By Cedric Rehman
It is a staggering view: four small islands only one stone’s throw away from the shore of Ksamili. This cozy little village is just some miles away from the vibrant town of Saranda, one of Albania’s hot spots for tourism in Southern Albania. The water of the sea is shining azure and it is clear as crystal. While I am wading through the warm water, with the gentle sea breeze in my face, it suddenly comes into my mind that one would have to pay thousands of Euros to enjoy a dramatic view like this in Western Europe- in a luxury resort that would have definitely been constructed at such an exceptional sight. But in Ksameli life still proceeds at a different pace. Despite of its potential to become a very popular destination for travelers there is not much of a tourist infrastructure existing yet in the village. On the other hand there is not a hint of a “get-as-much-as-you-can”-mentality among the local population towards foreigners, one often encounters at sites of major tourist attraction.
Still an insider’s tip
Up to the present Ksamili is indeed an insider’s tip for travelers who dispose of a sense for adventure and the desire to explore an outstanding place exclusively by themselves. In other words: if one is not expecting an “All-inclusive-Package” but on the contrary is able to organize accommodation by him- or herself – there are plenty of friendly locals at hand that will offer a room to tourists at a negotiable price – Ksamili will be great fun. The traveler is rewarded for a certain lack of comfort with an exclusive access to a paradise-like beach, flavorsome fresh fish meals and a likewise exclusive way to get in touch with the local population.
But the fun of making rarefaction experiences not only occurs in Ksamili, it seemed more as a general feature of traveling to the so called Albanian Riviera. In the small city of Himara where I stayed for the first night of my journey I could find a comfortable little hotel – directly at the shore and at a very moderate prize. The Llogara Pass, which I first had to cross before descending to Himara, amazed me with spectacular views and its untouched nature. The Bus ride itself on the narrow and winding road in a vehicle packed with local travelers was an adventure I would not have liked to miss.
A cultural heritage of the first range
In Butrint, the archeological site 18 Kilometers in the South of Saranda and next to Ksameli that was declared as a part of the world’s cultural heritage by the UNESCO you can almost see them rushing through: those Illyrians, Romans, Byzantines, Venetians and Ottomans who formed over centuries what now remains as a ruin site. Butrint is European history in a concentrate form and again it is still quite untouched and waiting there to be explored by curious travelers.
No hang-out place for Backpackers
If one is fed up with adventure Saranda is definitely the right place to be. There is not much that this tourist hot spot cannot offer in terms of comfort and entertainment. Hotels of all prize classes are at hand as well as what else forms part of the infrastructure that average-tourists from Western Europe expect of his or her travel destination. It is definitely less a hang-out place for Backpackers and more an attractive magnet for average tourists. Therefore it also a nice and interesting contrast to more remote destinations in the north and in the south of the town. Still Saranda is far away from being wasted by tourism and disfigured by ugly concrete blocks. It preserved its local charm, while being modern, clean and comfortable at the sane time.
Change is in the air
It is not a secret that the French tourism company “Club Mꥩteranꥢ is casting an eye on the Albanian Riviera. The amount of construction sites around Saranda and further north also suggest that calm times are coming to an end at this edge of Europe as well. Definitely tourism will be a significant factor in the economy of this region and will bring a lot of benefit to a region that lacks of other resources. Hopefully the inevitable development will not be at the expense of the unique character and bewildering beauty that marks the region. In any case it is recommendable to make a trip to the Southern Albanian coast soon – no doubt it will not stay an insider’s tip for long time.
