PARC NATUREL DE ZAGORIA

This natural park (Parku Natyror Zagoria) extends over 246 ^km2 around Sheper and the Zagoria valley. Numerous information panels have recently been installed thanks to funding from the Anglo-Dutch company Shell. Shell hopes to exploit the valley's large oil reserves. To counter this project, environmental protection associations are encouraging visitors to the region to showcase its tourist potential and dissuade the Albanian state from granting Shell drilling rights. Coming here to enjoy the superb scenery is therefore a militant act. And it's not in vain: it's this strategy that has enabled the Vjosa to be saved and classified as a national park in 2023. Here, you'll find a stunningly beautiful setting with many pleasant hiking trails. The Zagoria River is surrounded by six mountain ranges. To the west, Mount Lunxhëri rises to an altitude of 2,155 m, forming a "border" between the Zagoria and Drino (Gjirokastra) valleys. This massif includes Mount Çajupi (1,537 m) and its magnificent plateau, through which you can drive between Gjirokastra and Sheper. The Lunxhëri continues to the south-east with Mount Bureto (1,763 m), which overlooks Libohova and extends as far as Greece. To the east, the Zagoria is dominated by the Dhëmbel (2,050 m) and Nemërçka (2,485 m) mountains, which separate it from the Vjosa and the town of Përmet. Finally, to the north, the Zagoria joins the Vjosa under the Shëndelli (1,802 m) and Trebeshina (1,922 m) mountains.