Peaks of the Balkans 6 Days – Self-Guided Hiking Tour

Explore the peaks of the Balkans on your own in 6 days, with transfers, private accommodation, all meals in the mountains, border permits, GPS files & route description included.

Peaks-of-the-balkans

Start/End:  Shkoder

Duration:  6 Days

Difficulty:  Medium 

Reisezei:  June – Oct.

per person:  € 540,00

(min. 2 people)

Self Guided Hiking Tour Highlights

Viewpoints – Experience breathtaking views of rocky valleys and forests in the Albanian Alps.

Shkodra – Walk through the picturesque city centre and experience local highlights such as the Marubi Photo Collection, Lake Shkodra and the view of the city from the Illyrian fortress of Rozafa.

Village of Theth – You will visit one of the most picturesque villages in Albania, located in the middle of Theth National Park. Experience the „Blue Eye“, the waterfall-fed limestone pool, located in the middle of the forests of Albania’s cursed mountains.

Taljanka and Grebaje Valley – Climb the Taljanka peak with breathtaking views of the surrounding peaks and the Grebaje Valley, considered the most beautiful in the former Yugoslavia.

Valbona Pass – Embark on the epic hike from Theth to Valbona, one of the most beautiful hikes in Albania, and enjoy the spectacular views from the pass into the Valbona Valley.

Bunkers – Explore the country’s scattered bunkers and learn why Enver Hoxha built some 200,000 of them.

Culinary – Discover the unique cuisine of Albania and be impressed by the hospitality of the locals in the mountains.

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> for 7, 8 and 10 day self-guided tours in the Peaks of the Balkans, click here <<

Your Peaks of the Balkans 6 Day Itinerary

Experience rural Albania and Montenegro on a 6-day self-guided hiking tour starting from Shkoder. All transfers, private accommodation and meals in guest houses are included.

Day 1: Arrival and overnight stay in Shkoder

Day 2: Transfer to Theth (07:30) – Hike Blue Eye & Grunas Waterfall – (approx. 6 hours, 260 m↑, 430 m↓, 10 km)

Day 3: Hike Valbona Pass – Valbona National Park & Valbona Valley – (approx. 7h, 1068 m↑, 850 m↓, 19 km)

Day 4: Transfer to Cerem – Pass Crossing – Zarunica Valley – Vusanje – (approx. 5h, 690 m↑, 810 m↓, 13 km)

Day 5: Transfer to the Grebaje Valley – Circular hike Taljanka – return to Vusanje – (ca. 6h, 830 m↑, 910 m↓, 9,8 km)

Day 6: Transfer to trailhead – Hike Pejës Pass to Theth, Transfer to Shkoder with arrival by 19:30 – (approx. 8h, 900 m↑, 1200 m↓, 16.5 km)

Day 1: Arrival and overnight in Shkoder

Make your way to Shkoder today. Your double room at the hotel will be ready from 15:00. Use the day to visit the Marubi Photo Museum, explore the picturesque old town, head up to Rozafa Fortress for some great views or have dinner near the peaceful Lake Shkodra. You are welcome to leave any additional luggage at the hotel for the duration of the tour and simply collect it when you return. We recommend taking only a daypack with you into the mountains.

Early in the morning at 07:30 after breakfast, you will leave Shkodra with a pick-up at your accommodation and drive through the stunning landscapes of northern Albania to the mountain village of Theth. Arrive at the guest house.

You will start your adventure with a short hike to the fabulous „Blue Eye“ (Syri i Kalter), a natural pool of water located about 10 kilometres from the center of Theth. The 5-metre deep and ice-cold water (8 °C) of the „Blue Eye“ was formed by rock erosion caused by water falling from the mountains. Enjoy a picnic lunch at the Blue Eye and return to the guest house in the afternoon. On the way back, it is worth taking a short detour to Grunas Waterfall.  Dinner, overnight at the guest house.

Walking time approx. 6 hours, 260 m↑, 430 m↓, 10 km

Today, you will already wake up in the Albanian Alps. After breakfast, you make your way across scree fields to the foot of the mountains and up to the famous Valbona pass, following the old shepherds path that were once the only way to travel between Valbona and Shkoder.

