8 Day Private Albanian Alps Trail Guided Hiking Private Tour

Day 1 Arrival in Podgorica (Montenegro) and Transfer to Theth Valley (Albania)

1. 1

   Theth

   12 hours

   Transfer from Podgorica airport to the village of Theth (Albania) a small hamlet at the foot of the Peaks of the Balkans trail and starting point of the trek. Meet and greet with your local guide and continue to the briefing about this tour itinerary. Guesthouse check-in. For group dinner, we enjoy typical Albanian specialties.

Day 2 Theth, Waterfall of Grunas, Blue Eye of Theth

1. 1

   Theth

   1 hour

   Discovering Theth, one of the most traditional villages of Northern Albania. Visit of Blood Feud Tower, a four-sided stone tower dating back over 400 years.

2. 2

   Grunasi Waterfall

   1 hour

   Visit of the Grunas Waterfall (30 m).

3. 3

   Nderlysaj

   2 hours

   Hike to the village Nderlysa with its Vaskat e Gurit (literally ‘Stone Bathtubs’) rock formations.

4. 4

   3 hours

   Hike to the valley of Kaprre with the Blue Eye of Theth, a rich-blue-coloured karst pool fed by a mountain stream.

5. 5

   Theth

   1 hour

   Hike back to Nderlysa where a transfer will take us back to Theth for dinner and overnight at the same guesthouse as the night before.

Day 3 Hike from Theth to Valbona Valley

1. 1

   Valbona Pass

   5 hours

   One of Albania’s most iconic hikes (14 km) from Theth (745 m) over the Valbona Pass (1.795 m) to the valley of Valbona (995 m) in the heart of the eponymous national park. Usage of horses and mules to carry the baggage to the next guesthouse. At the Valbona pass on a clear day – views of the highest peaks of the Albanian Alps like Maja Jezerces (2.694 m), Maja e Boshit (2.416m) Maja Madhe (2.561 m).

2. 2

   Valbona Valley National Park

   3 hours

   Descent to Valbona Valley to the village of Rrogam (1.100 m). Continuing a few kilometers further on a dry riverbed to the guesthouse.

Day 4 Hike from Valbona over the Persllopit Pass to Cerem

1. 1

   Cerem

   5 hours

   There are two hiking routes from Valbona to Cerem: The low (valley) route and the spectacular high route via Persllopit Pass (highly recommended). The high route is quite demanding but also rewarding, revealing views of the steep rocky mountains of Kollata, which are popular among climbers.
   Low Route:
   The low route is mostly a dusty road offering less in terms of scenery but is suitable for those who would like to have an easier walking day.

2. 2

   Cerem

   7 hours

   High Route:
   Long ascent to the Persllopit pass (2,039 m). Highlights on the way: Ice cave and a karst labyrinth. Crossing the border to Montenegro. After an hour of walking in Montenegro, Borit pass and return to Albania. Descent to the village Cerem (1,150 m). Overnight in a simple guesthouse with a hearty traditional dinner.

Day 5 Hike from Cerem to Dobërdol

1. 1

   Doberdol

   8 hours

   Start of the hike with baggage loaded on horses, leaving Cerem and the Kollata mountains behind. Crossing the Montenegrin border with the ruins of the old military border post en route. Crossing the border to Albania and arrival in the hamlet of Balqin used by shepherds during the summer season. Hike to the valley of Gashi, which is included in UNESCO’s Natural World Heritage list. Arrival at the glacial-shaped valley of Dobërdol (1.750 m), with glacial lakes of the Dobërdol-Sulbicës plateau as a highlight. Overnight in shepherd’s huts with a hearty traditional dinner.

Day 6 Hike from Dobërdol (Albania) via Hrid Lake to Plav (Montenegro)

1. 1

   4 hours

   The hike starts from the mountain hut in Dobёrdol (1.750 m), ascension to the peak of Trekufiri (eng. Three Borders Peak, 2.366 m) – the triangle where the borders of Albania, Montenegro and Kosovo meet.

2. 2

   3 hours

   Continuing northwest in a high-altitude hike along the Albanian-Montenegrin border until the abandoned border post ruin from the Yugoslav era. Descent to the most beautiful mountain lake in Montenegro – Lake Hrid. Resting and swimming in the lake.

3. 3

   Plav

   1 hour

   Descent from the lake to the town of Plav (940 m). Hotel check-in and overnight in Plav.

Day 7 Grebaje Valley: Circular Prokletije Hike

1. 1

   Grebaje Valley

   1 hour

   Transfer to Grebaje Valley.

2. 2

   6 hours

   Start of the hike in the Grebaje Valley with an ascension to the double peak of Popadija and Talijanka (2.056 m). Ridge hike leading back to the track down with views of the Karanfili Mountains, nicknamed as the “Dolomites of Montenegro”. En route highlights are rock carvings dating from the Neolith Age of 600 years B.C. as well as other Paleolithic carvings. Traversing the narrow spine to a series of panoramic viewpoints back to the path, where the circular hike closes.

3. 3

   Grebaje Valley

   1 min

   Dinner and overnight in a guesthouse in Grebaje Valley or Gusinje.

Day 8 Transfer to Podgorica Airport via Cem River Canyon

1. 1

   Podgorica

   3 hours

   Transfer to Podgorica Airport (75 km, 2.5 hour drive). Shortly after the border crossing between Montenegro and Albania, view of the Cem river valley (Montenegrin: Cijevna) and the mountains of Montenegro and Albania. Stop at the lookout point. Short stopover in the Albanian town of Tamare. After crossing the border between Albania and Montenegro, and 40 minutes drive, arrival at the Podgorica Airport (TGD). Departure.