Making ALBANIAN RAKI in the Albanian Alps & Attractions | Valbona, Albania

🏨 GUESTHOUSE KOLGJONI: / guesthousekolgjoni
🌎 TRAVEL MEDIA EU: / travelmedia.eu
🇦🇱 DAVID’S BEEN HERE ALBANIA SHIRTS: teespring.com/...
As my second full day back in Albania continued, I ventured even further north to the town of Valbonë! Join me as I enjoy some amazing raki in the Albanian Alps and visit attractions in Valbonë!
🚗 RENTAL CAR ALBANIA: / rentalcaralbania
My adventure began with my boy Erjan from Travel Media EU in beautiful Valbonë. It’s located in the heart of the Albanian Alps in the northern part of the country, close to the border with Montenegro. On the other side of the mountain is Theth, an alpine village I visited two months earlier. The hike from Theth to Valbonë is eight hours!
This area is popular for hiking and seeing the lake. The Valbonë River is gorgeous, and since it was becoming winter, it was more swollen than usual. Across a bridge, we saw some stone houses, which were built a few hundred years ago. One of them is used as a corn mill!
We hiked around the river. The water is super fresh and the air quality is incredible. From there, we hopped back in the car and drove to the lake. We were getting close to sunset. We hopped back out and set out on a 15-minute hike past huge stones. And lots of trees. The path there is marked by red markers on the stones.
The path was a little slippery from rain or snow, but overall, it was easy to navigate. It’s a beginners’ hike, so anyone can do it, even children. About 220 meters from the main road are the crystal blue waters of Xhemes’ Lake. It’s a small, natural lake framed by the mountains and is so beautiful! It’s surrounded by stones and is so peaceful!
Then, Erjan found a large mushroom. I’d never seen one that big! It smelled amazing. Valbonë is famous for relaxation and has lots of guesthouses. The town is similar to Theth, with massive peaks everywhere.
We stopped at a small local souvenir shop, which sells high-quality mountain tea, traditional handmade goods (scarves, socks, hats), and local honey. No one was at the stand, so I took a few things and left the money there.
Then, we headed to Guesthouse Kolgjoni! We had to cross the bedrock of the river to get there. If the river is flowing, you have to cross by boat.
The guesthouse is made up of stone and wooden housing. There are two dining areas, a place where you can make a fire, and the Stone House Hotel. There, we met Kola and Bledar, who showed us the rooms. There are 11 rooms and 10 bathrooms in total.
I loved the stonework! The building was built in 1960 and was restored four years ago. The biggest room is at the top. There are four beds in that room and cabinets. There’s also an incredible view from the balcony.
Then, we went to see how they make some plum raki! It was good but very strong! I thought it would be weaker than grape raki! I saw where they ferment the plums for up to three week and then got to see the entire raki-making process!
In the kitchen, they were making cheese, potatoes with cheese, a pie with noodles and cheese called pasticho, stuffed peppers with cream, cabbage salad, beef, yogurt, and more!
The dining room was warm and cozy. I couldn’t wait to eat some dairy! The pasticho was like a cheesy lasagna. I also loved the crunchy cabbage and cheesy potatoes. The beef was nice and fatty, and the creamy peppers were like peppers with sour cream. The crumbly cheese was also fantastic! Everything was farm-to-table and so good!
Where have you been?
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About Me:
My name is David Hoffmann. For the last 12 years, I have been traveling around the world in search of unique culture, food, and history! Since starting David’s Been Here in 2008, I have traveled to over 1,100 destinations in 79 countries, which I welcome you to check out on my KZbin channel, travel blog, and social media sites.
I focus a great deal on food and historical sites, as you probably have seen! I love to experience the different flavors that each destination has to offer, from casual street food to gourmet restaurant dining. I’m also passionate about learning about the local history and culture.
P.S. Thank you for watching my videos and subscribing!

[@Davidsbeenhere]

Thank you for watching my Making Albanian Raki in Valbona!!! If you're new to my channel please SUBSCRIBE ​bit.ly/DBH-SUB​ for new travel content every week! Follow me on Instagram instagram.com/davidsbeenhere/

[@zayndominick3842]

i guess it's kinda off topic but do anyone know a good site to watch newly released series online ?

