Years ago, Albania was considered a prime country for travelers looking for secluded natural beaches. The combination of a long beautiful coast and an undeveloped country attracted backpackers from all over the world. Those years have passed, and Albania is now a popular beach destination with more than 4 million tourists a year. Nevertheless, after a lot of research and some word to mouth tips, we found two real secret beaches in Albania. We are proud to tell you about them in this post and hope you will find the natural experience you seek.
The famous Albanian Riviera is in the southern part of Albania, by the Ionian sea. It is popular due to the water quality and cleanliness of the beach. In the last few years, Albania developed its tourism industry, bringing well-needed money and employment. On the other hand, the dream of finding a secluded beach is usually shattered by a new resort. That’s where we started our quest after secluded beaches-in the most touristic part of Albania.
What is a secret beach for us?
We are slow travelers and usually make an effort to stay over a week in each place. When we search for a beach to stay we have a few criteria in mind:
- a clean beach and clean water
- no heavy industry next to the beach
- the proximity of the guest house to the beach
- open space on the beach to play frisbee
- Natural surroundings
We Present to You Our Secret Beaches in the Albanian Riviera
We found two beaches to match those criteria, which we will tell you about now. Both did not have a formal name which is a good sign, and instead, we gave them new names for now and forever. If you have more spots you know of, please tell us in the comments below.
The Old Anchor Beach in Lukova
The Old Anchor beach sits below the village of Lukova. Don’t confuse it with the charming yet crowded Lukova beach. The area around the Beach is just the way we like it: pure nature.
A 15 min walk downhill from Lukova will bring you to the beach. When arriving at the bottom, all you have to do is choose your place for the day. There is a small and simple fish restaurant on the beach called The Old Anchor.
‘The Old Anchor’ rents out two chairs and a beach umbrella for 800 Lek. There’s also plenty of space to sit on the sand for free, so bring your beach umbrella.
The second option is ‘Bio Camping Lukova,’ their beach keeps it simple as you would expect from a camping site. They also have a nice bar on the beach with wooden furniture and banana trees. All are doing a great job in creating a pure vacation ambiance.
The third choice is to take advantage of the place you’re at and explore. When standing on the beach, try walking past the cliffs that are to your right or left. There, you’ll find beaches where you can be all alone. Enjoy yourself. You are the best.
Where to Stay in Lukova
Adrian Agustin Rooms
We stayed at Adrian Agustin Rooms. If you arrive with a car, the path from Lukova down to the guest house is gravel. There is no need to have a 4×4. I saw many regular cars that passed it with success. Chris, who runs the place together with his brother, is very knowledgeable and professional. Both of them grew up in Greece. Maybe because of that, the guest house is similar to a Greek one—something about the structure, colors, and general vibe.
We paid 25€ per night for a room with a small kitchen in mid-July. Excellent value for your money.
The hostel is located 15 min walk from the Old Anchor beach.
The Village of Lukova
Reaching the village by foot from the guest house was a typical Albanian-style adventure. You cAN get to Lukova village by walking uphill for 20 min from Adrian Augustin guest house, and If you’re lucky, a car may pass by and pick you up. If you’re lucky in another way, you could explore the paths up, as they’re frequently branching. Use the opportunity and don’t hesitate to take a new one every time.
That’s the way to discover Albania, taking a side path everywhere and anywhere. On one course, you could run into a 300-year-old church, when in another, a small waterfall and a river may cross your steps. The town has a mini-market, a few restaurants with a great view, and a grocery shop with vegetables that the owner picks from her private crop. She will show you if you ask her to.
How to Get To Lukova
Tirana – Lukova
From the regional bus terminal north and south in Tirana, next to Dogana roundabout, take the bus to Saranda and ask the bus driver to drop you off at Lukova. The ride lasts approx 6 hours and costs 1200 Lek, 10€. The bus departs seven times a day, mostly before 10 am (05:30 am, 07:30 am, 08:30 am, 09:45 am).
Vlora – Lukova
By the independence statute, from the central bus station, take the bus to Saranda and ask the bus driver to drop you off at Lukova. The bus departs twice a day (09:30 am, 11:00 am). Ask your host for the updated timetable, as the hours change frequently. The ticket costs 700 Lek, 6€.
We were expecting a 3-hour drive max, and it ended up being 5 hours. The road by the seaside is known to be the most beautiful road in Albania, and indeed this ride was an attraction that stands for itself. Without moving a bone, just by sitting down, adrenalin will flow in your bloodstream due to exposure to such magnificent sights.
