Lukova and the Coast

We were already thrilled at the first sight of our beautiful hotel. It was located slightly below the village of Lukova on a plateau above the sea.

The main building was painted in blue and white, which immediately made us think of Greece. We had a very spacious room with a balcony on the third floor, from which we could overlook the entire bay.

To the right of the hotel was another area that housed the reception, restaurant, bar, and a huge pool.

After unpacking, we immediately plunged into the cool water. The pool was delightful, and the panoramic view from it was breathtaking. We grabbed some cold drinks from the bar and enjoyed the next few hours in full relaxation.

In the evening, we had dinner at the hotel restaurant, which was a bit pricier than most other restaurants but truly exceptional in terms of cuisine. The best part, however, was the view over the bay in the light of the setting sun.

The next morning, we set off early for Butrint to avoid the heat of the day.

Butrint is an ancient city in southern Albania, not far from the Greek border. Its origins go back almost 2,800 years. This impressive city was once under Roman, Greek and Byzantine rule.

The archaeological site is remarkable. The ruins of buildings that are thousands of years old and have withstood all adversities give you an idea of what the city must have once looked like.

We spent hours wandering through the ruins. One highlight was the remains of an ancient cathedral, another was a very well-preserved castle, which now houses a museum where you can learn about the history of Butrint.

From there, once again, we enjoyed picturesque panoramic views all the way to Corfu.

In the café inside the site, we refreshed ourselves with ice-cold drinks after the extensive tour.

Then came another highlight – the very well-preserved amphitheater. The sheer size of this structure was impressive. You could almost feel the presence of visitors from times long past.

It was well past noon when we left Butrint.

Now we were in desperate need of a cool-down and something to eat. We hoped to find both at one of the beaches near our hotel.

Via an adventurous road that was unpaved and resembled more of a dirt path than a proper street, we slowly drove further and further downhill. The drive took almost half an hour. When we finally arrived, we were surprised by one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen in my life.

The water glittered turquoise in the afternoon sun. The beach seemed to stretch endlessly.

Parking cost 15 euros, but two sunbeds were included in the price and they were very comfortable.

The water was crystal clear and incredibly refreshing after the heat of Butrint.

Above the beach was a cozy little bar, where we enjoyed a lovely lunch with a view over the bay.

After lunch, we took a walk along the beach.

We spent the rest of the afternoon reading on the sunbed and swimming in the sea. It was one of the best beach days of my entire life.

Only when the sun was already very low did we head back to the hotel.

After freshening up, we again enjoyed a wonderful dinner at the hotel restaurant. This time it was already dark, but the view over the bay to the small illuminated villages was just as beautiful as the previous day at sunset.

On our last day in Lukova, we had planned a relaxing beach day. The drive to the second beach nearby was much easier than the one the day before. This time the road was paved, and we reached the beach in just ten minutes.

There was much more going on here than at the other beach – three beach bars, several parking areas, and numerous loungers – but the beach was no less beautiful.

Here, too, the water was crystal clear, the beach very clean, the loungers comfortable, and the food in the beach bar was a delight.

I continued reading my exciting book, swam in the sea, floated on the air mattress in the water, and enjoyed this dreamlike, relaxing day.

In the late afternoon, we returned to the hotel, where we once again ended the day with a wonderful dinner.

On our last morning in Lukova, we started the day – just as we had on the previous days – with a delightful breakfast by the pool.

Then we set off for the final leg of our journey: to Berat.