Scenic Hiking in Northern Albania

This tour is for adventurous travellers with open minds, who do not mind staying in the traditional houses of the native Albanian highlanders, the "malesore". The tour covers some of the most scenic parts of Albania and includes a ferry trip on the spectacular Lake Koman, a trek through the beautiful Valbona Valley and a visit to the lesser known Theth Valley. Tour participants will visit the ancient Fortress of Kruja, set high in the Albanian hills and admire the spectacular view of one of the largest lakes in Europe from the ruins of the Rozafa Castle.

The tour itinerary is as follows:

Day 1 - Kruja: The journey from the airport to the hotel takes about 30 minutes, depending on the traffic. Participants arrive in Kruja and check into the hotel. At 6 pm, they have a drink with the guide and discuss the programme for the coming week. Depending on the time of arrival, participants could visit the Kruja Bazaar and the Kruja Castle, the epicentre of the legendary Albanian resistance to the Ottomans that was led by Skanderbeg in the 14th century. The entrance fee for the fortress is 100 Lek. Dinner is organised at a traditional restaurant.

Day 2 - The Holy Mountain of Sarisalltik: The day begins with a hike up the Holy Mountain of Sarisalltik and a visit to the Bectasci Teqe (Sufi Dervishes Sanctuary) located at a height of 1,900 m. After the descent, the group drives north and has lunch on the way to Shkodra. At the entrance of the largest city in the north of the country, the group visits the Rozafa Castle and enjoys the marvellous view of the Shkodra Lake surrounded by mountains. In the evening, before dinner, guests get some time to relax by the Shkodra Lake and walk about the town. Dinner is organised at a traditional restaurant and accommodation is at a hotel in Shkodra.

Day 3 - Lake of Koman and Canyon of Drin: Early in the morning, the group is driven to the ferry, which passes through the spectacular canyon of the Drin River. The Lake of Koman was created after the construction of the Dam of Koman in the 1980s. The trip continues by car along the beautiful valley of the Valbona River to the charming village of Dunishë, where guests stay overnight. Dinner and accommodation are in a village house in Dunishë, the best starting point for all kinds of hikes in the surrounding mountains. The lovely little lake behind the house is a great place for relaxation after a long day.

Day 4 - Qafa e Rosit: The trek begins from the house towards Kukaj village (900 m). From there, a shepherd's path takes the group through the remote landscapes of the Eastern Alps of Albania to Qafa e Rosit (2,000 m - approximately 7 to 8 hours of walking). The path climbs smoothly amidst green meadows, with gorgeous views of the Jezerca Mountain and Rrethi i Bardhë, the White Circle. At the end of the day, the group rests in the same place as the previous night in Dunishë.

Day 5 - The Pass of Valbona: After breakfast, the group is driven 10 km to the village of Rragam for the next trek. The journey peaks at the Pass of Valbona (1,966 m) that was the classic route through the Albanian Alps, which for centuries linked the two valleys of the area, Valbona and Thethi. Mules are 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 enjoy the refreshing natural springs along the way and admire the peaks of Jezerca and Radohima. From there, the group starts the descent towards Thethi village (800 m), where they will rest overnight after about 8 hours of walking. Thethi is the best-preserved alpine village in Albania, with typical houses still roofed with wooden tiles and set amid stunningly beautiful surroundings. The group stays overnight in one of the traditional houses and enjoys extraordinary hospitality.

Day 6 - Thethi's attractions: The group explores Thethi's stunning natural beauty and traditional houses. Guests walk downhill from the house and visit the attractions near the village, including the church, Kulla e Ngujimit (a tower house used in the past by men as a shelter against on-going vendetta), Thethi Waterfall and Grunasi Canyon. They also visit the Cyclopean stone-walled terraces dating back to the late bronze era and discovered only in 2007. The group spends the night at the same house as the night before.

Day 7 - Tirana: The group leaves Thethi to start another day of spectacular trekking in the direction of Boga village. Participants 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. The group enjoys stunning views of Bjeshket e Namuna, the Accursed Mountains, after which they walk downhill along the side of the Radohima Mountains to Boga village (900 m). The group lunches in this picturesque village surrounded by vertical slopes, with peaks over 2,000 m high, and then proceeds through the Boga valley towards Shkodra and Tirana.

Day 8 - Tirana: Guests departing in the afternoon have time to visit Tirana and see the important sights of the capital: the Italian buildings, Mosque of Ethem Bej, National History Museum or one of the many markets.

Departure dates:

- 25 April (Saturday) to 1 May

- 23 May (Saturday) to 30 May

- 27 June (Saturday) to 4 July

- 25 July (Saturday) to 1 August

- 22 August (Saturday) to 29 August.

Guests who do not wish to join the group departures above are requested to inform the tour operators of preferred dates and group size.