8 days on the Peaks of Balkan and Accursed Mountains

8 days on the Peaks of Balkan and Accursed Mountains

This tour is unique for a few reasons. First, this tour is part of the big map of 15 days on the Peaks of Balkan. Second, the tour includes hiking on the peaks of Balkan, which include the Albanian Alps and is part of the Accursed Mountains. Third, it goes through two countries (Alb - MNE) from the three ones on the hole tour of the Peaks of Balkan, Albania - Montenegro - Kosovo.
This is a hiking tour for about 7-9 hours per day and requires particular physical abilities for challenge hiking. During these days you will discover an amazing part of Balkan, you will experience the welcome of locals, taste the local traditional food, feel the emotion that the mountains give you any time you are on the peaks.

Itinerary

Day 1: AIRPORT - LEPUSHE

Stop At: Lepushe, Lepushe, Shkoder County
Meet and greet with the guide. Drive (around 3-4 hours) to Lepushe valley in the north west of Albania, going through the serpentine road at Leqet e Hotit enjoying the panoramic views, stop for a coffee break in Tamara, a small village on the way with a promenade and some artisan shops with local bio productions. Reach Lepushe valley and get accommodated.
Depending on the day time available possibility for short walks around the valley. Dinner with traditional – local food.

Duration: 4 hours

Stop At: Leqet e Hotit, Albania
Panoramic view stop. The serpentine road from the peak to down valley toward Tamara.
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Tamare, Tamare, Shkoder County
A small village on the way to Lepushe with a promenade and coffees, bars, restaurants, and alimentary organic shops.
Short break (optional).
Duration: 20 minutes

Meals included:
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Guesthouse Alpini is one of the best guesthouses in the valley.
Accommodation on room capacity for the group. 2-3 stars

Day 2: LEPUSHE - VUSANJE

Stop At: Vusanje, Vusanje, Gusinje Municipality
After an early breakfast will start the hike from Lepushe to Gerbaje pastures in Montenegro, going through the peaks of Berishdoli for around six hours. Drive with local transport from Gerbaje to Vuthaj (MNE). Get accommodated and relax. Free evening. Dinner with traditional – local food.
Duration: 6 hours

Pass By: Berizhdoli, Albania
The hike will bring us through this beautiful peaks and pastures of Berizhdoli in the Albanian territory.

Pass By: Grybajë, Grebaje, Montenegro
From Berizhdoli pastures, the trail will proceed toward Grebaje peak, to close the day in Vusanje (Albanian language: Vuthaj).

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch: Lunch-box.
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Accommodation in Guesthouse.
Guesthouses in all the valleys of the Peaks of Balkan are structures by family running.

Day 3: VUSANJE - THETHI

Stop At: Theth National Park, Rruga Nikgjonaj Rruga Nikgjonaj, Nr.18, Theth 4009 Albania
Early breakfast and leave the valley by a local transfer from Vuthaj/Vusanje to Liqeni Thate (Dry Lake) and then start hiking toward the golf of Peja and the Glacial lakes. Short breaks are calculated on the way for packed-lunch or refreshment at one of the cottages who use to work as a coffee/drinks shop. Proceed toward Thethi National Park going through golf of Peja to Okol village an finish in Thethi village. Local transport from Okol (end of the trail) to Thethi’s guesthouse. The total hiking time will be around 8 hours. Thethi National Park, Thethi valley, set among the peaks of the Albanian Alps, part of the Accursed Mountains.
Dinner with traditional – local food.

Duration: 8 hours

Pass By: Liqe i Shtrazes, Albania
At this point is the lake of Shtraze right in the border between Albania and Montenegro. Glacial lake.

Stop At: Runice, Albania
At this point, after a short walking from the border, there is the rustic cottage where you can have your lunch box break at Buni i Runices.
Duration: 30 minutes

Pass By: Qafa e Pejes, Albania
Once you reach Golf of Peja you can see the valley of Theth laying down. The golf of Peja is on the way that brings you at Harapi peak, one of the most amazing and highest peaks around the valley.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch: Lunch box
• Dinner: Fix menu with traditional food.
Accommodation included: Accommodation in Guesthouse. Room capacity based.

