Step into Europe’s wild heart on the vibrant Peaks of the Balkans trek—where mountain trails cross three countries in a single hike, and every day unfolds fresh terrain, culture, and challenge. Hosted by Melanie and guided by local experts who helped build this trail over a decade ago, we’ll spend 8-days hiking through Albania, Kosovo, and Montenegro on the Peaks of the Balkans Trail.

We'll begin in Tirana, Albania, transfer together to Shkodër, and journey through the wild Accursed Mountains—crossing dramatic passes, passing glacial-fed lakes, and descending steep ridges. Along the way, we’ll stay in simple guesthouses and huts (3 and 4-bed dorms, shared bathrooms), fueled by hearty breakfasts, dinners, and trail picnic lunches. Each evening, your duffel is waiting at the next stop, so your backpack stays light on the trail.

The landscapes here are raw and untamed: limestone ridges towering above meadows, hidden alpine tarns tucked in folds of rock, and valleys that feel suspended between nations. We’ll cross Trekufiri / Tromedja, the three-country border peak where Albania, Kosovo, and Montenegro converge. We’ll traverse old shepherd tracks, ex-border trails, and routes once sealed by historical frontiers. And we’ll see subtle traces of the past—bunkers, relics, and stone walls that whisper of this region’s complicated history, now softened by cooperation and restoration.

Show up prepared, fit, and curious—and you’ll be rewarded with more than views. You’ll gain stories, friendships in remote mountain villages, and a perspective on how rugged landscapes and resilient communities come together across borders.

If you’re up for the challenge, this journey will offer one of the richest walking experiences in the world and memories to last a lifetime.

Age Requirement: 21+

Fitness Requirement: Must be able to hike 8 consecutive days carrying a day pack around 10-12 lbs. We require participants to have prior hiking experience: you should already be comfortable on rough, rocky terrain, managing elevation gain, and covering full days on your feet.

⭐ Three Countries - Visit three countries in one trek

⭐ Food - Experience the unique cuisine and hospitality provided by the local villagers

⭐ Wild landscapes - Glacial lakes, craggy limestone ridges, & steep passes await

⭐ Challenge & reward - Eight demanding hiking days but every summit, view, and shared meal makes it all worth it

⭐ Stories in the land - Vestiges of bunkers, war scars, and frontier relics whisper of the region’s complex past. Yet these mountains are becoming symbols of cooperation, conservation, and sustainable community tourism.

Peaks of the Balkans is ideal for avid hikers who:

⛰️ Crave immersion into remote, little-traveled terrain

⛰️Are fit and prepared for multiple consecutive hiking days

⛰️Want authentic cultural exchange

⛰️Are comfortable with basic facilities and simple, shared accommodations

Fly into Tirana International Airport (TIA) — the gateway to Albania’s vibrant capital city and the start of our Peaks of the Balkans adventure! Tirana is a city where colorful Ottoman-era buildings meet modern cafés, murals, and tree-lined boulevards. Once hidden from the world during decades of isolation, it’s now a lively and welcoming capital city.

Arrange a transfer to the city center (booking link will be shared with you). Take some time to rest or explore nearby landmarks like Skanderbeg Square, the heart of Tirana, or the Blloku District, once a restricted area for communist leaders and now a buzzing neighborhood filled with restaurants and local charm.

In the evening, we’ll gather for a welcome dinner at a traditional Albanian restaurant. Enjoy regional specialties such as grilled meats, fresh vegetables, and flaky byrek pastries while getting to know your host and fellow travelers. We’ll toast to the days ahead — an incredible journey through three countries and some of the most breathtaking landscapes in the Balkans.

Meals Included: D

Accommodation: Hotel in Tirana, double room (La Favorita or similar)

Enjoy breakfast at our hotel in Tirana before meeting your guides for a short orientation and walking tour of Albania’s colorful capital. Stroll through lively streets filled with art, history, and energy — from Skanderbeg Square to the pastel-painted buildings that have transformed the city’s skyline.

By late morning, we’ll depart for a 2.5-hour scenic drive north to Shkodër, one of Albania’s oldest and most charming cities. Nestled between the Albanian Alps and the shores of Lake Shkodër, the city blends Venetian-inspired architecture, cobblestone streets, and a relaxed café culture.

Once we arrive, the rest of the day is yours to explore at your own pace. Wander along the pedestrian promenade, visit the historic Rozafa Castle. Take time to organize your gear and prepare for the trek. Come together in the evening for a group dinner.

