8 days
Daily Tour
20 people
English
Trek through Europe’s last true wilderness on this 8-day adventure into the Northern Albanian Alps. Starting from the historic lakeside city of Shkodër, you’ll cross the legendary Valbona Pass, sleep in remote mountain huts, and navigate trails that wind through alpine meadows, dense beech forests, and glacial valleys — finishing with a spectacular ferry ride across Koman Lake.
This is a trek for those who want raw, unspoiled mountain landscapes and genuine cultural encounters. Overnight stays range from comfortable hotels in Shkodër and Bajram Curri to rustic guesthouses and shepherd huts in Çerem and Doberdol, where your hosts prepare traditional Albanian mountain cuisine from their own gardens. Luggage is transported by horse on trekking days, so you walk with just a daypack.
From Shkodër, you’ll transfer into the mountains to the village of Theth — gateway to the Albanian Alps. On day three, the trek begins in earnest with the crossing of the iconic Valbona Pass at 1,800 metres, descending into the stunning Valbona Valley. From there, the route takes you through increasingly remote terrain: over Presllopi Pass (2,000m) with a brief crossing into Montenegro, through the isolated village of Çerem, and on to the high-altitude settlement of Doberdol.
The final trekking day brings you past the glacial Dashi Lake and over the trek’s highest point at 2,200 metres before descending to Sylbicë for a farewell lunch. A transfer brings you to Bajram Curri, and the following day you’ll board a ferry for the unforgettable journey across Koman Lake — often compared to the Norwegian fjords — before a final night in the medieval town of Kruja.
Five days of guided trekking through the Albanian Alps with luggage transported by horse. Cross the iconic Valbona Pass at 1,800m between Theth and Valbona valleys. Trek through remote villages where traditional mountain hospitality is still a way of life. Visit the glacial Dashi Lake surrounded by towering peaks. Scenic ferry crossing of Koman Lake through dramatic cliff-lined gorges. Explore the historic towns of Shkodër, Kruja, and Tirana.
When the group arrives in Albania they will be welcomed by our tour leader and transferred to Rubik. In Rubik we will be accommodated in the Marubi eco hotel. Depending on the time we can make a 2 hour walk to the nearby village or we can go and enjoy the spectacular view of the 12 century old Rubik Church. Dinner and overnight in Rubik.
In Kosovo we will make a short visit to Prizren. Prizren is known for it’s Ottoman architecture, ancient mosques and beautiful churches. During the Ottoman period it was one of the most important centers of Kosovo. Prizren is one of the few cities in Kosovo to have 3 religious communities cohabiting together (Catholic, Orthodox, Muslim). In Gjakova we will walk through it’s old bazaar, one of the longest in the Balkan, itself a beautiful testimony of Ottoman architecture. In the afternoon we will reach the village of Tropojë and be accommodated in the village houses.
After loading our luggage on the horses, the local guide will lead us up the banks of Tropoja River. The journey will last about 6 hours and at the end we will arrive in the Sylbicë Alpine Pastures.
After breakfast we will load our luggage on the horses and start walking to Dobërdol. On the way we will have time to take breaks and enjoy the scenery of the Alps.
Today we will walk from Dobërdol to Çerem passing through Koshutica and Vranica alpine pastures. Lunch is organized in the village of Çerem. Overnight in Valbonë.
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. In the afternoon we will reach Theth and stay the night in a guesthouse.
We will ride a minibus from Theth, through T’thore Pass, Boga, Shkodër and finally to Tirana. Shkodër has been a very important city for Albania since antiquity. Lunch will be in the city centre with a beautiful view of the pedestrian street where many coffee shops are situated. Next we will drive to Tirana and visit the city. We will have a 2 hour guided walk through the city center.
Breakfast in Tirana. Free time. Transfer to the Airport where our tour will end.
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Member Since 2019
Nice tour