Peaks of the Balkans 2025

Arrive in Shkoder and accommodate at the hotel. Meeting the guide and the group for a short briefing from 20:00 – 21:00 hrs. Podgorica Airport (1 hr 30 min from the start location), Tirana Airport (1 hr 30 min from the start location), Tivat International Airport (2 hrs 40 min from the start location) Prishtina Airport (3 hrs 40 min from the start location), Skopje International Airport (4 hrs 40 min).

The transfer from the airport and back can be provided on demand.

Distance: 19.8km (12.30 mi)

Uphill cumulative: 520m (1710ft)

Downhill cumulative: 630m (2066ft)

Minimal elevation: 870m (2854ft)

Maximal elevation: 500m (1640ft)

Your first day on Peaks of the Balkans will start with a transfer from Shkodra to the village of Nderlyse, a small hamlet at the foot of the Peaks of the Balkans trail. The village is home to the Shala River, which has created waterfalls and rock formations similar to baths and pools. After a short exploration, you will start your journey walking toward Theth with an easy hike.

Cultural note: Ndërlyse and Theth are two Roman Catholic villages that are home to some small churches. In Ndërlyse there are the small remains of the Saint Veneranda Church, however, locals still go there to celebrate the saint every 25th of July. The most spectacular building is in Theth, the Lock Tower (Kulla e Ngujimit), which served as a self-imposed prison for wanted murderers sought out for revenge killings under the Kanun law.

Distance: 16.4 km (10.50 mi)

Uphill cumulative: 1175m (3855ft)

Downhill cumulative: 940m (3080ft)

Minimal elevation: 730m (2390ft)

Maximal elevation: 1854m (6082ft)

On this hike, you will have a real taste of the Accursed Mountains and the Peaks of the Balkans Trail. It’s a diverse hike bookended with mountain villages and filled with picturesque views. You will walk through meadows, woodland, rocky terrain, and crests and see the most southern glacier in the Northern Hemisphere.  This trail has very few tourists, despite its highlights-filled experience.

Cultural Note: Valbona is a Muslim-majority valley with some Catholics who migrated from Theth. There is a legend that the village was founded by an orphan who moved there from Vuthaj/Vusanje, in present-day Montenegro.

Distance: 15.5 km (9.63 mi)

Uphill cumulative: 1215m (3986ft)

Downhill cumulative: 1005m (3300ft)

Minimal elevation: 1215m (3985ft)

Maximal elevation: 2039m (6689ft)

This trail will take you to the Montenegrin border and the country’s highest peak, Kollata e Keqe. For a strong group, the peak can be included in the itinerary. Adding the peak would make this the highest and longest hike of the trip. (to add the peak in the hike we need advance notice)

Balkan Natural Adventure has included this diversion from the classic Peaks of the Balkans trail in order to avoid walking on gravelly, dusty tractor roads. From the highest point of the hike, you will see mountain ranges extending to all three countries.

Cultural note: Cerem is a small village, largely abandoned, and at the moment is populated only during the summertime by shepherds. During the winter the village is empty due to the poor conditions and the road which connects the village with Valbone is blocked by snow.

Distance: 16.8 km (10.43 mi)

Uphill cumulative: 1100m (3608ft)

Downhill cumulative: 520m (1706ft)

Minimal elevation: 1180m (3871ft)

Maximal elevation: 1920m (6299ft)

After two days of mixed hiking in diverse environments, this track will be dominated by greenery. The entire hike to Doberdol will expose you to the abundant flora of the region that fills the pastures. Villagers on the way will offer their natural products but also other drinks and refreshments. Two makeshift cafes under a canopy of trees give a unique charm to this trail. The scenery will be also filled with sheep, goats, cows, and horses that support the local economy. On this trail, you will pass by some of the oldest woodlands in the world.

Cultural note: Gashi Valley starts in this region. The woodlands have been under UNESCO protection since 2017 as part of the Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians. The woodlands are also part of the Ancient Beech Forests of Germany that now stretch over 12 countries.

