DAY 1
Meet your fellow travelers in Shkoder and drive to Thethi National Park.

Meet and greet with the driver in Shkoder, followed by a scenic drive towards Theth, passing through the beautiful Valley of Boga, the gate to the Albanian Alps.

Enjoy a free afternoon to explore Thethi National Park, and note that your Peaks of the Balkans self guided trail both starts and ends in Theth. Dinner is included.

Accommodation: Guesthouse
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Drive: 2hrs 10min.

DAY 2
Hike from Theth to Valbona via Spectacular 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 a pass known as Valbona Pass. After several hours hiking uphill, you can stop at the Zefi’s housing for a hot mountain tea.

Resuming our hike for another 45-min, we continue ascending to the Valbona col (1792m) where we have outstanding views of the Albanian Alps and the Valley of Valbona.

After lunch, you make you way down to the valley. Of course, you can choose whether to independently continue our walking down on the main wide dried up riverbed road or take a bus to avoid it. All meals included.

Trek: 16.3Km; Uphill: 1040m, Downhill: 945m; Maximum altitude: 1759m; Time: 6-7hrs
Difficulty: Moderate/Challenging
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 3
Hike up the epic and remote “Prejsllopi Pass” trail. Overnight in Cerem

After a hearty breakfast and a cup of hot mountain tea with honey, you will start ascending the steep zig-zag trail to the epic and remote Prejsllopi Pass. Having several hours of hiking, you'll reach the highest point of your today’s trek (2000m) as you hike a series of switchbacks over a pass that offers outstanding views of the snowcapped peaks of the Alps Range in every direction.

After crossing the border and thrusting into Montenegro, we will stop for lunch at Bori Pass, a flat spot with grass, a meadow for many shepherds from Cerem and Vuthaj.

Note: On this trail, optional is climbing Zla Kolata (2534m) peak; the highest peak in Montenegro.

Trek: 13.5Km; Uphill: 1150m, Downhill: 870m; Maximum altitude: 2150m; Time: 7-8hr
Difficulty: Moderate/Challenging
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 4
Trek from Cerem to Doberdol, a vast alpine pasture

Today’s hike is a relatively long hike with lots of ups, downs and mostly is into the forest. This day involves a transfer hike from Çerem to Doberdol, a remote shepherd’s village accessible only by mule tracks and populated only during the summer time by shepherds. From Çerem, the hike climbs up to the Montenegrin border, passes the beautiful summer shepherd’s village of Balqin, and continues through the Gashi valley (protected area) to the shepherd’s village of Dobërdol.

Trek: 15.6Km; Uphill: 1025m, Downhill: 440m; Maximum altitude: 1922m; Time: 6-7hr
Difficulty: Moderate
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 5
Hike Doberdol to Milishefc via Three Border Point

This is a long trail which involves a hike from the remote shepherd’s village of Dobёrdol to another less remote shepherd’s village in Kosovo (Milishevc).

After an early breakfast, today's hike begins through bilberry covered meadows of Dobërdol in the direction of the mountain ridge, which forms the border between the three countries. The highlight of this trail is the magical Triple peak 2266m, with a view of the Albanian Alps behind where we walked days before. After a photo brake you walk slowly through a beautiful alpine meadow to Milishefc. All meals included.

Trek: 18.2Km; Uphill: 990m, Downhill: 1015m; Maximum altitude: 2236m; Time: 7-8hrs
Difficulty: Moderate
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 6
Trek from Milishefc to Rugova Camp – transfer to Reka Allages

The interesting transfer hike to Reka e Allagёs begins with an ascent to the Lumbardhi ridge, a vantage point which offers breathtaking views towards the surrounding mountains and Milishevc. It then continues with a steep descent to Rugova Camp/Restorant Gryka Hotel before continuing up along gravel roads to Reka e Allagёs.

At the Camp, there is a good restaurant, Restorant Gryka, – very good local fish – you can relax before a short transfer to Reka Allages.

Trek: 11.8Km; Uphill: 607m, Downhill: 1430m; Maximum altitude: 2136m; Time: 5-6hrs
Difficulty: Moderate/
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Drive: 15min

DAY 7
A great trek leads us to the summit of Hajla peak 2403m

The hike starts with an ascent northwest through the meadow behind Mustafa’s guesthouse. After walking a few hundred meters, we reach a meadow with beautiful views towards Reka e Allagёs and the surrounding mountains. From here, we have great views of the mountains, as well as the top of Guri Kuq which marks the highest peak in the Rugova mountains.

