Hidden Gems of Albania: Destinations Best Explored by Car

Don’t want to swim in tourist flocks and search for reality? Albania is full of unspoiled beauty, hidden settlements, and natural surprises, but the place’s greatest treasures lie well away from the busy tourist circuit. Although tour buses can only go to big names such as Tirana and Saranda, the real gems of Albania lie beyond the seen, hushed quietly off in secluded side roads, winding through mountains and attractive coastal roads alike. And to find them, we only have one way (by car) to go.

This guide goes deeper into the hidden gems of Albania, best discovered while at the wheel. With a reliable rental, you can turn the corners of this great country that most tourists will miss.

Why Explore Albania by Car?

The public transport in Albania is cheap and efficient, but it’s deficient in remote places or at spontaneous stops. When you have a car, you’ll be able to:

• Make your itinerary and explore to your heart’s content anywhere you feel like stopping.
• Get to remote villages, mountain passes, and concealed beaches that buses don’t reach.
• Travel comfortably with luggage, supplies or with a family.

A self-drive Albania tour itinerary makes your trip an exploration ride and not just another holiday when you’re travelling either along the curves of the Albanian Riviera or climbing the peaks of the North.

1. Valbona to Theth: Northern Albania’s Wildest Drive

When driving through the Albanian Alps, those faint of heart had better veer off elsewhere, but it is worth it. The road from Valbona to Theth is one of Albania’s most pretty (and frightening). It loops around deep valleys, waterfalls and forested cliffs.

This seasonal route (usually from late spring to early autumn) can only be travelled with a high-clearance vehicle. A 4×4 rental for an Albanian countryside journey comes highly recommended. You’ll experience the rough attractions of life in the mountains and see things that the tour buses cannot.

Along the way, you can get a traditional meal in a guesthouse or hike to Grunas Waterfall. The whole scenario is like dropping into an alternative universe, with more sheep than cars, and the cleanest air you’ve ever breathed.

2. The Villages of the Zagoria Valley

In Albania, nothing will make you feel so untouched as the Zagoria Valley does. Found close to Gjirokastër in Southern Albania, this area is populated with small stone-built villages, Ottoman arched bridges and trails- where shepherds and rebels once trod.

A private vehicle is a convenient way of exploring the valley. Public transport is negligible here, and a rented car for movement in the rural areas of Albania is necessary. The drive into Zagoria is rocky, narrow and slow, but vehicles are rewarded with real, true aspects of heritage and nature within Albania.

Zagoria is especially appropriate for cultural travellers interested in making contact with local families, visiting hidden churches, or simply enjoying the silence of the mountains.

3. Llogara Pass to the Albanian Riviera’s Hidden Beaches

Nearly all travellers to the Albanian Riviera know of Saranda and Ksamil. But by leaving Llogara Pass and heading south, you’ll get to an area of coast where every bend reveals a beach, some of which are entirely unmarked.

Gjipe Beach is a standout, tucked away between cliffs, accessible by a short off-road track, and followed by a walk. It’s the sort of somewhere that you might find five other people and the clearest water you’ve ever seen.

Lower along the coast, Lukovë and Borsh have equally untouched sands. A car hire in Albania to check out this country’s hidden beaches allows for beach-hopping to your heart’s content. There’s no need to hurry or elbow for space, choose a place and stay until the sun does.

4. Permit and the Thermal Springs of Benja

Nestled between the Vjosa River Valley, Permet is a quiet, small town with mountains, rivers and hot springs. The road from Gjirokastër or Tirana to Permet is an impressive route, taking one through canyons and along riverbanks.

If you travel just outside the town, you will come across Benja Thermal Springs, which have natural hot pools with greenery, under a stone bridge (another ancient monument). They’re popular with locals, but tourists never make it here unless they have a rental car.

Permet is ideal for tourists who wish to combine the two elements on an Albanian road trip, offering spectacular local cuisine, relaxing walks, or jaw-dropping scenery, depending on each turn in the road.

5. The Forgotten Castles of the Central Highlands

If you’re a history buff, avoid the main monuments and get out into the hills to the North, around Elbasan and Gramsh. You’ll find less famous royal estates and ruins, unmarked and totally tourist-free here.

Take, for example, Sfetigrad Fortress, an old site that doesn’t appear much on maps. The drive there is also relatively steep, so you must take it slow to enjoy the panoramic views and total solitude.

