Divjakë-Karavasta National Park National Park

Address: Divjakë-Karavasta National Park, Fier County, Albania

Website: http://www.akzm.gov.al/

Divjakë-Karavasta National Park is a coastal protected area in Fier County that conserves the Karavasta Lagoon and adjacent dunes, reedbeds and wetlands. The park is notable for protecting Albania’s largest lagoon and associated birdlife.

Birdwatching and lagoon boat trips are the main visitor activities, focused on waterbirds and wetland habitats; hides and guided tours offer opportunities to see species that use the lagoon. The park also contains sandy beaches and dune systems used for short coastal walks and nature observation.

The wetland complex supports reedbeds, salt marshes and seasonal channels; visitors often combine visits here with regional cultural and coastal itineraries in Fier County.

The area has long been used for coastal fishing and salt-marsh harvesting; conservation measures established the national park to protect the lagoon and its bird populations and to manage tourism and land use pressures.

Located on Albania’s central-west coast in Fier County, the park lies between the Adriatic shoreline and the agricultural plain inland, close to the towns of Divjakë and Karavasta.

• Largest lagoon in Albania: The park protects the Karavasta Lagoon, which is Albania’s largest lagoon and an important wetland for migratory and resident waterbirds, including Dalmatian pelicans.
• Visitor access and birdwatching: Boat tours and bird-watching hides on the lagoon are the principal ways visitors observe waterbirds; access routes follow designated visitor tracks to limit disturbance of sensitive habitats.

What to See#

• Karavasta Lagoon: The Karavasta Lagoon, Albania’s largest lagoon, forms the heart of the park and comprises reedbeds, shallow open water and channels important for waterbirds.
• Dunes and beaches: Coastal dunes and beaches along the Adriatic that buffer the lagoon and offer habitat for shorebirds and coastal vegetation communities.
• Reedbeds and salt marshes: Reedbeds, salt marshes and inland wetland areas that provide breeding and feeding grounds for migratory and resident bird species.

Divjakë-Karavasta National Park is near the towns of Divjakë and Karavasta in Fier County. From the city of Fier, drive west on SH4/SH8 towards the coast (about 30-40 minutes). Local signage directs visitors to the park’s visitor points and observation hides.

• Coastal hides and lagoon viewing platforms are quieter at dawn for birdwatching; bring binoculars.
• Try local seafood in nearby towns - the lagoon fisheries are central to community life.
• Respect protected zones for breeding birds; some areas close seasonally.