Table of Contents

Introduction
PART ONE GENERAL INFORMATION
Chapter 1 Background Information
Geography and climate, Natural history and conservation, History, Government and politics, Economy, Ethnic groups, Language, Religion, Education, Culture
Chapter 2 Practical Information
When to visit, Highlights, Suggested itineraries, Tour operators, Red tape, Getting there and away, Health, Safety, Women travellers, Black and minority ethnic travellers, Lesbian and gay travellers, Travellers with a disability, Travelling with children, What to take, Money, Budgeting, Getting around, Accommodation, Eating
and drinking, Public holidays, Shopping, Arts and entertainment, Photography, Media and communications, Albanian time and business, Cultural etiquette, Travelling positively
PART TWO THE GUIDE
Chapter 3 Tirana
Getting there and away, Getting around, Tourist information, Where to stay, Where to eat, Entertainment and nightlife, Shopping, Other practicalities, What to see and do
Chapter 4 Central Albania
Getting there and away, Durresi, Bashtova Castle, Divjaka-Karavasta National Park, Elbasani, Pellumbasi, Kruja
Chapter 5 The North
Getting there and away, Shkodra, Puka, Lezha, Mati, Mirdita, The Lura Lakes 150, Kukesi, Tropoja, The Big Highlands, Peshkopia
Chapter 6 The Southeast
Getting there and away, Korca, Voskopoja, Prehistoric sites, Pogradeci, Librazhdi, Shebenik-Jabllanica National Park, The Prespa Lakes, The Gramoz Mountains, Permeti
Chapter 7 The Southwest
Getting there and away, Saranda, Butrint, The Riviera, Vlora, Fieri, Byllis, Berati, Gjirokastra
Appendix 1 Language
Appendix 2 Further Information
Index

About the Author

Gillian Gloyer studied ancient languages at Wadham College, Oxford. Her first contact with Albania was in the 1980s, when she gazed from the deck of a ferry at the pristine beaches of the almost-closed country. From 1998 to 2002, she lived in Tirana, directing a long-term training programme with political parties. Her training schedule took her all over the country and gave her the chance to discover Albania's astonishingly rich history and culture, then almost unknown outside the country. She learned the language while she was working there and speaks it well.
Although now based in Edinburgh, Gillian visits Albania several times a year for both work and pleasure. She has participated in international election observation missions there and leads tour groups around the country's cultural and historical sites for several UK-based tour operators. She is a keen hillwalker and enjoys hiking in Albania's wildernesses.