[@ashtonalejandro5816]

@Zayn Dominick try FlixZone. Just google for it =)

[@Lucia-of1yl]

Can’t wait to visit next year cheers from Australia 🇦🇺🇦🇱

[@mikelo8581]

Me too

[@andreanicolas9363]

You're more than welcomed! *

[@mikelo8581]

@@andreanicolas9363 po e ke lafin per mu ne vendin Tim do vi

[@mppower5141]

You definitely should because u will love it 💯

[@1998-h1r]

💪🏻🇦🇱💪🏻🇦🇱💪🏻🇦🇱💪🏻💪🏻🇦🇱

[@tritritratra6169]

Beautiful country, huge mountains and fantastic food . Love &,respect from Romania 🇷🇴

[@albanaisalbanais5281]

Mulțumesc!

[@gent451]

💗from AL

[@mr.b6471]

Romania has beautiful mountains also, Ive loved it.

[@lorybaby7865]

Hello romania

[@kasterkemal]

the Albanian hospitality is unique! wonderful people and country.

[@JakeMillerDoesTravel]

It’s so beautiful there!

[@jacobharper3814]

Agreed! I’ve never thought about the Albania countryside but this is awesome haha

[@kanishkagoswami6261]

This was omg definitely the best adventure ...in this albania series.

[@1998-h1r]

🇦🇱💪🏻🇦🇱💪🏻🇦🇱💪🏻🇦🇱

[@ALKUKES]

that raki making getting that footage you did well

[@dionberisha5862]

So you see albanians arent thiefs and they arent without nature they are beautyful and respektfull as allways

[@noizyshakur9684]

Welcom Back...David and Erjan cool guys 🇦🇱👍

[@jennylolo5179]

I just hope you upload a new video every single day David cuz your videos are amazing😍 Kola is the typical northern Albanian man, loved him “për burrat” 🤣

[@andrew_ds0]

hahahaha bro im am from albania and "per burrat" in engisht is "for mans"

[@jennylolo5179]

@@andrew_ds0 I am albanian too😂 and that’s why I said he is the typical northern Albanian man

[@redandblack9795]

@@andrew_ds0 men *

[@caehlers]

The guest house is stunning - and the older owner's voice - so cool - love it!

[@JohnSmith-kn3fu]

David man, you are more Albanian than me...Thanks for returning to Albania..God bless you..

[@ameetpatil4162]

Love from INDIA 🥰🥰🥰

[@FishOnChannel]

Great video brother I'm from Albania but I never been North I'm missing a lot. 😀

[@leonora1364]

The best video on KZbin. Thank you guys 🙏🏼

[@anahconsulting2376]

Kol Gjoni, what a gangster, and his voice is legendary, give that man a voiceover contract in Hollywood. Love these videos 👌

[@Mashariki_0]

I love that your souvenir gifts are well though out, not just buying something random for the sake of buying. Awesome vid, looking forward to where you'll be for Christmas.

[@leonorlopez7932]

David I LOVE the LANDSCAPE AND THE ALBANIA NATURE 🇦🇱 😍 YOUR CHANNEL IS AWESOME 👌 KEEP EXPLORING, IM SO EXCITED TO SEE MORE FROM YOUR BEAUTIFUL CHANNEL!....🤍

[@satyasiddhamishra4950]

It's just amazing really missing such close to nature experience.

[@chockalingamalagappan1693]

Clear water lake , a rare scene nowadays.Good guest house

[@daron8982]

Hey Dave, once you visit Albania once, everyone falls in love with it, even though many things don’t function as we want!

[@gent451]

Love from US. Wonderful Albania's North land of lost Epos and my favorite beverage raki. I am huge fun of David's and now my 7 years son joined the club . He thinks that you are part of Dude perfect's crew ...lol. Amazing vids, Gezuar guys👍👍👍

[@jchrvat]

The "Gëzuar Tour". Awesome series!

