Herping in Albania: Explore Unique Herpetofauna Tours

From EUR1,600.00

Trip Type

Herping
Activities

Herping
Group Size

2 Min - 6 Max
Reviews

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Locations

Albania , All Destinations
Trip Duration

10 Day(s) 9 Night(s)

Trip code :WT-CODE 4147

This special spring herping expedition takes you deep into the wild heart of Albania, exploring some of the country's most remarkable and diverse ecosystems — from coastal lowlands and Mediterranean scrub to dramatic alpine highlands and pristine national parks. Over ten days, the journey follows a north–south arc through Albania’s richest herpetofaunal regions, offering exceptional opportunities to encounter snakes, lizards, tortoises, amphibians, and a variety of other wildlife, all set against outstanding natural scenery.

We begin in the warm lowlands of Fier, where the Mediterranean climate creates ideal conditions for some of Albania’s most iconic reptile species. From there, the route rises into the southern highlands of Tomorr National Park, a spectacular mountain landscape home to the rare Greek Meadow Viper — one of Europe’s most threatened vipers — and a mosaic of high-altitude species, orchids, butterflies, and raptors.

The adventure continues south toward Butrint National Park, Albania’s biodiversity jewel, where more than half of the country’s reptile species can be found within a surprisingly small area. Here, lush wetlands, ancient woodlands, and coastal habitats provide superb chances to observe terrapins, tortoises, whip snakes, glass lizards, and an impressive variety of amphibians and birds.

Travelling north again, we follow the course of great river valleys and rugged gorges toward Divjakë–Karavasta National Park, home to the famous Dalmatian Pelican colony and a rich assemblage of reptiles and amphibians, including the endemic Albanian Water Frog. The final leg of the tour takes us into the dramatic highlands of Kukës and onward to the historic city of Shkodra, where alpine habitats host species such as the Bosnian Viper, Alpine Newt, Fire Salamander, and countless high-mountain specialists.

Throughout the journey, we explore varied landscapes at the perfect time of year, combining daytime fieldwork with optional night searches using thermal cameras — greatly increasing our chances of encountering a wide range of nocturnal species. The tour is enriched by local knowledge, scenic picnic lunches, traditional food, and encounters with Albania’s cultural landmarks.

This is a true naturalist’s expedition: immersive, wide-ranging, and designed to reveal the extraordinary herpetofauna and biodiversity of Albania, from its warm lowlands to its rugged mountain peaks.

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Itineraries

Day 1

ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURE TO FIER

Upon arrival at Tirana International Airport, you will meet your driver and local guides before beginning the journey south toward our first destination: the region of Fier.

The Fier region lies within Albania’s Western Coastal Lowlands, a biogeographical area shaped by a Mediterranean climate that provides excellent conditions for a remarkable diversity of reptiles and amphibians.

Depending on the arrival time, we may pause for lunch at a traditional restaurant about 30 minutes from the airport. If we reach Fier in the early afternoon, we will check in at the hotel, take some time to rest, and later enjoy an early dinner either at the hotel or in a welcoming local restaurant.

After dinner, we will embark on our first night herping session, exploring areas close to the hotel. Our main targets will be some of the most emblematic nocturnal reptiles of the region: the European Cat Snake (Telescopus fallax), the Leopard Snake (Zamenis situla), and the elusive Sand Boa (Eryx jaculus). We will spend approximately two hours searching for these and other species.

In addition to reptiles, night walks in this habitat may also reveal interesting mammals such as the Eurasian Golden Jackal (Canis aureus) or the European Hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus), making this an exciting introduction to Albania’s wildlife.

Day 2

FIER REGION AND TOMORRI MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK

Today, we will get breakfast, check out from the hotel and go straight to herping in a site in the Fieri region. We will aim mainly the large snakes this morning, such as the Four-lined Snake (Elaphe quatrolineata), the Casipan Whipsnake (Dolichopis casipus), Eastern Montpellier Snake (Malpolon insignitus) and Aesculapian Snake (Zamenis longissimus). Nevertheless, we might see other species as well, such as the Glass Lizard (Pseudopus apodus), Balkan Green Lizard (Lacerta trilineata), Herman’s Tortoise (Testudo hermani) etc.

