About us

In 1992 Albania opened its gates to the world after a closure that lasted decades. It was at this time that Mr. Ilir Mati, an electronics engineer with an inborn passion for adventure, retired from fixing submarine sonars for the Albanian Navy. He then started organising “Journeys in the Albanian Nature and Culture”.
His old Ford Transit, nicknamed “The Periscope”, allowed trekkers, climbers, skiers, kayakers, river rafters, journalists, archaeologists, anthropologists, geologists and other explorers to discover virgin images of the “new” old Albania.
In the years that followed, his initiative attracted family members, friends and many other travel enthusiasts who together went through growth, success and difficult times, keeping their travelling spirit always alive.
Today, the OA team is proud to have inherited an admirable legacy of years of travelling experience, all around Albania and further, and is enthusiastic to share their experiences and their hope of a sustainable and developed future.

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