A few minute's drive south of Gjirokastra you enter the municipality of Dropull, stretching southeast along the fertile Drinos river valley to the Greek border. It's home to amazing ancient sites, mediaeval chapels and monasteries, and 35 villages with around 3500 Greek-speakers, whose rights are protected under Albanian law - you'll spot the bilingual signs everywhere. With your own transport, the area is easily explored when you're based in Gjirokastra. As everywhere in Albania, curious visitors are always received with disarming hospitality, making spending time in the charming villages of Dropull a delight.

This Dropull travel guide is one of five regional In Your Pocket guides produced in cooperation with the Albanian Ministry of Tourism and Environment (Ministria e Turizmit dhe Mjedisit, www.turizmi.gov.al). Copies of the guide are free and can be found at local municipalities, accommodations and tourist information centres, as well as at Tirana’s airport and embassies.
There are three guides for destinations in north Albania: Shkodra, Theth & Velipoja; Malësia e Madhe; and Puka, Vau i Dejës & Fushë-Arrëz. In southern Albania, two guides cover Gjirokastra and the Vjosa River Valley around Tepelene and Përmet. In Your Pocket also has a guide for Tirana.