Itinerary
- Day 1
Tirana to Shkodra
You'll arrive in Tirana and drive north to Shkodra, about 2 hours by car. Once there, you'll get your equipment and a briefing for what's ahead. Afterward, there's time to walk through the pedestrian zone and see the old townhouses, check out the bazaar, or visit the Marubi photo library if you're interested in photography history. Rozafa Castle up on the hill gives you nice views of the city and surrounding area, or you could rent a bike and head out to some villages by the lake. By evening, you'll grab dinner at a local restaurant.
Included Activities
- Equipment collection and tour briefing
- Explore Shkodra pedestrian zone
Optional Activities
- Visit Marubi photo library
- Visit Rozafa Castle
- Bike rental and visit to lakeside villages Shiroke and Zogaj for swimming (€5/day)
- Enjoy espresso with locals
- Visit craft stores
- Dinner at local restaurant
- Evening drinks at a bar
Landmarks Rozafa Castle Marubi Photo Library Shkodra Bazaar - Day 2
Shkodra to Valbona Valley
Early start today with a 2-hour drive through Drin Gorge heading to Lake Komani, covering about 58 km. You'll take a ferry across the lake through scenery that looks like Norwegian fjords, and the boat stops at a few remote villages along the way. From there, it's a short drive to Bajram Curri in Valbona National Park for a light lunch. In the afternoon, you'll do a warm-up hike through beech forests next to a clear stream, and there's a chance to swim if the water temperature appeals to you. After dinner, you'll rest up for the hiking ahead.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Light lunch in Bajram Curri), Dinner (Delicious, hearty dinner)
Included Activities
- Drive through Drin Gorge
- Ferry across Lake Komani to Fierze
- Light lunch in Bajram Curri
- Warm-up hike in Valbona Valley along crystal-clear stream
Optional Activities
- Swimming in ice-cold river or secluded pond during hike
Landmarks Drin Gorge Lake Komani Valbona National Park - Day 3
Valbona Valley to Cerem
This is a longer hiking day, so you'll pack lunch and head out early. The trail winds upward along the mountainside with views of the region's highest peaks coming into sight. You'll pass through alpine meadows with grazing animals, then climb to Persllopi Pass at 2,039 meters right on the Montenegro border. After that, you navigate through a wind cave and twisted karst terrain with wide views before reaching Cerem, a remote village with no electricity or phone signal. If weather turns bad or the pass seems risky, there's a shorter alternative route available.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Packed lunch), Dinner (Home-cooked meal)
Included Activities
- Hike to Persllopi Pass (2,039 m)
- Navigate wind cave and karst labyrinth
- Hike to village of Cerem
Optional Activities
- Alternative shorter route through Mt. Kollata gorge if weather conditions prevent pass crossing
Landmarks Persllopi Pass Mt. Kollata - Day 4
Cerem to Doberdol
Today's hike takes you across flower-covered high terrain toward the border triangle, and you'll briefly enter what used to be Yugoslav territory. Throughout the day, you can pick forest berries and enjoy views of Mount Kolata. The trail follows high ridges through coniferous forest, and you'll encounter shepherds at their mountain pastures who work the high meadows seasonally. Later, you'll reach the Doberdol glacial valley where animals wander freely. For the night, you'll stay in simple shepherd's huts and spend time around a campfire learning about how these herders work through the seasons.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Packed lunch), Dinner (Meal prepared by family)
Included Activities
- Hike toward high-altitude border triangle
- High trail through coniferous forest
- Meet shepherds and experience pastoral mountain life
- Reach glacial valley of Doberdol
Optional Activities
- Rest and meet shepherds for coffee and raki at mountain pastures
Landmarks Doberdol Mount Kolata - Day 5
Doberdol to Milishevc
You'll leave the shepherd's huts and climb Mount Tromedja, also called Trekufiri, which rises to 2,366 meters where Albania, Montenegro, and Kosovo all meet. From the summit, you can see far across the isolated borderland, with Montenegro's Babino Polje visible to one side and Kosovo's Gjeravica mountain to the other. From there, you'll follow old caravan routes along the ridge of Bjeshket e Namuna National Park, pass through Roshkodoli Pass, and descend to Milishevc, a remote summer settlement. You'll sleep in simple wooden mountain huts typical of this high region.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Packed lunch), Dinner (Hot meal)
Included Activities
- Climb Mount Tromedja/Trekufiri (2,366 m)
- Hike along Bjeshket e Namuna National Park border ridge
- Cross Roshkodoli Pass
- Descend to remote village of Milishevc
Landmarks Mount Tromedja (Trekufiri) Gjeravica Bjeshket e Namuna National Park Roshkodoli Pass - Day 6
Milishevc to Pepaj
A bumpy 1.5-hour drive takes you to Reka e Allages in northern Bjeshket e Namuna National Park. From there, you'll climb through thick pine forest to Mt. Hajla at 2,403 meters on the Montenegro border. You have the option to tackle a steep final push to the summit for views into Montenegro and the town of Rozaje, or you can stay at the lower elevation and look for rare alpine plants like edelweiss and the endemic Albanian lily. Later, the trail continues uphill on an old road to Pepaj, the highest of thirteen Rugova villages. You'll walk through a rocky gorge with views down to the hamlet of Drelaj before settling in for the evening with a campfire and dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Packed lunch), Dinner (Delicious dinner)
Included Activities
- Transfer to Reka e Allages
