Nick St.Oegger

Elona Bejo is one of a growing number of younger Albanians choosing to remain in the country, and invest in their local communities, rather than emigrate. Growing up in Albania’s capital, Tirana, she grew weary of life in the city and moved back to her family’s ancestral village of Ballaban to have more connection with nature. She conceived Ferma Albanik with her late husband, working together to open a boutique hotel and restaurant catering towards those looking to disconnect, to spend days exploring the surrounding nature, and eating from the farm to table food selection. Built on a communist era storehouse, the original building was expanded to host a number of rooms, dining area, full kitchen, with surroundings including a garden and meditation path. An outspoken activist in Albania’s environmental movement, Elona offers guided trips into the nearby mountains, foraging trips, cooking classes, horse riding, and can arrange rafting trips on the nearby Vjosa and Osumi rivers.