Start/End
Tirana
Duration
9 Days
Hiking days
7 Days
Activity level
3 ( from 5 )
Travel time
June to October
Group size
4 to 12 Persons
Luggage transport
by car and horses
Accommodation
Hotels, guest houses, mountain hut
Overview
The journey takes us to the beautiful regions of the two countries Albania and Montenegro. We hike through the karstic mountains of Theth and Valbone to the alpine pastures of Doberdol and look out over the diverse landscape. Walk on old shepherd paths and discover remote mountain regions. From the Talijanka peak we enjoy a breathtaking view of the enchanted mountains. With an overnight stay in a shepherd's hut, we get an insight into the simple life of the locals and enjoy the hospitality and good food of this region.
- Enjoy regional dishes
- Hike from Valbona to Theth
- Overnight in a moutain Hut
- Visit to the Blood feuld Tower of Theth and the history of the blood revenge
Includet
Excludet
– Difficulty level
– Technique – medium
No alpine difficulties, good surefootedness required. Our tour runs on narrow hiking trails and climbs without any technical difficulties. Individual passages run on narrow paths and in gravel terrain and require sure-footedness.
– Fitness – medium to challenging
Walking times of approx. 5 to 7 hours a day, ascents and descents up to a maximum of approx. 1200 meters in altitude, usually less. Individual daily stages can also be a little longer. Good physical condition is necessary and assumed.
– Comfort – Hotels und Guesthouses, 1x mountain Hut
We stay in simple but comfortable and clean family run accommodation. The first and last night is in comfortable 3* hotels. We stay five nights in simple, clean family-run guesthouses in shared rooms with shared showers. We spend one night on the Alm Doberdol in Schäferhütten, which is very simply equipped (sleeping bags recommended). Toilet is available and sometimes it is also possible to take a warm shower.
– Meals
On our hikes we take a packed lunch with us from the accommodation. Breakfast and dinner are eaten in the accommodations. Sometimes we have dinner outside, but the local guide will inform you about this.
– Transportation
We travel the long distances (depending on the group size) with a comfortable bus. We do the transfers in between in the mountain regions with local buses. Luggage transport is included and is transported by car or pack horses.
- Highlights
-
- Enjoy regional dishes
- Hike from Valbona to Theth
- Overnight in a moutain Hut
- Visit to the Blood feuld Tower of Theth and the history of the blood revenge
- Services
-
Includet
Excludet
- Info
-
– Difficulty level
– Technique – medium
No alpine difficulties, good surefootedness required. Our tour runs on narrow hiking trails and climbs without any technical difficulties. Individual passages run on narrow paths and in gravel terrain and require sure-footedness.
– Fitness – medium to challenging
Walking times of approx. 5 to 7 hours a day, ascents and descents up to a maximum of approx. 1200 meters in altitude, usually less. Individual daily stages can also be a little longer. Good physical condition is necessary and assumed.
– Comfort – Hotels und Guesthouses, 1x mountain Hut
We stay in simple but comfortable and clean family run accommodation. The first and last night is in comfortable 3* hotels. We stay five nights in simple, clean family-run guesthouses in shared rooms with shared showers. We spend one night on the Alm Doberdol in Schäferhütten, which is very simply equipped (sleeping bags recommended). Toilet is available and sometimes it is also possible to take a warm shower.
– Meals
On our hikes we take a packed lunch with us from the accommodation. Breakfast and dinner are eaten in the accommodations. Sometimes we have dinner outside, but the local guide will inform you about this.
– Transportation
We travel the long distances (depending on the group size) with a comfortable bus. We do the transfers in between in the mountain regions with local buses. Luggage transport is included and is transported by car or pack horses.
