What We Expected Versus What We Drove Through
The plan was simple: move slowly down the coast, stay 3–5 nights in each place, and enjoy the Albanian Riviera.
What we drove through was something else entirely.
Reality check:
Instead of quiet coastal towns, we found continuous construction, dust, and heavy machinery cutting into the mountains to build new resorts and future tourist infrastructure.
This post is not about fantasy Riviera marketing. It is about what the route actually looked and felt like.
Expectation versus reality
We expected to move slowly south, stop often, and decide where to stay based on what felt right.
That idea collapsed quickly.
- large active construction zones
- heavy machinery working close to the road
- dust and road disruption across multiple stretches
- traffic slowed by both trucks and animals
The potential is obvious. The problem is that you are travelling through the build phase, not the finished result.
Orikum to Dhërmi
The first stretch already showed that this was not going to be a calm coastal drive.
- road works in several stretches
- heavy trucks using narrow roads
- dust moving across the roadside and viewpoints
- construction pressure visible in the landscape
Section photos – Orikum to Dhërmi →
Dhërmi to Himarë
This part should have felt like one of the highlights of the coast.
Instead, the route kept confirming the same pattern.
- more construction than calm
- trucks, machines, and dust shaping the drive
- scenic value interrupted by active building zones
Section photos – Dhërmi to Himarë →
Himarë to Porto Palermo
Shorter distances on the map still did not mean easy progress.
- heavy equipment close to the road
- ongoing disruption in visible resort development areas
- slow progress despite limited distance
Section photos – Himarë to Porto Palermo →
Porto Palermo to Sarandë
By this stretch, the pattern was already clear: this was not an isolated section, but a wider coastal build-out.
- active development pressure continuing south
- trucks and roadside disruption still shaping pace
- dust, noise, and unfinished surroundings dominating the route
Section photos – Porto Palermo to Sarandë →
Livestock and road reality
Construction was not the only factor slowing the drive.
One factor not shown on maps is how often livestock becomes part of the road. There are no signs warning that animals may be on or occupying it.
Across multiple stretches, animals were not just crossing. They were moving along the road, sharing space with traffic.
- goats moving in groups
- sheep crossing slowly
- cows walking along road edges
- horses appearing near bends and open stretches
This is normal countryside behaviour and should be expected.
Combined with construction, trucks, and narrow roads, it adds another layer to travel time and unpredictability.
Section photos – Livestock and traffic →
Road note:
What this means for your trip
If you are planning a slow coastal stay, timing matters.
Right now, this is not a finished Riviera. It is a Riviera under construction.
The potential is obvious. But today, you are driving through the build phase.
Moving on
The route continues, but this stretch explains why the original plan collapsed. The coast may be impressive later. Right now, the build phase shapes the experience far more than the brochure image.