PEAKS OF THE BALKANS TRAIL | 10-Day Guided Hiking Tour

Exklusive Partner Offer

Experience the Peaks of the Balkans Trail on a beautiful 10-days small-group hike with a local guide through the unspoilt nature of the ‘Accursed Mountains’, which lie in three Balkan countries – Albania, Montenegro, and Kosovo.
  • Abgeernde Wanderer mit Schafen in den albanischen Bergen, Natur- und Tiererlebnis in Albanien, Abenteuerurlaub in Albanien, beeindruckende Landschaften Albanien.
  • Abenteuer Albanien, Wandertour in den albanischen Bergen mit einer Gruppe erfahrener Wanderer auf anspruchsvoller Route.
  • Gemütliches albanisches Abendessen in einer rustikalen Holzhütte, mit traditionellen Speisen und regionalen Spezialitäten, um die kulinarische Vielfalt Albaniens zu erleben.
  • Abenteuer Albanien, Wandergruppe auf Bergwanderung in der Natur, alpine Landschaft, ultra-attraktive Outdoor-Aktivitäten, entdecken Sie die unberührten Gegenden Albaniens.
  • Kreative alpinen Landschaften in Albanien mit Wanderern, die auf einem Bergpfad unterwegs sind.
  • Abenteuer Albanien, Wandern im grünen Berg-Tal mit idyllischer Landschaft, Naturerlebnis in Albanien, unberührte Natur, Berge, Sommerurlaub, Outdoor-Aktivitäten, Reisen in Albanien, Naturerkundung.
  • Abenteuer Albanien, authentliches Essen in malerischer Natur, zeigt eine Gruppe von Menschen beim traditionellen albanischen Picknick im Freien, umgeben von Bergen und historischer Architektur.
  • Grüner albanischer Nationalpark mit Seen, Wäldern und Bergen, ideal für Natur- und Outdoor-Abenteuer in Albanien.

Arrival/Departure                 Shkoder

Duration                                 10 Days

Group Size                              4-12

Local Guide                            English speaking

Time                                        Mai – Oct.

per person                              € 980,00

The Peaks of the Balkans trek is surely the best way to experience Albania, Montenegro, and Kosovo’s unique combination of natural beauty and cultural richness. Using old shepherd paths, the trail winds through high alpine mountain terrain of the most remote regions of the Balkan mountain’s range.

The 192-km cross-border trekking trail „Peaks of the Balkans“ leads through the ‚Accursed Mountains‘ of Albania, Kosovo, and Montenegro. Considering the region’s turbulent history and once tightly controlled borders during the communist period, the trek has become very popular and nowadays hiking enthusiasts from around the world are coming to visit this very remote area.

The trail is considered a must-do for any hiker. The level of difficulty ranges from easy to moderate + but requires good physical condition.

Peaks of the Balkans Tour Guided – Highlights

  • Village of Theth – Visit one of the most picturesque villages in the Albanian Alps
  • Hiking in the wilderness – This hike will take you through untouched nature, over green mountain meadows and to crystal-clear mountain lakes
  • Hiking in the tri-border region – Visit three countries in one hike – Albania, Montenegro & Kosovo
  • Gjeravica – The highest peak in Kosovo, surrounded by glacial lakes and home to the triton salamander
  • Bunkers – During the communist era, Albania spent a fortune building concrete bunkers to prevent a dreaded invasion. Marvel at the remains of this period.
  • Taljanka and Gerbaja Valley – considered the most beautiful valley in the former Yugoslavia, with breathtaking views.
  • Culinary delights – experience the unique cuisine and hospitality of the local villagers in the Accursed Mountains.