- Ascend through pine forest to Mt. Hajla (2,403 m)
- Hike to Pepaj, highest Rugova village
Optional Activities
- Optional steep ascent to summit of Mt. Hajla
- Shorter day option (<5 hours) instead of summit ascent - relax, read, or observe alpine flora
Landmarks Bjeshket e Namuna National Park Mt. Hajla Reka e Allages - Day 7
Pepaj to Babino Polje
After a 30-minute transfer to the trailhead, you'll hike through a pine forest to Lake Liqenat at 1,850 meters, which sits emerald green among the peaks. Then comes a long climb to Jelenka Pass at 2,272 meters, the highest point on the Peaks of the Balkans Route. Along the way, you'll pass another lake and walk sections of ancient caravan trails with views that extend for miles. After Jelenka, you'll head through Ravno Brdo Pass at 2,178 meters on what feels like therapeutic hiking across open terrain. The descent takes you through grassy slopes past mountain huts to Babino Polje, where you'll stay in cozy mountain huts and have traditional Montenegrin home cooking.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Packed lunch), Dinner (Traditional Montenegrin home cooking)
Included Activities
- Transfer to hiking starting point
- Hike to Lake Liqenat (1,850 m)
- Ascend to Jelenka Pass (2,272 m)
- Pass Lake Liqenat and second alpine lake
- Reach Ravno Brdo Pass (2,178 m)
- Descend to Babino Polje
Landmarks Lake Liqenat Jelenka Pass Ravno Brdo Pass - Day 8
Babino Polje to Vusanje
A morning transfer brings you into Grbaja Valley, one of the most dramatic valleys in the Balkans with tall karst towers called Karanfili rising on either side. You'll climb through a beech forest that feels almost otherworldly before reaching an alpine meadow surrounded by peaks. A ridge path takes you to Popadiji and Taljanka peaks at 2,056 meters, where you can see across the border into Albanian Kelmend. The way back down is steep through shaded forest paths. Later, you'll cool off with a drink at a valley beer garden, then transfer to a family-run inn in Vusanje. If you have energy left, there's a nearby waterfall to visit or you can simply relax with views of the surrounding mountains.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Packed lunch), Dinner
Included Activities
- Transfer to Grbaja Valley
- Ascend through beech forest to alpine meadow
- Ridge path with viewpoints
- Summit of Popadija and Taljanka (2,056 m)
- Steep descent to valley
- Transfer to Vusanje
Optional Activities
- Cool drink in beer gardens in valley
- Evening stroll to Grla waterfall
- Relax on veranda with mountain views
Landmarks Grbaja Valley Karanfili Popadija and Taljanka Grla Waterfall - Day 9
Vusanje to Theth
You're hiking the 26 kilometer Ropojana Valley today, a long glacial gorge. The trail starts at Oko Skakavice, a pupil-shaped karst spring where ice-cold meltwater flows, and continues alongside the river through the valley. You'll pass Lake Gjeshtare with an old boundary marker from when Albania's borders were sealed off. After crossing through forest, the terrain opens up with alpine meadows, shepherds' huts, and remnants of an abandoned military post. The trail climbs to Peja Pass at 1,711 meters, then descends steeply on an old caravan route down to Theth in the heart of the Albanian Alps. From there, you can arrange a ride to your guesthouse or take the car-free 4x4 road through the village.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Packed lunch), Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike up Ropojana Valley
- Pass Oko Skakavice karst spring
- Pass Lake Gjeshtare
- Ascend to Peja Pass (1,711 m)
- Descend caravan trail to Theth Valley
Optional Activities
- Arrange ride to guesthouse at local watering hole
- Walk traffic-free 4x4 road to village center
Landmarks Ropojana Valley Oko Skakavice Lake Gjeshtare Peja Pass - Day 10
Theth to Tirana
Morning in Theth means walking through the village to see the green fields and the iconic church. You'll visit the sluice tower, a historic fortified structure that once protected families during blood feuds under the old Kanun law code. Later, you'll hike to Nderlysaj, passing Grunas waterfall and the 50-meter Grunas Gorge along a maintained bridle path. If you want, there's a pond where you can swim. Around 2 pm, you'll drive over Thorja Pass at 1,630 meters into Boge Valley and along Lake Shkodra, a 2-hour transfer. You'll switch vehicles and continue for another 2.5 hours heading back to Tirana. Your final evening includes dinner and drinks in Bloku, the hip district, to mark the end of the trek.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Packed lunch)
Included Activities
- Walk through Theth village
- Visit Theth church
- Visit sluice tower for 'Kanun' history
- Hike to Grunas waterfall
- Hike along Grunas Gorge
- Hike to Nderlysaj
- Transfer over Thorja Pass
- Transfer along Lake Shkodra
- Transfer to Tirana
Optional Activities
- Swimming in pond at Nderlysaj
- Dinner and drinks in 'Bloku' district
Landmarks Theth Church Grunas Waterfall Grunas Gorge Thorja Pass Lake Shkodra - Day 11
Tirana
This optional morning gives you a chance to explore Tirana if you're not leaving right away. You can sit at charming bars, have an espresso, and watch the city come alive. The New Bazaar has edible souvenirs and local products worth browsing. Just a 5-minute walk from central Skanderbeg Square, you'll find Bunkart 2 and The House of Leaves, both museums that cover Albania's communist history. After exploring, it's a 40-minute drive out to the airport to head home.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Explore Tirana streets and sights
- Transfer to airport
Optional Activities
- Espresso at charming bars
- Browse New Bazaar
- Visit Bunkart 2
- Visit The House of Leaves
Landmarks Skanderbeg Square New Bazaar Bunkart 2 The House of Leaves
