Accessible Adventures in Albania: An Off-Season Road Trip is Full of Surprises

How a road trip made me love my wheels even more!

by Tanzila Khan

Albania is an Eastern European country that hardly ever comes up on TV news or tour pamphlets that advertise coastal destinations. That doesn’t stop me from visiting seven cities that give me countless memories. But is it accessible for women in wheelchairs? This is something I want to find out.

I arrive in Albania with my rucksack, three long colourful frocks, my laptop, wheelchair battery charger and some skincare. Little do I know that my colour palette is about to be changed forever as Albania offers a unique blend of natural beauty, rich history, and vibrant culture. A road trip through the southern part of the country allows me to explore stunning coastal towns, ancient ruins, and picturesque landscapes.

Getting to Albania

It is easy to get to Albania via flight from anywhere in the world. Although Tirana is the capital, I want to get away from the city and try something ‘off the beaten track’. And for that, you need a car and a friend who can drive you around. At this point, I am also thinking what you are thinking about driving myself and this is a dream I have parked on my dream board to be able to drive a wheelchair-adapted car across the Balkans. The best part about traveling is that you keep getting more ideas to travel further and in different ways!

It’s not hard to find and rent a car in Albania. But you do need to be physically fit, have an international driving license and be able to submit a safety deposit if you are taking the car without the driver. The cost is around €20-40 per day, depending on the vehicle type and rental duration. The fuel prices are approximately €1.50 per litre. In our Passat 2014 car, my wheelchair can be folded and kept at the back. My friend, who is a travel enthusiast himself, is driving and I am the car hostess, DJ and ‘mapchecker’. We are on our way!