Tourist Attractions & Monuments Albania

This trail links the village of Valbona with the hamlet of Çerem, skirting Montenegro. The route is part of the Peaks of the Balkans network: their website is a mine of information on this and other trails in the region. It is not particularly difficult (541 m ascent, 382 m descent), except that it is long. The hamlet of Çerem is inhabited only in summer by shepherds who offer board and lodging, such as the Guesthouse Kujtim Goçaj. Çerem is also the starting point for two trails through the Gashi nature reserve.

Founded in 2007, this associative cultural center organizes numerous exhibitions devoted to the work of young contemporary Albanian and foreign artists in a 150^m2 space. Various arts are presented: painting, sculpture, photography, video, installation and performance. Beware, though, that the place is a little hard to find, and opening times are not always respected. The gallery is located on the second floor of the Helka Center building.

It links the hamlet of Çerem (19.8 kilometers northeast of Valbona on foot) with that of Dobërdol, at the "three borders" with Montenegro and Kosovo. The route is detailed on the Peaks of the Balkans website. It passes through the Gashi nature reserve. Doable in summer, when both hamlets are occupied by shepherds. In Dobërdol, you'll find the Bilbil Vatnika guest house. From there, you can continue on to Kosovo (the route can also be found on the Peaks of the Balkans network website).

This Bektashi place of worship (Teqeja e Baba Aliut) occupies a hilltop at 720 m altitude in the Hotova-Dangëll Fir National Park. Access is difficult without a 4 x 4, and is best reached on foot from the hamlet of Alipostivan below. The origins of tekkés go back a long way. It was refounded around 1860 by Ali Baba, considered a "saint" by the Albanian bektashis. Completely rebuilt in 2003, the complex is home to a small community of dervishes and boasts grandiose views over the Vjosa and Nemërçka mountains.