Leaving Durrës is less beach ride than urban plain. The first kilometres pass traffic, suburbs and open land before Kavajë and Rrogozhinë give the stage its early markers. South of there, the road stays broad and mostly flat towards Lushnjë. To the west lies Karavasta Lagoon, Albania’s major wetland, known for Dalmatian pelicans and more than 200 bird species; the route does not enter the park, but the low, salty landscape belongs to the same coastal plain. Before Fier, Apollonia is the worthwhile detour: an ancient city on a hill plateau, about twelve kilometres from town. After Fier, the line continues through Levan and Novoselë towards Vlorë. Near the finish, Narta Lagoon and the Adriatic return to the map. Vlorë brings port, promenade and the start of the Albanian Riviera.
