Overview!
This tour is designed for active people who love long hiking and adventures! These 7 days will take you to some of the wildest places in the Albanian Alps, trekking through mountain passes between villages. You will experience real Albanian traditions through traditional food, houses and Albanian hospitality. We will also visit some beautiful forests, lakes and waterfalls. Nor would we fail to visit cultural heritage sites and learn more about the history of Albania, as noted anthropologist and author Edith Durham said: “Europe without Albania and Albanians would be incomplete in its identity of ancient and modern history”.
Itinerary
This day we will head to Lepusha village where on our way we will have a stop in Kruja. In Kruja we will have the chance to visit the marvelous castle and old Bazaar. After we will drive to Shkoder and enjoy traditional local dishes with fresh products and amazing lake view. After Shkodra we will head for the guesthouse in Lepusha for accommodation and relax for tomorrow’s hike.
- Set off on a guided tour of Dollma Bektashi Tekke , the Castle itself and the Skanderbeg Museum
- Traditional fish-based lunch in a family in the shores of Shkodra lake.
- Stop in Shkodra and visiting the promenade of the city.
- Free evening in Lepusha to enjoy the landscapes and why not to try the Blueberry Raki (traditional alcoholic drink made only in these villages).
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Accommodation in guesthouse in Lepushe
This day will be a very active day where after an early breakfast we will be prepared for a long hike in the middle of high mountains (also known as the accursed mountains) with an altitude 2000m above sea level with rocky road, beautiful scenery and wild forest.
- Before starting our hike, we will prepare our big bags and leave them at the guesthouse, mules will be included to transport our bags to Vuthaj. During the hike we will need only our daily pack.
- Hike to the peak of Vajusha where the peak of the mountain is the border between Albania and Montenegro.
- Accommodation in a local guesthouse and enjoy dinner with fresh local products.
Hike information:
Gradient: 800 m
Distance: 11 km total Hike
Duration: 6 h total Hike
Meals included: Breakfast, packed-lunch, dinner.
Accommodation in guesthouse in Vuthaj
A trip to the Balkans is not complete without visiting the village of Theth in Albania. This is the perfect place to see the pristine Albanian Alps. This area is extremely underrated and we think it is time to shed some light on this area of Albania.
- We will drive until the beginning of the trail.
- Before starting our hike, we will prepare our big bags and leave them at the guesthouse, mules will be included to transport our bags to Theth. During the hike we will need only our daily pack.
- During our hike we will see a pyramid that during communist times it was marking the borders (the stems of ex-Yugoslavia and communist party of Albania are visible at the pyramid).
Hike information:
Gradient: 1100m
Distance: 16km
Duration: 8h
Meals included: Breakfast, packed-lunch, dinner.
Accommodation in guesthouse in Theth
After breakfast with local products we will prepare our packed lunch to head for the hike. The evening will be free to explore the village by yourself and enjoy the views of Thethi.
- Visit the church and the Lock-in Tower of Theth for a better understanding of the north Albanian culture and tradition.
- Learn what is Kanuni of Leke Dukagjini and how people managed to live there with their rules and morals.
- During our hike we will first visit Grunas Waterfall and continue to walk near the river bed that will lead us to the hidden gem, ‘Blue Eye Thethi’.
- Explore the flora and fauna that the forest has to offer.
- Be ready to swim if you don’t mind the crystal cold water.
Hike information:
Gradient: 550m
Distance: 12km
Duration: 5h total
Meals included: Breakfast, packed-lunch, dinner.
Accommodation in guesthouse in Theth
This day, after an early breakfast and a packed lunch, we will have a village pass, which is considered one of the most beautiful sceneries of Albania with big slopes and wild forests that goes down to Valbona valley. After the pass, we will accommodate in our guesthouse at Valbona and have our dinner with local dishes.
- Before starting our hike, we will prepare our big bags and leave them at the guesthouse, mules will be included to transport our bags to Valbona. During the hike we will need only our daily pack.
Hike information:
Gradient: 1000-1100 m
Distance: 11.5 km total hike
Duration: 6-7 h total hike
Meals included: Breakfast, packed-lunch, dinner.
Accommodation in guesthouse in Valbona
This day will be a more relaxed day at the village of Valbona where we will do some exploration Breakfast, lunch, and dinner would be at Valbona with local fresh products.
Optional: Hiking at the pyramid or explore the river bed in Valbona.
Meals included: Breakfast, packed-lunch, dinner.
Accommodation in guesthouse in Valbona
Last day early in the morning we will get ready to go back to Tirana, but not finished yet with the beautiful scenery and panoramas.
- Take the boat trip at Koman Lake (also known as Albanian Thailand) surrounded by the ever chaning scale of dramatic mountain gorges that reflet in the calm water’s surface.
- Taking a camera to capture all the magnificent views is also essential.
- Enjoy our last lunch in what Is considered the best traditional agro-tourism restaurant in Albania located in Fishte Village.
Meals included: Breakfast and lunch.
Accommodation in hotel in Tirana
What is included in this tour?
Included
✅Meals full board
✅All transport as per itinerary
✅Mules or horses for bag transportation
✅The guide
✅All museum fees described in the itinerary
Not Included
❌Health Insurance
❌Flight ticket
❌What’s not mentioned above