No public transport serves these areas. Renting a car in Albania for rural travel, you get your golden ticket to the country’s forgotten history as an open-air museum with no lines, tickets, or time limits.

Why You Should Rent with MCarRentals

All these destinations are great, as long as you get there, and that’s when the local rental company comes in. MCarRentals has city cars ideal for driving in Albania’s towns and 4x4s for long journeys to remote villages.

They make it easy too with:

• Pickup points are the main towns and airports
• Clear rental policies free of hidden fees.
• 24-hour roadside assistance in case you do need it
• Route-specific GPS and tips on travelling.

When you book your car through MCarRentals, you are not only renting a car, but also having a trustworthy travel companion.

6. The Shala River: Albania’s Hidden Fjord

Also known as “the Thailand of Albania”, the Shala River is hidden away in the Albanian Alps and can be approached only by vessels, after a car ride to the isolated port of Koman. The journey is a part of an adventure. To begin with you will drive along winding mountain roads and will travel through untouched valleys and traditional villages.

This is a perfect destination for people looking for a nature-oriented Albania road trip. Only a patient with a good vehicle should attempt to take the route to Koman. A rental car will get you to this hidden destination, particularly if you plan on seeing it during the compressed summer tourist window.

When at the river, you will be encompassed by the turquoise, steep rocky walls, and a tranquility that creates an almost unreal impression. The adventure is ideal for beach-loving travelers with so much more on their bucket lists.

7. Qeparo and the Old Villages of the Riviera

Many people mention Ksamil and Dhermi, yet Qeparo, higher up the hill, feels very unique. Kitchen in Slovenia, which is produced in a poultry sale business, provides a factory that offers a large scale, which can help meet requirements in poultry production.

Since the bus doesn’t run and taxis seldom drive there, a car is your best bet for visiting the old part of Qeparo. The reward is worth it: The old cobblestone roads, gorgeous mountains in the distance, and a view into unchanging local life.

Around Qeparo, you can reach several hidden beaches by driving your car. Pack your meal, bring water, and make the most of the quiet and sea breeze near you.

8. The Remote Eastern Highlands near Pogradec

About an hour away from popular tourist sites, you’ll find peaceful villages by the lakes and breathtaking mountain views. The air has a bite to it, and roads take you to the Lakes of Prespa and traditional farming villages that tourists rarely visit.

While in these mountains, you’ll meet shepherds, spot wooden wagons, and see families gathering apples by the roadside. This type of trip means you’ll remember every place you stop, and every mistake can take you to a beautiful sight.

Those who’ve visited the Albanian coast will discover unique beauty in a self-drive trip to the highlands in the east.

Tips for Exploring Albania’s Hidden Gems by Car

Taking time to prepare helps you have a better time exploring the hidden gems of Albania. Get a regular-sized car for urban areas, and rent an SUV for mountain drives. It’s best to have cash with you, because most rural areas won’t have card machines. Using navigation apps is useful, but having saved offline maps will help you in bad signal areas.

Save some flexibility when setting your route plan. We sometimes find those hidden surprises without looking for them, such as a nameless beach or the café on the summit of a road.

Konkluzioni

There are lots of undiscovered gems tucked away in Albania. You won’t have to follow someone else’s schedule or visit popular places with limited choice when you have a rental car. As you drive, you experience your adventure a bit at a time, one experience after another.

You’ll find the best spots in Albania when you discover them alone.

Book your rental vehicle through MCarRentals for convenient and friendly local service. They are familiar with routes, understand visitors, and ensure your trip goes smoothly and is easy to remember.

FAQS About Hidden Gems of Albania Best Explored by Car

1. What are the best places to visit in Albania by car?

Among the many beautiful places in Albania, Valbona, Theth, Gjipe Beach, Permet, and the Zagoria Valley are best reached by having your own car.

2. Is it safe to drive to remote areas in Albania?

Yes, travelling safely in any SUV or 4×4 and taking basic safety precautions while experiencing beautiful nature is possible.

3. Can I explore the Albanian Riviera without a car?

Technically, you can, yet if you have a car, you can enjoy many remote beaches and villages.

4. Do I need a special type of car for rural Albanian roads?

If you’re looking for unusual trips, having a 4×4 or SUV is important, since you need them for roads to Theth or Gjipe Beach.

5. Where can I rent a car in Albania for road trips?

Everyone agrees on MCarRentals, since you can pick up your car at Tirana Airport, Durres, and the nearby coast, with easy rental terms and help at any time.