NEW TRIP
Off the Beaten Path in Albania, Kosovo & Montenegro
Hiking the Heart of the Balkans
Overview
Discover an alpine paradise on one of the last frontiers of Europe! The steep Albanian Alps stretch across Albania, Kosovo, and Montenegro, rising to nearly 9,000 feet and graced with glacial lakes, rock pinnacles, ancient beech forests, and quaint stone villages. We’ll hike in Albania’s Valbona National Park and Theth National Park, explore Kosovo’s historic town of Gjakova, once a stop on the Silk Road, and hike in Montenegro’s Grbaja Valley, an awe-inspiring cirque in the Western Balkans. Along the way, cultural delights abound, including a visit to Giacov, with its Ottoman-era bazaar and lunch at a family homestead in the Serbian enclave of Velika Hoca. Overnights are in simple hotels and mountain lodges.
Arrive: Tirana, Albania
Depart: Tirana, Albania
Highlights
- Witness the spectacular alpine landscapes of Valbona and Theth national parks
- Follow trails through the jaw-dropping scenery of Montenegro's stunning Grebaja Valley
- Hike on Mt. Trekufiri (7,762'), the three-border peak, and cross into Montenegro on foot
- Visit the 14th century Visiko Decani Monastery, an awe-inspiring World Heritage Site
- Savor the cuisine at Mrizi I Zanave, Albania's organic Slow Food restaurant
Itinerary
After a fascinating walking tour of Tirana, we head to charming and historic Shkodër, gateway to the Albanian Alps, then to the alpine setting of Valbona National Park. From our guesthouse in the park, mountain trails bring us across flower-carpeted meadows and up to the once-closed border with Montenegro, with accommodations in a cozy mountain guesthouse.
We'll explore the historic city of Gjakova in Kosovo, Europe's youngest country, visiting mosques and monasteries, then hike up to the “three-border peak” of Trekufiri (7,762'), walking across the border to descend to our guesthouse in Montenegro. The next day's hike brings us through Montenegro's magnificent Grebaja Valley, the most impressive mountain cirque in the Western Balkans.
Our last hike is through the glacier-carved Ropojana Valley down to the charming village of Theth in The National Park. On Day 9, we celebrate our journey with a final overnight at Mrizi I Zanave, Albania's famous organic Slow Food farm-restaurant and also an authentic agriturismo. Depart Day 10.
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
What the Trip is Like
This trip is rated a Level 4, Moderate to Strenuous, according to our trip grading system. You will need to be comfortable hiking over 10 miles in a day and being on your feet for 5-6 hours a day. You will also need to be able to keep up with the moderate but steady pace of the group as there are no alternative hiking options available. Trail conditions, weather, and the group's level of fitness can affect hiking times and pacing.
Average Hiking Day
Challenge Day
Review Trip Level Details
Average Hiking Day
- 6 miles
- 4 hours
- 1,800 feet gain/loss
Challenge Day
- Day 6: 10+ miles, 5 hours, 1,500 feet gain/2,900 feet loss
While the Accursed Mountains are not exceptionally high, they are steep and rugged, and this trip, while not technically difficult, is aimed at those who have at least some experience mountain hiking. At lower elevations, the trails are usually packed dirt, but at higher elevations they can be uneven, with large rocks or loose scree, so participants must have good balance and be confident on their feet. Hiking poles are highly recommended.
We strongly urge you to train for your trip, as your enjoyment will be highly dependent on your level of fitness. The best training for a hike is to hike, especially over hills or rough terrain. Next best are running, swimming, bicycling, or other cardiovascular exercises. Stair-climbing machines are excellent preparation for hiking uphill. Your feet should also be well prepared—make sure your hiking boots are sturdy, comfortable, and thoroughly broken-in. Altitude is generally not a problem on this trip. However, some people still experience a few problems when they first reach high altitude. Slight headache and sleeplessness are the most common symptoms.
In Albania, the climate is Mediterranean on the coast (mild, rainy winters, hot, sunny summers), while slightly more continental and cooler in the mountainous interior, depending on the altitude. In the lowlands, the average summer temperature is 75°F, with mild winters at 45°F. In the mountainous interior, the dominant factor is elevation, with big daily fluctuations in temperatures between daytime and night. The snow line in the Albanian Alps is at 4,900 feet, compared to the Swiss Alps at around 8,500 feet. In June, the meadows are covered in wildflowers and by September, the last snowfields disappear and foliage begins to turn red, indicating the arrival of autumn. As in all mountain regions, there is a chance of summer rainfall and the possibility of thunderstorms.
The hotels, mountain lodges, and guesthouses we use on this trip are somewhat basic given how far off the typical tourist path they are, but they are the best-available accommodations in the rural mountain areas we visit. They are well located, comfortable, and offer hearty homemade meals to fuel us as we hike through this gorgeous and lightly touristed region. It is important to arrive with an open mind and sense of adventure as we explore valleys without the tourist infrastructure you might expect in the Alps of Western Europe. Since guesthouses are often in historic rural buildings, the rooms are not always of uniform or international size. Our leaders do their best to assign rooms in a fair way so that all participants experience an equal advantage throughout the trip as a whole.
Located on the Adriatic and Ionian coasts, Albania has a cuisine typical of a Mediterranean country, and you'll recognize elements from Italian, Greek, and Turkish cuisine. Mixed grills of meat and vegetable (zgara) are typical, as well as byrek, a savory pie with layers of flaky phyllo dough filled with various meat, vegetables, and herbs. Typical salads include chopped tomatoes, cucumber, and onion, topped with white brine cheese. In the mountain villages, vegetable or beef stews offer nourishment, along with homemade cheeses and fresh-baked breads, and on the coast, there is catch-of-the-day fish. Lunches on Days 4, 6, 7, and 8 will be enjoyed picnic-style on the trail.
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Book your trip today
Our Area Specialists know every detail about our tours. They will be happy to answer any questions and help you choose the journey that’s right for you. Contact us to learn more or book your trip today!
Itinerary
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Trip Levels
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult—see descriptions below for explanations of each number. A plus (+) sign means the trip is a bit more strenuous than other trips of that level. The detailed explanation of each trip—below the bar with the number rating—is perhaps more important, specifying activities, altitudes, hiking, and travel conditions. The Detailed Itinerary, available by download or mail, gives further information. Our Area Managers can also answer questions and guide you to the trip that best suits your interests.
Level 1 – Easiest
Non-camping journeys, optional walks, little elevation gain or loss.
Level 2 – Easy to Moderate
Hotel nights and/or safari-style camping, hikes of two to four hours on some days. Other physical activities are sometimes included, such as optional sea kayaking.
Level 3 – Moderate
Half- to full-day hikes (3-6 hours) over rolling countryside on most days, occasional steep trails. Many of our hotel-based walking tours are in this category, as are our snorkeling adventures.
- Tuscany & the Cinque Terre
- Argentina: Hikes and Estancias of Patagonia
- Palau Snorkeling & Sea Kayaking
- Some trips with minimal hiking but rugged travel conditions or long drives, such as Tribal Ghana, Togo & Benin, are Trip Level 3.
Level 4 – Moderate to Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-6 hours), mountainous terrain, significant elevation gains and losses (hiking up or down as much as 3,000 feet) on many days. Altitudes no greater than about 10,000 feet.
Level 5 – Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Trips with hiking at average altitudes of 10,000 to 12,000 feet are in this category.
Level 6 – Very Strenuous
Full-day hikes (5-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Most hikes take place at altitudes above 10,000 feet, with some days ascending as high as 18,000 feet.