You will pass through old villages where people still live in their 100+ year-old stone towers. Enjoy the spectacular views of the long, rocky valley intermingled with quiet, restful forests, and stop for lunch at one of the traditional cafés of your choice. On arrival in Valbona, be amazed by the unique nature, history, and traditions of the village. Dinner and overnight at the guesthouse.

Walking time approx. 7 hours, 1068 m↑, 850 m↓, 19.5 km

A transfer will take you to Cerem. A very picturesque stage awaits you there, winding through beech and birch forests. Cerem came into being in the early 1950s when shepherds from Vusanje began to exploit pastures in Albania. After these incursions, the Albanian state decided to send in the armed forces and seal off the borders. The descent is on a well-marked path through the Zarunica valley to Vusanje, with the wild peaks of the Prokletije mountains in front of you.

The small village of Vusanje (Vuthaj in Albanian) at the entrance to the impressive Ropojana Valley is in Montenegro, but the population is Albanian. Dinner and overnight stay in the guesthouse.

Walking time approx. 4 hours, 690 m↑, 810 m↓, 13 km

Your day begins with a transfer to Grebaje Valley, the heart of the Prokletije (Accursed Mountains). The small detour from the classic Peaks of the Balkans Trail brings you to what we believe is the most spectacular section for hiking in this region. The hike up to the ridges of the Taljanka (2056 m) and Volušnica mountains leads you to high meadows with breathtaking views of the rugged rock massif of the Karanfil peaks.

After the descent down to the Grebaje valley, a transfer brings you back to Vusanje with some unique impressions in your luggage. Dinner and overnight stay at the guest house.

Walking time approx. 6 hours, 830 m↑, 910 m↓, 9.8 km

A 30-minute transfer by 4×4 will bring you to the trailhead. The hike will lead you along vast mountain meadows and pine forests, at the foot of which you can easily find wild strawberries and raspberries. To the side, the majestic Karanfili peaks, which you saw yesterday from the other side in the Grebaje valley, rise. You will reach the seasonal mountain lake Gjeshtarës, and further on, Lake Pejës, situated in a huge rocky valley, inviting you to have a picnic at noon.

Crossing the Pejës Pass, from where you have a magnificent view of the mythical Mount Harapit, also known as ‘Zacken’, you descend steeply back down to Theth. Dinner and overnight stay in a guesthouse.

(Walking time approx. 7 hours, 900 m↑, 1200 m↓, 12 km)

A minibus from Theth at 11:00 that will get you to Shkoder by 14:30.

Included in the hike

✓ 1 Night: Hotel in Shkoder in a double room

✓ 5 Nights: Guest house in private room

✓ All transfers by minibus/4×4 (5x)

✓ Border crossing permits

✓ GPX files & route descriptions

✓ Meals: 6 x breakfast, 5 x packed lunch, 4 x dinner

What to bring

  • Hiking boots
  • A day pack (30–40 litres)

Good to know

  • This is an intensive tour, which is more suitable for people in a good physical condition.
  • The maximum difference in altitude for the hike on day 6 is 1,100 meters and covers a distance of 23 km.

Hotel & Guesthouses

  • HotelColosseo-Shkoder_Hiking Tour Valbona Theth Albania
  • Theth Albanien Gästehaus
  • Theth-Valbona-Koman-Hiking Tour Guesthouses
  • Abendessen im Gästehaus in Teth auf der Wanderung Theth-Valbona
  • Theth-Valbona-Koman-Hiking Tour Guesthouses
  • Guesthouses Valbona Valley Stonehouse
  • Valbona Valley Guest House Rooms
  • Theth Valbona Hike food
  • Guest House Shkoder Room Accommodation
  • Abenteueralbanien-erkundung-landschaft-gruppe-reiseabenteuer.
  • Bequemes Doppelzimmer im albanischen Ferienhaus, mit einfachen Möbeln, weißen Bettwäsche, Blick auf das Fenster, ideal für einen erholsamen Aufenthalt in Albanien.
  • Knusprige, frisch gebackene albanische Fladen mit schwarzen Oliven, serviert auf einem Holzbrett in einem rustikalen Restaurant mit Bergblick, ideal für authentische Abenteuer Albanien-Erlebnisse.

