Vlora Riviera Tour

A slower, more intimate day on the northern Riviera.

While the classic Albanian Riviera tour races through many villages, this full-day private itinerary settles into the northern stretch — Radhime, Orikum, Palasa and Dhërmi — for a deeper, more restorative day. It is designed for guests staying in Vlora who want a mix of scenery, one great swim, one great lunch, and time to genuinely sit still.

Morning — Radhime and the Vlora coast. After a hotel pickup, we drive south along the Lungomare and out onto the Radhime coast road — a spectacular corniche of hairpins and sea views, with pull-offs for photography and a first coffee stop at a family-run café perched over a small cove.

Late morning — the Llogara Pass. We climb the switchbacks of the Llogara Pass, gaining more than a thousand metres in twenty minutes. At the top, a walking pause among the black pines opens onto the classic panorama over the Ionian, with Corfu visible on a clear day and the Riviera villages drawn in miniature below.

Midday — Palasa or Dhërmi beach. The descent brings us to one of the two great northern Riviera beaches. Palasa is quieter and more dramatic — a long crescent of pale pebbles at the foot of the mountain — while Dhërmi offers beach clubs, cabanas and full service. We choose based on the day and the group's preferences and settle in for a long swim and lounge.

Lunch — a Riviera taverna. Lunch is on the water: grilled sea bream, marinated anchovies, salads with local olive oil, and cool white wine from Vlora's coastal vineyards.

Afternoon — Vuno village and Jale cove. After lunch, a short drive brings us to Vuno, a traditional hillside village that has kept its stone houses and stepped alleys largely intact. A gentle walk through the village leads to a viewpoint over Jale cove, with a final short beach stop or coffee before the return.

Evening — return over Llogara. The return over the pass at sunset is one of the great drives of the country — the sea silver, the mountains gold, the villages beginning to twinkle below.

How it runs. Private, air-conditioned vehicle with English-speaking driver-guide; genuinely flexible pace; recommended lunch venues booked ahead on request; bottled water on board. Ideal for guests who want the Riviera without the rush.