Transfer: 2.5 hour van

Meals Included: B, L, D

Accommodation: Hotel in Shkodër, double room (Hotel Tradita or Similar)

An early start affords a scenic drive through the Drin Gorges and to the Komani Lake (58 km/2h). The picturesque reservoir loops similar to a Norwegian fjord through sheer rock walls and makes for the most attractive route into the Albanian Alps. You're in for a surprise by the peculiar ferry which stops several times to pick up talkative locals from remote villages before arriving at Fierze (46 km/3h). By car, you continue further into the highlands of the Valbona National Park, stopping for a light lunch in the small-city Bajram Curri. In the early afternoon, you reach the village Valbona and it’s tower-houses made of stone. A warm-up walk follows a crystal clear stream through ancient beech forests, speckled with the sweetest strawberries. Along the way, you can enjoy a swimming break at the ice-cold river or a secluded pond. The walk ends at the cozy guesthouse in upper Valbona. The jagged peaks towering high above leave you with itchy feet, tomorrow is the big day! Tonight, you enjoy a hearty, home-cooked meal and a well-earned rest after this impression-packed introduction to the Accursed Mountains.

Transfers: 3 hour van + 3 hour boat

Hiking Stats:

Miles: 4.5

Gain: 825 ft.

Loss: 165 ft.

Meals included: B/L/D

Starts with a 45 min transfer from Valbona to Cerem to skip the most demanding stage (where most hikers struggle).

The hike towards the high-lying border triangle takes you across flower carpets and temporarily into former Yugoslavia territory. Along the way, you can enjoy forest fruits, admire plant life and the breathtaking views of Mt. Kolata (2.534 m). Reaching the rim of the deep cut river canyon and following the high route through a conifer forest, you notice just how much the relief changes between the Western and Eastern Alps. Slopes are speckled with alpine pastures, you can rest in one of them and meet the herdsmen over coffee and raki. In the glacial-shaped valley of Doberdol (1.750 m), animals roam the grazing grounds freely and time appears frozen. Locals still live in harmony with nature, as humankind did many years ago. This archaic place helps reset the inner compass and will surely ground your soul. In the simple shepherd's huts, you relinquish comfort for one night, in return for warm hospitality. The family prepares the meals, and you learn more about the seasonal lifestyle of the shepherds at the bonfire.

Transfers: 45 min. van

Hiking Stats:

Miles: 9.6

Gain: 3,600 ft.

Loss: 1,500 ft.

Meals included: B/L/D

Wishing farewell to the hosts, you climb out of the valley towards Mt. Tromedja/Trekufiri (2.366 m), as the huts and herds of Doberdol below become smaller by each step. On the top, the borders of three countries merge in sweeping vistas of the solitary borderlands. To the left lies the evergreen Babino Polje of Montenegro, and to the right, Kosovo’s highest peak Mt. Gjeravica (2.656 m) abruptly dives from the heights of the Dinaric Alps into the Dukagjin Plain. The long caravan path at the edge of the “Bjeshket e Namuna” National Park crisscrosses the border ridge below the 2,500 m high peaks of Mt. Marijash and Mt. Rops, affording panoramic views into both Kosovo and Montenegro. You cross the Roshkodoli Pass and start your descent to Milishevc, a remote summer village located in the midst of a peaceful pine forest. The simple mountain huts made of wood, typical for the country’s alpine villages, provide refreshments, hot meals, comfort, and a well-deserved rest after a long day.

Hiking Stats:

Miles: 10.8

Gain: 2,700 ft.

Loss: 3,600 ft.

Meals included: B/L/D

Starts with a 45 min transfer from Milishevc to Reka Allages to skip a less attractive stage. A day of rolling green valleys and charming local villages. Depending on weather and group energy, we can choose between a moderate or extended route. Tonight we rest in Drelaj, a traditional mountain village where the hospitality is as heart-warming as the homemade food.

Across meadows and along the blueberry trail, you quickly ascend in a dense pine forest to the base of Mt. Hajla (2.403 m). Multiple very steep and partly trail-less routes lead to the peak that forms the border with Montenegro. From the top of the 300 m high cliff, views reach far into the neighboring country and city Rozaje. The ascent is optional, your guide will help you evaluate if you should join. You may opt out to keep the day short (<5h). Daydream, read your book, or admire the surrounding flora instead. Chances to spot rare plants like Edelweiss or the endemic Albanian Lily are nowhere as high as here! From the base, the walk continues on high altitude along a now unused road, to the highest of the thirteen Rugova villages, Pepaj. Walking through a rocky gully, circled by tall pines, you get a few chances to catch a glimpse over the scenic hamlet of Drelaj. The village is more populated and seems closer to civilization than your previous overnight stays. At the accommodation, you will be delighted by another yummy dinner, as the family prepares the campfire in the garden.

Transfers: 1.5 hour van

Hiking Stats:

Miles: 6

Gain: 1,700 ft.

Loss: 2,000 ft.

