Off the Beaten Path: Vjosa, Valleys and Villages

jbmiekley
Mar 1
2 min read

Updated: Mar 2

"I think we should just go for it."

I stood at the fork of the road with the three other friends. We'd been hiking for two days, and we had a chance to get another peak in before nighttime.

"Josh, it's not just about the peaks," my friend Vance countered. Then he told me something I'd never forget.

"It's about the journey too."

Since coming to Albania nearly 25 years ago, I've reached a lot of amazing destinations. But I would have missed out on a lot if I hadn't learned to enjoy the journey.

Vjosa River

When you come to Albania, make sure you see the breathtaking Vjosa River. And also on your journey to it, ask people what it means to them to have one of the few wild, untouched rivers in Europe.

Valleys

The Valbona River valley is even more stunning than Vjosa, one of the most beautiful views you'll ever sea. You can take a 2-hour ferry ride and get off in another world. If you make if the Valbona Pass, stop to talk with at least one person.

I met a man who had come back for the first time in 20 years - he was delighted i spoke his language.

I also met another man who had hiked Mount Everest.

Villages

Sadly, many of the villages in Albania have been deserted. People have moved to cities or outside Albania for a better life. Take the time as you drive by these villages and the olive groves to ask people what life used to be like.

The expression in Albania people use is, "Cfare ke bere ne kohen e Enverit?" or in English "What did you do in the time of Enver? Enver Hoxha was the dictator who ruled Albania for 40 years.