Llogara National Park

Llogara is unique among Albania’s national parks. Not because of its size, but rather due to its unusual blend of rugged mountainous terrain and the picturesque Ionian shore of the Albanian Riviera. The mountains do not rise more than two kilometres from the coast anywhere else in the country. The Llogara Pass is one of Europe’s top paragliding sites.

The park is known for its diverse flora and fauna, as well as its unique landscape characterized by limestone cliffs and dense forests. The stately and wind-whipped Heldreich’s pines are the national park’s icon.

Most people make do with the impressive views from the Llogara Pass (Qafa e Llogarasë, 1027 meters), where the SH8 road crosses the Ceraunian Mountains on the way from Vlorë to Albanian Riviera. But Llogara has much more to offer since it is an ideal destination for hikers and nature enthusiasts, offering various trails and opportunities to explore the pristine environment.

You have basically two options for where to go hiking from Llogara Pass: The first is a circular hike that leads around the antennas on the top of Maja e Thanasit (1352m) and then down to Llogara’s tourist village below the pass. The rather easy trail is marked and has 14 kilometres in total. You may find a lot of information on the area’s nature and trails at the newly established information centre near the tourist village.

The second option is more challenging and involves a climb to the summit of Maja e Qorrës, which rises to an altitude of 2018 metres. The more than three-hour steep climb (see map) is tough, though not technically difficult. You’ll be rewarded with fantastic views of the sea and the hinterland mountains around the Shushica Valley.

TIP: If you are in the mood for a multi-day hike in the coastal mountains, the following one belongs to the most beautiful in Albania: The trail starts at the Llogara Pass, climbs to Maja e Qorrës where it reaches the main ridge that leads you to the highest mountain of the Albanian coastline, Maja e Çikës (2045 m). The path then gradually descends to the shepherds’ huts on the plateau of Vali i Bufit, where it veers off the ridge and descends sharply to the village of Ilias. The trek ends at one of Albania’s most beautiful beaches, Gjipe. The overall difficult trip takes two days, you will have to carry all the water with you since the only spring is about an hour’s walk from Vali and Bufit). See map.

Llogara Pass is a Mecca of paragliding not only for Albanians. Take advantage of local agencies’ offers and treat yourself to a tandem flight that ends with a landing on one of the Ionian Sea’s beaches.

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