Meals included: B/L/D

After a 30-min transfer to the trailhead, the route climbs through an idyllic pine forest to the big emerald lake of Liqenat (1.850 m). At its banks prospers a wide range of alpine flora and above awaits the highest point of the official Peaks of the Balkans route, the Jelenka Pass (2.272 m). Passing a second lake, you tackle the long ascent towards the pass. Caravans have used this route since ancient times to move silver and other goods to and from the coast - nowadays it’s almost invisible. The top invites for a rest stop, with stunning views of the mountains above Plav, Theth and Valbona. Behind it, shepherds from Roshkodol collect berries, and you’re flanked by peaks above 2.500 m. The walk to Ravno Brdo Pass (2.178 m) is almost leveled, offers dreamy therapeutic walking and good views. The last pass proves to be a magnificent viewpoint towards the rugged peaks ahead and into the lush green valley of Babino Polje below. Descending through the grassy grounds, you pass a hut or two before reaching the scattered settlement of Babino Polje. Here, you stay at the rim of the wilderness, at simple but very welcoming mountain huts, where the friendly hosts introduce you to the highlights of traditional Montenegrin home-cooking.

Transfer: 45 min. van

Hiking Stats:

Miles: 9

Gain: 3,800 ft.

Loss: 3,500 ft.

Meals included: B/L/D

The Grbaja Valley is one of the most awe-inspiring in the Balkans. On a morning transfer, you shuttle into the narrow valley wedged between the karst towers of Karanfili (2.461 m). Arguably one of the most rugged and dramatic peaks in the Prokletije, it’s a dream of many climbers. Ascending through a shaded fairy-tale beech forest, you reach an alpine meadow encompassed by multiple peaks. The connected ridge trail lets you enjoy a series of panoramic viewpoints, culminating in the highest two peaks of Popadija and Taljanka (2.056 m). From here, the hostile walls seem almost within reach, and views gaze across the border into the Kelmend region of Albania. From the top of the spine, a steep descent takes you back onto the shaded forest path, where the balloon hike closes. Once back down at the valley floor, you can choose one of the beer gardens to enjoy a cold drink. On a transfer, you continue to the family-run guesthouse in Vusanje. Here the nearby Grla Waterfall invites for an evening stroll, though the views from the veranda over the Accursed Mountains are equally beautiful.

Transfer: 1 hr 25 min. van + 30 min. van

Hiking Stats:

Miles: 7.2

Gain: 3,100 ft.

Loss: 3,100 ft.

Meals included: B/L/D

Traveling up the Ropojana Valley, formed by a 26 km long glacier, we stop at a pupil-shaped karst spring where an ice-cold river is born from melting snow high up in the mountains. A weathered border stone is the only reminder of the once tightly sealed borders of former Communist Albania. The mountain-framed corridor takes us past a dry lake, shepherd huts, and an abandoned military post into the heart of the Albanian Alps. Here the canine tooth of Mt. Arapi (2.217m) stands high above the Thethi National Park, forming the highest wall in the Balkans. Arriving at Peja Pass (1.711m), your guide determines whether the summit can be tackled. The ones who take a pass on the challenging peak, suitable for experienced and sure-footed hikers only, rest at the pass or start descending with the horsemen. A steep, well-trodden caravan path leads to the local watering hole, followed by a short ride to a guesthouse in the center of the lively village.

Transfer: 30 min. van + 15 min. van

Hiking Stats:

Miles: 6.6

Gain: 2,200 ft.

Loss: 3,200 ft.

Meals included: B/L/D

Our final day in the mountains begins with a short morning stroll through Theth, visiting two of its most iconic landmarks — the centuries-old church and the Lock-In Tower (Kulla e Ngujimit), where men once sought refuge during blood feuds under the traditional highland law known as the Kanun. It’s a fascinating glimpse into Albania’s mountain heritage and a reflective way to close out our journey through these storied peaks.

By mid-morning, we’ll depart Theth and make our way toward Tirana, stopping en route for a celebratory lunch at one of Albania’s best-known agritourism farms — a highlight in its own right. Enjoy farm-fresh cuisine, local wines, and a relaxed countryside setting as we toast to our adventure across three countries.

After lunch, we’ll continue our scenic drive back to Tirana, where you can unwind and enjoy a relaxing final evening in the capital before your departure the next morning.

Transfer: 5 hour van (split in 3 parts)

Hiking Stats:

Miles: 2.5

Gain: 580 ft.

Loss: 800 ft.

Meals included: B/L

Accommodation: Hotel in Tirana, double room

It’s hard to say goodbye after such an incredible journey — but you’ll leave with strong legs, new friendships, and memories from three countries that will stay with you for a lifetime.

Meals Included: B