Understand
[edit]Tepelenë district includes "Kurvelesh", a region famous for its bravery and polyphonic characteristic songs. This region has 15 villages, which are: Gusmari, Vërmiku, Nivica, Rexhini, Progonati, Lekdushi, Golemi, Kaparieli, Picari, Kolonja, Kuç, Bolenë, Kallarat, Fterrë and Çorraj.
Get in
[edit]By bus
[edit]Check the Tirana#By bus timetable for southbound connection details. The price is around 700 lek. Tell the driver to leave you in Tepelenë.
By car
[edit]- From Tirana, you can get to Tepelenë following the itinerary Tirana-Durres-Rrogozhine-Lushnje-Fier-Levan-Tepelenë (3–3½ hr). The roadway is new and has good quality. From Greece, you can go through Kakavije-Gjirokaster-Tepelenë (1–1⅓ hr).
- From Kosovo or Montenegro, head to Tirana first (3-4 hr), and then follow the above description.
- From Macedonia, you follow Qafe Thane-Librazhd-Elbasan-Rrogozhine-Lushnje-Fier-Tepelenë (3–3½ hr from Qafe Thane).
See
[edit]
Map of Tepelene
- 1 Castle remains of Tepelenë (Kështjella e Tepelenës).
- 2 Church of Tepelenë, Rruga Ali Pashe Tepelena.
Further afield
[edit]- 3 Ali Pasha Viaduct (Ura e Bëncës). An impressive viaduct on the way to Progonat and Golem Pass.
- 4 Peshtura waterfall (Ujëvara e Peshturës) (right next to Progonat).
- 5 Uji waterfall (Uji i Ftohte), E-853 road (SE 8 km of Tepelene).
- 6 Blue Eye (Uij i Zi). One of many blue eyes in Albania. Larger, better for swimming and less touristy than its cousin near Sarandë.
- Doshnica waterfall (Ujëvara e Doshnicës)
Do
[edit]Walk around Kurveleshi. Ask for a guesthouse to the local tourist information office and enjoy the well-known hospitality.
- For hiking try 1 Golem Pass (Nivica-Senica). You can start the hike in Nivice or Progonat and head down till Senica, from where you can head to Sarandë or Gjirokastër.
Download trail coordinates: GPX, KML.
Further afield
[edit]- 2 Pete's Cave (Shpella Lekpetës), near Progonat (SW 12 km of Tepelene).
- 3 Petranik Cave (Shpella Petranikut). Could be explorable, but only if you have something to float like a small boat.
- Dragoti Cave.
- Water's Mom Cave.
- Zemren e Shendelis.
- Lekdushi Springs.
- Nivica Canyons.
- 4 Këlcyrë Gorge (Gryka e Këlcyrës) (E 25 km). This is also breathtaking and memorable place, created by the river Vjosë. Visit the Ortodox Monastery (Manastiri Ortodoks Gryka e Këlcyrës).
- Hole of Feuds (Pusi i Hasmerive). One of the most interesting things to visit in this region. The legend says that in ancient times, the people killed for "feuds" (see Blood Feud in Albania) were buried there.
Buy
[edit]Postcards, handmade bags or clothes.
Eat
[edit]White cheese and wine.
Drink
[edit]Tepelena Water.
Sleep
[edit]- Hotel Vea (600 m from the center) – Hotel Veal has a garden, bar, terrace, and free WiFi. All guest rooms in the hotel are fitted with a flat-screen TV
- Hotel Auto Grill Roberti (2.6 km from center) – Located in Tepelenë, Hotel Auto Grill Roberti features a garden, a bar and a terrace
- Guesthouse Lord Byron (1.1 km from the center) – Guesthouse Lord Byron features a seasonal outdoor swimming pool, garden, a fitness centre and bar in Tepelenë.
Go next
[edit]- Përmet-Tepelena is 35 kilometers (about 22 miles) northwest of Permet.
- Fier-Tepelena is 80 kilometers( about %0 miles ) northeast of Fier.
- Gjirokastër-Tepelena is 70 kilometers(about 43 miles) northeast of Gjirokaster.