Albania, the coast road and the pass.
Albania is the newest market on this list and the one where a professional driver makes the largest difference. The motorways are good, the coast road is spectacular, and the gap between the two is wider than the map admits.
Where we collect
Tirana is effectively the country's international airport and the start of most journeys. Two other gateways are worth knowing: Corfu, which is a short ferry from Saranda and often has far better flight connections for the southern Riviera, and Podgorica in Montenegro for the north.
We collect at the airport, at the Saranda ferry terminal and at hotels throughout the country, including the Riviera villages that have grown faster than their road signs have.
The routes we run most
- Tirana airport to Dhërmi, Himara, Saranda and Ksamil on the Riviera
- Tirana to Berat and Gjirokastër, both UNESCO listed Ottoman towns
- Saranda to the Corfu ferry, timed to the sailing
- Tirana to Durrës and the northern beaches
- Tirana to Shkodër, Theth and the Albanian Alps
- Cross-border to Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Greece
Two road networks in one country
The main corridors are genuinely good. Tirana to Durrës and the road south towards Fier are modern dual carriageway, and the country has invested heavily in them. Off those corridors it is a different picture: surfaces vary, lighting is scarce, and satellite navigation will confidently propose a route that is technically a road and practically a track. Local knowledge is not a nicety here, it is the entire service.
The Llogara Pass is the one to plan for. The coast road from Vlorë to the Riviera climbs to around a thousand metres and comes down in a long series of hairpins with the Ionian directly below. In daylight it is one of the great drives in Europe. In the dark, in rain, with a tired driver at the end of a flight, it is not a road to be learning.
Borders are real. Albania is outside the EU and Schengen, so crossings to Montenegro, Greece, Kosovo and North Macedonia involve passport checks and a vehicle documented to make them. In summer the Greek crossing at Kakavia can queue, which is a reason to start early rather than a reason not to go.
Questions
What people ask us.
How long is Tirana airport to Saranda?
Around four hours for roughly 280 km, including the Llogara Pass. Dhërmi and Himara are somewhat shorter. It is a long day after a flight, which is the main argument for being driven rather than driving.
Should I fly into Tirana or Corfu for the Riviera?
It depends on your flights. Corfu plus the ferry to Saranda is often faster and better connected for the southern Riviera. Tirana is simpler for a single journey and for anywhere north of Himara. Ask us and we will compare honestly.
Are the roads difficult?
The main corridors are modern dual carriageway and straightforward. Away from them, surfaces vary and navigation apps will suggest routes that are not really usable. That gap is exactly what a local driver is for.
Can you cross into Montenegro, Greece or Kosovo?
Yes. Albania is outside the EU so these are genuine borders with passport checks, and our vehicles and drivers are documented to cross them.
Can you meet the Corfu ferry at Saranda?
Yes, and we time the pickup to the sailing rather than to a round hour, which matters because the schedule changes by season.
Is Berat worth the trip from Tirana?
Yes, and it is about two hours each way, so a full day rather than a half. Gjirokastër pairs naturally with a Riviera journey since it is close to the southern road.
Travelling in Albania?
Tell us the village, not just the region, and we will get you to the door.