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The Albanian Alps, also known as the Accursed Mountains, are not part of the same mountain range as the Alps in Central Europe. The Albanian Alps are part of the Dinaric Alps, which are a mountain range that runs through the western Balkans. The Dinaric Alps are not as high as the Alps in Central Europe and their peaks are not as glaciated. However, they still offer a wide range of outdoor activities and beautiful scenery. They are dotted with rugged peaks, valleys, and flora and fauna. Although not as well-known as the Alps in Central Europe, the Albanian Alps are still a popular destination for hikers. Join us for the hike on these dates. In the Albanian Alps, popular destinations are also the Valbona and Theth National Parks. Outdoor enthusiasts praise these parks for their beautiful natural scenery and outdoor activities such as hiking, climbing, and skiing. The Valbona Valley National Park is particularly popular for its stunning landscapes, crystal-clear rivers, flora, and fauna. The park features many hiking trails that offer great views of the surroundings and the possibility to see wild animals. Theth and the museum Thethi is another great area in the Albanian Alps, known for […]

Ski touring locations in Kosovo are many, here is the verdict from a french mountain guide. It is rough and it is a long way to the cabin, but there you are alone with the mountain. This is the place we are going to call ”The Gacaferi Ski Touring Playground GSTP”, visited recently by Shams Eybert-Berard, the French high mountain guide from Grenoble, France. He is visiting The Balkans, with his lovely wife Charlotte Villez. Charlotte is herself on the way of becoming a certified hiking guide and a very good skier. They are together in the region to have a taste of rough winter and the offer of the native mountains and the people.  This ski touring location is on the border between Kosovo and Albania above the small town of Deçan. The place is difficult to access, but once you get there the place offers wilderness, easy skiing and open views of Mountains without lifts and noise. Shams (www.shamsguidemontagne.fr) our french guide thinks this place is better than the Korab ski touring experience which has gained in popularity.   “It is better than Korab. It is a nice playground with many possibilities to ski”, he says while pointing at […]

Balkan Natural Adventure organized a trip in the Peaks of the Balkans for a group of Albanian friends living in Britain. The group was mixed concerning their fitness. Some were in great physical shape as good as an athlete, some were at their average shape and some were less than their perfect form. One, in particular, was equipped with determination instead of a sportive condition. Kreshnik Çela did not mind the effort or the limits he had to push, he made it in two of the longest hikes in the Peaks of the Balkans, regardless of fitness level. This is a story dedicated to those who ask about the difficulty in Peaks of the Balkans. Knowing the diversity of the group, Balkan Natural Adventure organized the trip with two guides so there would be proper support for all. The trip went smoothly and here is the interview with probably the most determined hiker in the Peaks of the Balkans Mr. Kreshnik Çela. He describes himself like this: “I am overweight (clinically obese) and due to my day job of sitting for over 9 hours a day, I am very inactive”. The guide Kushtrim Muriqi who walked with Kreshnik for the […]

2021 is the first year after “the tourism dead year 2020” thus the industry and the travellers were not adjusted to the new conditions. The beginning of the year started with fear and hesitation, and June faced quite some flying restrictions, therefore the market was open only in July and August, with a higher than usual presence of clients in September. 

As we detailed back in May in the post ‘Peaks of the Balkans in Covid 19 Pandemic’, travel in the region has begun to normalize. Various restrictions are being lifted, and while they could always be reinstated, the hope is that we’re in the midst of an ongoing transition back to normal. Naturally, this opens up some exciting opportunities for outdoor adventures in the Balkan region. But it also introduces the fascinating question of whether we’re going to see more reluctance or enthusiasm for travel in the aftermath of Covid. It’s a question no one can answer with certainty just yet. However, it’s still an interesting one to consider. The Argument for Reluctance Logically speaking, the argument that we may see some reluctance to travel is easy to understand. The Covid pandemic may subside, but it will leave fears and insecurities in its wake. Some may simply not be comfortable venturing out into the world as they once might have. This is actually what we see in some surveys on the subject. Most notably, Forbes found in a survey that 41% of people globally expect to travel less “by any means” following Covid 19. That indicates that people are not […]

