Take in the glittering turqoise waters and towering cliffs of Lake Koman as you return from your trek via the famous ferry across the lake.
Cross multiple borders and tick-off three countries - Albania, Montenegro and Kosovo in one challenge.
Reach the towering rocky peak of Mount Gjeravica (2,656m), the highest mountain in Kosovo, the second highest in the Accursed Mountain range and the high-point of this trek.
Enjoy 5 days of entertainment on the Albanian Riviera with its perfect blend of traditional and contemporary culture, Mediterranean culture and colourful Ottoman and Soviet-era architecture.
The Peaks of The Balkans Trek leads you through a sublime natural environment, as you challenge yourself each day on varied terrain through changing landscapes. The itinerary has been carefully curated to provide a breathtakingly beautiful and challenging trek in the midst of the Accursed Mountains, with an immersive taste of cultural and historical Albania, Montenegro and Kosovo. Take it all in whilst trekking as a team around this spellbinding region, supporting each other under the expert supervision of a knowledgeable, local team.
You will be rewarded with amazing views of hidden valleys, mountain peaks and enjoy some downtime in the up-and-coming Albanian capital, Tirana, whilst getting a chance to rest your feet upon arrival at your accommodation each day.
Expert guides and mules accompany the group, meaning you can focus on enjoying your trekking experience without the hassle of navigation or logistics.
No technical skills or specialist climbing gear required; this trip is perfect for adventure-seekers and new trekkers alike.
Professionally-organised package includes accommodation, transport, guides, excursions, permits, meals, safe drinking water and more.
Optional extension to discover a whole new side of Albania with its colourful Ottoman and Soviet-era architecture and Mediterranean cuisine.
Plenty of training will be required and some previous experience of trekking or hiking would be a bonus. You will face very long trekking days, on some relatively difficult terrains and be physically tested as you step out of your comfort zone. You will need to be in reasonably good shape to complete this challenge.
One of the huge benefits of the Peaks of the Balkans Trek is that you do not need any specialist mountaineering skills, experience or equipment to reach the summit.
This non-technical trek will be a real test of your mental and physical resilience - but it does not require you to be a seasoned mountain climber. However, you absolutely must train for this event, as it is considerably tougher than many expect.
Tirana
Tirana
Albania
The local team will meet you at the accommodation in historic Shkodra, the oldest and largest town of Northern Albania. Here you have a chance to visit the ancient hilltop fortress of Rozafa, or simply take in the views over Lake Shkodra and the mountains beyond, before a briefing of the challenge ahead followed by dinner with your group in the atmospheric town centre.
As you approach the Volusnice cliffs, spectacular views of the Karanfil Peaks that tower over the Grebaje Valley open up, revealing one of Montenegro’s most beautiful and remote areas. From this plateau, the trail descends through scree fields and native birch forest until you reach the valley to have lunch. A short transfer will bring the group to the village of Vuthaj, with time to rest and explore before dinner and staying in a local guesthouse overnight.
After breakfast, a short transfer along the scenic Ropojana valley brings you to where the next walking trail begins, near the Albanian border. Cross the deserted karst plateau of Runica, surrounded by jagged peaks, until you reach the Peja pass (1730m).
Here, sweeping views of the Theth valley will greet you, overlooked by the austere Jezerca and Radohima massifs. The winding trail descends through the valley past the sheer face of Mount Arapi (2217m), the most iconic peak of the Theth valley. As you move lower down the trail passing clear streams, you will see the traditional houses of Okol along the way. Time to relax before dinner in Thethi.
A shorter and more relaxed trek today enables you to explore the area around Thethi, the most famous alpine village in Albania. The traditional houses set within orchards, combined with the impressive mountain background, make for a captivating highland experience. Leaving the guesthouse, the walk takes in local sights including the church, the blood feud tower ‘Kulla e Ngujimit’, the Grunas waterfall, Grunas canyon, as well as ancient stone walled terraces dating from the late Bronze Age.
You continue the walk out of Thethi, beside the clear waters of the Shala River surrounded by the lush verdant landscape, until reaching the hamlet of Nderlysa. If you would like to extend the walk by another hour, there is the option to visit the Blue Eye pool, set amidst the dense vegetation of the Kaprea creek, before a short transfer back to Thethi for dinner and overnight accommodation in a local guesthouse.
Today’s walk is probably the most well known and picturesque of the Albanian Alps. To this day, it remains the only direct trail winding through the narrow valleys between Thethi and Valbona. You leave the Theth valley behind as the trail steadily climbs towards the Valbona pass (1800m), with the scenery changing from green pastures and dense woods to rocky scree. Once you reach the pass, it’s time to marvel at some of the highest peaks in the majestic Accursed Mountains, including Jezerca (2694m) and Radohimës (2570m).
Following the path downhill, you encounter grassy meadows and the Valbona Springs before following a gravel track lined with pine trees and passing the first houses of Rrogam village. The last leg of today’s trek follows a dry riverbed that leads you to Valbona, where you will have dinner and stay overnight.
