Water sports and leisure activities Albania

Borsh beach is 5 km long and yet relatively uncrowded. It is often photographed, with its donkeys and cows roaming freely on the sand or its bunker elements submerged by the waves. It is accessible from the village via paths through the olive groves. The southern part of the beach, called Qazim Pali, is inhabited year-round and can be reached by a small road from the village of Piqeras (3.5 km). Heading south towards Saranda on the SH8, shortly before the village of Lukova, you'll find Bunec beach (11.5 km from Borsh).

This Berat-based rafting agency is the best in terms of safety. It offers rafting, kayaking (June-November) and white-water swimming trips down the Vjosa, as well as excursions on foot to the Lengarica canyon and the Sopoti waterfall. Hiking and rafting depart from Hotel Alvero in Përmet. Kayaking departs from Peshtan (29 km to the north-west). White-water swimming (between May and June) departs from Këlcyra (18 km to the north-west).

Below the village is Dhërmi beach, followed by Dhrale beach. Further north, Drymades beach boasts hotels, bars, restaurants and three campsites. To get there, take a small dirt road halfway between the old village and the tourist village. The road winds through olive groves for almost 3 km before miraculously leading to a vast, secluded sandy beach. Finally, even further north, 8 km from Dhërmi, lies the magnificent, windier Palasa beach.

This aquatic center is the largest in the capital. Well placed, near the artificial lake of the Grand Parc, it is nevertheless noisy (very loud music), some facilities are sometimes closed or poorly maintained and access to the large slides is not free. But it's a small miracle that such a place exists in Albania. Here you'll find one of the country's few Olympic-sized pools (50 m long, 8 lines, etc.). The complex's bar-restaurant is a nice touch.