Walk the quiet side of the Accursed Mountains.

The Alps, three borders, the Dinarides and the south.

The Alps border country

Valbona, Dobërdol, Sylbicë, Tropojë. Dorien Malaj, Sondor's owner, grew up here. Summer, bookable.

Three borders on foot

Peaks of the Balkans: Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro. 13 days, guided or self-guided, bookable.

Via Dinarica

Albania to Montenegro, Dubrovnik, Mostar, Sarajevo. Trnovačko lake, Sutjeska. Tailor-made.

High Scardus

Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia. Tailor-made.

The south

Korçë, Ersekë, Përmet and the Shepherds' Trail from Konispol to Korçë. Spring and autumn. Tailor-made.

The coast

Riviera walks, October–November and March–June. Tailor-made.

FAQ

• Who runs guided hiking tours in the Albanian Alps?

  Sondor Travel, a Tirana operator founded in 1991. We run the trips ourselves, not resell them. Our guides are from these valleys, chosen for organisation, character and the ability to lead a group.

• Guided or self-guided?

  Guided: a local leader, a group of up to 16, company at dinner; solo walkers welcome. Self-guided: your own dates and pace, route notes and maps, a Tirana briefing, bags moved, phone support; from two walkers. Same guesthouses, food and airport transfers either way. Self-guided holidays →

• How fit do I need to be?

  5–7 hours of mountain walking a day, 700–1,000 m of ascent, no technical ground. Regular hill-walkers manage well. Not sure? Ask us; we will say if a trek is not right for you yet, and what would be.

• What is the maximum group size?

  16 on guided departures; the mountain huts are small.

• Can I walk the Albanian Alps without a guide?

  Yes, on the self-guided trek: waymarked valley routes, a Tirana briefing and phone support. GPS tracks and daily notes are sent to you after booking. The high-pasture shepherd paths of the Peaks of the Balkans are guided.

• When is the best time to walk?

  Mid-June to late September. Snow can sit on the high passes until mid-June; huts close in October.

• Do you do the Theth–Valbona hike?

  No. That trail is the famous one, so we walk the quieter valleys, on routes we have built over 35 years. Theth can be added on request.

• Can you plan a walk for our own group and dates?

  Yes. Send your dates, group and the hours a day you like to walk. We reply with a day-by-day route, real walking times and a clear price, and adjust it until it fits.

• How do booking and payment work?

  A 20% deposit by card online; the balance by bank transfer 60 days before departure. One free date change up to 61 days before.

• Is travel insurance included?

  No. Bring your own travel and medical insurance that covers mountain walking.

• Can I come alone?

  Yes; many guided walkers come alone. Hut nights are shared. Self-guided runs from two walkers.

• Who carries my luggage?

  We do: by vehicle between valleys, by packhorse up to the huts. You carry a day pack.

• Can I combine Albania with Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia or Bosnia?

  Yes. Three of our walks cross borders on foot; we hold the permits and move the bags. We have walked all four countries with groups.

• Why Sondor?

  Over a decade running these walks for international brands: the right guide and hut, bags where they should be, beds, meals, transfers, a plan B for bad weather. And we know the whole Western Balkans.

• How do I get there, and how far ahead should I book?

  Fly to Tirana; we collect you and drive north, by the Koman Lake ferry where the route allows. Book early: the huts are small and summer weeks fill first.