[@sofiqueahmed786]

Awsm man.......👍👍Love from Assam 😍😍

[@internetwarrior9131]

We need to make you a statue in Tirana! You have done so much for our county....Cheers!

[@floriankociu7251]

Albanian lovely people 👏👏

[@LittleKittyCat]

Stunning country. Very underrated. ❤❤❤

[@BestIndianFoodBlog]

So beautiful place to hike! I really enjoyed the video. Beautiful.

[@CforChiTwo]

I could feel the quality of the air there. Awesome.

[@edmondhilviu7214]

Bell documentario bellissimo posto.

[@videodudeler]

Gezuar!! Shume mire

[@ericpmoss]

Nice parasol mushrooms! Sliced 8mm thick, sauteed in fresh butter, seasoned with sea salt and pepper and a spritz of fresh lemon... heaven.

[@mppower5141]

All those places I have been on December last year and I can’t wait to go back because it’s one of the beautiful places ever been in my life. In top of that it’s Albania 💯 lady’s and gentlemen

[@burimm82]

The people, Nature, lakes, sea everything nice but the Highlight is when you eat.. And Drink 🥃 raki.😂😂👍 Hmm you love everything and make me always hungry. Nice videos. Keep exploring and eating. 👍👐✌️

[@SummerIsComing606]

That food made me so hungry 😍😍😍

[@ronironi9030]

My love 🇦🇱🇦🇱🇦🇱🇦🇱

[@denissaliaj9459]

Love your videos David ❤❤

[@ivotheg2397]

It's all great around that area!

[@blendionborovci8756]

Love your Videos

[@kuldeepsingh-lq2zc]

Beautiful country

[@francomula]

Bravo bravo beautiful valbona

[@RealChristianTV]

David Gezoor Gezoor🍺

[@rohithram2129]

Very good👍 man

[@mihalismkickyourass2432]

That old albanian guy seems like he had turks for breakfast

[@mihalismkickyourass2432]

@Kristian Pepaj di histori vllacko e thash per shaka , respect nga yugu ❤️

[@Bekim8310]

Haha or Serbs.

[@albaniasummer1993]

Ajahah

[@kristinagovender6455]

I love ur videos

[@CforChiTwo]

Just go and Chillax there 😄

[@aridora]

🤣 hahhahahahaha 9:29 ! Hahahahah Shake my hand like a man !

[@mariahoffmann5328]

come on this is epic!!

[@channathheang7421]

cheer my bro 🍻🍻🍻

[@arturlamaj5948]

Kola is top man

[@SSVLOGSS]

Great effort

[@fx0canna]

wonderful people and country

[@Oipo.2736]

Proud to be from tropoj

[@bawarchigamer4711]

Very nice

[@gagasasa4624]

Honor system payment by the road shop. I salute that

[@patriotikekenge3593]

David you're the best you should in Kukës 2 they are very good places there

[@erjantheguide]

Next is Kukes

[@patriotikekenge3593]

Can't wait for it hope you go municipal of Shishtavec

[@rajakarnani2666]

You are best Love from India

[@TheBobbyMuscle]

im albanian but never been in the north. mostly in the south. but ill visit it for sure.

[@TheBobbyMuscle]

@@DinaricUbermensch who told you that-. real albanians.

[@vikki96]

Nice

[@JJ-zg7ug]

Valbona is a gem, that must be protected from corrupt politicians.

[@DerSaa]

It's a Cardhu Bottle 😄👍 12 years

[@BRO-xh8lb]

Mine granpa made the raki like that 👌

[@petefoti1041]

Love your videos. Have you ever been to Crete? The Cretans make Raki, same as all Mediterranean countries. I don't think they drink it like the Albanians.

[@sheep.herder]

wat'da! its been a while since i had raki made from plum 🫐 nothing here in australia comes close to the plums there..force grown using synthetic fertiliser, then stored in coolrooms - no thanks ✋ we pay top price for organic foods here lol how stupid are we 🤣 gezuar bro 👊

[@normasulaj9072]

Hello David I’ve been watching your videos and absolutely love them. I was wandering when will you travel to Albania again? My husband is Albanian I’m American and we would love to meet you. We live in Virginia but during the summer we are planning to go to Albania again. Please let me know when you will return to Albania so we could meet. Safe travels!!!

