Albania’s cool capital Tirana is filled with communist-era architecture and has a budding street-art scene. The Dajti Ekspress, the longest cable car in the Balkans, takes guests up Dajti Mountain, a forest-draped National Park in Tirana’s suburbs. At the summit, expect sweeping views over the city, a revolving restaurant, mini-golf and plenty of hiking routes among junipers and strawberry trees.
Close to Albania’s border with Greece lies Butrint, an ancient Greek city dating from the eighth century BC, complete with an impressive theatre, market, school and temple. The Romans arrived in AD44 and doubled the size of Butrint, building a bat and aqueduct. Today, the site is a Unesco World heritage Site, resides in its own National Park and makes for a fascinating excursion from nearby Sarandë.
Deep in the rocky valleys of the Albanian Alps is the Blue Eye, an ice-cold, yet tantalisingly turquoise, pool fed by a gushing waterfall. It’s easy to reach, involving just one hour’s walk up a single gravel track from the car park at Nderlysaj village. If clients work up a sweat from the walk, they can dive into the pool, or sip a cold beverage at the café that overlooks it.
Overlooking its namesake city, Krujë Castle has stood tall since the fifth century. Wander its grassy grounds and around the old clock tower, discover the story of Krujë’s national hero Skanderbeg – a 15th century rebel who fought the occupying Ottoman forces – in an impressive museum. Afterwards, take the steps down into town to browse an incredibly colourful array of handicrafts in one of Albania’s oldest bazaars.
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