Hiking in southern Albania – Hidden Zagoria Valley (8 Day Tour)
Exklusive Partner Offer
This 8 day hike takes you to the still relatively unknown south of Albania. Discover the hidden beauty of the Zagori Valley and enjoy breathtaking landscapes with mountains, rivers and hot springs. Stay with local families and visit Gjirokaster, the ‘city of stone’, experiencing both nature and culture closely.
Hidden villages nestled on rocky slopes, almost forgotten caravan routes, breathtaking nature and the impressive Ottoman stone bridges of Ali Pasha: all this and much more awaits you in the Zagoria Valley in southern Albania.
Highlights:
- Breathtaking nature in the hidden Zagoria Valley in southern Albania
- Homestays in small guesthouses – Experience rural Albanian village life up close
- Cross the Dhembel Pass to get rewarded with stunning views of Enver Hoxha’s bunkers, Mount Cajupi and the Vjosa valley
- The cobbled streets in the UNESCO World Heritage site of „The stone city“ Gjirokaster
- The Vjosa River – one of the last wild rivers in Europe
The trails are well maintained and offer comfortable hiking conditions. You can expect daily hikes of 10 to 15 kilometres and altitude differences of 400 to 750 metres. The exception is the hike over the Dhembeli Pass, a more demanding undertaking that includes an exhilarating 1,250-metre descent to Permet.
After arriving in the Albanian capital of Tirana, you will travel to the south of the country. From here you will hike along rivers, over mountain passes and through blooming meadows and quaint villages where time seems to have stood still. Shepherds with flocks of sheep will pass by, sending you on a journey back in time to a Europe that has almost been forgotten. Green pastures and purple Judas trees in summer, the enticing colours of ripe fruit in autumn and the panorama of the Albanian mountains in the background – this is what makes a trip through southern Albania so special. Along turquoise rivers, you will come to waterfalls and a special place, the thermal springs of Benje.
Testimonials:
Our second trip with the wonderful Endrit from Zbulo to the Zagoria Valley. It was a wonderful 10 days. The hike is not as demanding as the Peaks of Balkan, but it is much less travelled. The hospitality and welcome from the host family were exceptional. Endrit lights up when he meets people, and they are drawn to him, so we were able to interact with the locals a lot, chatting and having coffee with them, which really enriched our experience. We felt incredibly well looked after and everything went absolutely smoothly. Highly recommended.
Hiking Tour in southern Albania – Zagoria Valley
This diverse week of hiking takes you to the mostly unknown south of Albania. Discover the beauty of the hidden Zagoria Valley and enjoy the breathtaking landscape with its mountains, rivers and hot springs. With stays with host families and a visit to Gjirokaster, the ‘city of stones’.
What makes makes this hike so special? Trekking with overnight stays with host families through the stone villages of the Zagoria Valley, including swimming in the tributary of the Vjosa, Ottoman bridges, Orthodox churches, and the charm of being off the beaten track.
We offer two options for your adventure: Self-guided, i.e. on your own. Or Guided, i.e. in a small group with a local hiking guide:
We are offering this hiking tour together with our partner agency with offices in Tirana, Albania, with whom we have entered into a co-operation to keep the prices as attractive as possible for you. The agency offers guided and self-guided hikes in the border triangle and is led by a German.
You can use the booking form below to make a reservation. Select a tour with „Select trip“ and follow the instructions on the form. We will then contact you by email. Payment will be made by bank transfer, no credit card needed.
If you should have questions beyond what is answered already here and in the extensive FAQ section at the bottom of the page, you can contact us via WhatsApp as well.
Testimonials / Experiences:
Secure your spot here:
+49 176 66893313
Trail Information
Difficulty
Three moderate hikes of 4 to 6 hours in the lower mountain ranges end with a fourth, longer day crossing the Dhembel Pass. At the end, there are two optional shorter hikes to the Sopot Waterfall and in Gjirokaster.
Transfers
Airport transfers are in private vehicles.
Guest houses
Four simple, clean, and cozy homestays with private rooms and shared bathrooms await you in the Zagoria Valley, followed by three nights in centrally located hotels with private bathrooms in Permet, Gjirokaster, and Tirana.
During the hike, you will stay in private rooms with host families. The rooms are simple and functional. You will sleep in twin rooms with shared bathrooms at the four host families and in double rooms with private bathrooms during the three nights in the city.
Bed linen and blankets, towels, shampoo, and other basic items are provided by the guesthouses. However, we recommend packing a travel towel just in case.
Food & Water
The food in this part of the world will be something you look forward to at the end of each day. The dishes are freshly prepared in the traditional way and feature a mix of Balkan, Turkish, and European influences. Guesthouses serve homemade bread with locally grown vegetables, dairy products, and eggs. Dinner includes traditional soups, meat dishes, vegetables, and cakes.
Vegetarians and special diets are no problem, as host families can offer vegetarian alternatives. However, the selection is sometimes simpler and somewhat limited.
Bring your own water bottle to refill on the hike. You can get water from mountain streams or tap water in guesthouses, both of which are safe to drink. If you have concerns about drinking untreated water, we recommend bringing water purification tablets. You should carry 2-3 liters with you on each stage.
Additional nights
Additional nights in Tirana before or after the tour can be arranged. You can add this directly in the booking form here on the page under “Add-ons.” You can also ask any further questions there. You will receive the most important general travel information and route description later on anyway.
Terrain during the hikes, navigation
The trails on the Hidden Valley Trek are often narrow and uneven, sometimes steep and rocky – especially on the descent from the Dhembel Pass. Because the markings are not as good as in the Alps and some trails are not used often, we will provide you with a GPS device to help you find your way around.
Although all paths are wide enough to be used by pack horses laden with luggage and do not pose any objective danger, there are a few smaller and mostly very short 5 m sections that run over Ottoman bridges and near the river and may be subjectively perceived as “scary” by people with a fear of heights. There have been no incidents to date, but we would like to mention this for the sake of completeness.
Time zone
GMT +1
Language & communication
Albanian. Many people in large cities speak English, but this is often not always the case in remote areas. However, in the guesthouses in the Zagoria Valley, there is usually at least one person in the household who speaks English.
Power outlets & electricity
220V, 50 Hz, two-pin round plugs (as in the US). In most villages, guesthouses have solar panels, which provide hot water and allow electrical devices to be charged. In some villages or on the mountain, there is also cell phone reception. Especially in Valbona and Theth, you can expect very good network coverage.
Money & currency
Lek in Albania, but euros are also often accepted. ATMs are available in Tirana, Permet, and Gjirokastra.
Packing list
- Sturdy (ankle-high) hiking boots
- A comfortable second pair of shoes or sandals
- Hat or other form of sun protection, in addition to sunscreen and sunglasses
- Lightweight rain gear just in case (95% of the rain falls in winter)
- 2l water equipment
- Daypack 20-35l
- Swimwear/shorts (optional, but recommended)
Booking and cancellation policy
Following your reservation, a deposit of 25% of the booking price is due by bank transfer, with the remaining balance payable up to 4 weeks before the start of your tour. In the event of cancellation, the deposit is non-refundable.
