There are a growing number of travelers who are fed up with the crowds that are visiting the more popular destinations and so they turn to seeking destinations where fewer are going.

Our world is a big one and there are many areas that are somewhat unexplored by the traveling public. And, there are multiple reasons some regions are not attracting many visitors.

Reasons can be: difficulty in accessing certain regions; political problems; countries promoting anti-American sentiments; poor climate; and more.

The CEO of Adria Airways, Mark Anžur, has said the Slovenian national carrier is likely to open a base in the Albanian capital Tirana.

The airline’s first destination from its new base would be Frankfurt. Adria has boosted the number of weekly flights from Ljubljana to the Albanian capital from seven to ten weekly this summer season.

Mr. Anžur says Tirana is a promising market and a growing business and tourism hub in the Balkans. Tirana is currently served by twelve airlines, with Belle Air being the largest operator.

Despite its reputation the Balkans is not a land of dew and shadow. Instead, it is a magical and beautiful place... always changing just like the flocks of starlings in the evening sky.

The Balkans may still be coming to terms where it is recent history of conflict but it has always been a place where people and their diverse cultures have lived.

A place where much of the nature is still unspoiled. The wild Balkans are still largely unknown.

Their treasure is so close and yet still so far away." by Nat Geo Wild HD movie about the Balkans:

It looks like Russians are very attractive as tourists, as different countries try to lure them with interesting offers.

After Bulgaria announced that it offers free visas for Russian tourists when crossing the border, another country in the area, Albania, launches an offer for tourists from Russia too.

Albania wants to boost its tourism, offering unilateral visa-free travel for Russians as well as announcing a draft law which stipulates that people who invest USD 200,000 in the country will receive citizenship.

As Eastern and Central Europe becomes increasingly popular, tour operators are expanding their offerings to more destinations. For example, Journeys International has recently expanded its trip offerings to include Albania and the Czech Republic. 

Albania emerged from isolation in the early 1990s, and visitors can expect to experience a distinctive culture and a well-preserved natural environment.  From the white-sand beaches of the sparkling “Albanian Riviera” to rugged hikes through the “Albanian Alps,” Journeys travelers will find jawdropping landscapes here without the crowds and high prices characteristic of other European countries.

Excavations conducted by Albanian archaeologists in the 1960s near the modern village of Saraqinishte led to the identification of the fortified city of Antigonea.

The identification is based on the discovery of fourteen bronze tesserae with the inscription "Antigoneon," found in one of the houses dating from the Hellenistic period. The site is located on a hilltop on the east side of the Drinos valley.

One potential founder of the city is Antigonos Gonatas, King of Macedonia; another and more widely accepted version is that Pyrrhus, the Molossian king, built the city in 296 BC in honor of his wife Antigone.

Apollonia was an ancient city in Illyria, located on the right bank of the Aous River (the modern-day Vjosë River). Its ruins are situated in the Fier region, near the village of Pojani.

Apollonia was founded in 588 BCE by Greek colonists from Corfu and Corinth, on a site initially occupied by Illyrian tribes. Apollonia flourished during the period of Roman rule in the area and was home to a renowned school of philosophy.

The city began to decline in the 3rd century CE when its harbor began silting up as a result of an earthquake.

Durres Amphitheater is one of the largest amphitheaters on the Balkans. The site was partially excavated beginning in 1960 and has an estimated seating capacity of 20,000 people.

It is situated the middle of the modern city of Durres, along with other important historical sites such as the public baths dating from the 2nd century AC and the remains of an aqueduct about 15 km long, built during the reign of Roman Emperor Hadrian. Additional sites include Byzantine-era walls and the round Forum-Macellum, built during the 5th-6th centuries CE.

Korça is an Albanian town on the borders of Albania, Greece and Macedonia. It is known for its bazaar which unfortunately is now in a semi-abandonned state.

This article continues our in-depth analysis of markets with Ottoman origins in the Balkans

History books describe it as one of the most beautiful çarshijas * in the Balkans. In the collective memory of older Albanians it has remained the old Pazar or, more romantically, the Bazaar of the Serenades. In fact it is often associated with the music which for centuries was composed and sung whilst walking with a guitar on the kalldrëm, the round cobblestones, or in the warmth of a han or kafené.

The Blloku, or Block area, has become Tiranë's hippest and most vibrant district. Filled with cafes, restaurants, bars, and nightclubs, it is the place to see and be seen in this swiftly changing and growing cosmopolitan city.

The Block is the location of former Communist dictator Enver Hoxha's villa. During the period of his rule, the area was only reserved for government officials and the general public could not enter. After Hoxha's death, the area was reopened and is now a popular hangout and destination point.