Albania protects Europe's first wild river national park, the last strong Balkan lynx corridor and a lagoon full of pelicans. Here is what to see in each park — and the farms where you eat what was picked that morning.
The parks
Vjosa Wild River National Park
Wild river national park
≈ 12,700 ha along 190 km of river
Declared in 2023, the first wild river national park in Europe: the Vjosa runs free from the Greek border to the Adriatic with no dams on its main stem, braiding across gravel islands near Tepelenë and Poçem.
Wildlife: Over 1,100 species, including otter, Egyptian vulture and the endangered European eel.
Rafting and kayaking from Përmet (spring meltwater is the big water)
Bënja thermal pools and the Ottoman Katiu bridge
Birdwatching on the gravel islands
Camping on the banks outside the strict zones
Getting there: Përmet and Tepelenë are the gateways, both on the SH75/SH4 with daily furgons from Tirana and Gjirokastër.
The heart of the Accursed Mountains: a glacial valley of stone lock-in towers, the Grunas waterfall and the Blue Eye of Theth, ringed by 2,400 m limestone walls.
Wildlife: Brown bear, chamois, wolf and golden eagle.
Theth–Valbona pass day hike
Blue Eye of Theth
Grunas waterfall and canyon
Stay in a traditional kulla guesthouse
Getting there: Paved road from Shkodër (about 3 hours). No ATM, no petrol station and patchy signal — arrive with cash.
Black pine forest on the Llogara Pass at 1,027 m, where the Ceraunian Mountains drop straight into the Ionian. The best paragliding launch in the country.
Wildlife: Griffon vulture, roe deer and the bent pines shaped by the sea wind.
Paragliding over the Riviera
Çika summit hike
Caesar's Pass viewpoint
Descend to Dhërmi and the coast
Getting there: On the SH8 coastal road between Vlorë and Himarë; every Riviera bus stops at the pass.
A pine-backed lagoon on the Adriatic holding one of the largest breeding colonies of Dalmatian pelican in the Mediterranean, plus long empty sand beaches.
Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Venetian ruins in a sub-tropical wood between Lake Butrint and the Vivari channel, a UNESCO World Heritage site and Ramsar wetland.
Wildlife: Turtles, kingfishers and the mussel beds of the lake.
Theatre, baptistery mosaics and acropolis museum
Venetian triangular fortress and the cable ferry
Ali Pasha castle by boat
Combine with Ksamil beaches
Getting there: 25 minutes south of Sarandë; buses run hourly in summer.
Albania's quietest big park, on the North Macedonian border: ancient beech forest (UNESCO-listed), glacial lakes and the strongest remaining Balkan lynx corridor.
Wildlife: Balkan lynx, bear, wolf and chamois.
Rrajca virgin beech forest
Shebenik glacial lakes trek
Village stays in Fushë-Studë
Wildlife tracking with local guides
Getting there: From Librazhd on the Tirana–Pogradec road. A 4x4 and a local guide are strongly advised.
There are almost no bins in Albanian parks. Carry every wrapper, bottle and tissue back out with you — this is the single biggest complaint rangers have about visitors.
No open fires
Fires are banned outside marked places from June to October. Albania loses thousands of hectares to wildfire every summer; use a gas stove.
Camping
Wild camping is tolerated in most parks outside the strict protection zones, but not on beaches inside Butrint or Divjakë-Karavasta. Ask the ranger station or your guesthouse.
Wildlife distance
Bears and wolves are present in Theth, Valbona and Shebenik. Store food in your car or guesthouse, never in a tent, and keep dogs on a lead.
Support the villages
Entrance is free or a token fee in most parks. Money reaches the mountains through guesthouses, guides and farm lunches — use them instead of day-tripping with packed food.
Park boundaries and areas follow the Protected Areas Agency (AKZM). Farms are independent businesses we do not own or represent — opening times change, so always call ahead.