Here you can find the Peaks of the Balkans Hiking Itinerary of the breathtaking trail on a 5-10 day hike through Albania, Kosovo and Montenegro. Breathtaking mountains, beautiful landscapes, delicious local food and cosy accommodation.
You should physically fit and have an interest in remote and challenging mountain landscapes. Some experience is required, as the "Peaks of the Balkans" hiking trail is a Daily walking time of approx. 6-8 hours over several days. Please take a look at the Kilometres and the elevation profile to assess the difficulty of the route itself. The German experts from GIZ categorised this route as moderately difficult.
Accommodation in host families and Guest houses in the mountains is easy and in this region of the Balkans there is still a rather traditional way of life maintained.
Table of Contents
Peaks of the Balkans itinerary 10 days
These 10-day tour guides you in the full loop through three countriesAlbania, Kosovo and Montenegro. We have varied the tour slightly to avoid some parts that do not offer the best experience, and at the same time Highlights such as Gjeravica, Gerbaja Valley and Taljanka Peak that we think are particularly worth seeing.
Highlights:
- Visit the natural pool of the Blue Eye Theth
- Two nights in Doberdol, the most remote part of the trail
- Ascent of the highest peak in Kosovo - Gjeravica
- Option to hike the highest peak in Montenegro - Zla Kolata
- Taljanka Peak with perhaps the best view of the peaks of the Balkans
Route & altitude metres:
Day 01: Arrival in Shkodra
Arrival in Shkoder and accommodation in the hotel.
Day 02: Transfer to Theth, hike Theth - Nderlyse - Theth (approx. 6:00h - 19.2 km, 520 m ascent, 630 m descent)
The village of Theth is certainly one of the most picturesque places in the mountains of northern Albania. The settlement, surrounded by wild nature, still has the kulla and other buildings from medieval times. The Kulla e Ngujimit, a three-storey rock building without windows, served as a self-imposed exile for people involved in blood feuds.
On this day, you will hike through the village of Theth to the Grunas waterfalls and the naturally formed "pool" of the Blue Eye on the Shala River.
Day 03: Hike Theth - Valbona (approx. 6:30h - 17.6 km, 1220 m ascent, 1040 m descent)
Prepare yourself for an exciting day today as you cross the spectacular Valbona Pass (1759 metres) and then reach the Valbona Valley (995 metres), which lies in the heart of the national park of the same name. This 16-kilometre hike follows the course of an old mule track that connects the tribal areas of Shala and Nikaj. The hike leads over a narrow ridge from which you have a view of both valleys and the southernmost glacier in the northern hemisphere.
After an arduous climb, you continue slowly along the path down to the village of Valbona. You walk between the Catholic valley of Shala and the Muslim valley of Valbona. The Albanian Catholics are descendants of Provençal Albanians who live in the town of Shkodra. They are the southernmost Catholics in Europe, as the border between Orthodox and Catholics runs through Croatia.
Day 04: Hike Valbona - Cerem (approx. 4h - 10.6 km, 670 m ascent, 410 m descent)
The itinerary offers two possible routes from Valbonë to Zerem: the easy/official (valley) route and the spectacular but very challenging/optional route over the Presllopi Pass (which we offer). This trail is one of the steepest in the entire Peaks of the Balkans, but at the same time offers the most spectacular views of the bare, rocky peaks of the Accursed Mountains.
The official section leads mostly along a tractor track down the valley and offers little worth seeing. The Persllopi Pass is also a crossing point from which you can climb the Zla Kollata peak (2535 m), the highest peak in Montenegro, which offers a breathtaking view of the cursed mountains.
Day 05: Hike Cerem - Dobërdol (approx. 6h - 16.5 km, 1290 m ascent, 680 m descent)
Freshly fortified, you hike between two pastoral villages that are only inhabited in summer, as the shepherds use the lush pastures. Doberdol is only connected to the world by narrow paths and cannot be reached by normal cars. The village lies below the border triangle between Albania, Kosovo and Montenegro. On the way there, you will pass through the village of Balqin, where you can have a glass of milk with the local shepherds.
These mountains are part of the Gashi Valley, from which the Gashi tribe originates, and are strictly protected as they are also home to the glacial lakes of the Sulbica Plateau. Your day ends in cosy accommodation in the shepherd's village of Doberdol.
Day 06: Hike Doberdol - Gjeravica summit - Dobërdol (approx. 5h - 9.5 km, 990 m ascent, 990 m descent)
During this hike you will climb the Gjeravica peak (2656 m), the highest mountain in Kosovo and the second highest in the Cursed Mountains. The path to the summit from Doberdol is an easy hike. This is a circular route that takes you to the border with Kosovo, which is barely protected.
