It has been almost a year since our unforgettable 10-day vacation in Albania with Benni. After numerous trips to different countries, we made the decision to travel with a personal guide for the first time. Previously, we had relied solely on the internet and various printed guides.

When we approached Benni for a suggested itinerary, he took the time to inquire about our interests, whether we preferred sports, hiking, or swimming, and our desired room classification, among other details. He then presented us with a perfect suggestion for a comprehensive round trip from North to South.

Not only did Benni promise to arrange a taxi for us to ensure a smooth start, but he ultimately decided to personally greet us at the airport, providing a wonderfully warm welcome. The following day, in Tirana, we had the pleasure of meeting his family before embarking on our adventure.

Initially, only the first few hotels were booked, as Benni wanted to gauge our preferences and get a better understanding of what we truly wanted to see and experience. As a result, he tailored the itinerary accordingly, ensuring we visited the most captivating places in Albania.

Why would I wholeheartedly recommend Benni to all my friends? Well, traveling with him means:

- He possesses an extensive network of connections across Albania, allowing us to interact with friendly locals everywhere we went.

- People throughout the country recognize him and express their gratitude for his assistance.

- Benni is an environmental activist who passionately fights against pollution and advocates for the preservation of nature. He goes beyond social media activism by actively participating in clean-up initiatives, often with a garbage bag in hand, alongside his friends and, of course, us.

- He possesses an astonishing breadth of knowledge spanning history, culture, politics, and even philosophy. Engaging in discussions about Spinoza's concept of the "Good" became a fascinating part of our journey.

- We had the freedom to shape our vacation according to our preferences, always having personal time whenever we needed it.

- Listening to Benni's life stories was an absolute delight, and we were certain they would make for a captivating bestseller.

In summary, our vacation with Benni in Albania was an exceptional experience that left a lasting impression. His expertise, genuine care, and commitment to both his clients and the environment make him an outstanding guide.

Claus & Steffi

Arben, the Albanian encyclopaedia 

Very highly recommend, friendly fun and very well organised, great hike/tour leader,

Looking forward to hiring him again

My perception of Albania was radically altered this month. After a week's hiking with (the font of all knowledge) Arben I am convinced I will be back again sooner rather than later. Arben is a leader dedicated to those in his charge, and his environmental passions. Both qualities are highly commendable. As a hike leader you cannot do better in Albania. The hikes were geared to ability but offered challenges and pleasures such as wild swimming, and cuktural awareness. At every stage of the hike our welfare and comfort was his paramount concern. I have no reservation in recommending Arben for anyone interested in visiting Albania.

We spent several days exploring Kukës and the surrounding area with Ben. He was the perfect guide for this trip:

We didn't have a set itinerary and Ben was very flexible in terms of day-to-day planning.

He cleverly asked us what we liked best and was able to make suggestions for the upcoming days to suit our interests.

We visited his home region where he knew everyone and was able to make several valuable contacts.

We have all been to Albania several times. Ben did not bore us with information we already knew, but constantly offered new interesting facts.

He was always willing to go the extra mile, even accompanying individual members of the group to fulfil their special wishes.

Last but not least: his humour, his extensive knowledge, his patience, his commitment to the environment, his incredible ability to imitate bird whistles and his mountain experience – safety first!

Arben (Ben) was our guide for seven days in Albania. He made a great trip  a life time experience. The benefit of going with Ben is he knows everybody.  An example we had a day tour set for Shkodra. Two things that had not been planned.

1) This was going to be a walking tour.  Prior to getting to Shkodra we mentioned we enjoyed biking. Guess what, when we arrived in Shkodra Ben had arranged for us to borrow a few bikes from a good friend and off we went. This allowed us to cover more ground than if we were walking.

2) My wife works with fabrics and design, duing our bike tour we stopped to visit a textile factory. This was not planned, but Ben a few days prior has asked Peggy (my wife) what she did for a living. He stored this in the back of his head and made the factory tour happen.

Everyday there were experiences like this. From seeing eco-farms, to stopping and visiting with families that lived along the hiking trail from Valbona to Theth.

Not only was Ben a great guide he arrange all our accommodations and places to eat. All top notch and great experiences.

We highly recommend Ben if you want to see the real Albania.