Hiking in Albania – The top 8 Most Beautiful Trails
Here you can find out about the best hiking trails in Albania and how you can combine trekking routes with other countries. I also tell you when is the best time to travel to Albania for a hiking trip. You can look forward to spectacular natural coastal and mountain landscapes in a country that has so far been rather undeveloped by tourism, and to a warm-hearted hospitality that is sure to leave a powerful impression. Here are the most beautiful routes for hiking in Albania.
Hiking in Albania
The most beautiful hiking areas in Albania
Inhalt / Contents
For years, the communist dictator in Albania did not allow tourism, but with the end of the Kosovo war in 1999, the number of foreign visitors slowly increased again, which took a rapid development in the following years. The still relatively undiscovered country in the Balkans is increasingly becoming the focus of individual travellers and backpackers. No wonder, because Albania shines with scenic beauties such as majestic coastal mountains, deep gorges, remote ruins of houses in enchanted forests and rugged mountain ranges with fascinating mountain lakes, in which you can sometimes even swim. In addition, fairytale mountain villages and historic town centres such as Berat, Butrint, Durres, Shkodra and UNESCO World Heritage Site Gjirokastra beckon with numerous historical sights that you should not miss. The highest mountain in Albania is the Korab on the border with Macedonia in the north, which is around 2,764 metres high.
Hiking Albania: Theth National Park
THETH NATIONAL PARK
Look forward to fantastic hiking days in this national park. From here, there are several hiking routes with different walking times. For example, take a hike to the enchanting „Blue Eye of Theth“ or walk part of the transnational Via Dinarica Trail. Smaller hiking routes, which are also suitable for beginners, take you to the Grunas waterfall or the springs of Okol. The „Goat Bridge“ (Shtëgu i Dhënve) with a length of 1,900 metres and the somewhat more strenuous Peja Pass with a length of 1,710 metres are also popular.
Hiking Albania: Valbona Valley
VALBONA NATIONAL PARK
The Albanian Alps, which are also known as the enchanted mountains, offer you great hikes with different levels of difficulty and walking times in the fascinating national park. The Valbona Pass lies at an altitude of around 1,812 metres and connects the northern Albanian villages of Valbona and Theth. This is probably the most famous route through the national park, where you can enjoy beautiful views of the mountain landscape. Please note, however, that the rather strenuous and long pass is not for beginners. Easier tours lead to the source of the Valbona, to a small lake or to Çerem.
Albania Koman Lake
KOMAN LAKE
Here you can combine an extensive hiking tour with a boat trip on the reservoir in the depths of the northern Albanian mountains. Koman Lake is located in the centre of a cascade of three reservoirs and promises well-developed paths all around for one-day or multi-day hiking tours. You can also combine this hike with a visit to the coastal town of Shkodra.
Albania Llogara National Park
LLOGARA NATIONAL PARK
The national park is known for the Llogara Pass, the mountain pass in southern Albania that acts as a watershed between the Adriatic and Ionian Seas. But you can also plan a hiking trip to this park. Mountain forests, ancient pine trees, rich wildlife, romantic mountain villages and trails with varying walking times and great views await you.
Osumi Canyon Albanien
OSUM CANYON
An underrated place in the country is the Osumi Canyon (Kanionet e Osumit), a 13 km long milky turquoise coloured river that flows through a large rocky gorge. It is also known as the Grand Canyon of Albania. It is worth combining a visit to the Osum Gorge with a tour of Berat. The gorge is one of the most beautiful landscapes in Albania. The Osumi Canyon Bridge, where you can have the best view into the depths, is located 60 kilometres from Berat. The journey takes 1 hour 45 minutes because the route is quite winding. You can also go hiking in the Osum Gorge. It is worth booking a tour for this. Canyoning and rafting are also possible.
Albania Bogova Waterfalls
BOGOVA WATERFALLS
If you pass Bogova on your trip through Albania, then make sure you take the short hiking tour to the Bogova Waterfalls. The hike takes around an hour and a half and runs through a wild and romantic valley along a stream with crystal-clear mountain water that you can even drink. Once you reach the rushing waterfalls, you can perhaps have a small picnic and simply enjoy nature. I don’t necessarily recommend taking a shower under the waterfall – the water comes straight from the mountain and is icy cold.
Albania Lake Ohrid
LAKE OHRID
Lake Ohrid is the second largest lake on the Balkan Peninsula and one of the oldest lakes in the world. It straddles the borders of eastern Albania and northern Macedonia and has a maximum depth of 288 metres. A highlight is the town of the same name, Ohrid, which forms the historical and cultural centre of Lake Ohrid. The Cyrillic alphabet was invented here, which is why Ohrid is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Around the lake you will find numerous hiking opportunities for beginners to professionals, which you can combine with exciting sights.
Albania Blue Eye
BLUE EYE LAKE (SYRI I KALTËR)
Within the Syri i Kaltër Nature Park, you will find the Blue Eye karst spring on the western slope of the Mali i Gjerë mountain range in southern Albania. The spring is one of the most water-rich springs in the country and is turquoise blue in colour due to the light-coloured limestone in the water. The spring and its surrounding oak and plane tree groves are protected and can be visited on a hike. The best place to start is from nearby towns such as Delvina and Saranda, with walking times of four to five hours. A detour to Butrint is also recommended.
Cross-border long-distance hiking trails
It is only in recent years that hiking holidaymakers have discovered the unspoilt mountain world of the Albanian Alps in the north of the country, which is why hiking in Albania is still considered a real insider tip among nature lovers. The exploration of this area led to the creation of the popular long-distance hiking trail „Peaks of the Balkans“, which winds 192 kilometres through the land of the Scipetars, Kosovo and Montenegro. Another transnational route, the „Via Dinarica“ trail, takes you from Slovenia to Macedonia and promises views that you will never forget. You can spend the night in mountain huts, enjoy the hospitality of the Albanians and visit picturesque little mountain villages and towns in the idyllic mountain valleys. The best thing is: You can set the pace of your trip yourself!
Guided hikes: Albania Hiking Alps
In a country like Albania, which is rather undeveloped for tourism, guided hiking tours with an experienced tour guide are certainly not a bad idea. Many paths are not yet developed or are difficult or impossible to recognise. Having a local with you who can also tell you something about the landscape and the history of the country not only gives you a certain sense of security, but is also very interesting. After all, Albania was excluded from tourism for a long time and there was little to learn about the country. You can actually book guided tours with a tour guide in almost any large city, such as Shkoder or Tirana, or in the vicinity of scenic sights. Your luggage is often transported by horse so that you don’t have to carry too much on your hiking trip. Alternatively, have a look at self-guided tours by Abenteuer Albanien in advance to find a suitable tour for you.
Best time to go hiking in Albania
The best time to go hiking in Albania is between April and October, although it always depends on where exactly you want to go hiking, for example whether you opt for the coast or tours in the mountains. On the coast, I recommend spring and autumn, as it can get hot in the high season in July and August and you can expect a higher number of visitors. In the Albanian Alps, the hiking season starts in mid-May. In winter, you should only set off in the Alps with the appropriate equipment.
