Albania, Kosovo and North Macedonia Hiking Tour

Welcome to Albania! You will meet your guide at the airport in Tirana and be transferred to the northern Albanian town of Shkodra. Take some time to stroll about this charming lakeside town. Some historical and cultural highlights include the fortress atop the city, mosques, museums, and relics of the Ottoman empire.

After fuelling up on a hearty Albanian breakfast, get a transfer to the village of Domen. Find the trailhead for today’s hike in Maranaj Park to summit a mountain of the same name, reaching 1,527 m / 5,010 ft that offers exceptional views of the surroundings. Green mountains and rocky terrain abound in this protected area. Take your time exploring the peak and snapping pictures. Descend to Domen from where your guide will take you to Theth for a night in a cozy guesthouse.

Enjoy breakfast at the guesthouse in Theth, then prepare for a climb towards Valbona Pass through the Albanian Alps, also known as the Accursed Mountains. In winter, these mountains are covered with snow, but when the snow melts, they become one of the country’s most sensational hiking destination. A network of trails awaits your exploration in this area! After reaching Valbona Pass at 1,795 m / 5,889 ft, you’ll begin the descent and meet a driver for a transfer to Kukaj—in the middle of Valbona National Park surrounded by a few of Albania’s highest peaks—to spend the night in a guesthouse.

Wake up in Albania and get ready for a big day: you’ll hike into neighbouring Montenegro and back. Today’s route includes a hike up to 2,030 m / 6,660 ft to stop for a packed lunch amid spectacular jagged peaks and epic views. You’ll head into trails among evergreen forests until hiking past the treeline and on to Montenegro’s highest peak of Zla Kolata at 2,534 m / 8,314 ft. The trail leads back to Albania after Bori Pass and descends through alpine meadows, finally reaching Cerem, a remote village where you’ll enjoy a well-earned rest. Get a transfer to Peja, Kosovo, after a long day of hiking to spend the night in a comfy hotel.

After breakfast in Peja, head out to hike a section of the Peak of the Balkans Trail—a 192-km transnational route. Once you return, you’ll be transferred to the enchanting town of Prizren. Spend the evening aimlessly wandering and marveling at the town's mountain backdrop, and skyline varied with mosques, orthodox, and catholic church outlines.

Today, you get a rest from hiking and have a free day to explore Prizren at your leisure. Some of the highlights include the religious buildings, as mentioned above, and the architecture remaining from the Ottoman Empire. Prizren is renowned for its coffee culture—it will be easy to stay caffeinated as you explore the town.

After breakfast (and coffee) in Prizren, you’ll be transferred to Pristina, Kosovo’s capital. Meet a local guide for a thorough walking tour to learn about the intriguing history that constitutes the city. Enjoy some leisure time to discover the Bazars and shops, finding a few souvenirs. Meet the group for dinner at a local restaurant then get a transfer to Skopje, North Macedonia, to spend the night.

Enjoy breakfast in the capital of North Macedonia and set out for an active day. First, you will be transferred to Mount Vodno, where you’ll take the cable car up the mountain, which brings into view the religious structure atop the city: The Millennium Cross. The trail starts from here towards Matka Canyon, a spectacular area of huge rocks surrounding the Treska River. During the canyon excursion, you’ll have an option to visit Vrelo Cave, one of the deepest underwater caves in Europe. Continue to Mavrovo, a village in the western part of the country, for the night.

The group can decide whether it wants to hike to Carevec Peak or to get a short transfer to the viewpoint. Get an amazing view of the countryside and snap a few pictures before you start the hike towards the remote villages of Galicnik and Jance. On the way, you’ll be awarded views of Lake Debar, a humanmade lake constructed as part of a hydroelectric project in the area. From there, you’ll head further into the countryside, finally reaching the small mountainside village of Jance. Take a quick break here then receive a transfer to the lakeside town of Ohrid for the night.

Epic lake views await today as you head to a few villages after breakfast. First, you’ll get transferred to Velestovo, a small mountainside village just south of Ohrid with incredible views of Lake Ohrid and the landscapes around. Continue to Lake Prespa to Konjsko village and enjoy the lake's serenity with a few nearby ruins to explore. The next village you’ll explore is Elsani, where you can catch more stunning lake views and some mountain breeze to cool off. Take as many photos as you can on your last full day of this tour. Back in Ohrid, you’ll have a final group dinner before getting some well-deserved rest.

Have a farewell breakfast with your new friends then pack up. Get a transfer to the airport when you’re ready to go!