Why should you explore Albania with a local guide?

During the recent years, Albania is being promoted as a must visit country by many prestigious travel magazines. The post-communism fear is just a memory and today our country, with all its ups and downs, welcomes visitors from all around the world. Most of the reviews are found to be positive and returning visitors are no longer a surprise to us.

But still skepticism is seen on different forums and people asking if they should visit and how to make the best of their trip to Albania?
Is it going to be easy? What difficulties should I be aware of? Is there any language barrier?

Is Albania different from any other European countries? Do I need to hire a local guide when visiting Albania?

I am taking the time to write down some tips and suggestions anyone should consider before planning a trip to Albania.

Albania is no longer than 2 hours flying from any European capital, thus making it very easy to reach at anytime. There is plenty of information found online about the top destinations to visit in Albania. Albania is totally safe and the cases happened on last 30 years can be counted with the fingers of one hand, this because of the strong cultural heritage (guests are considered sacred in Albanian folklore). Most of the young people speak English fluently and in general people are very helpful while public transport remains a sensitive issue.

Should I drive on my own or should I hire a local guide when traveling to Albania?

It’s not the best road infrastructure you have seen and of course not the worst. With the right driving skills and attention, everything will go according to your plans, and if you are considering to hire a local guide here’s some whys:

1. Authentic experience you barely find on the internet.

Even though a small country, Albania is diverse in its own. Most of the rural areas are not commercialized and one barely can find info on the internet. With the help of the local guides, you will experience the remote villages and hidden gems even the local people don’t know. You will meet local people who are proud to share with you their stories, local artisans or that bakery which make the best “byrek” in town.

albanian riviera view family holiday — Albanian Riviera

2. Save time planning.

Planning a trip is always fun but sometimes it is tedious. Will I be on time for everything? What are the best places to visit in Albania? The best hotels? With a long time in it, a local guide is able to plan and customize anything to your requirements. Albania has it all, from the extreme jagged peaks of the Albanian Alps, beautiful coastline of the Albanian Riviera to the antique Greek-Roman ruins, all you have to do is to tell your preferences to the local guide and enjoy the rest.

adrianople roman ruins gjirokaster — Adrianople

albanian alps accursed mountains — Albanian Alps

3. Worry free.

Traveling to a new country is always exciting. We are all expecting for the best but still we all know that it’s not as blue as the sky. A local guide will help you avoid worrying about which restaurant you should choose, what dish you should order, how to avoid traffic, how to find that museum I have read about or enjoy that glass of wine without worrying about driving in the windy roads of Albania.

etnographic museum berat — Ethnographic museum, Berat

4. Help local economy.

Unfortunately Albania is one of the poorest countries in Europe. Economy is based mostly on agriculture but lately tourism industry is growing sustainable. Every coin spent in the country brings happiness to someone’s family and adds the value of the service.

5. Experience the country on different perspective.

With a local guide you can explore the hidden gems of Albania but also observe the reality from the perspective of real people. Unfortunately we live in a world of stereotypes but when you go deep into the country’s culture, talk to locals, be a guest at their home and try the recipes inherited from their grandmother, you will see that all those stereotypes are just a Hollywood business.

Of course, hiring a local guide will cost a tad more but you will enjoy every moment of your trip and most importantly, you now have a lifetime Albanian friend.

Inspired? We’ll help you to tailor your memorable experience in our Homeland, Albania.
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PRESERVE THE NATURE

Albania is a nature-lover's paradise, with a network of 15 national parks encompassing the dramatic Alps of the North to the coastal habitats and wetlands further south. There are round 3,000 different species of plants in the country, while the forests are home to several species of mammals including wolves, polecats, and chamois deer among others. For bird-lovers, there are around 350 bird-species to be seen, including white flamingos, Dalmatian Pelicans, wetland eagles and egrets, while lakes and rivers teem with a rich variety of aquatic life.
We are passionate about preserving, conserving and valuing the natural world around us and, together with environmental NGOs and other national agencies, we strive to promote, inform about and protect the rich bio-diversity and natural habitats of our country.

SUPPORT LOCAL ECONOMY

At Limitless Albania, we believe that tourism should be a collaborative project that benefits local communities and enterprises.
We hand-pick and train local guides who have specialist knowledge of their particular region and will happily go the extra mile to share with you some of their particular favourite places, and/or activities in which to participate.
We work hard to involve and build relationships with local hotels and guest houses, restaurants, local artisans, agro-tourism farms etc so that local economies can benefit and grow from tourism-related income. We believe that through such team-work and collaboration - and by pooling our collective knowledge, experience and skills - all parties involved are motivated to provide the best experience possible for our visitors.

PROMOTE TRADITION

Albania has a uniquely diverse and multi-faceted cultural heritage which we are keen to promote and preserve.
Where possible, and if of interest to you, we make an effort to schedule into the itinerary visits to ancient ruins, castle-fortresses, historic walled cities and cultural events in order to provide visitors with some insight into the complex and multi-layered history that has shaped modern-day Albania, and the rich variety of traditions that continue to play a strong part in our culture to this day.

TAILOR MADE

Ours is a family business that specialises in providing tailor-made holidays based around your interests in order to give you the best possible experience of exploring Albania, whether travelling as a family, as a group or as an individual seeking a personalised tour. We want your stay to be memorable from start to finish, where no detail is over-looked and every day is filled with unique experiences that send you home relaxed, invigorated and keen to return!