“ Albania, what do you do there?! ” is a question many people asked me when I decided to move from the Netherlands to Albania in the spring of 2022. I had given notice of my apartment in Amsterdam, sold most of my belongings, and left for Tirana with my motorbike and the luggage that fit on it. My love for Albania started six years earlier, in May 2017. Transavia was the first airline to introduce a direct flight between the Netherlands and Albania. I was on one of those first flights from Amsterdam to Tirana. Curious about this unknown country, I boarded, unaware that Albania would change my life!
My first trip to Albania
Was it coincidence or was it destiny that I would end up in Albania? It is a question I have no answer to. After completing my research master in Media Studies at the University of Amsterdam, I had the freedom and space to think about my future and career for the first time after an intensive period of study. I wanted to get away from it all, to a different environment to come to my senses. Via the Transavia website, my eye fell on Albania, a country completely unknown to me, but only a four-hour flight from the Netherlands.
My knowledge of this country did not extend much further than the topography lessons in primary school, the vague memory that it was once strictly Communist, and sporadic news reports about Albanian immigrants getting into trouble in the Netherlands. I didn’t know anyone who had ever been to Albania and I couldn’t form a good picture of what it would be like here. I did find pictures on the internet of beautiful white beaches like in Greece, impressive mountain areas like Switzerland, and small villages that reminded me of the old travel photos of my parents in Turkey. There wasn’t much more information. I do like a bit of adventure and so I decided to book that flight to Tirana anyway. It would be a solo city trip to Tirana.
A city trip to Tirana
My accommodation was a pink villa in the heart of Tirana. An old lady welcomed me into her home in the most cordial way without speaking a word of English. She invited me into her living room where I was offered tea and sweets. Through her phone I spoke to her son Artan, who was currently living and working in Greece with his family. This was his family’s home that they wanted to open to guests. He wished me a pleasant time in Albania and told me to call him for “anything.” I found it special that I was welcomed so warmly by these Albanians, as if I were part of the family.
Tirana is a small city, comparable to the size of Amsterdam. I was pleasantly surprised by the colorful buildings and murals, the lively bars and cafes in the “Blloku” district, and the unique “Bunk’Art” museum in a gigantic underground bunker on the edge of the city. But after three days of walking around I had pretty much seen it all. I called Artan and asked if he had any recommendations for me. He said: ‘Why don’t you take my car? Drive south to Berat and Përmet. I recommend you go to Bënjë, there are natural hot springs that have been used for medicinal purposes for centuries. It’s beautiful there.’ No sooner said than done…
Adventure, unexpected paths and surprising discoveries
This is when I really fell in love with Albania. In Berat I stayed in another small guesthouse above a café, and the owners were just as helpful as Artan. Everywhere I went the Albanians were just as welcoming, friendly and open. The old town felt like I was stepping into an old movie. The route to Përmet was beautiful, the imposing mountain landscape with the wild Vjosa river flowing through it made a big impression on me. Via a small country road I reached the baths of Bënjë.
This place was almost unknown to tourists at the time, so I had the baths all to myself. I walked through the canyon on my own and thought, ‘how lucky I am to have discovered such a great place, and it’s incredible that it has remained so unknown to the public. I didn’t know Albania was such a beautiful holiday destination.’ What else could it have to offer?
My love for Albania
That’s how my love for Albania was born. A few days later I returned home, but with the feeling that I wanted to see and discover much more in this beautiful country. I was so pleasantly surprised that I decided to return four months later, this time for a month. Friends and family were also curious about my findings, so I decided to share my travel stories via Instagram. Unexpectedly, my page reached a whole new audience besides family and friends. I received many messages from young Albanians, particularly impressed by the beautiful photos from their own country, and proud that Albania had made such a good impression on a Dutch traveler. Through them I received a lot of good tips and also made new Albanian friends.
Fast forward to today
For five years I returned to Albania several times a year. In the meantime I have become a real expert and I was often contacted online by travelers from all over the world for advice about traveling in and to Albania. Although many of my Albanian peers dream of a life outside Albania, preferably in America, Germany, or Italy, I saw an opportunity. Albania is a beautiful country with untouched nature and friendly people. It is rich in history, culture and you can eat delicious food. It has all the ingredients to be a perfect holiday destination, like Croatia and Greece. The tourism industry in Albania has enormous potential and could play an even greater role in the economic progress of the country. Albania is hungry for connection with the outside world. I want to do something for that.
Changing course
I decided to make it work. So I left everything behind for a new life in Albania. I didn’t know exactly how and what, but my love affair with Albania had lasted long enough. Time for commitment. And so I left on a cold morning in April, all alone with my fully packed motorbike to Albania. It was such a remarkable decision that upon arrival in Tirana I was interviewed for half an hour on national live television… I was still wearing my charming mud boots.
Working in tourism in Albania
Along the way I came across Poli Loman from Traveling Albania. She is Albanian herself but emigrated to the Netherlands twenty-eight years ago. Her mission to form a bridge between the Netherlands and Albania immediately appealed to me. Albania is a perfect holiday destination for sun, sea and sand, but will also make the hearts of adventurous travelers beat faster. Think of off-road motorcycle tours, camping on the farm, and challenging treks through the sparsely populated rural areas of Albania. That is where my own passion and love for the country lies. I believe that the development of tourism in Albania can have a mutual benefit: an unforgettable experience for travelers, and opportunities for more employment for the open-hearted Albanians who are so hospitable as to open their homes to strangers.
This is how my adventure in Albania began with an unexpected twist. Instead of just exploring my own love for the country, I now have a mission to show others what Albania has to offer. Together with Poli, I worked as an Albania specialist to develop sustainable tourism and connect Dutch and Albanians with Traveling Albania. This is the beginning of an amazing adventure that has changed my life forever. Should you decide to come to Albania, I am sure that the country will make a lasting impression on you too! It’s absolutely worth it. I guarantee that.
For example, take a look at the following fly & drives that I developed with Poli:
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31 januari 2024
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