[@ergiergi1]

friendly people

[@theuck5148]

9:27 "falma si burra" "we shake hands like men"

[@dan2009009]

Gazour!! Is that what they say for cheers?

[@aleks8675]

Yeah Gezuar basically means cheers in Albanian

[@fatmirzajmi507]

Gēzuar writting way Gzzzuuuuare saying way Meaning ist Happiness( let us be happy) Verb GËZIM means Happiness.

[@chuckytehboy6168]

Gëzuar* means cheers. Gëzim is a given name for people. Gëzim means Happiness.

[@DrewB290]

David! We right in the other side Ask your guy about VUTHAJ, GUSI & PLAV Pm me!

[@Psilocybiant]

If they used a oil jacket on the still pot , it wouldn't burn at all and it would taste oh so much better.

[@liriouri]

Lord Voldemort used to hide in those mountains 🏔

[@denissaliaj9459]

His descendant its today's prince of albania 😂 leka

[@brittneyrenea210]

💙🍴

[@amiraanderson2107]

David moans when he eats 😆

[@pseudonymshqipe854]

It's an orgasmic experience lol

[@soupatrasarkar1795]

👍

[@hamburgprishtine]

ju bofte mire

[@jbscra7y36]

Plum Palinca 🇷🇴

[@botpython6725]

First

[@jbscra7y36]

Big chance to burn the raki with that small distillery, there is no sistem to turn the mix inside hence why was stuck to the bottom, I made 600 L of Palinca or (raki) this summer

[@minetlav5110]

I like your hat can I get one☝

[@captmgr.1245]

👌👍✌️🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳

[@pangetko22]

How much will it cost for albanian trip? ☺️

[@namesurname8652]

It depends from where you have to travel from. You can have good 10 days for 1k Euro, exclude the flight ticket.

[@screamingeagle1316]

@@namesurname8652 No, not more than 500 euro for 10 days, eating and sleaping in good places. If in a group it will cost a lot cheaper per person. Rent a car from Facebook for 10-20 euro a day.

[@visitalbania6770]

🥰🥰🇦🇱🇽🇰🇽🇰🇺🇸

[@arga7836]

Wondering if that Raki can run my car,?

[@BRO-xh8lb]

Yep, maybe you can use it 🤣

[@besnikillyrian8520]

Its for jets . Your car will be burn 😂

[@egzonbegolli8158]

Did he just say Valbona is boarder with Montenegro 😂😂😂😂 you mean Kosova

[@mandrinvuthaj4543]

Korrekt valbona nuk asht ne kufi me kosoven. Biles valbona nuk asht pjese e malsis se gjakoves .por asht pjes natyrale e katunit vuthaj te cilet jane kelmenas .informative.

[@whysoserious3348]

🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

[@denissaliaj9459]

Also Plava and Gucia which today is part of montenegri

[@bashatroni7163]

Ama dorën si burra :D

[@ishuyadav44]

.

[@willowasp811]

Po the un shqiptare jam ethe rakjiya nuk eshe açë e fort

[@360islamicinfo]

H

[@dorianbuciza4101]

Albanian road is good, but the driver’s are the worst

[@besbesa4124]

I wish I could drink but I'm Bektashi...🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@shaclo1512]

Muslims here drink too so you can do it, nobody judges you 😂

[@denissaliaj9459]

Cmon we Bektashi's drink more raki than any christian 😂😂

[@illyrianempire7108]

Skrapari(all bektashi) raki one firer😂😂

[@denissaliaj9459]

@@illyrianempire7108 also Mallakastra 😂🔥 Bektashi dhe Raki

[@kakalibas]

my friend,pastitsio is GREEK!

[@byoken]

Are you sure? The name of the dish is clearly Italian sounding.

[@zjarr6279]

Kola did not appreciate the fist bump, he was insulted by the gesture. And he should be, rona is totally fake. Your hommie can't speak English, Kola's son spoke it way better and made this video easy to watch.

[@Filollisejmina]

Haram