Apart from herpetofauna, the area is rich with the birds as well. We will certainly be able to see some of the nicest southern species, such as the Black-headed Bunting (Emberiza melanocephala), European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster), Eurasian Hoopoe (Upupa epops) etc.

After the morning herping session, we will start driving toward Tomorr National Park. On the way we will make a stop for a meal to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Berat. Berat is a 2400 years’ town holding a lot of historical and archaeological signs of different times. Here are found Byzantine churches as well as mosques built in the Ottoman times. Berati is differently known as the town of 1001 windows from the way the houses are built close to each other giving the impression of one single building with 1001 windows.

After lunch, we will continue the journey to the highlands of Tomorr National Park, where our hotel is located. We will make several stops on the way for herping and birding.

We will check in at the hotel and get a delicious dinner with local food products and traditional dishes.

After dinner we might make some night watches with thermal cameras, in a place where the Brown Bear (Ursus actros) and Grey Wolf (Canis lupus) are rather common.

Day 3

TOMORR NATIONAL PARK HIGHLANDS – THE DAY OF THE RARE VIPER

Today, we will spend the whole day in Tomorr National Park or in Albanian language “Parku Kombëtar Mali i Tomorrit” offers a captivating blend of dramatic mountain terrain, rich biodiversity, and cultural heritage. Dominated by the imposing Mount Tomorr (Çuka e Partizanit, 2,416 m), the park features rugged limestone karst, steep cliffs, deep gorges, and glacial cirques that create breathtaking scenery. Covering around 26,000 hectares, it lies within the Pindus mixed forest region and hosts diverse woodlands of beech, oak, pine, and hazel, providing habitat for the large carnivores and herbivores, birds, reptiles, and other wildlife. The park is renowned for its iconic karst landscapes, including the spectacular Osum Canyon and the picturesque Sotira and Bogovë waterfalls.

Beyond its natural beauty, Tomorr holds deep cultural and spiritual significance, with the revered Bektashi shrine of Abbas Ali at its summit and Christian celebrations rooted in local legend and ancient Illyrian tradition.

We will start the day early and go into the sites where we successfully found in our first herping tour several individuals of the Greek Meadow Viper (Vipera graeca), the rarest viper in Europe found only in the mountains of Albania and Greece.

We will spread in the area and search for the viper. In the meantime, we will be able to see a high diversity of species, including birds, butterflies, flowers etc. There are a few spots that look like meadows of orchids, tulips and other endemic species to the Balkans.

Particularly for birds we will be able to see some very nice species such as the Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), Rock Partridge (Alectoris graeca), Roufous-tailed Rock Thrush (Monticola saxatilis), Blue Rock Thrush (Monticola solitaries) etc.

Day 4

TOMORR NATIONAL PARK HIGHLANDS TO BUTRINT NATIONAL PARK

Today we will check out from the hotel in Tomorr NP and drive south toward Butrint National Park. On the way, we will make several stops, including along the Vjosa River, which recently became Europe’s first Wild River National Park.

This groundbreaking conservation area protects one of the last free-flowing rivers on the continent. Stretching over 270 kilometers from the Pindus Mountains in Greece to the Adriatic Sea in Albania, the Vjosa and its tributaries form a dynamic and untamed river system, with braided channels, oxbow lakes, islands, gravel bars, and floodplain forests.

We will stop at one or more scenic sites along the Vjosa River, where we will also enjoy a picnic lunch.

Afterward, we will continue the journey south, heading straight into the Butrint area. The route takes us through varied landscapes, and we will make time for birdwatching and reptile spotting along the way, particularly in promising sites near the eastern part of Butrint National Park. These habitats are known for species such as the Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus), Rock Nuthatch (Sitta neumayer), Eastern Orphean Warbler (Sylvia crassirostris), and reptiles like the Marginated Tortoise (Testudo marginata), Balkan Green Lizard (Lacerta trilineata), and Glass Lizard (Pseudopus apodus).

We expect to arrive in the Butrint area late in the afternoon. Accommodation will be in a nice hotel in Ksamil, a small coastal town at the edge of Butrint National Park. After check-in, we will enjoy an early dinner at a local restaurant and later conduct a night search for nocturnal herpetofauna.

