Want to visit Thrown Sand Albania? This gorgeous beach is said to be one of the best beaches in northern Albania!
It is known in Albanian as Rana e Hedhun beach, so when you’re visiting, look for signs that have that on them.
In this guide, we’ll talk about why this is one of the best destinations north of Tirana, where to stay, and how to get to Rana e Hedhun Albania.
Why Is Rana e Hedhun Beach Special?
What makes Albania so special? Besides the deep history and great food, it’s also known for having some unique phenomena, like the Blue Eye near Theth Village.
Rana e Hedhun beach is another interesting attraction because it has massive sand dunes that meet the sea directly at the bottom.
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When visiting, you might also notice the trees are bent strangely – facing towards the sea (You’ll see them as you drive from Shengjin to the beach).
Now, the bending of bushes and trees isn’t unusual because we know that winds from the ocean or sea mold them over time.
The interesting thing about these trees is that they face toward the sea. Since a cliff face is directly behind them, protecting them, it seems unlikely that wind would come from land to bend them.
How they became bent is still currently a mystery. I can’t find any other updated theories online, but if you know, feel free to DM me on Instagram.
4 Reasons To Visit Thrown Sand Albania
When most people think of northern Albania, usually mountains come to mind, but there’s a lot more than that.
Visiting Thrown Sand Albania is an excellent option if you’re already in Montenegro and want to see a bit of Albania.
If you’re planning your trip from the capital, you could always stop on your way to the Albanian Alps. Another option is to do a day trip from Tirana to Shengjin and Rana e Hedhun beach.
The Sand Dunes At Rana e Hedhun
If you’re familiar with the Balkan region of Europe, you’ll know sand dunes are not common at all so this really sets this beach apart.
The majority of beaches in this region are stony or rocky beaches. Of course, there are some exceptions, like in the south of Albania, Ksamil is very famous for its white sand beaches.
It’s often called the ‘Maldives’ of Europe, but what most don’t realize is that these are in no way natural.
To attract tourism, they removed the natural rockiness for finely ground white rocks, brought from the mountains in Albania.
If you’re more into natural beaches, then visiting Rana e Hedhun Albania will fit your style much better.
PSsst you shouldn't drink the tap water in *most* places in Albania. I suggest purchasing a filter water bottle to limit single use plastic.
Thrown Sands Won’t Be As Crowded
While on the topic of southern Albania, it’s good to point out how busy it gets in the summer. Each year more and more tourists go to the Albanian Riviera.
Now it is beautiful, there’s no denying that, but you should mentally prepare for how busy it will be. Thrown Sands is better if you don’t want to deal with the traffic and crowds that are inevitable in the south.
Rana e Hedhun beach is outside of the small, but popular beach town of Shengjin, Albania. So even though Shengjin is in the north it can get busy, the main difference is that it will be mainly non-western tourists.
Shengjin is well known for being the go-to vacation spot for Albanians from Kosova. So much that you can see things referencing Kosova a lot in Shengjin town.
Rana e Hedhun Beach Has Lots of Space
Another great part of visiting Thrown Sands is that the beach itself is quite large and completely natural.
Many Mediterranean beaches can be smaller so they get crowded easily. Rana e Hedhun has lots of space to walk and be far from others.
Cool Place For Activities
Since there is so much space, you can do many fun things here. Besides normal water sports, you can play typical beach games like frisbee and volleyball.
And since it is a long stretch of beach, many choose to drive on it too, which is also fun. Of course, I’d only suggest that if you have the proper vehicle and hopefully some past experience.
Cleanliness
Unfortunately, the beaches in Albania can be quite polluted with trash. This is true especially for ones directly in the beach towns since they are the easiest to access for most.
Trash pollution is a serious issue that faces Albania as tourism grows. I’m not saying this to dissuade you, but to be completely honest.
PSsst don't forget to cover yourself with travel insurance, my favorite is SafetyWing ✔️
I think the best way is to go to places like Rana e Hedhun beach because there is less pollution and you can enjoy it more.
It is important to note that even on more remote beaches, later in the summer it could tend to be more and more polluted from summer visitors.
How to get to Thrown Sands Albania
If you’re coming from Tirana, you’ll want to head north out of the city, following signs for Lezhe and Shkoder.
It’s about an hour and 20 minutes (70km) to get to Shengjin from Tirana, though it could be more with traffic.
If you’re coming from Montenegro or Shkoder, you will head south following signs for Tirana. From Shkoder it’s about 50 min (44km).
Once you’re in Shengjin, make sure to get anything you need for the beach. Drive along the coast north for 10 mins (the road isn’t the best) to reach the main parking area for Rana e Hedhun beach.
There will be more people in this area since it’s the easiest to get to, but if you walk for a bit toward the sand dunes, you should have more space.
If you plan on driving on the beach, you can come from Shengjin of course. But you can also from the other side of the dunes, closest to the nearby beach town of Velipoje.
Depending on where you are, it could be more convenient. Most come via Shengjin though.
Where To Stay Near Rana E Hedhun Albania
If you’re wanting to stay close to Rana e Hedhun, then Shengjin is the obvious answer. If you’re wanting a fancier hotel vibe, Domus Hotel and Triumf Hotel are good options.
If you prefer something more lowkey, Anchor apartment is outside of town and right on the beach. And Helli’s apartment is very cute with nice decor.
If you’re wanting to stay in Shkoder, check out my reviews of the best hostels and best hotels in Shkoder.
Final Thoughts
I hope this guide to Thrown Sand Albania has helped you learn about this unique place in northern Albania. Whether you’re doing a day trip or staying nearby, I hope you enjoy visiting Rana e Hedhun beach.
