New Salto in Albania: a new paddling-country.
Last spring, an international (Hungary, Poland, Albania and Belgium) team of kayakers explored some of the finest Albanian rivers. Albania is probably one of the last un-explored European kayak-regions, but it offers some fine, and hard, rivers. All kind of rivers can be found: volume, technical or just scenic.
The trip was organised by the Hungarian God-father of kayaking Jani Páhi and the local Albanian paddler Gent Mati, the perfect guide to have in Albania. The high-light of the trip was the first-run of the upper Shala, located in the remote northern mountain-range.
Belgian Pro-Team Paddler Steven Van den heuvel paddled his brand new new-Salto down the Upper-Shala. The roads (dirt-tracks) to the Shala-valley are covered with snow 6 months out of 12. A 4x4 is no luxuary, thats for sure.
Its a pity that most of the western Europeans are having a real negative image of Albania. The country has got the potential of becoming a new travel destination. Friendly people, good food and good beer, great rivers and beautifull mountains.
One thing is for sure, next year we return.
Steven Van den Heuvel / Belgien
The trip was organised by the Hungarian God-father of kayaking Jani Páhi and the local Albanian paddler Gent Mati, the perfect guide to have in Albania. The high-light of the trip was the first-run of the upper Shala, located in the remote northern mountain-range.
Belgian Pro-Team Paddler Steven Van den heuvel paddled his brand new new-Salto down the Upper-Shala. The roads (dirt-tracks) to the Shala-valley are covered with snow 6 months out of 12. A 4x4 is no luxuary, thats for sure.
Its a pity that most of the western Europeans are having a real negative image of Albania. The country has got the potential of becoming a new travel destination. Friendly people, good food and good beer, great rivers and beautifull mountains.
One thing is for sure, next year we return.
Steven Van den Heuvel / Belgien
posted by eskimo at 08:46
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