The Accursed Mountains are the top destination in Albania. Although their name might sound ominous, they are in fact dizzyingly beautiful, and the Albanians have put the blood feuds, from which they derive said title, firmly behind them. Backpackers now throng to these tip-top peaks, which remain relatively under the radar for many European travelers. Tradition runs almost as deep as the foothills of the mountains at Albania's answer to the Riviera, the Drymades. Technically, this is the name of the premier beach in the area, concealed among olive groves.
Another of Albania's highlights is the Ottoman quarter in Berat where the white houses throng the hills all the way up to its castle. This has earned Berat the nickname "town of a thousand windows", and a spot on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list. Nestled under the freezing peak of Mt Tomorri, the local atmosphere is far warmer.