With so many excellent hiking areas throughout the Balkans, it’s easy to overlook some very appealing destinations. One such destination is the city of Veliko Tarnovo, located on the Yantra River in the North of Bulgaria. Veliko Tarnovo is a stunning, hilly city dotted with historical buildings and nestled into lush green surroundings. As such, it’s just about a perfect spot for a hiking getaway. One can get out and about on city walks and longer hikes through the surrounding area, and then relax a bit exploring a lovely (and frankly underrated) city. If that sounds like an appealing trip to you, read on for a few of our tips for what you might enjoy during a few days in Veliko Tarnovo. Where to Hike As mentioned there are both city walks and hiking trails in and around this beautiful corner of Bulgaria. We’d suggest prioritizing the following options: Tsarevets – Tsaravets is the name of both a hill and an ancient fortress. It is one of three hills upon and between which the city of Veliko Tarnovo was built, and nowadays it makes for an excellent city hike for visitors. A walk through town from wherever you’re staying and […]

Updated 25 may 2021 The pandemic has blocked most of the tourism in the world.  The situation in Peaks of the Balkans (POB) trail was difficult however now it has improved and it is normalizing slowly READ ABOUT THE 2021 Season. All countries are giving border crossing permits and our company can organize this. Balkan Natural Adventure is up to date with new regulations and looks at finding the best options to avoid limitations by the Covid 2 pandemic. As the situation with the Pandemic is changing all the time so are the conditions for visiting the Balkans in Covid 19 pandemic conditions. Under the current circumstances, summer will be open to tourists and cross-border hikes will be allowed. The Accursed Mountains are not “going anywhere” and one can enjoy this spectacular environment from any of the three countries.  In case the borders close between Kosovo, Montenegro, and Albania and you have already planned your trip this will not block your hikes it will only change them. In this regard, one should stress that it is not very probable that the borders between Kosovo and Albania will close as the relations are very close. Balkan Natural Adventure even in covid […]

Balkan Natural Adventure (www.bnadventure.com) of Kosovo has joined Patagonia, North Face and many other companies to pause advertising on Facebook and Instagram to show support for #StopHateForProfit movement. Balkan Natural Adventure believes that companies can choose to select clients and partners they work with and in this way build a better world for all of us. The Kosovar company has joined the Anti-Defamation League, the NAACP, Sleeping Giants, Color of Change, Free Press and Common Sense to show “they will not support a company that puts profit over safety.” The company based in Kosovo offers hiking tours in the Accursed Mountains situated between Kosovo, Albania and Montenegro. The company previously took actions in environmental protection and cleaning. The campaign organisations have been engaged with Facebook before but did not get any results now they have asked “large Facebook advertisers to show they will not support a company that puts profit over safety.”

The Peaks of the Balkans trail has been established but it is still alive with new versions popping up adding peaks and attractions while cutting transfers and eventual asphalt hiking. Balkan Natural Adventure as a dynamic and exploratory company is looking at new additions and new seasonal products for hiking in the Accursed Mountains. In December 2019, me Virtyt Gacaferri, BNA owner, Rinor Kadrijaj a tough mountaineer and the guide Adriatik Gacaferi went to explore the Gacaferi pastures for a new version of the winter Peaks of the Balkans. Additionally the trio explored the possibilities of making a winter season Peaks of the Balkans. The trip was rough. As our 4X4 went into trouble to spearhead through the heavy snow in a fuly covered road. After pushing the Nissan Terrano to its limits time came for the hike. “Maybe we could push some more meters with the 4X4, but it would cause more harm than good”, said Adriatik Gacaferri who was the driver and the batchitza of the trip. Surrounded by the rock walls  We organised the accommodation in a basic stone hut with the key hanging at the door. This decision was taken as the situation with the other […]

Wild beaches in Albania are a special treat especially in the south of the country. One of the best wild beaches  is Shen Andreu (St Andre) next to the village of Palace. This beach is reachable only by boat or an 8 kilometres hike. Balkan Natural Adventure as a company offering tourism with minimal gas spending and transfers, has explored the Shen Andreu and Grame beachs. The expedition took place during December. This was a perfect time to feel the nature and enjoy it away from the noisy crowd of tourists. Swimming will be a bit difficult but the brave ones can give it a try from September to June. For a visit combined with swimming late autumn will be better than early spring. In Autumn the water is stil warm. Albania November to June This season also offers an abundance of other reaches. The Strawberry Trees are full of fruits which you can pick up at your will and mandarines and oranges have filled the market straight from the plantations. On your hike you can pick up wild sage and see flocks of goats and sheep enjoying these fields. The visit can be made from Llogara, a pristine mountain […]