The Golden Goat
guesthouse
Hi, I am Jetmir
and I will be your host at The Golden Goat guesthouse.
I live in the rural village Ploshtan with my wife Alltane and our four children Brikena, Irena, Eriola and Shakir. Here you can taste the traditional Albanian cuisine and enjoy the tranquility of our village. And once you ‘ve settled down, we invite you to help us feed the goats, learn some shepherd skills, do a goat hike or make your own cheese of course!
Me and my family will do our best to make your stay as comfortable as possible.
We look forward to welcome you
in our goat guesthouse.
Shepherd experience
Probably the main reason for your visit is to spend time with our animals.
So, say hello to our crew: Julia, Gigi, Pintxo, Hermine, Taxi, Chappy, Linda and Georgina! Oh, and don’t forget our two sheep of course, Beyonce and Zeze. They are all super friendly, playful, curious and have each their own character. The animals are situated on the field next to the guesthouse, so you can greet them first thing in the morning. You can enter the field yourself to pet the goats anytime. On top of that you can help with the feeding of the animals and join them on their daily walk in the village. For those who want, we can even teach you how to milk the goats and make your own yoghurt or cheese.
The Golden Goat is also the only place in the Balkans where you can actually go on a guided hike with domesticated goats. An activity that combines mountain adventure with authentic farm life: you walk alongside the animals while exploring Albania’s wild landscapes in a way that no ordinary hike can offer.
The hike starts at our guesthouse, all the way up to the mountain where we will find the perfect picnic spot, enjoy the endless views and lay down in the grass together with our ruminating goats.
We look forward to welcome you
in our goat guesthouse.
Join a full day goat hike and go home with the skills of a real shepherd!
Accommodation
Our guesthouse is a combination of a traditional look integrated with modern infrastructure. It is simple but cozy. It is a one-floor building with two sleeping rooms, a central living room, a fully equipped kitchen, a bathroom with shower and a private garden with orchard. There is water, electricity, TV, WIFI, a washing machine and wood to make a fire.
The guesthouse has 2 rooms for rent. Each room has space for maximum 4 persons.
You share the communal areas (bathroom, living room, kitchen and garden) with other guests. For a more personal stay it’s possible to book the full guesthouse privately at an extra cost.
We look forward to welcome you
in our goat guesthouse.
Our guesthouse can be found in the middle of Ploshtan, overlooking the whole valley from our garden.
Yes, we have the best sunset in town!
Food
A good shepherd needs a good meal. So, we would love to prepare some delicious, homecooked meals for you, using our home-made products as much as possible. (You got to taste our cheese and yoghurt!).
We offer a half pension or full pension formula.
In case you prefer to cook for yourself, you can use the kitchen in the guesthouse for free anytime. Please keep in mind that there are no shops or restaurants in the village. Shops are far away and very limited in their selection.
We look forward to welcome you
in our goat guesthouse.
Choose the food formula you prefer and make your stay as comfortable as you like.
Village
Our tiny village Ploshtan lies in the east of Albania in a valley at the foot of the country’s highest peak, Mount Korabi. In Ploshtan, life is slow and at the rhythm of the seasons and the animals. The village has many abandoned houses since many Albanians are leaving the mountains to start a new life in the capital or abroad. In between these ruins, you will find farms where people still live a simple lifestyle, that hasn’t changed a lot over the last decades. You will most likely meet our neighbors when they take out their cow to drink, bring sheep back to the farm or when they are working on the field.
We look forward to welcome you
in our goat guesthouse.
This region is the perfect place to enjoy a peaceful and quiet village life yourself.
We look forward to welcome you
in our goat guesthouse.
Things to do
(without goats)
In case you want to spend some time without our goats - strange, but ok :) - and finished reading your book (please don’t forget to just relax), there are always a few things to do in or around Ploshtan.
Farming activities
Depending on the season, we can offer you some hands-on experiences in farming activities. Whether we must harvest the corn, take out potatoes, milk the cow, cut the woods for winter, make fresh cheese, shave our sheep, … If you like to make your hands dirty, you have come to the right place!
Nature & hiking
The Golden Goat is located in the Korab-Koritnik Nature Park in eastern Albania. This protected area is about 55 000 hectares of alpine mountainous terrain, with valleys, rivers, glacial lakes, caves, canyons and dense forest. Here many wild animals such as wolves, bears, eagles and even the highly endangered Balkan lynx still live. The Korab-Koritnik Nature Park is the perfect place for people who love hiking. Whether you prefer a small afternoon stroll or want to climb Albania’s highest mountain, this huge, protected area has endless possibilities for all levels of hikers.
But you don’t need to hike deep into the mountains to enjoy the beauty of our nature. You can also spot woodpeckers in our garden, hear the nightingale sing while having your morning coffee or go find fire salamanders at the nearby creek.