After breakfast, a short transfer takes you to the village of Çerem, where today’s trek begins. This evocative and remote village, set amongst the trees, is only inhabited by shepherds in the summer due to harsh winter conditions. Setting off on foot into the undulating and beautiful alpine scenery, you leave the Kollata Mountains behind.
The trail winds up through the shady forest, passing sun dappled glades and leading onto a gravel track until you cross the Montenegrin border and soon after, the ruins of an old military border post. Continuing the walk to the picturesque hamlet of Balqin, you stop for lunch, a well earned rest and a chance to cool your feet in the streams fed by nearby springs.
After lunch, you enter the Gashi valley, steadily ascending to arrive at the hamlet of Doberdol, where vast alpine pastures await. Take time to rest and relax in this pristine alpine environment before dinner and stay overnight in typical shepherd’s huts.
In the morning, you start on the path that climbs steadily towards the ridge that marks the border between Albania, Montenegro and Kosovo. Continuing along the meadow trail, you begin to traverse the slopes of Mount Gjeravica (2656m) until reaching the lowest point of the ridge that leads up to the summit.
Upon arrival at the rocky peak, all your efforts are rewarded by the magnificent views of the surrounding mountains and the three glacier lakes glistening below you. After a short onwards walk, you meet the vehicle and transfer down to the historic town of Gjakova in Kosovo. There is time to rest and explore this ancient town with your guide, including the Bazaar and Ottoman architecture. Enjoy dinner in the historic town centre before heading to the hotel.
After breakfast, it’s time to say goodbye to Kosovo as you cross the border into Albania by bus, heading for the Fierza docks. You will embark on a scenic ferry ride along the Lake Koman canyon, a spectacular experience.
Sit back and leisurely admire the scenery whilst reflecting on your adventure, before arriving into Koman docks for the final leg of your journey. You will transfer to a farm specialising in wine and traditional food located on the outskirts of the capital. After a tasty lunch, you continue into the capital, Tirana, checking into your hotel before a guided walking tour of the city.
Soak up the vibrant energy of one of the most attractive capitals of the Balkans whilst seeing the sights including Skanderbeg Square, the Et’hem Bey Mosque and architecture from several historical eras. Celebrate with your group at a local restaurant for dinner before heading back to the hotel.
Waking up to the sounds of the city, your amazing Peak of the Balkans adventure comes to an end and you'll make your way to the airport, or the Albanian Riviera extension trip itinerary begins!
This challenge follows a carbon offsetting programme in partnership with WeForest, a European non-profit organisation who work tirelessly with local people and projects around the globe to fight climate change by planting trees across the world.
A proportion of your trip costs go towards a tree-planting project in Zambia, where WeForest works with hundreds of small-scale farmers to plant trees to sequester the carbon emissions that your trip produces.
The project also assists the local community by providing these farmers with training and tools to diversify their sources of income while they plant and protect local forests. As a result, they receive a higher income, diversify their economic activities and learn new skills. This allows the local farmers to become self-sufficient.
This challenge is operated in a sustainable, ethical and transparent manner - from the initial booking, to your return home, there is a commitment to ethical and sustainable practices in all areas.
This challenge is locally led, made up of local people with expert local knowledge and a genuine passion for the sites and communities in which they are based. All guides and support staff are paid a fair wage.
This challenge is operated with members of multiple accreditation agencies and the organisers are always working towards new schemes to ensure they remain the most informed, transparent, sustainable, safe and inspiring travel company around. Currently members of multiple standards agencies, including ABTA and ATOL, and accredited by Travellers Against Plastic (TAP) and Tourism Concern as an Ethical Tour Operator.
Commercial partners are granted access to risk assessments, as well as all up-to-date licences and certificates, providing reassurance that they are collaborating with a professional tour operator.
The Travellers Against Plastic (TAP) pledge was established in 2018 to help fight the harmful consumption of single-use plastics through challenge operations. In all destinations, water is purified from local sources for challenge participants.
In remote areas where this is not possible, the team prioritise large, decantable cooler bottles which are later recycled. Where the provision of safe drinking water is not possible, teams adhere to a ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ mantra.
Animal welfare is taken extremely seriously, so itineraries which facilitate or encourage the mistreatment of animals are not produced or promoted. Animal welfare policies are strongly influenced by industry-standard ABTA guidelines on the treatment of animals. When sourcing ground agents, there would be no partnership with non-compliant agents and the opportunity is taken to help to educate non-compliant agents in best practice.
As an active member of ABTA’s Animal Welfare Working Group, the organisers are up to date with all animal welfare issues the world over.
You will be required to pay the registration fee at the time of booking and the final balance 10 weeks before departure.
Once your final balance has been settled at or before 10 weeks prior to departure, your place on the trip will be confirmed and you'll be ready to take on the challenge of a lifetime!
Deposit
£490.00
Price per person (inc deposit)
£1465.00
If you have any questions or would like to check availability or make a booking, please provide a few details about you, your group size and any preferred dates. A member of the team will then get back to you or you can go ahead and book online.