What are the opening hours?

Monday 09:00 - 18:00 Tuesday 09:00 - 18:00 Wednesday 09:00 - 18:00 Thursday 09:00 - 18:00 Friday 09:00 - 18:00 Saturday 09:00 - 18:00 Sunday 09:00 - 18:00

The Shepherd’s Way Albania

Name: The Shepherd’s Way Albania
Address: GPJ9+M9V, Vermosh, 4304, AL
Telephone: +355688141758
Rating: 5

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The Shepherd’s Way Albania

We are a social business run by/for Malësorë shepherds, in Kelmend, northern Albania.
(3)

05/07/2024

We think it’s about time we give another one of our shepherd host families a proper introduction. 😉

Introducing: the Qosaj’s!

The Qosaj‘s are one of the sweetest (& silliest) shepherd families you could ever meet 😋, they are a family of 6; two parents and 4 children 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

Slide through to meet: Llesh, Marjana, Driton, Danjel, Desara and Driseld. (Try saying that 5 times fast hehe)

Check out their page on our website (see link in bio) to learn more about this lovely bunch!

03/07/2024

Feast your eyes on the breathtaking view from Maja e Vajushës, one of the most stunning hiking destinations in northern Albania! 🌄✨

Towering above the picturesque village of Lepushë, this viewpoint rewards those willing to embark on an 8-hour return hike with unparalleled vistas of the Albanian Alps. 🏞️

Our challenging trek to Maja e Vajushës is perfect for seasoned hikers, offering several beautiful viewpoints and (with our tours) the chance to stop and visit shepherds along the way.

As you ascend through rugged terrain, the journey itself becomes a testament to the incredible landscapes and the sense of accomplishment that awaits you at the summit. 🌿🚶‍♂️

Are you ready to take on the challenge and be rewarded with this view? Let us know in the comments below! ⬇️

🇦🇱

Photo credits: Francesca Haas

17/09/2023

A few of our favourite group selfies taken at the peak of Maja e Vajushes, right on the border of Albania and Montenegro. 🇦🇱⛰️🇲🇪

This is an ode to all our visitors (and locals!) who completed the advanced 7-8 return hike with us this summer. You are legends! 💪✨

Hit us up in the comments if you think you’d be up for the challenge! 🏃

17/09/2023

Local shepherd boy, Danjel, using my camera to make the most of the gorgeous golden hour light outside his family’s summer encampment in Pajë, northern Albania 📸 🌅 🇦🇱
- .m

17/09/2023

View of some lovely handmade embroidery hanging outside a local shepherd’s Stan in Pajë, in the high pastures of Lëpushë, Albania.

m

01/09/2023

We were so happy to host Lavdi, Lira and Frauke on tour with us last week. They were absolutely wonderful guests and we admired their adventurous spirit and positive attitude throughout their stay with us💫

On our 3 day tour, we were able to pack in many adventures, fun moments and unforgettable experiences with the Malësorë shepherds.

To find out more, be sure to check out Kosovo Girl Travels post below (and other social channels) for more impressions from her trip with us in our beloved Accursed Mountains! ⛰️🇦🇱

14/07/2023

Want to get to know one of our shepherd host families a little better?

Introducing: the Bikaj’s!

An incredibly warm, welcoming and lively bunch to say the least, 🤗 they are a big family of nine; two parents and seven children 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

Slide through to meet: Gazmend, Lule, Alfons (Fonsi), Valentina, Valeriana, Anjeza, Albona, Vilson and Valdjon.

Check out their page on our website (see link in bio) to learn more about this vibrant family!

14/07/2023

Indulge in the flavours of Albania's mountains! 🍽️✨ Savour the mouthwatering taste of the shepherd's delicious, home-grown, organic dishes made with love and traditional techniques.
Cooking and eating with them in their home is an authentic farm-to-table encounter like no other, so join us for one of our immersive tours to experience it for yourself!

Tag a friend who would love to join you for a culinary adventure in the mountains! 🏔️🍴

Photo by .m

14/07/2023

Get lost in the wonders of northern Albania’s nature! ⛰️ The incredible landscapes of this region are waiting to be explored.

Which image stole your heart? ✨ Swipe through this carousel of Kelmend‘s natural wonders and let us know in the comments which one you‘d love to be transported to 💖 Better yet, tag a friend you‘d love to bring along with you on your Albanian hiking adventure.

04/07/2023

The idea for The Shepherd's Way Albania arose because of a dire need to economically support the Malësorë shepherds in the Kelmend region and preserve their precious cultural heritage from becoming extinct.

The sad reality is that much of the limited tourism here benefits only a few that can afford to run guesthouses or non-local guides from external tourist operators whose revenue never gets reinvested locally.

Therefore, we hope that we can empower the shepherds and their local community by:

- Giving them a supplementary income that improves their way of life without jeopardising their cultural identity

- Protecting the integrity of their pastoral lifestyle and practises, which deserves to be recognised within Albania and beyond

- Encourage locals to improve their language skills to open up communication with the outside world, which will open the doors to more excellent opportunities to earn a living for themselves, their families and their community.

- Give responsible, conscientious travellers the chance to experience a truly unique adventure that is fun and exciting for them, showing the shepherds that the outside world is interested in paying to visit, experience and make memories with them in this stunning part of the world.‍

So travel with us and make a difference! Embark on a meaningful travel experience and support local communities in northern Albania. Reserve your spot now!

