Albania is the perfect country for independent wild camping, breathtaking landscapes and warm hospitality. Here you can read why we - Maggie & Tim - chose Albania with WebCamper, how the trip with our dog Lotta turned out and all about our travel tips.

Albania as a travel destination: Hidden Gem on the Adriatic Sea

When it came to deciding on a destination for our road trip, we quickly chose Albania. Why? The Albanian flora and fauna has a lot to offer and there are numerous opportunities for climbing, hiking, cycling, swimming, running, etc. Depending on your route, you may find yourself spending a lot of time on small mountain roads, winding passages, and scenic country roads. 

In a lot of other southern countries, free camping is either difficult or restricted. But in Albania, you can basically camp anywhere as long as you behave respectfully and leave the sites clean.

The off-road routes were particularly tempting for us, which is why we opted for the Yucon 4x4 Offroad from WebCamper. The car's power and equipment took us safely over uneven paths and through routes that were difficult to pass. This gave us insights into the country that would otherwise remain hidden.

Traveling with a dog and camper: Experiences in Albania

For the journey we decided to take the ferry from Bari (IT) to Durrës (ALB), a 10-hour crossing that was also manageable for our dog Lotta. The original plan to travel via the Balkans was unfortunately not feasible due to the rather spontaneous travel plans, and necessary documents for her.

In Albania, dogs are often times seen as working animals, which is why they are not allowed in very traditional restaurants. Your dog should therefore be able to stay alone in the camper for a while. Although many people are rather suspicious of a “pet dog”, we had mainly positive experiences and met many curious locals who also wanted to pet Lotta.

Our Albania road trip was Lotta's first trip in a camper and she did really well. She comes from a Romanian animal shelter and tends to be rather anxious or easily stressed by new situations. Nevertheless, she got used to traveling very quickly and has turned out to be a real adventurous dog.

She is a herd guard mix with a correspondingly strong protective instinct and we were initially worried that she might react to noises outside the van at night when parked. However, that was not the case. We enjoyed the best sleep for two weeks and Lotta lived out her guarding role during the day by protecting the camper. Thank you, Lotta! 

Our tips for traveling with a dog in a camper:

Our experiences for a stress-free road trip with a dog:

• Stick to routines from home as much as possible (e.g. feeding and walking times, getting up, going to bed, etc.).
• Take enough breaks on longer journeys and then spend at least 10 to 15 minutes outside the car (dogs need time to acclimatize and Lotta can often only relieve herself after extensive sniffing).
• Take a dog bed with you from home as a safe space for the dog.
• Give the dog enough time to get used to the new lifestyle.
• Do not leave the dog in the car on warm days - risk of heat exhaustion!
• Go on vacation in the off-season, because it's usually not that hot and there are fewer tourists around.

Albania Travel Plan: Our top 5 highlights and campsite tips

We set ourselves a relatively strict schedule for our road trip so that we could see as much of the country as possible. However, we would recommend at least three to four weeks for our route so that there is enough time for each campsite! #slowtravel

Tip #1: Himarë

We stayed at the end of a dead-end that was rarely used, saw the most beautiful sunsets and enjoyed cooling off in the sea in the morning. There are delicious restaurants, cafes and supermarkets nearby. The beach stretches across the entire bay to the old town.

Tip #2: Dangëlli National Park: Petulla Caffe Camping

In the middle of the off-road track there suddenly was this small farm, in the middle of an idyllic landscape, far away from any civilization. We were invited and treated to excellent food in the mornings and evenings. To all dog owners: The farm dog can bark quite persistently, so if your dog is sensitive to this, watch out.

Tip #3: Valbona Valley

We parked away from the road in a small clearing in a sparse forest next to the river. It rained while we were there, but it's a great place to cool off on hot days. We woke up in the mornings among horses, cows and sheep.

Tip #4: Theth: Balcony Camping

In Theth, we spent two nights at a campsite to get fresh water, electricity and to discharge our waste water. The center of the valley was within walking distance from here and is equipped with restaurants and a supermarket. Theth, like the Valbona Valley, is a perfect starting point for hikes.

Tip #5: Maranai Park: Kiri River

You can spend peaceful nights here on the riverbed of the Kiri River between the small villages of Lum and Milàn. The river has a pleasant current in which it is easy to swim and there are natural pools, which are very inviting on hot days. Flocks of goats or sheep may also pass by here from time to time.