Albania in Early Spring

Mid March 2026

Albania is a fascinating country to visit and explore. I was in Albania with students from College Year in Athens - CYA (where my wife and friends teach). This was an exploratory trip with 25 undergrads.  I thank my friends at CYA, professors Aggeliki Dimitriadi (Political Science) and Aimee Placas (Anthropology) and especially Vassilis Karavassilis who supported the trip. The tour guide at Butrint, Blue Eye and Gyrokaster was Victor; with good humour.

Ours was a four-day trip. We flew into Tirana and left from Ioannina Airport. One night Tirana (Molaj Hotel, very central, clean, great location near Tirana's Grand Park and Skanderbey Square); Two nights at Saranda (Toer Hotel, 15 storey-high mega-beast, clean, new, good view from roof-restaurant). Ours was not a birding trip but we did do a lot of nature study. We had one scope was carried, rarely used; 2 binoculars, sometimes used by students.  

I share some snapshots here. 

Tirana - a city in change; some nice parks, some opportunities for biodiversity upgrades in the parks, the river...

And Tirana's Grand Park, a lovely oasis, a true-blue wonderful birding hotspot in the center of the City.

And a wonderful talk with the honorable Enkelejd Musabelliu, Deputy Minister of Economy, Culture, and Innovation at the Prime Minister's Office Building. Definately one of the trip's highlights. 

And the Bechisti Bridge below Tepelene on the Vjosa River.

Butrint National Park, the archaeological site is spectacular and a walk down a road from the nearby parking look-out was wanderful - and full of birds!

Saranda, probably the ugliest sea-side resort city. But in early morning, the sea has its charm. Ksamil, a beach resort a few kilometers south is little better than a total tourist trap but with amazing beach colours. 

The Blue Eye, karstic spring of the Bistritsa River near Saranda. 

And Gyrokastra, the old city and Castle are spectacular. Not too touristy yet. 

And finally, some dances from improptu groups practicing on a drizly afternoon at Tirana Grand Park. 

I had the opportunity again to track the 4-day tour, using eBird, contributing 11 checklists. Of course with even a medium-sized student group its difficult to do a good job at bird listing, but it worked well for us.