Saranda – Lukova
From the central bus station, by Independence Park, take the bus to Borsh and ask the bus driver to drop you off at Lukova. The bus departs at 12:30 midday, the ride lasts approx one hour and costs 250 Lek, 2€. You can also take the bus to Vlora and ask the driver to drop you off at Lukova. The bus departs twice a day (08:00 am, 11:30 am).
South Borsh Beach
Borsh is known to be THE town if you’re looking to explore secret beaches in Albania’s coastline. Google maps show Borsh has a coastal strip of 8 km, where you’ll see many happy people crowded on the beach. On those private beaches, visitors pay for a beach umbrella, a sunbed, and all necessary facilities are provided. Well, that’s great, but not what we’re looking for.
The coastline of Borsh continues further south with small accommodations and beautiful, natural, secluded beaches. Just head south.
If your trip to Albania includes a car, consider yourself limitless, you can drive and explore till the sun sets. For those who use public transportation, as we do, you’re also unlimited but with extra use of your feet. So just walk approximately 20 min along the beach to reach the secluded coastline.
Where to Stay in South Borsh
Camping Jungle
The seaside hostel was our favorite place to stay in Albania. It goes by its name ‘Camping Jungle’ and keeps it very simple, so if you’re looking for luxury, it’s not the place for you, not even close. But, It was just what we were looking for, hearing the sound of the waves from our room, as it was literally 15m away from the beach. We stayed in a room with no AC for 25€ per night, if you want you can rent a tent for 10€ a night. The beach is clean and wide with clear water. On the campsite’s doorstep sits a basket with free beach umbrellas for you to use. We found it to be charming, as it’s very common to charge extra for beach umbrellas in the Albanian Riviera.
Grocery store 15 min walk away from the camping site. The restaurants are simple and simply good, with fair prices and great food. That’s how it is, with quality fresh products they don’t have to try too hard.
What to Pack
Here are the essentials you need to pack to have the best time in Albania’s secret beaches:
Backpack | Daypack | Sandals for Him & for Her | Swimsuit for Him & for Her | Sunscreen | Water bottle | GoPro | Kindle | Quick dry beach towel
How to Get to Borsh
The village of Borsh is on a cliff 4 km away from the beach. Most people reach the beach with a car from the village. If you travel without a car, you can easily find public transportation to Borsh, from Tirana, Vlora, Saranda, and more. When you get to the village of Borsh, contact your host, and most likely, they will come and pick you up, or you can hitchhike-very common and accepted all over Albania.
The timetable of buses frequently changes in Albania. Ask your current host or host to be if they know when the bus leaves the town you’re at.
Tirana – Borsh
From the regional bus terminal north and south in Tirana, next to Dogana roundabout, take the bus to Saranda and ask the bus driver to drop you off at Borsh. The ride lasts approx 6 hours and costs 1200 Lek, 10€. The bus departs seven times a day, most of them before 10 am (05:30 am, 07:30 am, 08:30 am, 09:45 am).
Vlora – Borsh
By the independence statute, from the central bus station, take the bus to Saranda and ask the bus driver to drop you off at Borsh. The bus departs twice a day (09:30 am, 11:00 am). Ask your host for the updated timetable, as the hours change frequently. The ticket costs 700 Lek, 6€.
Saranda – Borsh
From the central bus station, by Independence Park, take the bus to Borsh. The bus departs at 12:30 midday, and it’s the only one arriving at the beach of Borsh, the bus driver lives there 🙂 the ride lasts approx one hour and costs 250 Lek, 2€. You can also take the bus to Vlora and ask the driver to drop you off at Borsh. The bus departs twice a day (08:00 am, 11:30 am).
Final Thoughts
Our stay in these two secret beaches in the Albanian riviera brought us a purified sense of joy and freedom. We could walk around all day long with a swimsuit and get to know everybody on the beach since there weren’t many people. On both beaches, south of Borsh and Lukova, we felt part of a small new community. We wish you will find the time to follow our suggestions and enjoy them too.
If you have your own favorite secret beaches in Albania we will be thrilled to hear about them in the comments below.
And if you enjoyed these two secluded beaches but still have some ants in your pants and you need to dance, we recommend you to go and check out southeast Albania. It’s just a few hours away and will paint your vacation in Albania with colors and culture.
