovik). Halfway up the cliff, reached by a narrow path hacked in the rock-face, all wet and slippery, with a sheer precipice below, the last pieces very bad, but they drag invalids up it. Two cranky huts are stuck like swallows’ nests on the ledge.
    More a hiking trip than a hot spring tour.     (updated Dec 2021)
  • 🌍 Burimet e Leskovikut (Sarandoporo). Several semi-warm hot springs (26.7°C) in a beautiful river valley right at the Greek border. Some hot springs are actually on the Greek side—if you enter the canyon they are on the left side, which you will feel through the warm waters.
    Before the main pool at the very end of the valley, which was constructed by man, there are a few minor hot springs where you might want to take a dip. Also, before there is an abandoned spa dwelling up a hill with two falling-apart pools.
    The gravel road leads very close to the springs, half way east you will find another abandoned spa village. The rest you have to wade partly waist deep through the river—probably not a good idea during heavy rains.     (updated Dec 2021)

Eat

  • Traditional Gliko sweets
  • Libohove village has been considered by Lord Byron as having the best food he had ever tasted during his stay in Ottoman Albania.
  • Byrek me dy peta, a pizza like pie
  • Beans, Tave Peshku, and Pastrama dish in Prespa region
  • Kernacka and baked Ohrid Trout (koran)

Drink

  • Raki of PĂ«rmet made from wild plums

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