10 days
Daily Tour
16 people
English
The Peaks of Balkans tour offers a breathtaking exploration of the stunning Albanian Alps, the verdant pastures of Belegu, Decani, and Bogicevica in Kosovo and Montenegro, and everything in between.
We’ll kick off the tour with a guided walk around Tirana, the capital of Albania. This day tour provides a unique glimpse into the heart of the city, which is bustling with energy and adventure. As you wander through the streets, you’ll discover countless hidden gems and experiences.
Next, we’ll embark on a boat tour of Koman Lake which is home to three hydroelectric power plants that generate around 70% of Albania’s electricity. According to Bradt Guides, it’s one of the most spectacular boat trips in the world.
From the charming village of Tropojë, we’ll follow the shepherd’s trails up to the Sylbicë Alpine Huts, where you’ll feel like you’re sleeping among the stars.
Over the next few days, we’ll explore the magnificent alpine pastures of Kosovo and Montenegro before returning to Albania. The mountain-ridge walks between the Valbona Valley and Theth Valley are a highlight of the Peaks of the Balkans, offering stunning panoramas of both valleys at an altitude of 1815m. These peaks are true miracles of the Alps.
Get ready for an unforgettable journey that will take your breath away!
The Peaks of the Balkans is a popular hiking trail that spans across three countries in the Balkan Peninsula: Albania, Kosovo, and Montenegro. The trail is approximately 192 kilometers (119 miles) long and offers hikers stunning views of the region’s mountainous landscapes, diverse cultures, and traditional lifestyles.The trail is known for its challenging terrain, with steep ascents and descents and rugged mountain paths. However, the rewards are plentiful, with breathtaking views of snow-capped peaks, glacial lakes, and traditional mountain villages. Some of the prominent peaks that hikers encounter along the trail include:
Gjeravica (2,656 meters), the highest peak in Kosovo
Jezerca (2,694 meters), the second-highest peak in Albania
Rosni Vrh (2,482 meters), the highest peak in Montenegro’s Prokletije Mountains
Hajla (2,403 meters), a prominent peak on the Kosovo-Montenegro border
The Peaks of the Balkans trail is a unique and unforgettable experience for hikers looking for an adventure in a stunning and culturally rich part of Europe.
Upon your arrival, our friendly and knowledgeable tour guide will be there to greet you and ensure that you feel welcomed and comfortable. If you are arriving as part of a group, our tour guide will be waiting for you at the designated meeting point, ready to transfer you to Tirana centre.
Once everyone has arrived, part of the group, we will transfer you to the hotel where you can settle in and unwind before taking the guided tour. After some time to relax and freshen up, we will set out on a guided walk through the vibrant city centre of Tirana.
During the tour, you will have the opportunity to explore some of Tirana's most iconic landmarks, including the historic Scanderbeg square, the stunning Et’hem Bey Mosque, the impressive Toptan Castle, and the unique Pyramid. Our knowledgeable guide will provide fascinating insights into the history and culture of the city, making sure you don't miss any of the hidden gems.
After the tour, our guide will gather the group together to provide a briefing on the itinerary for the remainder of the tour, ensuring that everyone is informed and excited for the days ahead. With so much to see and experience, we are confident that your time in Tirana will be a truly unforgettable adventure.
Upon your arrival, our friendly and knowledgeable tour guide will be there to greet you and ensure that you feel welcomed and comfortable. If you are arriving as part of a group, our tour guide will be waiting for you at the designated meeting point, ready to transfer you to Tirana centre.
Once everyone has arrived, part of the group, we will transfer you to the hotel where you can settle in and unwind before taking the guided tour. After some time to relax and freshen up, we will set out on a guided walk through the vibrant city centre of Tirana.
During the tour, you will have the opportunity to explore some of Tirana's most iconic landmarks, including the historic Scanderbeg square, the stunning Et’hem Bey Mosque, the impressive Toptan Castle, and the unique Pyramid. Our knowledgeable guide will provide fascinating insights into the history and culture of the city, making sure you don't miss any of the hidden gems.
After the tour, our guide will gather the group together to provide a briefing on the itinerary for the remainder of the tour, ensuring that everyone is informed and excited for the days ahead. With so much to see and experience, we are confident that your time in Tirana will be a truly unforgettable adventure.
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Breakfast in Old Tropojë. The group starts walking led by the tourleader as the luggage is carried by horse. We walk through the valley of Tropoja river and make several breaks on the way. Lunch will be organized in the valley. In the afternoon we reach the alpine huts in Sylbice Alpine Pasture. Dinner and accommodation in Sylbicë.
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Breakfast in Sylbicë. We travel for 6 hours guided by the local guide and horses from Sylbica through the Decani Alpine Pastures and up to the Belegu Alpine Pastures in Kosovo. Lunch will be organized on the way to Belegu. In Belegu we will be accommodated and served dinner in one of the local huts.
