Llogara Pass

The Llogara Pass is where the Albanian Riviera announces itself. The road climbs from Vlore through black pine forest to just over 1,000 metres, and then the trees open and the whole Ionian coast appears below - a vertical drop to turquoise water, with Corfu on the horizon and the beaches of the Riviera strung along the shore. The descent runs in tight hairpins through the national park, with viewpoints, paragliding launches and roadside restaurants known for lamb. Julius Caesar reportedly landed his troops nearby in pursuit of Pompey, and the pass has been the coast's gateway ever since.

What you actually see

• The pass viewpoint - the first sight of the Ionian coast far below.
• The hairpin descent - the road down through pine to Dhermi and the Riviera.
• Paragliding launches - flights from the ridge down toward the sea.
• Llogara National Park - pine forest walks and mountain air above the coast.

When to go

May to October for clear views and open restaurants; the pass can close briefly in winter snow. Early morning and late afternoon give the best light down the coast. Summer weekends bring heavy traffic on the hairpins.

Honest expectations

The road is winding and shared with buses and trucks - drivers should be comfortable with hairpins, and passengers prone to motion sickness should sit in front. A newer bypass tunnel has taken some traffic off the pass, which makes the old road quieter but means checking that navigation apps do not route you around the scenic section. Weather at the top can be cloudy while the coast below is clear.

Nearby

Dhermi and Himare on the Riviera, Vlore to the north and the Karaburun peninsula.