Here, nature starts at your doorstep.
Day trips
We can also recommend you a few very nice day activities in the area. You can go for a swim and a picnic at a crystal-clear river, find a magical waterfall in the next valley or go to the local market in the nearest city. Any of these day trips do need some preparation and transport.
Need our help?
We can help you prepare your getaway, arrange your transport or be your guide.
Reviews
Enya:“If you're dreaming of an unforgettable nature escape, authentic local experiences, and more goat cuddles than you ever thought possible — look no further.
We arrived at this peaceful haven for a much-needed moment to slow down. Surrounded by breathtaking mountain views, we truly got to pause, breathe, and soak in everything this special place has to offer. Honestly, we wish we had booked more than five nights.
It’s hard to put into words how meaningful and unique our time here was. We’ve only just returned to Belgium, and we already miss the peaceful rhythm of daily goat and sheep walks through the valley. We’ll be back next year for sure✨.”
Floreta: “Super host! Jetmir and Alltana and their beautiful family are very nice and welcoming. You go as a guest and they treat you as a family member, Impressed ! We will be back for sure!”
Layne: “We found this gem while cycling the Albanian mountains and LOVED it! Jetmir and his family welcomed us like old friends. The wood burning stove kept us toasty warm all night, and the breakfast was far beyond anything we’d hoped. We woke up to gorgeous mountain vistas and a treat of watching one of the cousins make traditional cake-like bread at the fire outside. It’s a hidden gem 💎!”
Sara: “Wow! What a place to stay. Magnificent views on the surrounding mountains await you here. In the house there's a cosy stove, a well-equipped kitchen, a decent bathroom, and very good beds. Jetmir and his family take very good care of you. With plenty of excellent food, you're definitely never hungry here!”
Liesbet: “We stayed 4 nights with Jetmir and his wonderful family. It was perfect. Cozy fireplace, lovely beds, beautiful view (especially in the morning!) and incredibly delicious food. An ideal place for lovers of peace, nature and hiking in the mountains. Jetmir & his family are very hospitable and helpful! Great place.”
Oliver: “A special thank you goes to the children of the village. They answered our questions for almost an entire day and gave us a detailed tour of the village. Great people!”
Justin: “Amazing guest house. Great bathroom and shower. Fireplace in the middle of the room with nice couches. Beds are very comfortable. The views are amazing. The host family is wonderfully helpful, warm and friendly. The breakfast in their home was incredible. They treat you as part of their family.”
Book your stay
Availability
Our guesthouse is open all year round, with only limited service during winter months.
Part of our philosophy at The Golden Goat is that we want you to slow down while staying at our guesthouse. Therefor we advise our guests to stay a minimum of 3 nights.
Booking
To book your stay at our guesthouse, please send us an e-mail with your preferred dates and the number of guests so we can check availabilities for you.
E-mail: thegoldengoat.albania@gmail.com
Prices
Rooms
Private room (max 4 persons):
1 person = 65 euro
2 persons = 90 euro
3 persons = 115 euro
4 persons = 140 euro
Children under 12 years have 20% discount on their accommodation.
Room prices don’t include meals.
Private guesthouse
Are you 5 persons or more? You can book our two rooms and you will have the guesthouse all to yourself.
Are you less than 5 persons, but prefer some extra privacy? You can book our guesthouse completely to yourself at an extra cost of €100 per day on top of your room price.
Camper van
Are you traveling with your own house on wheels, but like to visit The Golden Goat? No problem. We have a nice camping spot for you near our guesthouse. You can use all our communal areas (bathroom/garden/livingroom/kitchen) while you sleep in your own camper. You pay 50% of the room rate and we ask you to book our half pension or full pension option for meals during your stay.
Meals
Half pension (breakfast + lunch) = €15 per person per day
Full pension (breakfast + lunch + dinner) = €30 per person per day
Additional meals:
- Breakfast: €10
- Lunch: €10
- Dinner: €15
Children under 12 years have 20% discount on their meals.
Transport
Shuttle service:
We offer a shuttle service from these pick-up points in Albania:
-Tirana city/Rinas Airport to The Golden Goat (3 hours, one way)
1-3 persons + luggage: 100 euro
4 persons + luggage: 125 euro
-Nearby cities Kukes or Peshkopi to The Golden Goat – (1 hour, one way)
1-3 persons + luggage: 40 euro
4 persons + luggage: 50 euro
Return transport is possible at the same rates.
Your own car:
The Golden Goat can be reached by car and we have a free parking spot available for you in our village.
Public transport:
Public transport is available, though a bit complicated and very limited schedule.
Let us know if you prefer this option, so we can help you.
Shepherd experience
Full day hike into the mountains with goats and guide (including lunch):
150 euro for 2 persons
+ 30 euro per extra person
All meals, transport, activities or goat hikes can be requested after the booking of your accommodation.