Southern Albania: you hidden gem! In-land you’ve mountain layered upon mountain, snow-capped peaks, wide valleys and little stone villages lost in time. On the coast you’ve got white beaches akin to the Greek ones, just with no-one on them.
Once over the Greek-Albanian border, we headed for the climbing spots around around Përmet. You’ve three types of climbing to choose from there: an alpine style trad ridge, easier single-pitch outcrop climbing with views over the river and harder climbing in the Lengarica Gorge. Just so happens there are hot thermal springs at the entrance to the gorge (free in low-season) so you can soak your muscles after a day’s climbing. Keep an eye out for the lime-green Albanian butterflies!