“Never miss an opportunity to travel” — it’s a little motto I’ve been living by for well as long as I can remember but especially since our move to the Middle East. Being based here has opened up so much of the world, and I’m constantly scanning the skies for the next adventure. So when I spotted ultra-low fares with Wizz Air to another new country I hadn’t explored – Albania, it took no time at all to get Ben and I booked. And just a few days and a short flight of 5 hours and 15 minutes later, we touched down in Tiranë and picked up a hire car.
Travel Tip: Driving in Albania isn’t for the faint-hearted! Locals have a need for speed, and potholes can be more common than smooth road in some spots. There’s a heavy police presence particularly in the north, winding mountain routes (especially if you head south or cross into Montenegro like we did), and you must turn left down what looks like a one way road or you will need to pay 200 Lek to exit the airport car park—no exceptions. We highly recommend taking extra insurance for peace of mind.
Our first stop was Durrës, a beach town just west of the airport. Originally, we planned to stay for three nights so I could finish up some work… but in our opinion this town still has a long way to go to be a tourist hot spot.
So we packed up early and hit the road south toward Ksamil, passing through the coastal town of Vlorë and over the windy narrow roads of the Llogara pass in between downpours as the spring weather brought a combination of weather including some and big downpours which we quite enjoyed since we live in almost constant sunshine back in Abu Dhabi.
In Ksamil, we stayed two nights and explored the nearby town of Sarandë, plus the incredible Butrint National Park — a UNESCO World Heritage site with ancient Greek and Roman ruins set in a lush lagoon
From there, we made the long scenic drive north, crossing into Montenegro near Lake Shkodër crossing the border by land, we stopped to pick up our “Green Card” insurance from the booth right behind the police/customs booth. They charge €15 for 15 days but do make sure you have cash.
Our first stop in Montenegro (country 60 for me) was Ulcinj, where we stayed at Miramar, a peaceful beachside hotel. We even got warm enough weather for a quick swim! We explored the old town, strolled to Long Beach—a kiteboarding hotspot (though sadly, no wind for us that day)—and took some time to relax after the long drive.
Next up: Kotor. On our way, we stopped in Bar and Budva—both worth a coffee and a wander—before arriving in Kotor and taking the new cable car for jaw-dropping views of the bay.
Fun Fact: The Kotor Cable Car, opened in 2023, gives you a bird’s-eye view over one of Europe’s most breathtaking bays and saves you the 1,300+ step climb to San Giovanni Fortress!
We settled into a cozy Airbnb near the old town wall and spent our days exploring the charming cobbled streets, the Maritime Museum, and the quirky Cat Museum (yes, really—Kotor is known for its feline population!).
On our final day, we headed back into Albania, crossing the border the night before our flight to avoid potential delays. Ben found us a lovely hotel called Duomo Hotel, perched on Lake Shkodër. We spent the afternoon unwinding with lake views and a refreshing aperol spritz.
Here’s a map of our journey showing the route from Tiranë to Ksamil, up through Montenegro, and back again, by the time we got to the airport we had covered 960kms or just a little further than driving from Sydney to Brisbane.
Now we’re headed back to Abu Dhabi, settling into our new place in Al Raha, and taking a little breather before the next adventure. Soon, I’ll be off to Germany to visit a new wellness partner, followed by a fun reunion trip to Turkey with Ben and my cousin’s family—including a wedding for a friend we haven’t actually met yet (can’t wait!).
Our Awesome Adventures 