ITINERARY
Day 1: Welcome to Albania! Drive to Thethi National Park.
Meet and greet with the guide in Tirana International Airport, followed by a transfer to Shkodra, one of the oldest inhabited cities in Albania with a 2500-year-old history. We will introduce the city first then drive towards Theth, passing through the beautiful Valley of Boga. We will stop at Qafe Thore – the diagonal Pass, to enjoy the spectacular mountainous landscape unfolding in front of us. We will switch to a local van and drive downhill to a nice guesthouse in the village where we will stay overnight and enjoy a tasty homemade meal.
Drive: 3hrs; Accommodation in a guesthouse.
Day 2: Trek over Valbona pass
Today our trail heads towards spectacular Valbona Pass. It's not a particularly hard walk and is one that is attempted by many first-time mountain walkers. For the next couple of hours, the trail climbs slightly more steeply towards higher ground and we walk over Valbona Pass. Overnight in Kukaj hamlet.
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Trek: 18 km, 7-8 hours, elevation gain: 1140m; elevation loss: 940m.
Day 3: Spectacular hike from Kukaj to the Jezerca Lakes
This is an amazing trek. We start early in the morning from the guesthouse towards Stani i Rames, where we stop for coffee, tea and cold drinks. We climb up to a pass then a dramatic trail to the lakes. An amazing night to spend at the Buni i Jezerces. All camping gears and food will be transferred by a horse.
Accommodation: Camping
Trek: 10 km, 5-6 hours, elevation gain: 1040m; elevation loss: 660m.
Day 4: From the lakes towards Vuthaj Village
After breakfast, a short hike down to Vuthaj village in Montenegro. We cross the green border and sleep overnight in a guesthouse in Vusanje.
Trek: 10 km, 3-4 hours, elevation gain: 150m; elevation loss: 875m.
Day 5: Walk overlooking the spectacular of Karanfili's massif. Overnight in Lepushe
Enjoy waking up with a hot drink, then settle in for a hearty breakfast, snap a few last-minute photographs, then prepare for a short drive to Grbaja Valley. Our trek starts out with a gradual uphill passing through the forest and ultimately arriving at Vallushnica Peak, the first peak for today's hike. The views here are fantastic!
The last part of the trail passes across the ridge before the final ascent, Taljanka Peak, 2056m. Finding the perfect spot for a picnic lunch, we take time to soak in all of the beauty of this special spot. After lunch, we’ll descent down to Lepushe.
Trek: 12 km, 5-6 hours, elevation gain: 985m; elevation loss: 900m.
Day 6: Camping at Gropa e Koprishtit
After breakfast, we pack and hit the trail towards Theth. The trail is quite challenging as it goes in a very remote part of the Albanian Alps. We will camp in a spectacular spot surroundings by high mountains. All camping gears and food will transfer by a horse.
Trek: 9 km, 4-5 hours, elevation gain: 850m; elevation loss: 460m.
Day 7: Continue the trek towards Theth. Drive to Shkoder
Early in the morning we hit the dramatic trail towards Theth. The path passes along the craggiest part of the Alpet Shqipёtare Mountains. Almost the entire hike is surrounded by steep mountains with stunning views. This itinerary allows us a glance into the region’s past when it was a forbidden zone during the Communist era. A border military post, some bunkers, and the border crossing pyramid sign still remains by the crossing.
After a coffee break in Theth, we drive to Shkoder. Our amazing trek ends up in Shkoder.
Trek: 14 km, 6-7 hours, elevation gain: 750m; elevation loss: 1160m.
Note: The tour is possible only after 20 of July till the end of September. In order to guarantee the departure, requires the minimum of 4 pax.
