Three Days in the Agritourism Businesses of Northern Albania
This touristic season has gotten off to an exciting start, especially for the guesthouses of northern Albania, which are opening their doors to welcome tourists from all corners of the world.
For three days, on May 8th-10th, a group of international and local travel bloggers and tourism experts visited some of the best guesthouses of the northern part of the country, sharing Albanian hospitality with a global audience. Guesthouses of Shkodra, Malësia e Madhe (Great Highlands) and Puka welcomed visitors from dozens of countries and served as gateways to the spectacular landscape as well as the rich cultural and historic heritage of the region. In addition, guests become familiar with the more intimate details of authentic village life, including the delicious traditional cuisine of the north.
Guesthouse “Rruga e Mullirit”, Reç.
The agritourism farms included in the tour are financed by USAID as well as trained to maintain the highest standards of hospitality and sustainability. Each business has its own distinct identity as the host families have maintained their specific traditions while also creating a comfortable and entertaining atmosphere for their guests. The aim of this specific trip was to become acquainted with 100% Albanian locally-produced items under the OriginaAL brand, also a USAID project.
Our first stop is the guesthouse Rruga e Mullirit (Mill’s Way), located in Reç of the Malësia e Madhe region. From the visit to the Rrjolli Canyon to the Chestnut Forest and the qeleshe games in the garden, the things to do here are many! For those who love to get involved in fruit and vegetable picking or help the hosts cook their superb authentic Albanian dishes, this would represent a wonderful opportunity to do so.
Rrjolli Canyon, near the guesthouse “Rruga e Mullirit”.
Guests at Rruga e Mullirit guesthouse, photo by IntoAlbania
During some of the activities in the guesthouse, photo by IntoAlbania.
Another interesting stop on our first day is the one at Kopliku Winery, located less than 30 minutes from Reç, where we are served a variety of wines from sommelier Dashamir Elezi. Here, guests become acquainted with the vineyards and the pleasant and welcoming atmosphere.
Kantina Kopliku (Koplik Winery), photo by IntoAlbania.
Kopliku Winery, photo by IntoAlbania.
Koplik Winery, photo by IntoAlbania.
On the second day of our trip, we visit the guesthouses of Puka. Located in Qerret, the farm Devin is a warm and intimate place where, in addition to fruit and vegetable picking, embroidery and hiking in the surrounding area, one can also try horseback riding.
Devin Guesthouse, Pukë.
Activities at Devin guesthouse in Puka
Guesthouse Devin, photo by IntoAlbania.
Lajthiza e Vogël (Small Hazelnut) is also one of the guesthouses financially supported by USAID with the aim of providing high-quality sustainable tourism. Here is where the town and village easily meet as Puka is located quite near the guesthouse. Among the organized activities here, there is the hike along the Cherry’s Pod (Podi i Qershisë) or the Holy Rock (Guri i Shenjtë) as well as milking cows, fruit picking, and cooking traditional meals.
The third day finds us heading towards Ganjolla of Guri i Zi (Black Rock), where Marku farm is located. The guests here have the chance to become familiar with loom work, passed on from one generation of women of the village to the next. But, pastimes such as collecting plums or cooking traditional Albanian dishes are very popular here, as well.
Neta, the owner, with the guests at Marku guesthouse
Activites at Marku guesthouse
Last but not least, our final guesthouse visit is at Shega (Pomegranate), located in Muriqan. Ahmet Sylejmani, the head of the farm, takes us around the area and tells us all about the seasonal fruits as we help him collect them and enjoy one or two. As we taste the deliciously fresh pomegranate, we come to understand the namesake of this farm!
Beekeeping at Shega guesthouse, photo by IntoAlbania
Ahmet Sylejmani, owner of “Shega”.
Vegetables picking at Shega guesthouse
The entire trip was successfully shared with tens of thousands of followers via photos and videos, which allowed the social media audience to experience the journey with us. For the guesthouses, as well, this represented a great way of kicking off the new touristic season, which is expected to gather greater attention and more visitors than previous years for these sustainable establishments.
For more information on the abovementioned farms and guesthouses, to make reservations or to become more acquainted with Albanian agritourism, please click here.
Guesthouse “Rruga e Mullirit”, Reç.
The agritourism farms included in the tour are financed by USAID as well as trained to maintain the highest standards of hospitality and sustainability. Each business has its own distinct identity as the host families have maintained their specific traditions while also creating a comfortable and entertaining atmosphere for their guests. The aim of this specific trip was to become acquainted with 100% Albanian locally-produced items under the OriginaAL brand, also a USAID project.
Our first stop is the guesthouse Rruga e Mullirit (Mill’s Way), located in Reç of the Malësia e Madhe region. From the visit to the Rrjolli Canyon to the Chestnut Forest and the qeleshe games in the garden, the things to do here are many! For those who love to get involved in fruit and vegetable picking or help the hosts cook their superb authentic Albanian dishes, this would represent a wonderful opportunity to do so.
Rrjolli Canyon, near the guesthouse “Rruga e Mullirit”.
Guests at Rruga e Mullirit guesthouse, photo by IntoAlbania
During some of the activities in the guesthouse, photo by IntoAlbania.
Another interesting stop on our first day is the one at Kopliku Winery, located less than 30 minutes from Reç, where we are served a variety of wines from sommelier Dashamir Elezi. Here, guests become acquainted with the vineyards and the pleasant and welcoming atmosphere.
Kantina Kopliku (Koplik Winery), photo by IntoAlbania.
Kopliku Winery, photo by IntoAlbania.
Koplik Winery, photo by IntoAlbania.
On the second day of our trip, we visit the guesthouses of Puka. Located in Qerret, the farm Devin is a warm and intimate place where, in addition to fruit and vegetable picking, embroidery and hiking in the surrounding area, one can also try horseback riding.
Devin Guesthouse, Pukë.
Activities at Devin guesthouse in Puka
Guesthouse Devin, photo by IntoAlbania.
Lajthiza e Vogël (Small Hazelnut) is also one of the guesthouses financially supported by USAID with the aim of providing high-quality sustainable tourism. Here is where the town and village easily meet as Puka is located quite near the guesthouse. Among the organized activities here, there is the hike along the Cherry’s Pod (Podi i Qershisë) or the Holy Rock (Guri i Shenjtë) as well as milking cows, fruit picking, and cooking traditional meals.
The third day finds us heading towards Ganjolla of Guri i Zi (Black Rock), where Marku farm is located. The guests here have the chance to become familiar with loom work, passed on from one generation of women of the village to the next. But, pastimes such as collecting plums or cooking traditional Albanian dishes are very popular here, as well.
Neta, the owner, with the guests at Marku guesthouse
Activites at Marku guesthouse
Last but not least, our final guesthouse visit is at Shega (Pomegranate), located in Muriqan. Ahmet Sylejmani, the head of the farm, takes us around the area and tells us all about the seasonal fruits as we help him collect them and enjoy one or two. As we taste the deliciously fresh pomegranate, we come to understand the namesake of this farm!
Beekeeping at Shega guesthouse, photo by IntoAlbania
Ahmet Sylejmani, owner of “Shega”.
Vegetables picking at Shega guesthouse
The entire trip was successfully shared with tens of thousands of followers via photos and videos, which allowed the social media audience to experience the journey with us. For the guesthouses, as well, this represented a great way of kicking off the new touristic season, which is expected to gather greater attention and more visitors than previous years for these sustainable establishments.
For more information on the abovementioned farms and guesthouses, to make reservations or to become more acquainted with Albanian agritourism, please click here.