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Albania

COUNTRY:
Albania
DEPARTURES:
Dates are governed by the requirements of the project so please contact us for future dates
PRICE:
From £580 (15 days) excluding flights. We can arrange flights from the UK
VOUCHERS:
Gift vouchers can not be used with this holiday
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Albania

Albania

Volunteer travel - what's it all about?
Are you looking for an adventurous trip with a purpose, or on a gap year or career break? If you want to make a difference in some of the world’s most important conservation areas - and in community projects - then volunteer trips are for you! Volunteers tend to have a sense of adventure, and come from a range of different backgrounds and from all over the world.
Edward Abbey said 'sentiment without action is the ruin of the soul'.

How this holiday makes a difference

For a country with such a rich historical heritage, there is limited capacity for any kind of work to preserve the buildings that give it its character. Our work represents early interventions by the Albanian National Trust to tackle these problems and importantly, the presence of 'outsiders' helps to show the way for local action. Attracting visitors to these valuable sites is equally important for Albania - a country desperately in need of income and sustainable tourism.

As the UK's biggest environmental volunteering charity, our aim is to make the maximum contribution to the communities and places we work in and we always work with a local partner organisation. These are unique holidays in a unique place. Working directly with the National Park management and local communities you'll have the chance to experience Albania in a way no other holiday can offer. Living, laughing and working as a group, you're not only changing the world, you'll change your life.

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Albania

Reviewed 23 Jul 2005 by Yvonne Turkistanli4 star rating

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?


Watching an Albanian play in the atmospheric surroundings of the amphitheatre at the Butrint National Park and returning in a packed (to the hilt) bus full of friendly, chattering Albanians and holding my breath each time the bus turned a corner on the narrow coast road home. Most memorable: being with a fun, like-minded group and practising our Albanian with the locals who were at all times friendly and courteous. Had a great time.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?


  • There ARE working ATMs (?) - machines from which you can get money in Sarande.
  • Don't take tea as a present as, apparently, the Albanians drink it when they are sick - they prefer coffee - you don't actually need to take any presents.
  • There are crisps and other snacks available but chocolate not so good.
  • If you are partial to jam at breakfast then take your own as the Albanian jam seems to taste the same whatever it is.
  • I didn't really need my mosquito net (i.e. don't especially buy one as I did) as the house we stayed in only seemed to have these insects in the shower and on the balcony at night. Repellent useful at work site when near water.


  • 3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?


    Yes, in that we spent money in the local community, used local housing and transport, ate and drank local food/beer and helped clear the Butrint excavation site of weeds etc ready for gravelling. We also chatted to locals which I think benefited both the Albanians and us.
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    Day tour/Attraction Reviews

    We invite every traveller who books a holiday via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the holidays they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same holiday can have different views!

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