Lake Skadar is undoubtedly one of Europe’s most spectacular destinations—and among its best kept secrets.

The largest lake in the Balkans, Lake Skadar is shared between Montenegro and Albania. The Montenegrin side is protected as a national park and the Albanian side is a managed nature reserve.

This iconic wetlands area is surrounded by dramatic karst mountains and rocky shores, and it hosts an immense array of wildlife including over 260 species of birds. In 1996, the lake was added to the World’s List of Wetlands of International Importance by the Ramsar Convention. Locals and tourists are alike are attracted to the region’s pristine beaches and rich cultural-historical heritage.

For this video, we teamed up with the project “Strengthening capacity in National Nature Protection – preparation for Natura 2000 network”—project NaturAL for short—to highlight Lake Skadar’s unique geographical and cultural offerings and promote the growth of sustainable tourism throughout the region.

Don’t miss our other Lake Skadar video, which explores the life and work of a local fisherman!