Albania is a country of genuine diversity. Here you will find mountains that will capture your heart, beaches evoking distant tropical paradises, and cultural monuments left behind by countless civilizations that have left their mark on the region over time. Albania is a country where Eastern and Western influences mix, a country that is still authentic and true to itself, and only in recent years has it begun to fully reveal all its beauty. Above all, it is worth exploring and enjoying its natural and cultural beauty to the fullest, as well as the immense hospitality of its people.
On the map of Albania that we have drawn here, you will find the most interesting places, cities, villages, mountains, and corners that you must not miss on your trip to Albania (more will be added gradually!). However, one trip would hardly be enough to visit them all—Albania is a country that can captivate visitors and show them that it is worth coming back again. We are not just talking about famous natural and cultural gems such as the archaeological park of Butrint, silver Gjirokastra, Shkodra in northern Albania, hidden in the foothills of the dramatic Dinaric Alps, or charming Berat in southern Albania. Here you can experience unforgettable treks through deserted mountain valleys, mountain river descents, swimming in isolated sea coves, unexpected encounters, improvised adventures, but also a peaceful and planned vacation. And however you travel to Albania, you can always be sure that someone will invite you for coffee and rakija, that you will always find someone to help you, and that with a little effort, you may discover another little-known place that will be worth visiting.
The All Faces of Albania initiative aims not only to show Albania in the most comprehensive light possible, but also to strengthen Czech-Albanian interaction and, through beneficial projects and events, to help where needed and as appropriate. Our work is based on many years of experience and education, and after participating in previous similar projects, such as the Albanian Challenge, we began our first major collaboration in 2017. In the Kurvelesh region of southern Albania, specifically in the vicinity of the village of Nivica, we collaborated on a project of the National Coastal Agency concerning the sustainable development of isolated rural areas. We have already marked more than 100 km of hiking trails that connect little-known monuments and villages with the more frequented surroundings on the coast of the Ionian Sea. The project thus helps local residents to take advantage of the beauty of their region and to earn a living in their homeland thanks to sustainable tourism. Since the summer of 2018, it has continued with the participation of Czech archaeologists, among others. The last camp within this project took place in the summer of 2019.
