Anoopa’s Albania Story: More Than Just a Destination — A Journey of Adventure, Friendship and Gelato

Albania had been on Anoopa’s travel wish list for years, but the trip turned out to be about far more than just discovering a new destination.

In her blog, she shares how OWR Albania became a journey filled with adventure, laughter, lifelong friendships… and a daily commitment to supporting the local gelato economy. 🍦

Albania had been on my travel list for a while. In fact, a few years ago I had already mapped out my own solo itinerary because I was so intrigued by everything the country seemed to offer. The stunning Riviera, the fascinating history, the food, the mountains and the culture had all caught my attention.

So when Other Way Round released their Albania trip, the timing couldn’t have been better. I actually already had another trip booked with them to Kenya and Tanzania, but I decided to transfer my deposit across to Albania. Part of this reason was that I knew three people who were already booked onto the trip.

For me, this trip was about much more than simply visiting a new destination. It was about reconnecting with friends from different parts of the world.

“ONE OF THE THINGS I LOVE MOST ABOUT TRAVELLING WITH OTHER WAY ROUND TRAVEL IS THAT THE TRIPS SOMEHOW BECOME A WAY OF BRINGING PEOPLE BACK TOGETHER”

One of the things I love most about travelling with Other Way Round Travel is that the trips somehow become a way of bringing people back together. Two of the people on this trip were friends I first met back in 2019 on my very first Other Way Round Travel trip in Colombia and we’ve stayed in touch ever since. Another friend I had met on last year’s Japan trip. So Albania became my fourth OWR adventure, and once again it reminded me that the people you meet while travelling can become just as important as the places you visit.

As the trip approached, I was excited to finally experience Albania for myself. Looking through the itinerary, I loved how varied it was. We weren’t just going to be sightseeing. We would be zip lining, tubing, wine tasting, taking part in a cooking class, exploring historic towns and spending time along the coast. It felt like a trip that would show us many different sides of the country.

Arriving in Albania, I was immediately struck by how beautiful it was. The landscapes constantly changed as we travelled, from historic towns and rolling countryside to dramatic coastal scenery and crystal-clear waters. It felt like a destination that offered far more variety than I had expected.

“THE ITINERARY GAVE US SUCH A GREAT MIX OF EXPERIENCES. WE WEREN’T SIMPLY TICKING OFF LANDMARKS. WE WERE ACTIVELY EXPERIENCING THE COUNTRY TOGETHER.”

One thing that surprised me most was how much there still is to discover. Every stop seemed to reveal a different side of Albania, and it never felt repetitive. There was always another beautiful viewpoint, another fascinating story or another place that made me think, “I need to come back here one day.”

The itinerary gave us such a great mix of experiences. We weren’t simply ticking off landmarks. We were actively experiencing the country together. The zip lining gave us a bit of an adrenaline rush, the wine tasting allowed us to slow down and appreciate local traditions, and the various cultural experiences helped us connect more deeply with Albania itself.

One of my favourite activities was the cooking class. Rather than simply watching someone prepare food, we all got involved and learned how to make traditional Albanian dishes. I somehow found myself on herb-chopping duty, which earned me several enthusiastic cries of “Bravo!” from the chef, so I took that as confirmation that my culinary skills were finally being recognised.

We also made Byrek, the delicious layered pastry that’s popular throughout Albania. My primary responsibility seemed to be applying olive oil, and before long the chef had started calling out “Olive! Olive!” whenever she needed me. By the end of the session, I felt like I had unofficially been renamed Olive. It was one of those funny little moments that perfectly captures why experiences like this are so memorable.

“ANOTHER HIGHLIGHT WAS OUR BOAT TRIP ALONG THE COAST. THE SCENERY WAS STUNNING, BUT WHAT I ENJOYED MOST WAS HOW RELAXED THE WHOLE EXPERIENCE FELT.“

Another highlight was our boat trip along the coast. The scenery was stunning, but what I enjoyed most was how relaxed the whole experience felt. It gave everyone a chance to switch off, enjoy the sunshine and spend time together outside of the usual sightseeing schedule. Some of my favourite conversations happened during moments like that, where nobody was rushing anywhere and everyone could simply enjoy being present. Those shared experiences are often what turn a group of travellers into genuine friends.

