Today we continued northwards on Albania's mountain roads, from Himara to Radhima. The plan was only to travel a short distance, from one beach to another. But there are some mountains in between. We see the roads in front of us winding upwards, upwards in serpentines... Are we really going to drive there? Yes, we should!
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From Himara to Radhima
We have now driven with the motorhome from Himara, where we camped at Livadhi Beach to Radhima, where we would spend a few days on the beach. This is a 6 mile stretch, partly winding through dramatic mountain roads with stunning mountain and sea views.
Through Albanian villages on Albania's mountain roads
The roads are mostly of reasonably good quality, but it's still a challenging drive. It's steep and the curves are so sharp that you can barely get the motorhome around. Sometimes you drive into a small village and the stone walls and protruding roofs creep close to the narrow roads and our big car.
Animals on the road
And then there are the Albanian drivers who are in a hurry and must overtake at all costs! And then there are the cows and goats and dogs who suddenly decide to trot straight into the road.
Caution on Albania's mountain roads
The part about good quality roads, by the way, is tricky because it's just right. for the most part. When you least expect it, there may be a deep hole or a dent or an edge that has fallen off ...
Dizzying views on Albania's mountain roads
Strenuous driving or not, this is one of the most beautiful roads we have ever driven on. The mountains are dramatically high and disappear into the clouds, which lie just above us like a roof.
The surrounding landscape is alternately green and barren, and when you look down you see the long beautiful beaches and the turquoise sea. Our ears are repeatedly covered as we breathlessly look out over the expanse. I wonder how high up we really are?
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BP says:
What dramatic pictures and what an amazing landscape. You have already proven that you are very brave, but I think this beats previous posts. what a great adventure you are on! Thank you so much for letting me come along:-)
22 August 2015 - 17:10
Ditte says:
No "action film" is needed here. Exciting enough anyway. I don't think the road builders thought about either motorhomes or buses here.
Beautiful pictures from high altitudes, so I can understand why the ears are covered. At least the passenger has time to enjoy the view...
(Yesterday I visited Apolloresor online and they have a couple of hotels on the east coast but fly to Corfu. Does not seem to be a shortage of airports and long transfer distances do not want any guests.)
22 August 2015 - 17:57
Mr Steve says:
Nerve-wracking driving. Yes, even for me here in the calm of Getingstorp.
22 August 2015 - 18:23
admin says:
BP, the landscape is really amazing. Much more beautiful than I expected!
Ditte, maybe they didn't, yet we met several large buses... You must mean the west coast? I think Apollo mainly has hotels in Saranda?
Steve, yes the drive was probably a bit tiring, because when we arrived we fell asleep... 😉.
22 August 2015 - 18:45
Monica says:
And how do the car and lights work? Fantastic views, we would never have dared to do that, I can tell you! How is it otherwise? The language, the people, the service? Do you feel a bit lonely or have the tourists started coming?
22 August 2015 - 19:07
admin says:
Monica, thank you for asking! The car runs about the same as before, but perhaps a little worse because we sometimes have to have it idle for a while before we can start. We should go in for service at some point.......!!!! The people here feel ordinary, normal and very nice. As soon as we get out of the car at a campsite or car park they come up, shake hands, introduce themselves by name and want to know where we are from. They always ask us if everything is ok, if we want help with anything, etc. Almost everyone speaks English - some better and some worse. We have only met a few older people in the countryside who do not know English. Many others speak English fluently, at a completely different level than in France, Spain and Italy. In addition, they often speak other languages such as Greek, Italian or German. Their own language (Albanian) is incomprehensible, although there may be the occasional loanword that can be understood. In some places there are a lot of tourists (e.g. Saranda and Ksamil). When you are travelling in the countryside, you may be a bit more lonely, but if you come down to a beach, there are tourists. Many tourists come from Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania and Italy. In Saranda and Ksmail there are more tourists from Western Europe, e.g. Germans.
22 August 2015 - 19:21
ActiveDays-Camilla says:
Wow! Talk about the road/journey itself being an adventure 🙂 ).
22 August 2015 - 19:23
Åsa says:
Beautiful! I like mountain villages! (I live in one almost..!) Cool picture of goats at the petrol station! Drive carefully!
22 August 2015 - 19:32
admin says:
Camilla, yes indeed... and that is sometimes the charm of travelling by car/camper 😉.
Åsa, of course you like mountain villages! Yes, we are driving at about 25 km/h or something... 😉 .
22 August 2015 - 19:41
Deprivation of liberty says:
WOW what roads but you will be richly rewarded by the beautiful views. It must have been an amazing experience to have driven that trip. Beautiful pictures 🙂
22 August 2015 - 20:31
Across the board says:
If your car feels too big, we will never, ever go to Albania 😉.