- Gallery
-
- Dates and Prices
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Itinerary
01
Day 1 – Hello Albania
Our guide will be waiting for you at the airport and after a short transfer (approx. 30 minutes) we will reach the capital Tirana and check into the hotel. Afterwards we do a city tour of Tirana (approx. 2 hours), where we see the most important sights such as Skanderbeg Square, Ethem Bey Mosque, the new bazaar, the boulevard and the most famous district in Tirana, the Bllok quarter, see. Dinner at a restaurant. Overnight in a Hotel in Tirana ( – / – / D )
approx. 0.5 h
02
Day 2 – Hike on the Thore Pass – Theth National Park
We start our journey to Theth from Tirana. In Shkoder we take a short break and visit the Rozafa Fortress and walk into the city center through the promenade with its Italian flair. Then we drive towards Theth. We make a short hike to the Shtegu i Dhenve Pass where we can enjoy a wonderful panorama of the Albanian Alps. The journey then descends from Thore Pass into the Theth Valley. We reach our guesthouse in Theth and enjoy home-cooked meals in the evening. ( B / – / D)
3 h. 350m
3.5 h.
03
Day 3 – Hiking over the Valbona Pass 1800m
We hike to Valbona on the most famous route in northern Albania, which served as the only connection between the valleys for centuries. Sometimes in the sun, sometimes in the shade we make a steep climb and finally reach the Valbona Pass (1800m), the highest point for today. Accompanied by our pack horses, we descend to the small village of Valbona, where a host family welcomes us. Many women in Albania are named after the valley. ( B / PL / D )
6-7 h. 1050m 800m
04
Day 4 – To the Doberdol mountain pasture
After breakfast we say goodbye to the host family and discover another beautiful place A short transfer (30min) takes us to Cerem were we start our hike. Through beautiful alpine pastures and pine forests, we finally come to the Alm Doberdol 1800m. In the evening the bells from the flocks of sheep and cows give a little concert when they come from the pastures to the huts. The hostess feeds us with delicious homemade organic products. Overnight today in a mountain hut. (B / PL / D)
6-7 h. 1150m 550m
05
Day 5 – The Three border Peak – Babino Polje
We start the day with a small ascent and come to the summit of the three borders (Tre Kufiri 2366m). This is where the three countries Albania, Kosovo and Montenegro come together. We then follow a ridge and enjoy the beautiful views. In the end we descend until we reach Babino Polje. With a local bus we drive to our guest house in Vusanje. ( B / PL / D )
6-7 h. 770m 1050m
1h.
06
Day 6 – Hiking to the Talijanka Peak 2053m
A short transfer takes us to the starting point in Gerbaje. We go up through a pine forest, then on green pastures filled with blueberries. At the summit we enjoy a beautiful view of the enchanted mountains and the Kelmend valley. We go back the same way and before we drive back, we reward ourselves for our effort with a beer at the small bars. Overnight stay as the day before. ( B / PL / D )
6 h. 1050m
1 h.
07
Day 7 – Through the Accursed Mountains to Theth
After our luggage is loaded onto horses, we can start our trek. The path leads through a valley surrounded by mountains over 2400m high, which present an indescribable panorama. On the Peja Pass 1700m we already see our destination ‘Theth’. From here it is only downhill to our guest house. ( B / PL / D )
8 h. 1000m 1200m
0.5 h
08
Day 8 – Explore Theth – Kruje
The idyllic little village is known for its hospitality, but also for many adventurous stories. During a visit to the Blood Tower, we learn more about the Kanun, the oral customary law and the tradition of blood vengeance in Northern Albania that has been lived for centuries. We also visit the Grunas waterfall. Then we continue to Kruje, the central place for the Skanderbeg resistance against the Ottomans. Here we visit the Basar, the Skanderbeg Museum, where we will learn more about Skanderbeg and the resistance of the Albanians. Overnight in a hotel in Kruje. ( B / – / D )
3 h. 250m
3.5 h
09
Day 9 – Farewell and flight home
After an exciting week, transfer to the airport and flight home. If time promises you can explore the city, visit the old bazaar or the ethnographic museum. ( B / – / – )
0.5h
- Day 1
-
01
Day 1 – Hello Albania
Our guide will be waiting for you at the airport and after a short transfer (approx. 30 minutes) we will reach the capital Tirana and check into the hotel. Afterwards we do a city tour of Tirana (approx. 2 hours), where we see the most important sights such as Skanderbeg Square, Ethem Bey Mosque, the new bazaar, the boulevard and the most famous district in Tirana, the Bllok quarter, see. Dinner at a restaurant. Overnight in a Hotel in Tirana ( – / – / D )
approx. 0.5 h
- Day 2
-
02
Day 2 – Hike on the Thore Pass – Theth National Park
We start our journey to Theth from Tirana. In Shkoder we take a short break and visit the Rozafa Fortress and walk into the city center through the promenade with its Italian flair. Then we drive towards Theth. We make a short hike to the Shtegu i Dhenve Pass where we can enjoy a wonderful panorama of the Albanian Alps. The journey then descends from Thore Pass into the Theth Valley. We reach our guesthouse in Theth and enjoy home-cooked meals in the evening. ( B / – / D)
3 h. 350m
3.5 h.