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Breakfast in Belegu Alpine huts. From here we walk for about 5 hours through three countries guided by the local guide and horses (for the luggage) from Belegu to Bogicevica, Trekufiri. A picnic lunch will be organized somewhere along the way. In the afternoon we reach Doberdol.
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Breakfast in Dobërdol. After loading the luggage on horses we walk from Dobërdol to Çerem passing through Koshutica and Vranica alpine pastures. The walk from Dobërdol to Çerem is 5 hours and takes us through a wonderful forest andLunch in the village of Çerem. After lunch we will drive from Çerem to Valbonë.
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We will start the day with a hearty breakfast in Cerem Village before setting off on our hiking adventure. The trail from Cerem Village to Valbone is a moderate hike that takes approximately 7 hours, covering a distance of around 12 kilometers.
The trail offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains and valleys, as well as glimpses of traditional Albanian villages and rural life. We will cross the border into Montenegro and walk through lush forests, pastures, and rocky terrain, with plenty of opportunities to stop and take in the scenery.
On our way back to Albania we will have the chance to admire one of the highest peaks of Montenegro, Zla Kolata 2534 m.
We will reach Valbona, a small village nestled in the heart of the Albanian Alps, in the early afternoon. Here we will enjoy a traditional Albanian dinner and spend the night in a cozy guesthouse.
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Breakfast in Valbona. After driving for a while we will reach the trailhead leading to the village of Theth. The trail we follow goes through the village of Rragam and Valbona springs. We need about 2-3 hours depending on the ability of the group to reach the summit of Valbona pass at the altitude of 1815 m. From there the panorama unveiled of both Valbona and Theth valleys is breathtaking. Next we will have picnic lunch about 1 km from the pass. At this place called “Krojnat” we can have coffee or refresh ourselves with colas and beers. In the afternoon we reach Theth and will gather in the Gjelaj quarter.
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We will drive from Thethi passing through interesting panoramic points such as T’thore Pass and Boga. The road will unveil a unique panorama of Thethi valley and Bjeshkët e Namuna. In Shkoder we will take a short lunch break near the old part of the city. After this, we will resume driving toward Tirana. Upon arrival and accommodation in the hotel we take a walking tour of Tirana and visit the main sites. An option is to also take a trip to Dajti Mountain via cable car.
Today's lunch and dinner is on group expenses
Breakfast in Tirana. We will transfer to Mother Theresa Airport where the tour ends.
Individual Airport transfers apart from the main group arrival transfer are not included in the price of this tour, however you can book for an arrival transfer in advance with Sondor. To arrange this please contact our customer service team once you have a confirmed booking.
This tour has an age range of 12-70 years old, this means children under the age of 12 will not be eligible to participate in this tour. However, if you are over 70 years please contact us.
The tour starts and end at Mother Theresa Airport in Rinas, Albania. If you will be using another airport of your choice please let us know your travel plan before the tour starts.
This tour is classified as moderate to challenging, suitable for participants with good physical fitness and hiking experience.So expect to hike every day from 12-22 km depending on the region. The elevation gain varies with a medium of 700 to 1200 m per day. Another important component, but not considered often, which contributes to the difficulty level is the ability to adjust to the environment such as: sleeping in huts, drinking from different water sources in the mountains, eating local food etc. So please send us an e-mail if you want to discuss these point further.
This is a 10 day itinerary which can be adjusted according to your needs as a private tour. So please send us your requests if you want to customize this itinerary further.
The Peaks of the Balkans is a regional trail that takes you through diverse landscapes, including breathtaking mountains, lush meadows, and traditional villages. You'll experience a rich blend of cultures, cuisines, and histories.
This tour in particular will take you through family run mountain huts, glacial lakes, amazing vistas of Montenegro, Albania and Kosovo, pastoral life, wide array of flowers and vegetation, off the beaten track and much more.
We can send you a more detailed list by e-mail but generally these are the most important items to have: suitable hiking gear, such as hiking boots, warm and waterproof clothing, sun protection, rain gear, water purifier tablets, first aid with specific items suitable for diarrhea treatment and sun burn, compeed cold sore healing patch
Please refer above in the included section of this tour.
We currently have removed the requirement for all customers be fully vaccinated or take a COVID test to be able to travel with us.Our Leaders will inform the participants at the start of the trip regarding:- The current local regulations to COVID and the requirement to follow.- what happens in the case of a possible COVID-19 symptoms during the tour, where to get test result and what to do regarding the continuation of the tour in line with local regulations.
Yes, we highly recommend that all participants have comprehensive travel insurance.
You should check with your local travel clinic, doctor and authorities for the most up-to-date travel health advice for the region.
Accommodation varies depending on the itinerary, typically featuring a mix of hotels, guest houses, and mountain huts. Comfort and cleanliness are our top priorities.
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