Start the Kruja and Sari Saltik hiking tour from Tirana, and enjoy the day in this magical place. A hiking tour in Albania should be on everyone’s bucket list. Visit and Hike one of the most historical places in Albania.

Important Information:

The walk starts in Kruja which is situated at an altitude of 400 m and ends at Sari Salltik shrine at 1200 m above sea level.

The terrain is rocky and involves lots of steps. It is important to have with you a hat, sunscreen, hiking boots and 3 litres of water.

Itinerary:

8.00 am we will pick you up from you hotel in Tirana. We will be in Kruja by 9:30. We start hiking from Panorama hotel and make our way up the Kruja mountain pacing ourselves along the way.

It will take us 2 hours to finish the hike from 400 m up to 1200 m covering a distance of 3 km one way. In the end of our walk, we will be picked up by our driver and continue with the rest of the tour as we explore Kruja Bazaar.

We head towards Kruja to visit the Old Bazaar which dates back over 400 years ago and see the handcrafts that are made in Albania. A hiking tour in Albania should be on everyone’s bucket list.

Kruja is the birthplace of the national hero. Kruja is one of the most important cities in Albania. It is primarily famous for being the hometown of George Kastriot Skanderbeg, the greatest Albanian hero of all time

And It’s an easy place to find parts of the history scattered across the city, visit the old bazaar to see the handicrafts.

Kruja Castle was built in the 5th and 6th centuries A.D. Charles I of Anjou rebuilt the walls in the 13th century and the Turks rebuilt them again some centuries later. In 1617 an earthquake caused great damage to the walls, after which they were reinforced with 9 towers. The highest and most well-defended part of the fortress is a clock tower. It used to serve as an observation platform during times of war.

The city’s popular bazaar serves as a connection between this remarkable past and the present, offering a rich array of traditional products made by local artisans.

Kruja has a long list of attractions to offer tourists. It starts from the ancient castle nestled in the craggy rocks, two museums, beautiful views, a nearby national park. As well as holy temples, natural springs, the old city ruins of Albanopolis, and the traditional bazaar.

Sari Saltik shrine

After starting your hike towards Sari Saltik we can take some time to visit the holy place where Bektashi believers pray. While there, learn about the history of how it became holy and who built it. During his life, Sari Saltik is said to have performed countless miracles, which earned him the status of one of the abdals, that is those who have the ability to ‘wear’ and adopt the identities of others, to fly and to appear simultaneously in multiple localities.

The Teqe of Sari Saltik is just below the top of the 1,176-metre-high mountain, somewhat hidden behind rocks, and not visible from the path. The teqe complex consists of the tyrbe of Sari Saltik in the cave below the teqe, the Kurban (sacrifice) place at the stairs leading down to the tyrbe, and the teqe building itself.

Book the Kruja and Sari Saltik hiking tour from Tirana and explore and enjoy what it offers.