Do not call Albania "New Greece" or "Free Maldives". Its coastline is full of surprises - and the paths with fabulous views are right at its heart, writes Marianna Hunt in an article published in the British daily "The Times".

We passed through the same dense forests of pine and fir as did Julius Caesar in 48 BC, half-nervous and excited at the thought of encountering European wild cats, wolves, and wild boars—dwelling among the trees of Llogora National Park in Albania.

Suddenly we – my partner, and I – were surprised and amazed by the surrounding mountains, pine-clad valleys and the turquoise waters of the Ionian Sea.

We were in the middle of one of our walks, organized by the tour operator "Walks Worldwide", and this view justified all our reasons for visiting Albania.

Albania's Ionian coast has attracted an increasing number of international travelers in recent years - thanks to picture-perfect villages like Ksamili, which has pristine white beaches, billed on Instagram as the 'Maldives of Europe'.

However, I knew that there was much more to the coast of Albania than just sun and sand, including unspoiled nature and fascinating historical heritage.

According to "Walks Worldwide", the overall costs for holidays in Albania are cheaper compared to Greece.

In restaurants, you can pay about half of what you would pay in Corfu – which is only a 30-minute ferry ride from Albania.

Instead, we flew to Tirana, the capital of Albania, and enjoyed a three-hour-plus drive to the coast, the scenery and the stunning sea views.

We were on a self-guided walking tour that focused on the so-called Albanian Riviera.

The route was also a nice combination of walking in the pine forests and walking along the beaches around Himara, a popular seaside town.

Our accommodation in Himare was "Guest House Solive". The guesthouse was simple but clean, with a small garden.

On our first walk, we went to the cobbled village of Kudhës to follow the paths of the old shepherds, reports ATSh.

These took us through olive groves and sage meadows where the aroma of chamomile and herbs felt like we were smelling herbal tea infusions.

Finally we got down to Qeparo, another village with stone houses. We sat in the shade of an oak tree – admiring the view of the Ionian Sea.

The walk from the village of Lukovë to Borsh was one of my favourites, discovering waterfalls and ruined churches – and suddenly we found ourselves in a wonderful stretch like Buneci.

We also headed to Llogora National Park, with a range of mountains and alpine meadows overlooking the Riviera.

These dense forests once sheltered Julius Caesar and his army – as he battled his arch-rival Pompey.

Such a rugged landscape – so close to the beaches felt very different from what I had experienced in other parts of the Mediterranean.

It is a landscape that has fascinated even romantics like Lord Byron, who wrote about Albania in his epic poem "Childe Harold's Pilgrimage".

"Under the leadership of Enver Hoxha, Albania was one of the most isolated countries in the world. We were also separated from the Soviet Union", Elton Caushi from "Albanian Trip" told us.

Hoxha's suspicion of the outside world is why, today, Albania's landscape is dotted with concrete military bunkers – estimated to be more than 700,000 – about one for every four Albanians.

In addition to its booming tourism industry, Albania's cuisine is becoming increasingly popular, thanks to its booming farms.

We drove inland for about three hours to visit "Pupa Winery & Guesthouse" Winery & Inn - run by the family themselves - which grows indigenous Albanian grapes, legumes and dozens of different vegetables for the restaurant.

Fresh and white rosé pairs perfectly with flavorful vegetable-based dishes and sweet peppers topped with creamy cheese.

The winery also offers elegant bedrooms at a cost of 74 euros.

On the coast, the food was of similar quality, but slightly more expensive. For less than 18 euros each, we ordered plates of grilled octopus and shrimp at Taverna Velco, Himare.

Then, we traveled on a detour until we reached the village of Tragjas – where we visited the house of Sofo Daupaj and his wife Dhurata.

There used to be a sizeable community in these remote hills – but after resistance forces fought the Nazis during World War II, the area was bombed and abandoned.

The survivors and their descendants now live in concrete houses at the foot of the mountain – except for the Daupaj family.

In the evening we enjoyed the stunning views as the sun set and shone on the endless meadows of sage – and their yellow flowers.

I thought about trying to take a picture, but then changed my mind. The sounds, the smells, the taste of warm goat's milk… this was a side of Albania that no Instagram post could reflect.