Photos by .m

03/07/2023

In March 2021, our founder, Nina, a budding documentary photographer looking for her first project, found herself in Tamarë, in the heart of the mysterious Accursed mountains of northern Albania. She was invited by an anthropologist living there to help document the life of Malësorë shepherds living in the region. Not knowing what to expect, she showed up with a small backpack, a second-hand camera, and a lot of curious excitement. As fate would have it, it was all she needed for a trip that would change her life.

From the moment she arrived, she was humbled by this region and the community of vibrant individuals within it. Over time, she came to learn a lot about the shepherd's unique way of life and was astounded by their resilience to many of the adversities that they faced. She was introduced to many shepherd families, including the family of our second founder, Fonsi. She quickly fell in love with the region and its people.

She wanted to learn and document so much about their lives, so she committed to work on her project long-term. She travelled back and forth for over a year until she could finally save enough money to return for an extended period (where she is right now!)

But to her surprise, many community members didn't see the value of their way of life. They were always asking her why she kept leaving her residence country, Germany and returning repeatedly to Albania. Many of the people she met confided that they were desperate to leave Albania to try and live in places like the USA, Germany, Italy, or the UK for the chance to live "better" lives working underpaid, unskilled jobs as undocumented migrants there.

Determined to try and do something about this, Nina teamed up with a local shepherd, Fonsi, to create The Shepherd's Way Albania, a social business aimed to empower local shepherds and help them gain the recognition they deserve for upholding their unique cultural heritage.

They hope that by inviting conscious-minded travellers to experience an authentic taste of the everyday lives of Malësorë shepherds in northern Albania, others will fall in love with the region just as they do and more can be done to protect this vanishing way of life.

01/07/2023

Time for a little introduction!

Scroll through to get to know us a bit better ;)

Interested in our project? See the link in bio to book your tour with us today!

Photos by .m

29/06/2023

Are you looking for a unique experience in northern Albania?

Create special memories and support a special cultural heritage with Malësorë shepherds in the heart of the Albanian Alps!

See the link to our website in our bio and book a tour with us today!

Address

GPJ9+M9V
Vermosh
4304

Opening Hours

Monday	09:00 - 18:00
Tuesday	09:00 - 18:00
Wednesday	09:00 - 18:00
Thursday	09:00 - 18:00
Friday	09:00 - 18:00
Saturday	09:00 - 18:00
Sunday	09:00 - 18:00

Telephone

+355688141758

Website

http://theshepherdsway-albania.com/

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Videos

Teaching Soulja Boy to the next generation of Albanian shepherds? Now that’s a cultural exchange even *we* didn’t see coming 😂🌏 #crankthatworldwide #souljaboy #throwback #culturalexchange #culturalcrossover #traditionaldance #traveladventures #vibes #funnyreels #travelcommunity

An impromptu concert under the mountain sun, bringing smiles to everyone. 🎶☀️ Thank you @cemmerino for bringing the vibes to our shepherd kids last year 😇✨ #musicalmoments #shepherdlife #northernalbania #happykidshappylife #mountainmusic #happyvibes #shqiperia

Sometimes the best spots take a little extra effort to reach. Watch till the end to see why this hike is totally worth it! ✨🏝️ If you want to see this spot for yourself, you can always book a tour with our shepherds who can guide you to the places that only the locals know 😉 As always, check out the link in our bio to book! #hiddengems #secretlagoon #northernalbania #adventureawaits

Lunchtime in the Albanian Alps: good food, great company, and even better dance moves! 💃 Video credits (and many thanks) go to the talented: @dan.epi #albanianalps #travelmoments #localculture #danceparty #travelfun #mountainlife #culturalexperience

Here’s a little look at some of the fun moments we’ve shared so far since the opening of our summer tourist season in Lëpushë, northern Albania! Like what you see? Come and join us in experiencing the magic of the Northern Albanian Alps and discover the fun to be shared when locals and travellers unite. We promise our tours will be an experience you never forget 🌄✨ #newfriendships #albanianalps #culturaladventures

Embrace the serenity of the northern Albanian mountains, where every hike with our shepherds brings you away from the stresses of modern life and closer to nature. 🌄🐴 #mountainretreat #albanianadventures #horsebackriding #offthebeatenpath

Nothing unites travellers and locals quite like carpool karaoke - and even more so when a live musician is involved! 🤘🎶 Our tourist season is starting off strong with our first group of visitors here in Lepushe, Albania! If you want to experience fun travel moments with locals and tourists alike, our tours could be just the thing for you, so check out the link in our bio for more info about our immersive, cultural tours in the northern Albanian Alps ✨⛰️🇦🇱 Speaking of connecting through music, what’s your favourite roadtrip songs to listen to with friends? Let us know in the comments! 👇

Something special to add to the bucket list: Riding a horse into the sunset - Albanian style 🐎🇦🇱 Video by: @_fonsi_00_

We bet you’ve never seen #workingfromhome quite like this before 😅🐏🧑‍💻 Living and working with the Malësorë shepherds in their summer “Stans” is always full of surprises, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. 🫶 #workfromhome #workfromanywhere #digitalnomadlife #remoteworking #offthegrid #offthebeatenpath #farmlifestyle #localbusiness