Book your adventure now!

Your hiking tour will be organized by our partners in Shkoder. After submitting the form, you will receive an email with all relevant details.

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Your Albania Expert
Your Albania ExpertDirk Pohlers
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Frequently asked questions

When is the best time to hike the Peaks of the Balkans Trail

The best time to hike the Peaks of the Balkans Trail is mid-June to mid-Oktober. If you want to hike earlier or later, you should expect snow and closed huts.

The hikes usually take between six and eight hours per day, so previous hiking experience is an advantage, but not necessary for those who are in very good shape. During the hikes, you will carry your own day pack with mainly clothing, toiletries and water, as you will stay in guest houses every day in the mountains.

The tour starts at a hotel/guesthouse in the center of Shkodra. The transfer to the mountains takes place the following day from a guesthouse. The tour ends after the return from Theth at the roundabout near the central mosque, at approximately 2pm. From here, various buses depart for your onward journey.

From the north/south bus station in Tirana, buses run hourly to the north, the last one around 18:00, journey time approx. 2 hours. Just be at the bus terminal about 15 minutes before and get on, you pay later on the bus.

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

We will arrange the border crossing permits for your trip, the price for these is included in the package.

The region is known for the hospitality of its inhabitants, which visitors can enjoy while staying in one of the traditional guest houses found along the trail. The variety of accommodation ranges from traditional stone houses, so called “Kulas”, to mountain huts and small mountain lodges where local and home-made dishes are served by the local hosts. Bed linen, towels, shampoo, hot water and other basic items are provided, but we recommend packing a travel towel, just in case.

Euro (EUR) in Kosovo and Montenegro, Lek in Albania, Euro is also accepted here. Credit cards and ATMs are available in Peja, Plav and Gjakova. For snacks and drinks other than water besides meals, it is advisable to withdraw a few LEK in Shkodra or take some EUROs with you.

The food in this part of the world is something you will look forward to at the end of each day. The food is freshly prepared in the traditional way and has a mix of Balkan, Turkish and European influences. In the guesthouses, breakfast includes simple homemade bread with locally grown vegetables, dairy products and eggs. For dinner there are salads, traditional soups, meat dishes, vegetables, and pies.

The guesthouses will also provide you with a packed lunch, which often includes a sandwich with cheese and vegetables. Vegetarians and diets are not a problem as the host families can provide alternatives. Remember to take your water bottle with you to refill it along the way. You can get water from springs along the way or from the taps in the guesthouses, as this is also drinkable water. However, if you are concerned about drinking untreated water, we recommend that you take water purification tablets with you.

220 V, 50 Hz, two-pin round plugs. In most villages, the guesthouses have solar panels, which provide hot water and can charge electrical appliances. In some villages or on the mountain, there is sometimes mobile phone reception. Especially in Valbona and Theth you can expect a very good network.

  • Sturdy (ankle-high) walking shoes, 2 pairs of hiking socks
  • A comfortable second pair of shoes or sandals
  • Hat or another form of sun protection, in addition to sunscreen and glasses
  • Light rainwear (95% of the rain falls in winter)
  • Warm fleece jumper & walking trousers as nights are cold even in summer
  • 2l water gear
  • Daypack 25-40l
  • Swimwear/shorts (optional but recommended)

Peaks of the Balkans Packages

Peaks-of-the-Balkans-7-Days-Self-Guided-Hiking-Tour

7 Days Peaks of the Balkans Hiking Tour

The short version of the trail without Kosovo but including the famous Theth - Valbone hike, Lake Hrid at 2000m & the shepherd's village Doberdol.

€ 615,00

Peaks-of-the-Balkans Self-guided 7 to 10 Days

10 Days Peaks of the Balkans Hiking Tour

10 days Peaks of the Balkans through all 3 countries - Albania, Kosovo & Montenegro incl. Gjeravica Peak and Taljanka Peak in the Grebaje Valley (photo)

€ 765,00

Peaks of the Balkans 11 Days Self-Guided Hiking Tour

11 Days Peaks of the Balkans Hiking Tour

The 11-day option including overnight stay in the shepherd village of Doberdol (Albania), Koman Lake Ferry crossing and Grebaja Valley (Montenegro).

from € 985,00