The Albanian Riviera

We cruised the entire Albanian Riviera from Vlorë to Ksamil 🚐. Google promised “turquoise waters, dramatic mountains, unspoilt beaches, and charming villages.” The first two? Spot on. The last two? Not so much. Resorts are being built everywhere, turning villages into tourist towns and it's hard to find a stretch of beach without sunbeds and loud bars 🔊.

Still, we loved it! We found some epic spots where we could roll out of Otto and into the sea. Sometimes, it felt a bit weird stepping out of Otto in swimwear while hotel guests enjoyed their coffees a few steps away 🌊.

We paddled around to explore more remote beaches, sea caves, and little islands, snorkeling in between (and yes, Miel insisted on climbing and cliff-jumping at every possible opportunity 🙄).

We also visited Butrint, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Albania’s most important archaeological treasures. It’s a mix of ruins from different civilizations: Greek amphitheater, Roman baths, and Byzantine basilicas 🏛️.Read more