Peaks of the Balkans 7-11 Days Self Guided Tour

Best time to travel

The best time to travel to the Peaks of the Balkans is from mid-June to the end of September. The summer months in the region are pleasantly warm, with an average temperature of around 25 °C, although it can be colder at higher altitudes of course. In May, there may still be snow and most guesthouses are still closed. For hikes in Albania in April/May, Zagoria Valley and Coastal Trail are ideal.

Transfers

All transfers are provided in private vehicles, either by minibus, car or 4×4, depending on road conditions. Transfers from Tirana to Shkoder and back are included in our premium packages. If you choose the budget option, you still have the opportunity of adding an airport transfer (approx. €85 per vehicle for max. 4 people per trip) in the booking form, which we will be happy to organise for you.

There are also public buses from Tirana or Podgorica:

Tirana Airport to Shkodra: Departure times are 10:45, 12:45, 15:30, 17:30 and 20:10 directly from Tirana Airport. A bus ticket costs 1,000 Albanian lek (€10) and is paid for in cash on the bus. The bus journey from Tirana Airport to Shkodra takes about 2 hours.

Podgorica (Flixbus): Departure times are 09:00 (June to October) and 16:00 (all year round) from the bus station in the city. A bus ticket costs 12 euros. The bus journey from Podgorica to Shkodra takes about 1.5 hours.

Accommodation

All our packages include private rooms in all hotels and guesthouses. For 2 people, this means staying in a double room; for larger groups, it may also be rooms with 3 or 4 beds or maisonette rooms/bungalows in some locations. During the hike, you will primarily stay in small family-run guesthouses and mountain huts.

We recommend that you bring a travel towel and a hut sleeping bag with you, just in case. It can sometimes get very chilly in the mountain village of Doberdol. If you wish to store any extra luggage during the hike, you can leave it at the hotel in Shkoder and pick it up again on your return from the mountains.

Food & water

The food in this region of the world will be something to look forward to at the end of each day. Meals in the guesthouses are freshly prepared in traditional way and feature a mix of Balkan, Turkish and European influences.

In the guesthouses, you will be served homemade bread with locally grown vegetables, salad, dairy products and eggs. Dinner typically consists of traditional vegetable soups, grilled vegetables, meat (served seperately) and pies such as byrek. The guesthouses offer packed lunch for you every day – often consisting of tomatoes, cucumber, a sandwich, fruit or vegetables, which you can also put together yourself.

Vegetarians and other dietary requirements are no problem, as the host families can offer alternatives. Many dishes in the mountains are vegatarian by default, meat is served separately. You can note your preferences in the booking form under ‘Questions and Remarks’ and we will pass it on.

Bring your own water bottle, which you can refill during the hike. Water is available from mountain streams or as tap water in the guest houses, both of which are drinkable. If you have concerns about drinking untreated water, we recommend that you bring water purification tablets with you.

Additional nights

Additional nights in Shkoder or Tirana before or after the tour can be arranged and cost from €60. If you wish, you can select additional nights in Shkodra or Tirana in the booking form under ‘Add-ons’.

You will receive a booking confirmation shortly after submitting you reservation. You can ask further questions there as well simply by replying to the email received. You will however receive the most important general travel information and route description later on anyway.

Terrain during the hikes, navigation

This hiking trail is characterised by many ascents and descents. The route leads over a relief that represents alpine terrain with steep slopes, river valleys carved into the mountains, rocky peaks, mountain pine belts, etc. However, the selected paths are mostly easy to walk on and safe.

For navigation, you can choose between GPS files that can be loaded onto your own navigation device or links to routes stored in our app (these can be viewed offline after downloading; you do not need an internet connection in the mountains, only the GPS on your mobile phone must be active).

Language & communication

Albanian in Kosovo and Albania, Serbian/Montenegrin in Montenegro. Many people in large cities speak English, most of your hosts in the guest houses also speak English since you will not be the first foreign hiker for them.

Sockets & power supply

220V, 50 Hz, two-pin round plugs as used in many countries in central Europe. In most villages, guesthouses have solar panels, providing hot water and allowing electrical devices to be charged. In some villages or in the mountains, there is also mobile phone reception. You can expect very good network coverage, especially in Valbona and Theth.

Money & currency

Euro (EUR) in Kosovo and Montenegro, Lek in Albania, but Euros are also accepted there. ATMs are available in Shkodër (Albania), Pejë (Kosovo), Plav (Montenegro) and Gjakova (Kosovo).

Visa requirements

Most European citizens can enter Albania without a visa. All you need is an identity card or passport that is valid for at least 3 months.

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 rainwear (95% of the rain falls in winter)
• Warm fleece jumper & hiking trousers, as the nights are cold even in summer
• 2l water equipment
• Daypack 25-40l
• Hut sleeping bag
• Swimwear/shorts (optional, but recommended)

Booking and cancellation conditions

Following your reservation, a deposit of 25% of the booking price is due within 14 days by bank transfer (or wire transfer), with the remaining amount payable up to 4 weeks before the start of your tour. In the event of cancellation, the deposit is non-refundable.