Road tripping Albania!

We woke up at 8am feeling refreshed and ready to explore. After a quick breakfast, we hopped into our little Panda — our trusty companion for the day — and hit the road. Our first stop? Ksamil.

Ksamil’s beach instantly took our breath away. Imagine soft, white sand meeting the clearest, most inviting turquoise water you can imagine. The calm sea sparkled under the morning sun, framed by small boats gently rocking in the bay and the lush greenery surrounding the coast. It was pure paradise and dare I say just as beautiful as Greece….

We took a stroll around the town, soaking in the peaceful vibe and charm of this small seaside village.

While wandering, we spotted a place selling rolled ice cream, and we couldn’t resist. We picked our favorite flavour which has to be Oreo and watched as the ice cream was made fresh right in front of us it was so delicious and fun!

Refreshed and ready for more, we jumped back in the car and drove to Butrint National Park. This National park is scattered with old ancient Roman ruins and to me looked a lot like Marahau!

Next, we found a cute little spot for lunch with a stunning ocean view. The food was great, but the view was the real star endless blue water stretching out to the horizon and the most picturesque coastline. It was the perfect place to recharge before continuing on!

After lunch, we made our way to the Blue Eye a natural spring famous for its incredible, bright blue water. The color is unreal, like a giant sapphire bubbling up from the earth. The surrounding forest makes it feel even more magical, a hidden gem much like our own Te Waikoropupu Springs in Collingwood. Absolutely stunning!

As the day wound down, we headed back to our accommodation, tired but happy. We cooked a simple dinner together of chicken wraps (minus the chicken as we decided to coat it in what looked like a seasoning we had brought from the supermarket but as soon as our saliva glands dried up instantly from dehydration from the moment it touched our mouth, we quickly realised it was in fact chicken stock…..) Whilst recapping all the amazing sights we’d seen we then curled up in bed, turned on a movie and started thinking about how we are already looking forward to what tomorrow in Albania would bring.Read more