Step into Europe’s wild heart on the Peaks of the Balkans trek, where mountain trails cross three countries and every day brings new landscapes, culture, and challenging hikes. Hosted by Melanie and guided by local experts, we’ll spend 7 days hiking through Albania, Kosovo, and Montenegro on the Peaks of the Balkans Trail.

We’ll begin in Tirana, transfer together to Shkodër, and journey deep into the Accursed Mountains. Rather than hiking the trail continuously, we’ve designed this itinerary to focus on some of the best sections of the Peaks of the Balkans, skipping longer road sections while still experiencing all three countries. Most hiking days will include a jeep or van transfer of up to about one hour to reach the trailhead or our next accommodation.

Along the way, we’ll cross dramatic passes, glacier-fed lakes, steep ridges, remote valleys, and traditional mountain villages. We’ll stay in simple guesthouses and huts, enjoy hearty local meals, and have our duffels transferred each day so we can hike with lighter packs.

The landscapes here are raw, remote, and incredibly beautiful. We’ll follow old shepherd paths and former border trails, pass traces of the region’s complicated history, and hike to Trekufiri / Tromedja, the point where Albania, Kosovo, and Montenegro meet, where you can stand in three countries at once.

This trip is about more than the hiking. It’s about experiencing a region that still feels far removed from the usual European travel routes, connecting with local communities, and sharing a challenging and unforgettable week in the mountains.

Come prepared, curious, and ready to work for the views. The reward is one of the most unique hiking experiences in Europe.

Age Requirement: 21+
Trip Host: Melanie
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⭐ Three countries, one incredible trek — Hike through Albania, Kosovo, and Montenegro on one unforgettable route.

⭐ Local food & village hospitality — Enjoy traditional meals and experience the warmth of the families and communities who call these mountains home.

⭐ Wild mountain landscapes — Glacial lakes, dramatic limestone ridges, sweeping valleys, and high mountain passes surround you throughout the trek.

⭐ A landscape shaped by history — Follow old border routes and discover traces of the region’s complicated past, while seeing how these mountains are now bringing communities together through conservation and sustainable tourism.

This trip is for adventurous travelers who love hiking, remote landscapes, and experiencing local culture along the way.

This trip is a great fit for you if you:

• Love hiking and are ready for a challenge. You should be comfortable with multiple consecutive hiking days and willing to train beforehand.

• Want to get off the beaten path. Expect remote mountain trails, quiet villages, and landscapes that feel wonderfully untouched.

• Value authentic cultural experiences. You’re excited to connect with local communities, experience traditional hospitality, and stay in simple, shared accommodations.

• Are flexible and adventurous. You’re comfortable trading luxury for an unforgettable experience in one of Europe’s most remote mountain regions.

The Peaks of the Balkans is a challenging 7-day hiking trip with significant elevation gain and loss almost every day. As is common with many hikes in Europe, the climbing is often sustained rather than spread throughout the day, so you may spend several hours hiking steadily uphill before reaching a pass or ridgeline and beginning a long descent. Expect rocky and uneven mountain trails, steep ascents and descents, loose terrain, and potentially wet or muddy conditions.

This trip is best for intermediate hikers and above. Prior hiking experience is required, and you should be comfortable spending several hours on the trail and tackling sustained climbs on consecutive days. Signing up means committing to training and arriving physically prepared, especially with regular hill and incline work before the trip.

Luggage transfer is included, so you’ll hike with only a daypack carrying your water, layers, rain gear, snacks, and personal items.

Travel Light trips are about so much more than the places we visit. They're about the people we meet, the conversations we share, and the way we show up for one another along the way. We pride ourselves on creating a connected, welcoming group experience, working with excellent local guides, sharing plenty of laughs and meaningful conversations, and supporting each other through every part of the journey.

We want these adventures to remind you how good it feels to spend time in nature, move your body, meet people who are different from you, and step outside your comfort zone. Maybe you find something you genuinely love and bring more of it into your everyday life, or maybe a stranger you meet on the trip becomes a lifelong friend and future travel buddy. Our hope is that you come home with more than incredible memories. We hope you come home inspired to spend more time doing the things that make you feel fully alive.

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 (Mulaj Hotel or similar)

Enjoy breakfast at our hotel in Tirana before meeting our local guides for our transfer.

Around 11:00 AM, 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.

Upon arrival we will enjoy a group lunch. Then 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.

Transfer: 2.5 hour van

Meals Included: B, L

Accommodation: Hotel in Shkodër, double room (Cocja Boutique or similar)

We’ll get an early start with a scenic drive through the Drin Gorges to Komani Lake, where we’ll board a ferry for one of the most beautiful journeys into the Albanian Alps. The reservoir winds between dramatic rock walls, creating scenery that feels more like a Norwegian fjord than southern Europe.

