Tepelene

Tepelenë is in Southeastern Albania. This district has two cities: Tepelenë and Memaliaj, and a lot of villages.

Understand

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

By bus

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

• 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

• 1 Castle remains of Tepelenë (Kështjella e Tepelenës). 
• 2 Church of Tepelenë, Rruga Ali Pashe Tepelena. 

Further afield

• 3 Ali Pasha Viaduct (Ura e Bëncës). An impressive viaduct on the way to Progonat and Golem Pass. (updated Mar 2023)
• 4 Peshtura waterfall (Ujëvara e Peshturës) (right next to Progonat). (updated Mar 2023)
• 5 Uji waterfall (Uji i Ftohte), E-853 road (SE 8 km of Tepelene). (updated Mar 2023)
• 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. (updated Mar 2023)
• Doshnica waterfall (Ujëvara e Doshnicës)

Do

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. (updated Mar 2023)

Further afield

• 2 Pete's Cave (Shpella Lekpetës), near Progonat (SW 12 km of Tepelene). (updated Mar 2023)
• 3 Petranik Cave (Shpella Petranikut). Could be explorable, but only if you have something to float like a small boat. (updated Mar 2023)
• 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

Postcards, handmade bags or clothes.

Eat

White cheese and wine.

Drink

Tepelena Water.

Sleep

• 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

• Përmet
• Fier
• Gjirokastër