Turquoise waters, immaculate beaches, lush nature … No, you are not in the Maldives but in Europe! Discover this still confidential destination that will make your Instagram subscribers pale with envy.
Do you dream of the Maldives but fear the long flight and the price of the stay? What if we told you that an equally breathtaking alternative hid much closer to home in Europe? On Tiktok and Instagram, a trend is all the rage: the “dupes”, these cheaper but just as beautiful alternatives to overpriced products or destinations.
In the travel field, a particular destination is cutting the lion’s share thanks to this mode. Its breathtaking landscapes and crystalline waters have earned it a flattering nickname for several years. “It looks like the Maldives”, “The beaches are superb”, “the Instagrammable place” … The descriptions are complimentary on social networks where videos and photos (with or without filter?) There are many.
Better still, the term “Maldives de l’Europe”, regularly quoted by those who return from the country in possession of sublime photos, has now been imposed even in certain tourist guides, notably across the Channel.
It must be said that the parallel is striking at first glance: there are also immaculate beaches which extend as far as the eye can see, a sea with numerous shades of blue, secret coves which are available to daring and curious. Small more: we also find near the fascinating archaeological sites. Welcome to … Albania!
Seaside resorts in the south of the country attract the greatest number by their paradisiac beaches. One of them in Ksamil is considered one of the most beautiful in Europe. Only downside: the good plan begins to be known, the beaches already crowded in the high season and the places are expensive on the deckchairs by the sea. Good news, however, the whole Albanian riviera, with its 100 kilometers of preserved coast, will be able to seduce you. Instagrammable spots follow one another. Let us quote for example the sublime beach of Pema E Thate very close to Ksamil with its beds posed facing the sea.
The most beautiful in all of this? Albania remains a very affordable destination compared to other European or global jewels. One week at the hotel will cost you three times less on average than in Maldives.
For travelers wishing to discover more confidential Albania, it is also possible to explore sites classified at UNESCO. Among the inevitable, let us quote the Kreshmoi cave, the old Byzantine town of Girkaster or the lagoon of Lake Butrint. Dhermi, Himara or Saranda will finally be able to seduce you on the coast.