After the ferry, we’ll continue by vehicle into the highlands of Valbona National Park, stopping for a light lunch in Bajram Curri before reaching the village of Valbona in the early afternoon.

From here, we’ll head out on our first hike, following a crystal-clear stream through beautiful beech forest before arriving at our cozy guesthouse in upper Valbona. This is the perfect introduction to hiking in the region: a shorter, easier day that gives us a taste of the terrain and scenery before the bigger hiking days ahead. We’ll enjoy a hearty home-cooked meal and settle in beneath the dramatic peaks of the Accursed Mountains.

Transfers: 3 hour van + 3 hour boat

Approx. Hiking Stats:

Miles: 4.5

Gain: 825 ft.

Loss: 165 ft.

Meals Included: B/L/D

Accommodation: Local Guesthouse

We’ll start with a 45-minute transfer from Valbonë to Çerem before beginning one of our longer hiking days. From here, we’ll climb through flower-filled alpine meadows and forests, with beautiful views toward Mt. Kolata and the surrounding peaks of the Accursed Mountains.

As the day continues, we’ll follow a high trail above a dramatic river canyon before descending into the remote Dobërdol Valley, where livestock graze freely across wide alpine pastures and life feels wonderfully removed from the modern world. Tonight, we’ll settle into a simple mountain guesthouse and experience the warm hospitality of this remote region.

Transfers: 45 min. van or jeep

Approx. Hiking Stats:

Miles: 11

Gain: 3,600 ft.

Loss: 1,500 ft.

Meals Included: B/L/D

Accommodation: Local Guesthouse

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 with 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.

Approx. Hiking Stats:

Miles: 14

Gain: 2,700 ft.

Loss: 3,600 ft.

Meals Included: B/L/D

Accommodation: Local Guesthouse

We’ll start with a 45-minute transfer from Milishevc to Reka e Allages, skipping a less scenic section of the route before hiking through green valleys, meadows, and pine forest toward the base of Mt. Hajla.

From here, the group can split. Those who want the extra challenge can continue to the summit of Mt. Hajla, which forms the border with Montenegro, while the rest of the group relaxes at a nearby mountain hut with refreshments (and possibly a hammock). Along the way, keep an eye out for rare alpine plants like Edelweiss and the Albanian Lily.

We’ll finish the day in Drelaj, a traditional mountain village known for its warm hospitality and homemade food.

Transfers: 1.5 hour van or jeep

Approx. Hiking Stats:

Miles: 9 (including summit)

Gain: 1,700 ft.

Loss: 2,000 ft.

Meals Included: B/L/D

Accommodation: Local Guesthouse

After a 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. The top invites for a rest stop, with stunning views of the mountains above Plav, Theth and Valbona. 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 or jeep

Approx. Hiking Stats:

Miles: 13

Gain: 3,800 ft.

Loss: 3,500 ft.

Meals Included: B/L/D

Accommodation: Local Guesthouse

The Grebaje Valley is one of the most awe-inspiring in the Balkans. 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 the top of the spine, a steep descent takes you back onto the shaded forest path, where the loop 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.

Transfer: 1 hr 25 min. van or jeep

Approx. Hiking Stats:

Miles: 10

Gain: 3,100 ft.

Loss: 3,100 ft.

Meals Included: B/L/D

Accommodation: Local Guesthouse

Traveling up the Ropojana Valley, formed by a 26 km long glacier, we stop at a 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. A steep, well-trodden caravan path leads to the local watering hole, followed by a short walk to a guesthouse in Theth.

Transfer: 45 min. van or jeep

Approx. Hiking Stats:

Miles: 12.5

Gain: 2,200 ft.

Loss: 3,200 ft.

Meals Included: B/L/D

Accommodation: Local Guesthouse

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 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)

Meals Included: B/L

Accommodation: Hotel in Tirana, (Mulaj Hotel or similar) 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

Deposit 

Your deposit is refundable for seven (7) calendar days from the date your booking is confirmed. If you cancel within seven (7) calendar days of booking, your deposit will be refunded less any non-recoverable credit card processing fees incurred by Travel Light. After the seven (7) day refund period has expired, your deposit is non-refundable. 

Travel Light’s Cancellation Policy 

91 days or more 

• If you cancel ninety-one (91) days or more before the scheduled trip departure date: 

• Your non-refundable deposit will be forfeited. 

• Any additional payments made toward your trip will be refunded to your original form of payment, less any non-refundable payments made to suppliers and credit card processing fees. 

90 days or less 

• If you cancel ninety (90) days or less before the scheduled trip departure date, all payments made are non-refundable and non-transferable.

Review our full terms & conditions here before booking: https://travellightadventures.com/terms-and-conditions