But it is beautiful, so thank you for letting me go with you instead :p
22 August 2015 - 20:50
Matts Torebring says:
The thoughts and words are recognised, from some parts we drove in Croatia and Andorra, "Should we drive there? There's no point in going up, because you have to go down again quickly". Now we are there again... "A Fiat 500 on a trailer or a WW California as a second car"? With our nice car, I exclude the smallest passages. Enjoy as much as you can
22 August 2015 - 21:02
Travel Friday says:
Ugh, getting dizzy just looking at the pictures, I had kind of peed myself for fear that the car for some reason would go over the edge! But then I also get nicer for every year that passes.... 🙂
22 August 2015 - 21:20
Frankie & Co says:
Awesum! Chills and breathless swaying ?
22 August 2015 - 21:28
anita wag agrimanaki says:
I wonder if you should contact the Albanian state tourist office ..... I think you have made many people interested in Albania. I have never thought of Albania as a country you can "tourist" but you have really made me want to go there. (and we do not have SO far there)
22 August 2015 - 21:28
Lots of other stuff and some concrete says:
Beautiful, but I wouldn't want to go on those roads!
Take care and drive carefully!
Agneta
22 August 2015 - 21:44
admin says:
Ontripdk, it was incredibly nice to drive here and you drive slowly! 😉
Criss-cross, generally our car doesn't feel too big at all - if it did, Corsica was much worse. Some curves on this stretch were very tight. On the other hand, big buses were running there...
Matts, as I wrote above, of the places we have travelled to, Corsica is the most difficult with a small car. Here in Albania, it's actually fine, although you may have to choose among the roads. We thought that some curves were really sharp on this particular passage. On the other hand, we met big buses...
Travel Friday, I can also be grumpy, but it was good roads and with railings (unlike Corsica!).
Frankie & Co, yep, crazy beautiful!
Anita, maybe that's a good idea? You should definitely tour here! There are many nice places in the southern parts and we have actually seen some Greek tourists. There are certainly good prices even for you here! And it's really nice! 🙂
A lot of other things and some concrete, it was never really scary. Then Corsica was much worse! 😉
22 August 2015 - 22:07
Maggan and Ingemar says:
Hope you came down without any major problems 🙂 and beware of the curves where there are many pits and bad asphalt (sometimes there is none at all). Of course it is steep, but incredibly beautiful. 🙂 We reason that if buses and trucks can get through, we will probably also arrive even if it takes some time.
Yes, you have really experienced Albania and even more you will see and experience. Too bad it is not a warmer climate in winter.
I think you can get your car serviced if you look for a Fiat workshop (you have a Fiat engine, right?).
Good luck with your continued journey
22 August 2015 - 22:10
admin says:
Maggan and Ingemar, yes, we reason the same way, if a bus can drive here, so can we! and yes, we met several large buses. Yes, we have a Fiat engine, and we should be able to find a workshop somewhere! 🙂
22 August 2015 - 22:24
solan says:
"Vertiginous heights" took on a new meaning for me when I looked at the pictures...What views. Nice to hear that the people are so friendly, it seems to be like in the childhood of tourism, a curiosity about strangers that feels healthy. Are you going to visit Tirana?
23 August 2015 - 7:03
admin says:
Solan, the people here are really friendly and generous. Yesterday, for example, the owner came over to our motorhome in the evening and offered us each a raki! 😉 We will probably not go to Tirana (seems a bit stressful and messy to drive in) but into Macedonia instead, as many people have told us about that country. (Yes, we follow the news situation regarding the refugees and the closed border with Greece).
23 August 2015 - 7:14
Marina says:
What an amazingly beautiful road - but a bit scary at the same time! That said, what an adventure just to be able to find all these delicious challenges, and all the wonderful places you discover thanks to your efforts. How lovely!
23 August 2015 - 9:42
Ama de casa says:
Very beautiful! And very scary... 🙂
23 August 2015 - 10:26
Lena & Jan says:
I think we should stop complaining about the roads in Sweden! Breathtaking views, thanks for letting us come along, there seems to be wifi!?
23 August 2015 - 10:29
admin says:
Marina, just driving this road is an experience. As long as you're not in a hurry, it's fine 😉.
Ama de casa, luckily I was so busy taking photos that I didn't really get the "creepiness" 😉.
Lena & Jan, there is WiFi almost everywhere (campsites, restaurants etc) and so far it has not cost extra anywhere. It works better than in the other countries where we have travelled (Portugal, Spain, France, Italy).
23 August 2015 - 17:39
Ditte says:
Of course I mean the west coast. There is no coast on the eastern side....
Thanks for the reminder!
23 August 2015 - 18:06