“THE ALBANIAN RIVIERA WAS EVERY BIT AS BEAUTIFUL AS PEOPLE HAD TOLD ME IT WOULD BE“

A personal highlight for me was visiting Berat. It was such a beautiful and charming town, and I honestly wish we had more time there. The atmosphere was wonderful, the scenery was stunning, and it felt like one of those places where you could easily spend several days simply wandering around and soaking everything in. It was definitely one of the places that left me wanting more.

The Albanian Riviera was every bit as beautiful as people had told me it would be. The coastline is absolutely stunning, and it was easy to understand why so many travellers are starting to discover this part of the world. Even after spending time there, I still felt like I had only scratched the surface.

Food was another huge highlight, and I can’t write about Albania without mentioning the gelato. Somehow it became a running joke throughout the trip. At around one euro a scoop, it was almost impossible to resist and I reckon I got through about 30 scoops over the course of the trip. Every town seemed to have another gelato shop calling my name and trying different flavours became part of my daily routine. I’m fairly sure I consumed my body weight in gelato by the end of the trip, but it was absolutely worth it. In fact, I could probably write a completely separate review dedicated solely to Albanian gelato.

“LOOKING BACK, THOSE MOMENTS OF EVERYONE SINGING ALONG ON THE COACH ARE SOME OF THE MEMORIES THAT MAKE ME SMILE THE MOST”

Of course, no OWR trip would be complete without coach karaoke. Long travel days somehow become part of the adventure, and our unofficial anthem was always the Backstreet Boys’ I Want It That Way. Whether it was helping us get through the longer journeys or driving everyone else slightly mad, I’ll leave that open to interpretation. Either way, it became one of those recurring traditions that always brought the whole group together. Looking back, those moments of everyone singing along on the coach are some of the memories that make me smile the most.

One particularly special moment came when we were able to do a toast in Albania in honour of my friend’s stepdads who was Albanian. Being able to celebrate that connection while standing in his homeland made the moment feel even more meaningful. It was one of those small but memorable experiences that made the trio extra special and it meant so much to my friend.

“THE ORGANISATION IS THERE WHEN YOU NEED IT, BUT THE EXPERIENCE NEVER FEELS OVERLY STRUCTURED. INSTEAD, IT FEELS LIKE TRAVELLING WITH A GROUP OF FRIENDS WHO HAPPEN TO BE EXPLORING AN INCREDIBLE DESTINATION TOGETHER.”

A huge shout-out has to go to Simona from OWR who was absolutely fantastic throughout the entire journey. She was always up for a laugh, helped burp me on the bus when I was getting travel sick (yes, true story) and somehow tolerated our terrible jokes and questionable humour, and played a huge role in creating such a fun atmosphere within the group. It never felt like she was simply leading a trip; it felt like she was part of it.

Monica, our local guide, was also brilliant. She was knowledgeable, organised and always made sure everything ran smoothly, while still bringing plenty of energy and personality to the experience. Together, they struck that perfect balance between keeping everything on track and making sure everyone was having a great time.

That balance is one of the reasons I keep returning to OWR trips. The organisation is there when you need it, but the experience never feels overly structured. Instead, it feels like travelling with a group of friends who happen to be exploring an incredible destination together.

Overall, Albania completely lived up to my expectations and then some. The country is beautiful, welcoming, full of fascinating history and packed with memorable experiences. But more than anything, it reminded me why I love group travel in the first place. I came for Albania, but I left with even more appreciation for the friendships, laughter and shared memories that made the trip so special.

The trip also convinced me that I’ll definitely be back. While I fell in love with places like Berat and the Albanian Riviera, I left feeling like I’d only scratched the surface of what Albania has to offer. Next time, I’d love to explore more of Northern Albania and experience some of the hiking routes and mountain scenery and combining this with paying Simona a visit in North Macedonia :)

“FOR ANYONE CONSIDERING BOOKING THIS TRIP, MY ADVICE WOULD BE SIMPLE: DO IT”

For anyone considering booking this trip, my advice would be simple: do it. Come for the beaches, the history, the food and the scenery, but leave room for the unexpected moments too. Those are often the memories that stay with you long after you’ve returned home.

And one final piece of advice: make sure you leave plenty of space in your stomach for the gelato, cakes and all the incredible food Albania has to offer — although, based on my 30 scoops of gelato, I clearly didn’t need much encouragement!