Volunteer Programs in Albania

The isolating walls of an extreme communist regime were brought down more than two decades ago, but Albania remains something of a mystery to the outside world. Despite an almost non-existent tourist industry, Albania has all of the things people travel for. From the Riviera to the Alps, Albania ticks boxes that not even Lonely Planet knew existed.

As far as capitals go, Tirana is pretty darn cool. A history of communism and isolationism hasn’t been kind to the aesthetics of the city, but you can’t hate a place that paints its buildings a rainbow of colors to instill pride in its citizens and demonstrate the spirit and resilience of its people. It is Tirana’s spirit that makes it an exceptional place to volunteer in Albania. Even at its most dilapidated, or at its ugliest and poorest, Tirana is feisty and lovable.

If urban sprawls aren’t your thing, Albania has plenty of mountainous sprawl too. The Albanian Alps are, for lack of a better word, spectacular. The craggy mountains cradle rivers, lakes, gorges, and Europe’s southernmost glaciers. As well as villages that wouldn’t look out of place on a postcard, such as the unpronounceable Thethi and Valbonë. Simple, traditional ways of life have been carefully preserved in these villages, which volunteers will have the privilege of getting to know intimately.

If you want the best of everything, Gjirokaster strikes an easy balance between mountain village and capital city. And, it definitely has the best of everything: Ottoman-era houses, twisty cobbled streets, an Old Bazaar, and a castle to top it all off. Not to mention sweeping views across the Drina Valley, and long white beaches just a short drive away.