A special guest blog from an American Expat, about her visit to the Kameno Monastery, with Tea Tours.
The Monastery is located 2 km. east of Delvinë, Albania. And, since the roads are not suited for automobiles, we took a beautiful hike up the mountain to visit this remote and ancient site.
On the hike, there were incredible views of Delvinë, as well as much nature to enjoy – with many types of flowers and olive groves along the way to admire. Also, thankfully, a few shaded spots to sit and rest along the way. I share this simply because Albania is known for the many days of sunshine!
The Monastery is said to have been built in 630, and then reconstructed in 1032 and again in 1580.
The site is in good condition, so you can feel comfortable about exploring it safely, and the grounds are beautiful -filled with ancient trees that offer a cool spot to seek protection from the sunlight.
We did hike past the Monastery, down an old river bed to where there was a water fountain, with fresh mountain water! Truly a blessing (as I forgot a water bottle). This very place is a truly fantastic spot to build a fire and enjoy a lovely picnic!
So, when taking this tour, with Tea Tours, I highly recommend sneakers or boots — suitable for loose gravel and dirt like terrain. And, while you are very welcome to bring food, there is water available just beyond the Monastery, where you can fill up your bottle, should you want to save some weight in your pack by either bringing an empty (or smaller) water bottle along the way. I also recommend wearing appropriate clothing, as again, the trail is not shaded in many areas, so it can get quite warm on the journey up. And, don’t forget to wear your sun screen! And, for you girls like me with long hair, bring a hat or hair tie to keep your neck cool!
