7-th Edition of South Outdoor Festival
The Region
Southern Albania is iconic and very famous for beautiful places to explore.
Southern Albania
The allure of Southern Albania lies in its diverse landscapes, from rugged alpine ridges to remote villages in lush river valleys, from long, unspoilt beaches to the highlands, the region truly caters to all tastes.
Where else can you capture the Mediterranean and 2000-metre peaks in the photo? The geography provides an abundance of things to do and places to discover. It’s in Southern Albania where you’ll really feel the full meaning of the term “above sea level” when gazing down the mountainside at the Ionian Sea’s crystal-clear waters.
At a Glance
Here, one can enjoy the beautiful golden beaches of the Riviera and sports such as like diving, boat tours, sailing, kayaking in turquoise waters. Alternatively, go and explore prehistoric caves and ancient villages and follow the traces of Julius Caesar and the trails of Communist partisans and shepherds by foot or mountain bike.
Not only will hikers and mountain bikers find a perfect playground here in the countryside, but climbers, paragliders and even gourmands, will find plenty to enjoy.
Himara Municipality
Twenty kilometres of beaches, the highest peaks of the Riviera and a marvellous countryside: Himara is the heart of Southern Albania. The villages of Qeparo, Dhermi, Himara, Borsh, and Lukova (among others!) are famous for their beaches, some wide and long, some hidden in tiny coves.
The area is also a dream for mountain lovers a well, and the old coastal villages hold the secrets of long-lost tales.
What makes this area so special? You may notice it when sampling the region’s delicacies or talking to the people, welcoming and proud of their past. The town and its 2400-year-old castle are a symbol of resistance, as is the region of Laberia which includes parts of the mountainous countryside.
The Coastline
The coastline is steep and rugged, often with many crevasses and coves, often making it an adventure to discover what’s around the next cove. The strong waves have created numerous capes, bays, and beaches that offer breath-taking views.
Starting from Karaburun Peninsula, with various hidden beaches such as in Grama Bay, to Palasa, Dhermi, Jala, Gjipe, Himara, Borsh, Lukova and a lot more, Southern Albania has some of the finest in Albania.
The Countryside
The Southern coastal mountains offer some of the most rewarding hikes in the entire country,
The area is traditionally an area for hiking and recreation, often centred on Llogara National Park, which covers the north-western edge of the coastal mountains. Behind this range perched in the valley of the Shushica River lie traditional villages (like Kuç, Vranisht, Kallarat, Pilur), where shepherds still take their herds to graze in mountain pastures and sing iso-polyphonic song, an Albanian folk music tradition, inscribed in UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage.
Borsh Village
The host of South Outdoor Festival, the village of Borsh is very well known for its olive groves and olive oil production, and is also host to extraordinary geological diversity, a blend of sea, mountains and amazing natural resources, as well as a rich cultural heritage, tradition and delicious cuisine that makes it ideal for all sorts of outdoor activities.
The People
Their dialect, culture, and traditions distinguish Southern Albanian people from the rest of the country, and are also famous for their hot temper, humour and hospitality. Maybe nature has established, as nowhere else, a special equilibrium among the mountains, sea, and greenery, directly influencing the character of its people.
The Climate
The southern coast is known for mild winters and hot and dry summers, with an average annual temperature of 17° C. There are some 2500 hours of sun annually (Borsh), spread out over 330 sunny days. From the beginning of May until the middle of October, the water temperature ranges from 17 to 22 °C.
Rainfall reaches 1351 mm (Himara) up to 1442 mm in Borsh, only 5% of which falls during the summer.
Trusted Partners
South Outdoor Festival is realized in strong partnership with the Albanian best Tour Operators who have been working in tourism sector for years, specializing active tourism and receiving awards for developing new tourist products and events within their businesses. The festival is strongly supported from GIZ Albania in collaboration with Ministry of Tourism and Environment, National Tourism Agency, Himara Municipality.
