Arben Kola

I am extremely well traveled and I have never come across a guide like Ben. I recently spent 7 days with Ben on a solo trip to Albania, hiking Zagoria valley and stopping in PERMET and Gijrokaste and ending in Tirana. He has an insane amount of knowledge and passion for his country but also is the most thoughtful person I have met. He bought me hiking boots because my shoes were not good for the weather, packed extra jackets, packed snacks, translated for me, taught me so many things, and made sure I always felt safe and comfortable. He went out of his way to make sure I had a memorable and special experience. We hiked through the mountains into villages and stayed in local homes where they cooked us traditional meals. The families opened up their homes and their hearts with open arms. On our last day in Tirana Ben took me to playoff soccer match and a pre-celebration to really put me in touch with every aspect of the Albanian culture. He knows people everywhere so we had above and beyond special experiences. On the trail it was just the two of us and the only people we ran into were shepherds and sheep. In each persons home and across every person who we met, they only spoke very highly of Ben - all telling me he is the best tour guide in Albania and I would have to agree. I am incredibly grateful for this special and magical experience and I would recommend Ben to anyone and everyone. I will for sure be back to do another tour with him and cannot say it enough that a trip with him is a MUST do!