What’s Included in the price

✓ Accommodation in shared rooms

✓ All transfers during the trip

✓ All meals during the hike

✓ English-speaking tour led by an experienced local hiking guide

✓ Border crossing permits

Not included:

Luggage transfer – can be arranged upon request

Airport transfers – Can be provided upon request (see FAQs)

Travel insurance

Dates 2026

–

23. Mai – 2. June

13. June – 23. June

4. July – 14. July

18. July – 28. July

8. August – 18. August

22. August – 1. September

5. September – 15. September

19. September – 29. September

3. October – 13. October 

–

PEAKS OF THE BALKANS TRAIL – GUIDED TOUR

Day 1: Arrival in der Region (Saturday)

Arrival in Shkoder (airport transfers can be provided on request) and check in to the hotel. Your room is ready for you from 2pm. Explore the picturesque old town of Shokder or visit the Marubi Mueum of Photography. You will meet the guide and the group for a short briefing from 20:00 – 21:00, overnight stay at the hotel. Podgorica Airport (1 hour 30 minutes from the starting point), Tirana Airport (1 hour 30 minutes from the starting point).

Your first day on the peaks of the Balkans begins with a transfer from Shkoder to the village of Nderlyse, a small settlement at the foot of the peaks of the Balkans. The village is home to the Shala River, which has created waterfalls and rock formations similar to baths and pools. After a short exploration, you will begin your journey towards Theth with an easy hike to the Blue Eye spring – a water pool surrounded by lush green nature.

Cultural Note: Ndërlyse and Theth are two Roman Catholic villages that are home to a few small churches. In Ndërlyse, there are the small remains of the Church of Saint Veneranda, to which locals still go to honour the saint every 25 July. Theth is home to a spectacular building – the Blood Feud Tower (Kulla e Ngujimit). The tower served as a self-imposed prison for wanted murderers who were sought for revenge killings under Kanun law.

Length of the hike: 11.5 km
Ascent ↑: 266 m
Descent ↓: 435 m

On this hike, you will get a real taste of the Accursed Mountains and the peaks of the Balkans Trail. A varied hike with mountain villages and scenic views awaits you. You will hike over alpine meadows, forests, rocky terrain and peaks and see the southernmost glacier in the northern hemisphere.

It’s a moderate/challenging hike, often taken on by many first-time mountain walkers.

Length of hike: 19.5 km
Ascent ↑: 1068 m
Descent ↓: 850 m

Today’s hike takes you to the Montenegrin border and the country’s highest peak, Kollata e Keqe. For a strong group, the summit can be included in the itinerary, otherwise we are happy to choose an easier route. We have adapted this variant from the classic route to avoid the gritty, dusty gravel road to Cerem.

After a hearty breakfast, we begin our ascent up a steep, zig-zagging trail to the epic and remote Prejsllopi Pass. After several hours of hiking, we reach the highest point of today’s journey at 2,000 meters, climbing a series of switchbacks that reward us with stunning views of the snowcapped peaks of the Alps in every direction.

From the highest point of the hike, you will see mountain ranges stretching into all three countries. Adding the summit would make this the highest and longest hike of the trip (to add the summit to the hike, we need advance notice).

Culture note: Cerem is a small village, largely abandoned, and at the moment only inhabited by shepherds during the summer period. During the winter, the village is empty due to the poor conditions and the road connecting the village to Valbone is blocked by snow.

Distance: 14.9 km
Ascent ↑: 1200 m
Descent ↓: 950 m

After two days of mixed hiking in different environments, this route is dominated by greenery. The entire hike to Doberdol will familiarise you with the rich flora of the region, which fills the mountain meadows. The villagers along the way will offer you homemade food, drinks, and refreshments.

Today’s hike is relatively long, with many ups and downs, mainly in the forest. Two makeshift cafés under a canopy of trees gives this part of the trail a unique charm. The landscape will also be filled with sheep, goats, cows, and horses that support the local economy. Along the way, you will pass some of the oldest forests in the world.

Cultural note: The Gashi Valley begins in this region. The forests have been under UNESCO protection since 2017 as part of the Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians. The forests are also part of the original Ancient Beech Forests of Germany, which now extend across 12 countries.

