Overview

Join us on this 6 days self-guided trip on Peaks of the Balkans. Natural and cultural heritage sights, people and tradition, and natural landscapes with wild nature can all be found along the routes that run across these mountains.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Shkodra

The tour includes the first night in Shkodra after arriving in Albania. You can use this day to enjoy the wealth of Shkodra cultural offer.

Day 2: Transfer to Theth. Hike Theth – Nderlyse – Theth

The village of Theth is one of the most picturesque places in Northern Albania. Preserved by the wild nature and very bad roads, the village has still the Kulla and other buildings dating back to Middle Ages. The village is 100 percent Roman Catholic and has the most unique structure in the world. Kulla e Ngujimit, which is a three-story rock building with no windows. It served as the self-imposed exile for people who were involved in blood feuds.

Distance: 10 km,   ↑ 266 m   ↓ 435 m

Day 3: Hike Theth – Valbona

Today you will do one of Albania’s most iconic hikes from Theth (728 m) over the Valbona Pass (1759 m) to the town of Valbona (995 m) in the heart of the eponymous national park.
This 20- kilometer route follows the path of an ancient mule track linking the tribal regions
of Shala and Nikaj.

Distance: 19.5 km,   ↑ 1068 m   ↓850 m

Day 4: Transfer Valbone – Cerem. Hike Cerem – Vusanje

Today you will start with a transfer to the starting point of the hike to the village of Cerem. The trail overall is one of the shortest trails in the whole Peaks of the Balkans. It crosses through a small Albanian seasonal shepherd settlement, just a few kilometers before the Bori’s Pass, right at the borderline between Albania and Montenegro. It is a very picturesque path that windings through the beech and birch forest. Many inhabitants of Cerrem and Vusanje are cousins amongst them. Therefore, Cerem was created in the early fifties when shepherds from Vusanje started to use pastures in Albania. After these trespassing, the Albanian state decided to send the armed forces and seal the borders. Inhabitants of both villages Cerem (Albania) and Vusanje (Montenegro)  belong to the same Albanian ethnic group.

Distance: 12.8 km,   ↑ 801 m   ↓1015 m

Day 5: Transfer Vusanje – Grbaja Valley. Hike to Taljanka peak. Transfer to Vusanje

Gerbaja situated in Montenegro was considered the most beautiful valley in Tito’s Yugoslavia home to now 7 independent states. It’s a detour from the classic Peaks of the Balkans. We consider that it is a pity this valley was left out of the classic Peaks of the Balkans. To start the hike, you will take a 20 minutes transport. The hike will start with a climb in Taljanka peak green heaven with a view on Karanfil a rough rock massive.

 Distance: 9.8 km,   ↑ 834 m   ↓908 m

Day 6: Hike Vusanje – Theth. Transfer to Shkodra

From Vusanje Prokletije, you will begin the 21-kilometer hike to the historic Albanian village of Theth. The path passes along the craggiest part of the Accursed Mountains or Prokletije/Albanian Alps, which was a forbidden zone during the Communist era. In addition to the dramatic cliffs that form the backdrop for the day’s hike, you will also see a military bunker and the old border crossing signs as you cross into Albania.

 After the hike, you will be transferred to Shkoder.

Distance: 21.3 km,   ↑ 1110 m   ↓1440 m

Included

• GPS tracks to use via a smartphone app or on your own GPS device
• Accommodation for 6 nights in hotel, guesthouse, and mountain huts. In the mountains, the rooms are shared
• Transfers from and back to Shkodra
• 6 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 4 dinners
• Our local office/representative provides customer care 24/7

 

Excluded

• Luggage transfer (can be offered on demand)
• Airport pickup and drop off (can be provided on demand)
• Travel insurance (should be secured by the travelers)