Distance: 18.5 km (5.63 mi)

Uphill cumulative: 955m (3133ft)

Downhill cumulative: 960m (3149ft)

Minimal elevation: 1750m (5741ft)

Maximal elevation: 2656m (8713ft)

You can climb the highest peak of Kosovo, Gjeravica or just spend the day on a plateau above the tree line with shepherds, goats, sheep, and cows. This path goes through lakes, small streams, and crests with open views of the mountains. The specificity of this trail is the glacial lakes that are home to the Triton salamander, whose existence verified the purity of the water.

Cultural note: This is a path that will take you to Kosovo, a border that is almost not protected at all. However, during the communist regimes in this part of the world, this was the border between Albania and Yugoslavia and one of the most protected borders in the world.

Distance: 15 km (9.3 mi)

Uphill cumulative: 480m (1574ft)

Downhill cumulative: 790m (2591ft)

Minimal elevation: 1670m (5479ft)

Maximal elevation: 2240m (7349ft)

This section offers spectacular views in all directions and crosses through different passes, among them Qafa Bogice Pass, Qafa Belegu Pass, and Qafa Roshkodoli Pass. The characteristic of this trail is that both Gacaferi pastures and Milishevc are not villages but summer camps for shepherds. Additionally, they are the most remote locations on the trail, making this hike very special.

Cultural note: Milisevc is a small, remote summer settlement that has a good connection with the city of Peja, and more and more mountain huts in the village are being used for tourist purposes.

Distance: 12.5 km (7.76 mi)

Uphill cumulative: 610 m (2000 ft)

Downhill cumulative: 775 m (2540 ft)

Minimal elevation: 1508 m (4945 ft)

Maximal elevation: 2155 m (7070 ft)

This Peak of the Balkans 2025 hike section is a detour from the classic trail. Balkan Natural Adventure decided to make this detour to save you from some parts of the hike that are less attractive. Additionally, you will avoid some car transfers. The hike will go through some of the least trodden Accursed Mountain trails in the Kosovo section. You will join the classic trail in the Liqenat to Babino Polje section that will go through Zavoj Ravno Selo.

Cultural note: Babino Polje (meaning ‘Grandma’s fields’) is a very beautiful place located on the way of the trails of the Peaks of Balkans in Montenegro. The Montenegrin Muslims living in Babino Polje abound with hospitality. Do not forget to have a glass of rakija with them.

Distance: 9.2 km (5.71 mi)

Uphill cumulative: 1100m (3605ft)

Downhill cumulative: 995m (3260ft)

Minimal elevation: 1140m (3740ft)

Maximal Elevation 2057m (6748ft)

Gerbaja is another detour from the classic version of our Peaks of the Balkans 2020 trail. All of our guides agree that it is a pity to come to the region and miss the view from Gerbaja. It is situated in Montenegro and considered the most beautiful valley in Tito’s Yugoslavia, now home to seven independent states. You will start the hike with a 20-minute transport to climb the Taljanka peak.

Cultural note: Gerbaja is home to a bronze-age rock engraving of a mother and father protecting their child from wolves. They call it The Great Mother. Locals believe that the rock has healing powers and helps women’s fertility.

Distance: 17.8 km (11.06 mi)

Uphill cumulative: 922m (3024 ft)

Downhill cumulative: 1323m (4340 ft)

Minimal elevation: 730m (2395 ft)

Maximal elevation: 1740m (5705 ft)

From Vusanje you will begin the hike back to the historic Albanian village of Theth. The path passes along the craggiest part of the Accursed Mountains, which was a forbidden zone during the Communist era. The hike will start in direction of Ropojane valley with the rocky gullies on both sides. The valley is quite long and it mainly follows the 4WD track for about 6.5km until it meets the Ropojane Lake which is rarely filled with water, depending on the amount of snow in the previous winter. Therefore, a car transfer can be arranged to cover this whole section.

In addition to the dramatic cliffs that form the backdrop for the day’s hike, you will also see a military bunker and the old border crossing signs as you hike into Albania. The hike goes through Ropojane Lake, which also marks the border between the two countries. This hike is the rockiest one of the whole trip. It provides numerous mountains, meadows, and valley views. You will end in Theth to close the loop. After a short rest, you will be transferred to your hotel in Shkodra for the night. (Sleepover included)