Length of the hike: 15.5 km
Ascent: 1030 m
Descent: 440 m

Today you can climb the highest peak in Kosovo, Gjeravica, or optionally take a rest day and spend the day on the plateau above the tree line with shepherds, goats, sheep, and cows.

The hike leads you through lakes, small streams and ridges with unobstructed views of the mountains. The special feature of this part of the hike are the glacial lakes, which are home to the triton salamander, whose existence clearly confirms the purity of the water.

Cultural note: Today’s hike is a circular route that takes you into Kosovo, a border that is almost unprotected. However, during the time of the communist regime in this part of the world, this was the border between Albania and Yugoslavia and one of the most heavily protected borders in the world.

Distance: 18 km
Elevation ↑: 915 m
Elevation ↓: 915 m

Today the trail takes you to Kosovo for an overnight stay. The hike begins through the bilberry-covered meadows of Dobërdol in the direction of the mountain ridge, which forms the border between the three countries. The highlight of this trail is the magical Triple Peak (2,266 m).

Here we can enjoy the view from the place where the three borders meet. What is special about this stage is that neither Doberdol nor Milishevc are villages, but rather more a summer camp for shepherds. What’s more, they are the most remote places on the trail and make this hike very special.

Cultural note: Milisevc is a small, remote summer settlement that has a good connection with the city of Peja in Kosovo and where more and more mountain huts in the village are being used for tourist purposes.

Distance of the hike: 15.8 km
Elevation ↑: 915 m
Altitude ↓: 980 m

This section of the Peaks of the Balkans is a slight detour from the classic trail. We use this alternative to spare you from some parts of the hike that are rather less attractive. It also allows us to avoid a few car transfers. This relatively short hike crosses the border between Kosovo and Montenegro. The route will take you along some of the least travelled hiking trails in Kosovo. Later in the day, we will rejoin the classic trail that leads from Liqenat via Ravno Selo to Babino Polje.

Cultural note: Babino Polje (meaning ‘Grandma’s Fields’) is a picturesque place on the Montenegrin part of the Peaks of the Balkans Trail. The Muslim-influenced population of the place is known for its hospitality. However, don’t forget to drink a glass of rakija with them.

Distance of hike: 14.6 km
Elevation ↑: 957 m
Elevation ↓: 790 m

Gerbaja is another variant of the classic version of our Peaks of the Balkan Trails. However, our guides agree that it would be a shame to come to the region and miss the truly spectacular view from Gerbaja. The Monenegrin valley is considered to be the most beautiful in Tito’s former Yugoslavia. We start the day with a 20-minute transfer to the valley to climb the Taljanka summit on our circular hike today.

Distance of the hike: 9.8 km
Elevation ↑: 834 m
Elevation ↓: 908 m

Starting from Vusanje , the 21-kilometre hike back to the historic Albanian village of Theth takes you along the steepest part of the Accursed Mountains or Prokletije/Albanian Alps, which were a forbidden zone during the communist era. Today’s cross-border trail into Prokletije National Park, crossing from Montenegro to Albania, is certain to be a memorable hike. Along with the dramatic cliffs and rocks that form the backdrop to the day’s hike, you’ll also see an old military bunker and defunct border signs.

The hike passes Lake Ropojane, which marks the border between the two countries. This hike is the rockiest of the entire trip. However, it also offers some wide mountain meadows and beautiful valley views. The descent into the valley will finally take us to Theth, where I will close our loop. After a short break, a transfer will take you back to your hotel in Shkoder for a farewell dinner with lots of great memories. (Overnight stay included)

Hiking distance: 21.3 km
Elevation ↑: 1110 m
Elevation ↓: 1440 m

BNA is our partner with offices in Peja, Kosovo and Tirana, Albania. The agency offers guided hikes in the tri-border region and is managed by a Swiss Kosovar. You can use the booking form below to make a reservation. Payment is requested by bank transfer later. Select one of the start dates listed above and follow the instructions on the form by clicking ‘Book now’. You will then be contacted by email by our colleagues, who will also give you the opportunity to ask any further questions you may have.

