The incomparable beauty of the Albanian Riviera

I have seen the Earth in its most beautiful areas and have explored some of the most unexplored beaches. I visited the streets of the Amalfi Coast, the beaches of Crete and Santorini, the walls of the old town of Dubrovnik in the Adriatic, but none of them prepared me for the beauty of the Albanian Riviera, writes Danielle Owen for the specialized American tourism site thrillist.com . "Albania's small size, slightly larger than Maryland, makes it suitable for exploration, from the capital of Tirana to the Albanian Alps, whose paths rival Switzerland and New Zealand. But the heart of the country is the Riviera. It is where the white stones shine on the beaches between the magnificent walls of the canyons and the vast forests, leading you to the translucent Ionian Sea. Where you can relax in luxury or not. Here's what you're missing out on and where to go. Dhermi, where peace and holidays coexist Every year, I start my summer with the same pilgrimage to Drimadha beach. On the southern coast, about three and a half hours from the capital, it passes through the winding road of Llogara. At the end of this delightful and a little scary road, you will find my favorite beach of Albania and on Earth. At the northern end of the beach, a natural rocky arch leads you to a small, pebbled shore. There are usually not many people there. From there, I climb or swim beyond another rock, to reach a small bay between the rocks, where I can only be with the crystal blue waters. For accommodation, Drimadhes offers seaside camps and hotels. There are a number of trucks with food and restaurants, but in general the atmosphere is very comfortable.Gjipe, undiscovered campsites and nameless beaches The fact that some of the Albanian beaches are not accessible to everyone is one of their best aspects. Many are only accessible by boat. To get from one beach to another I rode only once in a small boat while I was swimming. The best beaches are between the town of Dhermi and the tourist town of Himara, both of which offer many boat tours.You should not miss the beach of Gjipe. It is the crown jewel for fans of undiscovered beaches. Himara, A tourist town with a walk in the village The promenade of the Himara coast is full of pizzerias, restaurants with seafood and fast food. In Himara you will find the right place for Albanian family vacations, hostels full of tourists and romantic places. Saranda, beaches and life in the city center Located near the Greek border, Saranda is the unofficial capital of the Albanian Riviera, a developing city, filled with apartments and panoramic views. The stunning promenade features restaurants and bars, as well as fireworks displays from nightclubs. The main beach may be surrounded by city life, but the waters are just as clean and blue as anywhere else along the coast. On one side of the bay is a port where small ferry ships come from Corfu, a journey that takes 30 minutes at sea. There are many options for Saranda beaches. Albanians have a cultural and historical code for treating friends as if they were part of the family