• Hike in Albania's magnificent mountains. The two areas with the best infrastructure (in terms of accommodation, guides etc) are the Albanian Alps in the far north and the Tomorri massif in the southeast. Outdoor Albania (www.outdooralbania.com) organises hiking, skiing and mountain-biking tours throughout the country.

• Explore Tirana's communist past. Sights include the murals and statues in the city centre, the house where Enver Hoxha lived and the Pyramid, built as his mausoleum. Afterwards, take a bus or taxi up to the Martyrs' (partisans') Cemetery, with its statue of Mother Albania.

• Take the ferry up the jade waters of Lake Komani, hemmed in on both sides with towering cliffs. Look out for pygmy cormorants, herons and golden eagles.

• Sunbathe or swim on one of Albania's beautiful beaches. They slope gently into the Adriatic and are more rugged further south. The lakes have beaches too. But be warned: in high season, all but the most remote beaches are crowded and dirty.

• Go white-water rafting through the spectacular canyons of the Osumi River. Outdoor Albania (www.outdooralbania.com) has qualified and experienced guides, or the Castle Park Hotel in Berati organises rafting weekends.

• Cycle (or drive, or take the bus) through the Gramoz mountains from Korça to Përmeti. Allow time to enjoy the dramatic views and sample the food in the restaurants along the way.

• Birdwatch in the coastal wetlands of Karavastaja, the westernmost breeding site of the Dalmatian pelican, or Kune-Vaini, home to spotted eagles, spoonbills and herons.

See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.