Scenic Hiking in Northern Albania

Day 1- Kruja
The journey from the airport to the hotel is about 30 minutes, depending on the traffic.
The guest will arrive in Kruja to check-in to the hotel.  At 18.00, the guest will have a drink with the guide and discuss the program for the coming week. Depending on the time of arrival the guest can visit the Kruja Bazar and the Kruja Castle, the epicenter of the legendary Albanian resistance to the Ottomans led by Scanderbeg in the 14th century. (Entrance fee for fortress: 100 Lek -approx. 80 euro cents)
Dinner: A traditional restaurant.
Accommodation: Hotel in Kruja.

Day 2- The Holy Mountain of Sarisalltik
Day 2 begins with a hike up the holy mountain of Sarisalltik and a visit to the Bectasci Teqe (Sufi Dervishes Sanctuary) located at 1900m. After the descent, the tour will start driving north (100km), and have lunch on the way to Shkodra. At the entrance of the largest city in the north, the group will visit the Rozafa Castle and enjoy the marvellous view of the Shkodra Lake surrounded by mountains.
In the evening, we will relax at the Shkodra Lake and walkabout the town before dinner.
Dinner: Traditional restaurant.
Accommodation: Hotel in Shkodra.

Day 3 - The Lake of Koman and the Canyon of Drin.
Car transfer : Shkodër - Koman; Fierzë - Quku i Dunishës: 40km;
Ferry 20km: Koman - Fierzë.
In the early morning, the group will drive to the ferry, which passes through the spectacular canyon of the Drin River. The lake was created after the construction of the Dam of Koman in the eighties.
The transfer will continue along the beautiful valley of the Valbona River, until reaching the charming Dunishë, where the group will stay overnight.
Dinner and accommodation will be hosted in a village house in Dunishë - the best location to start all kinds of hikes in the surrounding mountains. The lovely little lake behind the house is an ideal spot to rest after a long day.

Day 4 - Qafa e Rosit
The trekking will start from the house toward the village of Kukaj (900m a.s.l). From there, a shepherd's path will bring us to the remote landscapes of the Eastern Alps of Albania until reaching Qafa e Rosit (2000m a.s.l - approx. 7-8 hrs of walk). The path climbs smoothly amidst green meadows, with gorgeous views of the Jezerca Mountain and Rrethi i Bardhë, or The White Circle. At the end of the day, the tour will rest in the same place as the prior night in Dunishë.

Day 5- The Pass of Valbona
After breakfast, the tour will drive for 10 km to the village of Rragam, where the next trekking will begin. It points to the Pass of Valbona (1966m a.s.l) and is the classic route of the Albanian Alps that for centuries linked the two most known valleys of the area, Valbona and Thethi. Mules will be used to carry the luggage to the next resting area. The path is commonly used by the Albanian highlanders, from late spring to the first snow of winter. Participants will enjoy the refreshing natural springs along the way, while admiring the serrated peaks of Jezerca and Radohima. From there, the group will start the descent towards the village of Thethi (800m a.s.l), where the tour will rest overnight after about 8 hrs of walking. Thethi is the most well-preserved alpine village in Albania, with typical houses still roofed with wooden tiles in a stunning location.
The tour will stay overnight in one of the traditional houses with extraordinary hospitality.

Day 6- Thethi's attractions
On Day 6, the tour will visit the surroundings of Thethi, one of the most known villages of northern Albania, because of its stunning nature and the traditional houses.
The group will walk downhill from the house, and visit the attractions near by the village, including the Church, the Kulla e Ngujimit (a tower house used in the past by men as a shelter against on going vendetta), the Thethi Waterfall, and the Grunasi Canyon.  The tour will also visit the 2007 discovery-the Cyclopean stone walled terraces dating from the late bronze era!
We will overnight at the same house as the night before.

Day-7 Tirana
The tour will leave Thethi (800m a.s.l) to start another day of spectacular trekking in the direction of the village of Boga. The tour will walk along Shtegu i Dheneve - the Path of the Sheep, which is another traditional passage of the Albanian Alps that connects the villages of Thethi and Boga. After the stunning views of Bjeshket e Namuna, the Accursed Mountains,  the walk will continue downhill along the side of the Radohima Mountains until reaching the village of Boga (900m a.s.l).
The group will have lunch in this picturesque village surrounded by vertical slopes with peaks above 2000m high, and then leave through the Boga valley towards Shkodra and then Tirana (120km - 3hrs).

Day- 8 Tirana
Guests leaving in the afternoon will have time to spend in Tirana to see the important buildings of the capital - the Italian buildings, The Mosque of Ethem Bej and/or the National Museum of History. Alternatively, guests can visit the museum in Tirana or one of the many markets.