However, during the communist regimes in this part of the world, this was the border between Albania and Yugoslavia and one of the best protected borders in the world.
Day 07: Hike Doberdol - Milisevc (approx. 7h - 18.5 km, 1060 m ascent, 1180 m descent)
Another beautiful day of hiking takes you between two pastoral villages in two different countries that share the same culture and language. These two valleys are connected by their culture, but separated by political borders. During your hike, you will reach the narrow pass on the border with Montenegro, from where you will have a spectacular view. From here, you climb the 2366 metre-high summit of the border triangle.
Day 08: Hike Milisevc - Babino Polje (approx. 6h - 15.2 km, 545 m ascent, 750 m descent)
Today's itinerary takes you to Babino Polje. Today's hike takes you along some of the least travelled trails in the Cursed Mountains in Kosovo and joins the classic hiking trail in the Kuqishte-Babino Polje section, part of which passes through Zavoj Ravno Selo. This section is the least frequented on the entire trail and conveys a feeling of seclusion, where the mountains are all yours.
At the end of the day, you will reach Babino Polje, a typical Montenegrin shepherd's village known for its original dairy products and traditional cuisine.
Day 09: Transfer Babino Polje - Grbaja valley, hike to Taljanka summit, transfer to Vusanje (approx. 6h - 9.2 km, 1100 m ascent, 995 m descent)
This part of the hiking trail is a detour from the classic "Peaks of the Balkans" hiking trail, but we think it's a shame that this valley was left out, as it is one of the most beautiful panoramic valleys on the entire hiking trail. To start the hike, take a 20-minute transfer to the valley.
The hike begins with a climb to the summit of Taljanka, a green paradise overlooking Karanfil, a rugged rock massif. When the sun sets and you finish the hike, you will have experienced breathtaking views of many bare, rocky peaks as you hike along the ridge and summit of Taljanka.
Day 10: Hike Vusanje - Theth, transfer to Shkodra (approx. 8h - 23.2 km, 1140 m ascent, 1400 m descent)
The 23-kilometre hike to the historic Albanian village of Theth begins today from Vusanje. The trail leads through the most rugged part of the Cursed Mountains or Prokletije/Albanian Alps, which were also a restricted area during the communist era. In addition to the dramatic cliffs that form the backdrop for today's hike, you will also see several military bunkers and the old border signs as you enter Albania.
You will also hike along one of the highest peaks in the Balkans, the Arapi peak or Maja e Harapit (2,217 metres above sea level) and the Jezerca summit (2,694 metres above sea level).
Included:
- GPS files & route notes
- Border authorisations
- Accommodation
- Transfers
- Meals
- Map
Peaks of the Balkans itinerary 6 days
The 6 days self-guided tour in the Cursed Mountains is intended for those who have a shorter loop in the peaks of the Balkans want to hike. The route takes a Shortcut from Albania to Montenegro, without Kosovo and contains all the top highlights of the trail.
Highlights:
- Option to climb the highest peak in Montenegro - Zla Kolata
- Stay in Doberdol, the most remote part of the trail
- Hike Vusanje - Theth, where you can see how borders were guarded during the Cold War
Route:
Day 01: Arrival in Shkodra - transfer to Theth (if arrival time allows, otherwise the next day in the morning)
Day 02: Hike Theth - Valbona
Day 03: Hike Valbona - Cerem
Day 04: Hike Cerem - Doberdol
Day 05: Hike Doberdol - Babino Polje via Lake Hrid
Day 06: Transfer Babino Polje - Vusanje, hike Vusanje - Theth, transfer to Shkoder
Peaks of the Balkans itinerary 5 days
This is the shortest and cheapest tour in the Peaks of the Balkans. The tour includes a transfer from Shkoder to Valbona, including Ferry crossing on Lake Komani.
Highlights:
- Ferry crossing on Lake Koman, a reservoir created by 3 large dams
- Climb to the summit of Rosi, with a unique view
- Hike Valbona - Theth, one of the most picturesque hiking stages in the peaks of the Balkans
Route:
Day 01: Arrival in Shkoder
Day 02: Transfer Shkoder - Lake Koman - Valbona
Day 03: Hike Valbona - Rosi summit
Day 04: Hike Valbona - Theth
Day 05: Hike Theth - Nderlyse - Theth, transfer to Shkoder
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