Searching Availability...

(If you have trouble viewing the form, use the desktop version on your PC.)

Your Albania Hiking Expert
Your Albania Hiking ExpertDirk Pohlers
Simply call or text us
+49 176 66893313

Holiday Information

Which Airport should I land to join the tour?

You can land in Tirana International Airport, Podgorica, or Pristina Airport. We recommend Tirana airport as it offers the most frequent connections.

What is the usual size of the group?

For all of our scheduled open group trips, there is both a minimum and maximum group size: 8 to 12. Groups usually fill up, so you should expect 11 like-minded hiking enthusiasts.

Can I add extra nights before or after my tour?

Yes of course. We can arrange extra nights’ accommodation in the hotels we use at the start or end of the tour in Shkoder. Simply reply to the confirmation sent to you after booking, and we will arrange everything.

Transfers

All transfers are by private vehicle, either a regular car or a 4WD, depending on road conditions.

Food & Water

The food in this part of the world will be something you look forward to at the end of each day. Dishes are freshly prepared in the traditional way and are characterised by a blend of Balkan, Turkish and European influences. Homemade bread, locally grown vegetables, dairy products and eggs are served in guest houses.

Dinner includes traditional soups, meat dishes, vegetables and cakes. The guest houses also prepare a packed lunch for you every day – often consisting of a sandwich with cheese, fruit or vegetables.

Vegetarians and those on special diets will not be a problem as the guest families can offer alternatives. However, the choice is sometimes limited.

Bring your own water bottle to refill during the hike. You can get water from mountain streams or tap water in guest houses, both of which are of drinking quality. If you are concerned about drinking untreated water, we recommend taking water purification tablets.

Accommodation

During the hike, you will stay in simple lodge-style guest houses with basic bathroom facilities. Rooms are usually shared and can accommodate two to five people per room. Unless requested otherwise, male and female participants may have to share rooms, although this is not possible in every guest house and depends on the daily availability of rooms.

Sheets and blankets, towels, shampoo, and other basic things are provided by the guest houses. However, we recommend packing a travel towel and a hut sleeping bag for all occasions. It can sometimes be very chilly in the mountain village of Doberdol.

Private rooms – Can I have a single room?

The accommodation in most of the villages is limited. Not always can we guarantee a single room. Only in few guesthouses, single room can be provided. Most trips are based on customers sharing twin and three-bedded rooms.

Time zone

GMT +1

Language

Albanian in Kosovo and Albania, Serbian/Montenegrin in Montenegro. In large towns, many people speak English, but in remote areas this is often not the case.

Power supply and plugs

220V, 50 Hz, two-pole round plugs

Currency

Euro (EUR) in Kosovo and Montenegro, Lek in Albania, although euros are also frequently accepted there. ATMs are available in Shkoder (Albania), Peja (Kosovo), Plav (Montenegro) and Gjakova (Kosovo).

Recommended Hiking gear

The following checklist has been created to help you choose your clothing and gear for this trip. Try to keep the weight of your equipment to a minimum.

– Good Hiking shoes
– Day pack (20L – 35L)
– Trekking Poles (optional)

– Warm fleece jacket or jumper
– Long Sleeve Shirts (Synthetic, Lightweight)
– Trekking trousers
– Sunhat, Sunglasses, Sun cream, Swimwear
– Fleece Hat, Gloves (June & September-October)
– Rain jacket, Rain pants

– Personal First Aid Kit/Medications (Lightweight)
– Large Insulated water bottle
– Lunch box and coffee cup
– Insect repellent
– Water purification tablets
(Water is provided, but very often this is from local wells or mountain streams and is not chlorinated. If you are concerned about drinking untreated water, we suggest you bring a supply of water treatment tablets.)