Albanian Alps

Albanian Alps & South Kosovo

This is a 14 days tour around Albanian Alps and south Kosovo. The tour will consist on exploring Albanian great natural beauties and touching a part of the culture and history.

Day 1 – Tiranë – Shkodër
Arrival at Tirana Mother Theresa Airport. From there transfer to Shkodra, the oldest and the largest city of north Albania. After check-in, visits at the Rozafa Castle – it offers great views of the Shkodra Lake, the city and the surrounding mountains landscape. Dinner and overnight stay in Shkodra.
Hotel (TBC)
Transfer: Rinas – Shkodër; 100km/1hr30min
Day 2 – Shkodër – Pejë
Early morning drive to catch the ferry for a great boat trip on Koman Lake. Afterwards a drive for about 2hrs to reach the Kosovan city of Prizeren. Lunch in a restaurant in Prizeren’s historic neighborhood of ottoman architecture. It is a lovely town dominated by its fortress that will be visited by foot. Drive, dinner and overnight in Peja.
Hotel (TBC)
Transfer: Shkodër – Koman; 42km/1hr30min;
Lake Koman 2.5hrs; Fierzë – Prizeren;
90km/2hrs; Prizeren – Peja

Day 3 – Pejë – Bogë
After breakfast, a short drive through the narrow canyon of the beautiful Rrugova Gorge by the crystal waters of Bistrica e Pejës River; reaching the locations of Boga for overnight stay in wooden bungalows. After refreshments, start going towards the meadows of Liqenat through walking on a pine forest trail, where two small glacier lakes are found at 1800m of altitude. A break for a picnic type lunch and after hike down to relax at the bungalows before barbecued dinner.
Transfer: 25km/30min
Hike gradient: 1400m up 1800m down 1400m
Estimated walking time: 4hrs
Walking ground: well-trod footpath

Day 4 – Boga – Peja
On this day the climb of Hajla peak 2400m will follow. It is the mountain that divides Kosovo with Montenegro. As the previous day, will start with a walk through the pine forest, continuing on a shepherds trail through alpine meadows until the peak where a breathtaking view awaits.
Descend Boga and leave for Peja on a minibus.
Overnight in Peja.
Hotel (TBC)
Transfer: Boga – Peja; 25km/30min
Hike gradient: 1400m up / 2400m down 1400m
Estimated walking time: 8-9hrs
Walking ground: well-trod footpath

Day 5 – Dunish
Leave Kosovo on a minibus towards the Albanian border and visit the monastery in Decan on the way. The last leg of the drive will bring us to the charming Valbona valley where we will accommodate in a guesthouse. Free hikes on the afternoon to explore the surrounding on foot.
Overnight in Valbona.
Hotel (TBC)
Transfer: Peja – Gjakova – Valbona; 135km/3hrs
Day 6 – Rrogam
After breakfast, hiking up a beautiful side on Valbona valley discovering the splendid views of the White Circle – a large alpine bowl, Jezerca (the highest Albanian Alps peak) and Ros mountain. On the way back, visit few shepherds’ families in the Kukaj neighborhood, tasting Turkish coffee, honey and raki. Overnight in Rrogam.
Hotel (TBC)
Transfer: none
Hike gradient: 800m up 1600m down 800m
Estimated time: 6-7hrs
Day 7 – Theth
After breakfast, hiking on Valbona Pass (1966m a.s.l) will follow. This Pass linked for centuries the two most known valleys of this area, Valbona and Thethi. Horses or mules will be hired to carry the luggage. From late spring this is used commonly by highlanders until the first snow of the winter. Few water springs on both sides will make the stops pleasant and refreshing while admiring steep and jagged surrounding peaks of the Accursed Mountains. At the Pass we will start to descend towards the village of Thethi (800m a.s.l), where we will stay overnight after about 8hrs of walking. Thethi is the best-preserved alpine village in Albania. It has typical houses still roofed with wooden tiles and its location is spectacular. Dinner and overnight at one of these houses to experience the hospitality of the place.
Hotel (TBC)
Transfer: none
Hike gradient: 800m up 1950m down 800m
Estimated time: 8hrs
Walking ground: well-trod footpath
Day 8 – Theth
After breakfast, a nice day of going around in the surrounding of Thethi, one of the most known charming villages of northern Albania, because of its stunning nature and traditional wooden-tiled houses. Visit the attractions like the Church, Kulla e Ngujimit (a tower house used in the past by men as a shelter against on going vendetta), Thehti Waterfall, Grunasi Canyon and the 2007 revelation: cyclopean stone walled terraces dating from the late bronze era. Overnight in Theth.
Hotel (TBC)
Transfer: none
Hike gradient: 800m up 1000m down 800m
Estimated time: 4hrs
Walking ground: well-trod footpath
Day 9 – Theth
After breakfast, hiking the Peja Pass. This is the most beautiful hike of the Albanian Alps. The views of Thethi Valley become more and more spectacular as we get higher until reaching the springs at the plateau of Jezerca. Return back to valley and celebrate the end of this walk with drinks and food at “Malesorja” Pub – the Highlander, quite a picturesque tiny ‘restaurant’ by the crystal water of Shala.
Overnight in guesthouse in Theth.
Transfer: none
Hike gradient: 800m up 1900m down 800m
Estimated time: 7hrs
Walking ground: well-trod footpath
Day 10 – Nderlys
After breakfast, leave for a day hike in the meadows of Denell – some finest alpine pastures of the Albanian Alps located at 1700m. A picnic there in the middle of a pristine nature it’s priceless. Walk down the valley until reaching the next stop, Nderlysa, for dinner and overnight.
Overnight in Nderlysa.
Hotel (TBC)
Transfer: Theth – Nderlys; 8.5km/30min
Hike gradient: 800m up 1650m down 800m
Estimated time: 6-7hrs
Walking ground: well-trod footpath

Day 11 – Nderlys
This day will be spent in Nderlysa in a beautiful rural setting. Hike to Kaprea – a hidden small alpine valley with a creek of turquoise water that springs from the “Blue Eye”. It is also possible to have a swim in one of the pools if the water is warm enough.
Overnight in Nderlys.
Hotel (TBC)
Transfer: none
Hike gradient: 800m up 1200m down 800m
Estimated time: 6hrs
Walking ground: well-trod footpath

Day 12 – Krujë
Leave Nderlysa on foot while the luggage is transported in horses or mules, towards the Thore Pass. Great views of the peaks from here, as we make our way towards the Boga valley taking the old trail known as the pass of the sheep. At the end of the trail, take the minibus drive to Kruja, stopping for lunch at Shkodra Lake, the greatest lake in the Ballkans.
Overnight in Kruja
Hotel (TBC)
Transfer: Boga – Kruja; 160km/3hrs
Hike gradient: 600m up 1700m down 1000m
Estimated time: 6-7hrs
Walking ground: well-trod footpath

Day 13 – Tiranë
Travel towards Tirana. Once there, take the cable car up the Dajti Mountain for hiking into its peaks. In the afternoon tour-walking around the capital. In the evening, dinner at a nice restaurant and then follows drinks at ‘Blloku” area – once was a forbidden area belonging to the communist leaders- now the “heart” of Tirana’s nightlife entertainment.
Overnight in Tirana.
Hotel (TBC)
Transfer: Kruja – Tirana; 23km/45min
Hike gradient: 1000m up 1580m down 1000m
Estimated time: 6-7hrs
Walking ground: well-trod footpath

Day 14 – Transfer to the Airport “Mother Theresa”