After about three hours of gradual ascent, we reach Era's hut where we have a break before reaching the top. Well rested, we begin a challenging but relatively short hike to the summit 2403m. On reaching the top of the Hajla 2403m, we stay high and contour around to the other side, enjoying spectacular views as we go.

After relaxing on the top, we enjoy a good descent to the beautiful village of Drelaj.

Trek: 15.8Km; Uphill: 1020m, Downhill: 13320m; Maximum altitude: 2403m; Time: 7-8hrs
Difficulty: Moderate
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 8
Trek from Kuqishte to Babino Polje through two glacial lakes

Today’s trek starts with an early breakfast before we head off on our first full day of trekking. A short transfer from the guesthouse to the starting point. This is a relatively long hike which passes the border between Kosovo and Montenegro. It goes through beautiful mountain areas with many water sources, glacial lakes, and mountain passes featuring breathtaking views. After passing the lakes we go gradually up to Lugu i Shkodrёs for a very beautiful landscape.

Trek: 15.8Km; Uphill: 1140m, Downhill: 1050m; Maximum altitude: 2276m; Time: 7-8hrs
Difficulty: Moderate
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Drive: 20min

DAY 9
Babino Polie – Plav. Explore the old town of Plav

This is a long transfer hike from Babino Polje to Plav. The hike ascends up from beautiful Lake Hrid and finishes at the city of Plav. After breakfast, you set out on beautiful lake Hrid Jezero for a cool swim in the middle of a forest

The mostly off-trail route passes through typical patches of forest with panoramic views of the Prokletije including the Albanian Alps off in the distance.

Trek: 20.4Km; Uphill: 607m, Downhill: 1190m; Maximum altitude: 2048m; Time: 7-8hr
Difficulty: Moderate
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 10
Hike to Vusanje via Bori Peak for the epic Accursed Mountain views

After another healthy breakfast to start your day, we trek to Vusanje for the last night in Montenegro. You hike through dense beech forest encountering flowering plants before reaching the open meadows of Bori ridge. The final approach to the high pass begins here with a steep ramp leading to the peak of Bori 2106m. At the top, the views of the surrounding peaks of the Accursed Mountains are spectacular. The trail then descends steeply and passes through a meadow then forest to Vusanje. All meals included.

Trek: 17.6Km; Uphill: 744m, Downhill: 1174m; Maximum altitude: 2098m; Time: 6-7hrs
Difficulty: Moderate
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Drive: 25min

DAY 11
Walk overlooking the spectacular of Karanfili's massif

This trail is not officially in Peaks of the Balkans but it considers as the most beautiful views of the Albanian Alps/Prokletije. It is a daily hike which involves a transfer to the trailhead and back to the guesthouse.

Trek: 9.9Km; Uphill: 744m, Downhill: 960m; Maximum altitude: 2056m; Time: 6-7hr
Difficulty: Moderate
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Drive: 35min both ways

DAY 12
Spectacular hike from Vusanje to Theth – Drive to Shkoder

Today’s hike into Prokletije National Park is certain to be a memorable one. This is a relatively long hike that crosses the border between Montenegro and Albania. A border military post, some bunkers, and the border crossing pyramid sign still remains by the crossing. The hike finishes in Theth, where it all started.

Transport from Theth to Shkoder is provided.

Note: We can also organize a local transport to avoid 4x4 drive – 5km walking – from Okol Village where you drive straight to Shkoder.

Trek: 21.2Km; Uphill: 1110m, Downhill: 1431m; Maximum altitude: 1734m; Time: 7-8hrs
Difficulty: Moderate
Meals: Breakfast, Packet Lunch
Drive: 2hr 10min

Note: The Self guided Peaks of the Balkans trail can be adapted based on your requests: as many days as you want.  The classic route can be booked for a single traveller, two people, or up to 12. We can also adapt the trail from 5 days to 14 days hiking.

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Nonstop support by phone and local staff around the Peaks of the Balkans trail.