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Grey slate roofs of Gjirokastër stepping down the hillside below the castle, the Drino valley beyondAI image

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Gjirokastër and the south

The stone town above the Drino valley, with Përmet's thermal baths, the Lengarica canyon and Butrint all inside a day's driving.

3 to 5 days · best Apr to Jun, Sep to Oct · 10 places

Base townsGjirokastër, Përmet
Typical stay3 to 5 days
Best monthsApr to Jun, Sep to Oct
Getting inOn the main road between Tirana and the Greek border at Kakavijë, with the coast to the west and Përmet up the Vjosa valley to the east.

The year · October is underlined

Gjirokastër and the south: viability by month
RegionJFMAMJJASOND
Gjirokastër and the south

Right now, in October: best. Autumn in the stone town. Read the whole of October.

  1. JanStone town, moody.
  2. FebQuietest month.
  3. MarSpring in the Drino valley.
  4. AprBaths and canyon season.
  5. May18-24°C, uncrowded.
  6. JunBefore peak heat.
  7. JulHot afternoons.
  8. AugHot, busier.
  9. SepIdeal walking weather.
  10. OctAutumn in the stone town.
  11. NovRain days climb.
  12. DecCold stone, quiet.

Gjirokastër is a stone town on a hillside above the Drino valley, a castle along its ridge and slate roofs stacked below it. It is the country's other UNESCO town, and it reads older and harder than Berat does.

The south is wider than the town. Përmet sits on the Vjosa, one of the last wild rivers in Europe, with the thermal baths at Bënjë and the Lengarica canyon beside it. Butrint and the coast are within a day's driving the other way, which makes this the region that puts a ruin, a canyon and a beach in the same week.

Places · 10 in Gjirokastër and the south

Grey slate roofs of Gjirokastër stepping down the hillside below the castle, the Drino valley beyondAI imageGjirokastërAutumn in the stone town, the best light of the year.The small sunk stone theatre at Butrint, hemmed in by woodland with water standing in its lowest rowsAI imageButrintThe best light of the year over the lagoon.The ramparts and vaulted gun gallery of Gjirokaster castle above the Drino valleyAI imageGjirokastër CastleAutumn light down the Drino, the best month of the year.The deep circular karst spring of the Blue Eye in its oak wood, the viewing platform at the bankAI imageBlue Eye of SarandëAutumn in the wood, and the light through the water at its best.The braided Vjosa at Permet, several channels threading pale gravel barsAI imagePërmetAutumn on the Vjosa and the clearest light of the year.The stone-walled thermal pools at Benje steaming at the river bank, the Ottoman arch behindAI imageBënjë Thermal BathsAutumn in the canyon, and cold enough for the water to make sense.The low cavea of Hadrianopolis on the Drino valley floor, mountains on both sidesAI imageHadrianopolisClear and cool, and the excavation season's work is visible.Libohove castle above the town with the Drino valley wall beyondAI imageLibohovëClear and cool, and the best light of the year on the walls.The Vjosa splitting into braided channels around gravel islands in the Kelcyre gorgeAI imageVjosa Wild River National ParkAutumn in the canyon, and the first rain puts the river back.The citadel and town of Tepelene above the pale gravel confluence of the Vjosa and DrinoAI imageTepelenëClear, cool, and the light on the gorge is the reason to be here.

Walks

RouteDistanceAscentTime
Lengarica canyon10 km150 m3.5 h

Routes through here

Decisions this region is part of

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