View from Above

Albania has its fair share of stunning mountains, with some being far more accessible than others. Albania's capital city, Tirana, lies at the foot of Mount Dajti. A hike to this peak is particularly worthwhile for the spectacular vantage point and view of the city below. There are two options for reaching this summit. A gondola service can take you very near the top giving you a lovely scope of the landscape as you ascend, or you can just scale right up the mountain yourself.

The path leading to the peak is

delightful and has everything you could ask for in a short mountain trail with a few extras as it is dotted with crumbling stone buildings and later some concrete bunkers from Albania's complicated past. It brings to mind the oft quoted line by Jane Austen, "What are men to rocks and mountains?" We even found just enough snow higher up for a few snow angels which left much to be desired and a rather refreshing snowball fight. Reaching the top, any exhaustion you feel is made entirely worth it as you see the city in a way you never would have otherwise.

When the time comes to return to Tirana, a short ride on the aforementioned gondola is the perfect way to marvel at what you have just climbed. The whole experience is a wonderful way to escape from the city when you only have a few hours. It also serves as a nice warmup (or perhaps a rude awakening if you have found all that delicious byrek catching up to you) before braving some of the more strenuous trails. I am certainly looking forward to experiencing more of Albania's alluring natural beauty.