At a glance
| Detail | |
|---|---|
| What it is | The Riviera's great scenic drive — switchbacks to ~1,027 m through pine forest |
| From Dhërmi | ≈15 km · ~40 min north on the SH8 |
| Pass vs tunnel | Take the pass for the views; the 2024 tunnel (~250 lek) saves 30–40 min in poor weather |
| Also | One of Albania's top paragliding launch sites (summer tandem flights) |
| Best time | Late spring–autumn, clear days; cold/foggy in winter |
| Best for | Scenic drive, mountain views, paragliding |
| Time needed | A stop en route, or a half-day |
The Riviera's great scenic drive
The Llogara Pass (Qafa e Llogarasë) is the moment the Albanian Riviera announces itself: the SH8 climbs through pine forest to around 1,027 metres, crests in the Ceraunian Mountains, and the whole turquoise coast drops away beneath you in one sweep. From Dhërmi it's only about a 40-minute drive north, which makes it an easy half-day outing or a scenic pause on the way in or out.
Since July 2024 a roughly 6 km tunnel runs straight underneath the range, so you can also skip the climb entirely. Our honest take, having driven both: take the pass at least once in daylight and clear weather, when the panoramic descent to the Ionian is the single best thing you'll see from the car — and use the tunnel (toll ~250 lek / €2.50, cash) when you land late or the cloud is down on the peaks.
More than a viewpoint
The pass sits inside Llogara National Park, established in 1966 and today covering roughly 1,769 hectares of black pine and fir. Up here the air is cool even in August, the forest is laced with short walking trails, and a cluster of long-standing cafés and restaurants near the top makes the obvious stop. It's also one of Albania's best-known paragliding launch sites, with tandem flights running off the ridge in summer.
There's history in the crossing, too: local tradition holds that Julius Caesar marched his legions over these mountains in 48 BC after landing at Palasë below, and a saddle near the top is still known as Caesar's Pass.
Making it a trip
A good loop from Dhërmi: drive up over the pass for the views, stop for coffee at the top, walk a short forest trail, then come back down through the tunnel — or reverse it. Push on over the top and the road drops to the port city of Vlorë, where the Riviera meets the motorway north. Add a paragliding flight and it fills a morning. Dress in a layer (it can be 10°C cooler than the beach), fuel up first, and go in daylight your first time, as the switchbacks are tight. See the full Llogara Pass guide and where it fits among the best day trips from Dhërmi.