Day 5

BUTRINT NATIONAL PARK AND SURROUNDING AREAS

Today we will spend the whole day herping in Butrint National Park.

Butrint National Park, situated at the most southern border of Albania is probably the most biodiversity rich site in Albania. It is recognized as the richest site in Albania as regards to the diversity of reptiles where in a relatively small surface are found over half of the reptile species that occur in the whole country.

Here it is easy to see the pond terrapins such as the European Pond Terrapin (Emys orbicularis) and Balkan Terrapin (Mauremys rivulata). In addition, it is one of the best areas in Albania where we can see the Marginated Tortoise (Testudo marginata). Moreover, the area offers great opportunities for seeing a good number of lizards including here the Balkan Wall Lizard (Podarcis tauricus), the Erhard’s Wall Lizard (Podarcis erhardi), the European Glass Lizard (Pseudopus apodus) etc. Furthermore, the area offers excellent opportunities for seeing a high number of snakes including here: The Greek Slow Worm (Anguis graeca), Sand Boa (Eryx jaculus), Eastern Montpellier Snake (Malpolon insignitus), Dahl’s Whip Snake (Platyceps najadum), Balkan Whip Snake (Hieropis gemonensis), Caspian Whip Snake (Delicophis caspius), Leopard Snake (Zamenis situla), Four-lined Snake (Elaphe quatrolineata) etc.

As regards to amphibians, in the area are commonly found the Common Toad (Bufo bufo) and Green Toad (Bufo viridis), the Common Tree Frog (Hyla arborea), the Epirus Water Frog (Phelopylax epiroticus) ect.

Despite herpetofauna, Butrint is one of the most important sites for birds in Albania, with over 200 species observed. Here there are opportunities to see the Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus rosesus), the Short–toed Snake Eagle (Circaetus gallicus), White Stork (Ciconia ciconia), Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) and interesting passerines such as Red-throated Pipit (Anthus cervinus) and many other species.

As regards to mammals, the area is well-known for the presence of the European Otter and the Golden Jackal and of course other species are present.

In Butrint, we will be herping in some very nice sites in the eastern part of Butrint National Park that appeared to be very productive in the herping tour of 2025. We manage to see quite a good number of species, such as the Eastern Montpellier Snake (Malpolon insignitus), the Greek Worm Snake (Xerotyphlops verimicularis), the Glass Lizard (Pseudopus aposus), Balkan Green Lizard (Lacerta trilineata) etc. We will hopefully see also the restricted range Marginated Tortoise (Testudo marginata) that is naturally found in some parts of Greece and Albania only. Moreover, we will also see the Epirus Water Frog (Pelophylax epeiroticus) here.

After the herping day, we will overnight in a nice hotel in Ksamil, a small coastal town at the edge of Butrint National Park. We will get an early dinner at the restaurant and do some night search for the night active species.

Day 6

BUTRINT NATIONAL PARK TO DIVJAKE KARAVASTA NATIONAL PARK

Check out form the hotel in Butrint after breakfast and drive for around 3.5 hours to Divjake-Karavasta National Park. Arrive in the National Park by mid-day and get lunch at a nice local restaurant there.

Divjake Karavasta National Park, is the most important bird area in Albania and one of the most important in the whole Mediterranean Basin. This area is distinguished for the presence of the unique colony of the Dalmatian Pelican (Pelicanus crispus) in Albania that is nesting in the same site since at least one century ago. We will take a short boat trip to approach the colony which is gathered in the time we will be there.

In addition, Divjake-Karavasta holds the largest mixed colony of herons in Albania with around 4000 breeding pairs of 6 different species of herons. The area is well-known as a breeding site for many water birds and is the main wintering site for waterfowl in Albania. The herpetofauna is also rich, holding a good population of the endemic Albanian Water Frog (Phelopylax shqipericus), but also quite many other species of other herpetofauna, including here Horned Viper (Vipera amodytes), Caspian Whip Snake (Delichopis caspius), Eastern Montpellier Snake (Malpolon insignitus), Glass Lizard (Pseudopus apodus), Herman’s Tortoise (Testudo hermanni) etc.

After the short boat trip, we will spend the day herping in Divjake-Karavasta National Park.

