The year · August is underlined
| Region | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Gjipe canyon walk |
The walk
| Distance | 7 km |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 250 m |
| Time | 3 h |
| Track | GPX in preparation |
Gjipe is the gap between the Riviera's two halves: a canyon cut into limestone that opens onto a beach with no road to it. The walk is about 7 km round trip with 250 m of ascent, two to four hours, and the ascent is all on the way back, which is the part people underestimate.
Cars stop at the head of the track above the gorge, near the ruined monastery, and the last stretch down is loose and steep enough that a rental car should not attempt it. Boats run in from Dhërmi and Himarë in season and are the easy option if you only want the beach; if you want the canyon, walk.
Time it for the shoulder. In May and June the water is swimmable and the bay is close to empty; in July and August the canyon holds the heat and the beach takes on a small resort's worth of boat arrivals. September and October give back the quiet with the sea still warm.
Nearby
AI imageHimarëThe Riviera town that stayed a town: pebble coves under olive hills, a working centre behind them, and prices that have risen at half Ksamil's rate.The Llogara pass trailsno photograph yetPine forest and a 1,000 m drop to the sea, on paths that are at their best in the two shoulder seasons and at their worst in the two months everyone drives over the pass.