Day 4: THETHI NATIONAL PARK

Stop At: Thethi-Guide, Rruga Nikgjona, Nr. 18, Theth 4009 Albania
Breakfast at the guesthouse. Guiding day around Thethi valley will start at around 09.00 am.
Visits & Exploration. The church of Theth, an unusual and beautiful church built in 1892, used as the first school in the valley from an Albania priest, At Shtjefen Gjecovi, and as a poly-ambulatory during the Communist regime. Lock-in Tower, a traditional construction called ‘Kulla’ built four centuries ago. In this tower have been reconciled more than 300 conflicts of the blood feud. Waterfall of Thethi in Grunas, one of the most exceptional natural beauties, declared as a natural monument with its thin body over 30 meters. On the way back from the waterfall, you will meet Grunasi Canyon, one of the pearls of the canyons in the entire country. From this last point, the tour will proceed with easy walking on the rural road to Nderlysa Stone Groves for one hour approximately. Short break here to refresh from the cold water of the river. Start hiking for 40-50 minutes to Blue Eye of Theth placed in the middle of the woods as a deep blue hole with freezing water (-2°). Return by minivan from Nderlysa to the guesthouse back. Dinner with traditional – local food

Duration: 8 hours

Pass By: Tower of Nikoll Koceku, Ruga e Gjelajve, Theth 4009 Albania
Lock-in Tower a traditional construction called ‘Kulla’ built four centuries ago. In this tower have been reconciled more than 300 conflicts of the blood feud.

Stop At: Grunasi Waterfall, Theth Albania
one of the most exceptional natural beauties declared as a natural monument with its thin body over 30 meters.
Duration: 40 minutes

Stop At: Kanioni i Grunasit, Albania
On the way back from the waterfall, you will meet Grunasi Canyon, one of the pearls of the canyons in the entire country.
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Nderlysaj, Nderlysaj, Shkoder County
The tour will proceed with easy walking on the rural road to Nderlysa Stone Groves for one hour approximately. Short break here to refresh with the cold water of the river.
Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Blue Eye of Theth, Kaprre Pusi i Zi, Syri i Kalter, Theth 4009 Albania
Start hiking for 40-50 minutes one way to Blue Eye of Theth placed in the middle of the woods as a deep blue hole with freezing water (-2°).
Same way back.
Duration: 40 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch: Lunch box
• Dinner: Traditional local food
Accommodation included: Accommodation in Guesthouse. 3 stars standard.

Day 5: THETH - VALBONA

Stop At: Valbona, Valbona, Kukes County
Early breakfast at the guesthouse.
A hiking day on one of the most trafficked trails of the Albanian Alps, Theth - Valbona path. The route goes through the highest point of Valbona pass, 1750 mt, for 6-7 hours, with two short breaks at some cottages which provide coffees and refreshment drinks. Walking between the woods, on open valleys, and tight paths, enjoying the fresh air and the view of the pristine beauty of the peaks around you. Transfer from Rragam at the end of the trail to the Guesthouse in Valbona. Free evening. Dinner with traditional – local food

Duration: 7 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch: Lunch box
• Dinner: Traditional local food.
Accommodation included: Accommodation in Guesthouse bases.

Day 6: VALBONA NATIONAL PARK

Stop At: Valbona Valley National Park, Valbona Albania
Visits & Exploration around the national park. The program takes into consideration a hiking day to one of the beautiful peaks around the valley of Valbona, Rosi, golf. From here, you can be amazed by the view of all the high peaks of the accursed mountains like Jezerca peak, Maja e Thate, and Kollata peak. The hike will take all day both ways. Free evening. Dinner with traditional – local food
Duration: 9 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch: lunch box
• Dinner: Traditional local food
Accommodation included: Accommodation in guesthouse. Room capacity bases.

Day 7: VALBONA - SHKODRA

Stop At: Komani Lake, Koman Albania
Drive towards the first dam in Fierze for 1.5 hours from Valbona and sail with a ferry boat for about 2 hours for an unforgettable experience. Exploring the remote north of Albania and take one of the world’s best boat trips with a cruise through the mountainous corridors of Lake Koman.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Shkoder, Shkoder, Shkoder County
Ferry disembarkation and drive to Shkodra city (packed-lunch can be consumed on the ferry). Continuing the journey down to Shkodra fields going alongside the Drin river from Komani to Vau Dejes, than finish in Shkodra after 1.5 hours of drive.
Free evening. Dinner with traditional – local food.

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch: Lunch box
• Dinner: Dinner with local dishes in Shkodra. Fix menu.
Accommodation included: 3-4 stars Hotel in Shkodra.

Day 8: SHKODRA - AIRPORT

Stop At: Rozafa Castle, Rozafa, Shkoder Albania
Visit Shkodra: Rozafa Castle, the legendary castle revealing the history of Albania and its people through a woman’s sacrifice for her child. A fortification where you can find traces of invasion and influence from Byzantine Empire to Venetian, and Ottoman Empire.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Stop At: Podgorica, Podgorica, Podgorica Municipality
Free time. Transfer to the airport in Podgorica.
END OF OUR SERVICES.
Optional: drop off at Tirana International Airport.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch: Lunch box
No accommodation included on this day.