Day 7

DIVJAKE KARAVASTA NATIONAL PARK TO KUKES

Today we will check out from our hotel in Divjakë-Karavasta National Park and head north toward Kukës, traversing a corridor rich in natural diversity.

Our first stop will be at a scenic natural area along a tributary of the Mati River. Here we will search primarily for snakes, though the site supports a wide range of other wildlife. The area is well known for the Two-tailed Pasha butterfly (Charaxes jasius), as well as many other butterflies and insects. Birdlife is also rich: we may see the Golden Oriole (Oriolus oriolus), Black-headed Bunting (Emberiza melanocephala), and Eastern Subalpine Warbler (Curruca cantillans), among others.

Continuing toward Kukës, we will stop at the dramatic natyral gorge, a designated Natural Monument. This gorge stretches for about 3.5 km, narrowing at points to ~30 m across, with cliffs that rise up to 300 m above the river below. It lies between Mount Koritnik and Mount Gjallica, forming part of the Korab-Koritnik Nature Park. The landscape here is striking: sheer rock faces, lush vegetation clinging to the cliffs, and the river winding through the canyon.

The combination of sun-warmed rock surfaces, riparian zones, and shaded crevices creates excellent microhabitats for reptiles and amphibians. Water snakes are commonly seen, while the cliffs and forest edges offer habitat for larger and more elusive species. We will especially aim to find the Four-lined Snake (Elaphe quatuorlineata), one of Europe’s largest colubrids, as well as the Aesculapian Snake (Zamenis longissimus). Agile lacertids are likely to be spotted basking along rocky ledges, while the vegetation supports diverse birdlife, possibly including cliff-nesting raptors.

Beyond its herpetological value, this site is one of the most scenic natural sites of the Kukës region, making it a highlight of today’s journey.

In the early evening, we will reach our hotel in Kukës. After check-in, we will enjoy dinner and relax after a day of exploration through Albania’s varied landscapes.

Day 8

KUKES HIGHLANDS

Today we will start the day early and start our herping tour in the highlands of Kukes. Lunch will be taken as a picnic.

We will spend the whole day in very nice parts of the region highlands and search for different species including Bosnian Viper (Vipera berus bosniensis) and other such as Meadow Viper (Vipera ursinii macrops), Bosnian Sand Lizard (Lacerta agilis bosnica), Viviparous Lizard (Zootoca vivipara), Fire Salamander (Salamandra salamandra), Alpine Newt (Ichtyosaura alpestris), Macedonian Newt (Triturus macedonicus), Common Frong (Rana temporaria) etc.

Get back in late afternoon to early evening in the hotel in Kukes.

Day 9

KUKES TO SHKODER

After checking out from the hotel in Kukës, we begin our journey toward the city of Shkodra. The drive will take us along a scenic mountain road, where we will make several stops for herping and enjoying the natural surroundings. The rugged terrain, interspersed with forests, rocky slopes, and river valleys, offers excellent opportunities to encounter reptiles and other wildlife. On previous trips in this region, we recorded species such as Dahl’s Whip Snake (Platyceps najadum), along with other herpetofauna.

We will take a picnic lunch along the way to allow flexibility in the field and to maximize time in promising habitats.

By late afternoon we will arrive in Shkodra, one of Albania’s most historic and culturally significant cities. Shkodra lies on the shores of Lake Shkodra, the largest lake in the Balkans, and is framed by the Buna and Drin rivers. The imposing Rozafa Castle, which overlooks the city, offers sweeping views of the lake, rivers, and surrounding mountains. This strategic position has made Shkodra a crossroads of civilizations for millennia, with traces of Illyrian, Roman, Byzantine, Venetian, and Ottoman heritage still visible today.

The Shkodra region is also known for its natural richness. Lake Shkodra is a Ramsar-listed wetland of international importance, supporting a wealth of birdlife such as pygmy cormorants, herons, and pelicans, while its surrounding floodplains, reedbeds, and woodlands provide excellent habitat for amphibians and reptiles.

After checking in at our hotel, we will have an early dinner. Later in the evening, we will set out for a night search, with a focus on finding the Albanian Water Frog (Pelophylax shqipericus), a species endemic to this region. This will be a special highlight, as the species is restricted to northwestern Albania and parts of Montenegro.