The House in the Village

The House in the Village is a traditional Albanian stone house in the mountain village of Pellumbas ("pidgeon" in Albanian) which has belonged to the Duqi family for over 70 years. Abandoned but rediscovered by Ilir it was restored in 2018 by owner Festim with the help of local people and volunteers to a cosy, welcoming guesthouse that keeps growing in popularity and magic with each new volunteer contribution and guests who fall in love with the natural beauty and serenity of the surrounding landscape.

While a small and quiet village of around 400 people with 2 shops and 4 restaurant/cafes but many more chickens, sheep, cats, dogs and donkeys Pellumbas is only a 40 min bus ride from Tirana where you can discover Albania's culture and turbulent history in museums such as BunkArt, House of Leaves and MiG Women's Museum and numerous art galleries. A popular hiking destination for Albanian locals and international tourists alike, Pellumbas offers several hiking trails with mesmerizing views. The one that stands out the most is the trail that takes you to The Black Cave (Shpella I Zi), a karst cave that is one of among six karstic caves that exist in Europe. The Cave has a length of 360 m with a width which can vary between 10–15 m and a vertical range of 45 m. About 350m below the cave the turquoise Erzeni River gushes through a dramatic canyon with many waterfalls and turbulent water rapids. During your stay with us you will be encouraged to actively explore the surrounds and participate in local tourism inniatives such as trail marking/maintainance and litter picking.

In addition to being a guesthouse The House in the Village is a social project which is envisioned by local campaigner and activist Ilir (somewhat of a legend in local circles) and run by volunteers. Our small community, ranging between 4-10+ volunteers depending on season, welcomes anyone who wants to contribute their skills, knowledge and energy as well as be open to new experiences and learning opportunities. As a part of our community everyone is encouraged to be and express themselves freely, share their ideas and knowledge and immerse themselves in nature and the life of an authentic Albanian village. This means that life here follows a more natural rhythm aligned with the seasons. Summer days are long and vibrant spent outside sitting around the fire talking and star gazing. While in winter we congregate in the communal areas of the house enjoying the warmth of our woodburning stove playing cards, talking or 'being alone together' reading or crafting. During the summer volunteers sleep outside in tents which can be provided and in winter we share a mixed dorm room inside the house. This is a vegetarian household and all meals cooked for volunteers and guests are vegan. We therefore ask that no meat or fish is stored on the premises. We also live with three dogs - Blacky, Pellumba and Michi - and ask that they are treated with kindness and respect as part of the family.