- Day 3
-
03
Day 3 – Hiking over the Valbona Pass 1800m
We hike to Valbona on the most famous route in northern Albania, which served as the only connection between the valleys for centuries. Sometimes in the sun, sometimes in the shade we make a steep climb and finally reach the Valbona Pass (1800m), the highest point for today. Accompanied by our pack horses, we descend to the small village of Valbona, where a host family welcomes us. Many women in Albania are named after the valley. ( B / PL / D )
6-7 h. 1050m 800m
- Day 4
-
04
Day 4 – To the Doberdol mountain pasture
After breakfast we say goodbye to the host family and discover another beautiful place A short transfer (30min) takes us to Cerem were we start our hike. Through beautiful alpine pastures and pine forests, we finally come to the Alm Doberdol 1800m. In the evening the bells from the flocks of sheep and cows give a little concert when they come from the pastures to the huts. The hostess feeds us with delicious homemade organic products. Overnight today in a mountain hut. (B / PL / D)
6-7 h. 1150m 550m
- Day 5
-
05
Day 5 – The Three border Peak – Babino Polje
We start the day with a small ascent and come to the summit of the three borders (Tre Kufiri 2366m). This is where the three countries Albania, Kosovo and Montenegro come together. We then follow a ridge and enjoy the beautiful views. In the end we descend until we reach Babino Polje. With a local bus we drive to our guest house in Vusanje. ( B / PL / D )
6-7 h. 770m 1050m
1h.
- Day 6
-
06
Day 6 – Hiking to the Talijanka Peak 2053m
A short transfer takes us to the starting point in Gerbaje. We go up through a pine forest, then on green pastures filled with blueberries. At the summit we enjoy a beautiful view of the enchanted mountains and the Kelmend valley. We go back the same way and before we drive back, we reward ourselves for our effort with a beer at the small bars. Overnight stay as the day before. ( B / PL / D )
6 h. 1050m
1 h.
- Day 7
-
07
Day 7 – Through the Accursed Mountains to Theth
After our luggage is loaded onto horses, we can start our trek. The path leads through a valley surrounded by mountains over 2400m high, which present an indescribable panorama. On the Peja Pass 1700m we already see our destination ‘Theth’. From here it is only downhill to our guest house. ( B / PL / D )
8 h. 1000m 1200m
0.5 h
- Day 8
-
08
Day 8 – Explore Theth – Kruje
The idyllic little village is known for its hospitality, but also for many adventurous stories. During a visit to the Blood Tower, we learn more about the Kanun, the oral customary law and the tradition of blood vengeance in Northern Albania that has been lived for centuries. We also visit the Grunas waterfall. Then we continue to Kruje, the central place for the Skanderbeg resistance against the Ottomans. Here we visit the Basar, the Skanderbeg Museum, where we will learn more about Skanderbeg and the resistance of the Albanians. Overnight in a hotel in Kruje. ( B / – / D )
3 h. 250m
3.5 h
- Day 9
-
09
Day 9 – Farewell and flight home
After an exciting week, transfer to the airport and flight home. If time promises you can explore the city, visit the old bazaar or the ethnographic museum. ( B / – / – )
0.5h