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During the Unplugged Balkan Trail, you will fall from one surprise into another. They probably owe the mysterious name, The Accursed Mountains, to the fact that these mountains are considered "impassable and wild. Impressive landscapes, with the most beautiful views, jagged peaks and mighty steep mountain walls.
For days we wander the Peaks of the Balkans or the Balkan Trail. For the most part, we trek through TheAccursed Mountains also known as the Accursed Mountains or the Albanian Alps. Believe us, they more than live up to their title. We walk over ridges with insane views and climb and clamber over rocky outcroppings.
We pass the border with Montenegro and Kosovo several times. A trek through three unique countries and through one of the most beautiful natural areas in Europe. This is a place where you unwind, lose your sense of time completely, and feel as if you're moments away from 21st century Europe.
The dramatic peaks are characteristic of the landscape of northern Albania and they make the miracle come true: rocky soil made of karst and limestone, rich and varied nature and rare animal species such as the brown bear and the lynx.
We pass impressive landscapes with the most beautiful views and through quaint stone villages where old traditions are kept alive. Here shepherds still bring their flocks to summer pastures and you experience hospitality and genuine friendliness of the mountain people. You will walk into villages where groups of calves wander and be awakened by the sound of whinnying horses and barking dogs.
The mountains spread across the borders of Albania, Kosovo and Montenegro. By default, we walk at an elevation of about 2,200 meters. However, the peaks reach a respectable height of 2,694 meters in Albania but we stay nicely below that. The Unplugged Balkan Trail offers challenge for the adventurous hiker. There is so much beauty to be seen in the green valleys, dense forests where wolves live and ice-gray rock peaks.
Yes, you have arrived in Tirana, the capital of Albania! We immediately travel to Shkodër (north-west), one of the country's oldest and most important cities (the fourth city after Tirana, Durrës and Elbasan). In the center of town we will sleep in a relaxed hostel, where the owner and crew give us a warm welcome. In the afternoon you can explore Shkodër and in the evening we will enjoy Albanian cuisine together.
Get up early, because at 06:15 we will have breakfast. Get ready for the Lake Koman Ferry, the most beautiful boat trip in Albania! We sail through a spectacular mountain landscape with rocky peaks and ridges and crystal clear water. Here you can take beautiful pictures!
Those who want to gain altimeters are guaranteed to get their turn during the Unlugged Balkan Trail, as we roam the Albanian Alps. We move from guesthouse to guesthouse and cross the border several times. Everyone here is friendly and the mountain people have elevated hospitality to an art. Back in time where you can unwind, clear your head and embark on a gigantic adventure. Together with a local guide, we learn more about the areas, but certainly also about the turbulent history of Albania and neighboring countries. And if that's not enough, we'll give you another challenge: jump into a glacial lake. Who dares?
This trek has some added extras: optional rest days on Day 5, Day 8 and Day 10, where you can take a breather if you want!
Day 12 - Faleminderit, thanks for a great adventure !
All the beauty comes to an end. Today you will be dropped off in Tirana and fly back home or another destination. It was beautiful, intense and a great experience. Thank you for sharing this with us. Faleminderit!
The 1st day of the Unplugged Balkan Trail you will sleep in the center of Shkodër. Here you will sleep in a hostel which are actually nice apartments. The hostel offers a social and comfortable atmosphere. Within minutes you find yourself right in the center of Shkodër. You can also explore the city by bike. The last night of the Unplugged Balkan Trail you will sleep in Tirana at the MK hotel.
During your hike through the mountains, you will stay overnight with the mountain people in their guesthouses. All these guesthouses or mountain huts, are carefully selected. They are small-scale accommodations often run by the whole family. You will be welcomed with open arms. Experience it for yourself!
You will sleep with several people in a cabin or in a dormitory during this trail, just like in a mountain hut. Would you prefer to sleep alone or in a double room? Where possible, we are happy to arrange this for you at an additional cost.
For the Unplugged Balkan Trail you need to be in good shape. You are a real mountain hiker who enjoys being in nature. You are athletic, have an adventurous spirit and do not shy away from a challenge. The Accursed Mountains, also called the Dinaric Alps or the Albanian Alps, belong to the high mountains.
We walk 6 to 9 hours daily through the mountains with a daypack.
We sleep with the mountain people in a guesthouse. Some are more luxurious than others, but that has its charms. If you prefer to unzip your tent and have an immediate view of the beautiful mountains, you can! At each guesthouse there is a possibility to pitch your tent. Please note that there is no luggage transport on this trip. You carry everything yourself in your backpack.
In undiscovered Albania, you will find truly unspoiled nature and wilderness. Therefore, it is already an adventure in itself! The weather elements can make conditions even more physically challenging. Therefore, this trip is suitable if you have already done several mountain tours or hikes. In addition, you have a flexible and adventurous spirit!
Albania, a country that was in the grip of communism for 50 years and largely cut off from the outside world. A country still undeveloped in many places, though the new generation craves modernization.
Hi, I'm Jimmy and I'll be your guide during the Unplugged Balkan Trail. Green is my color, always has been. So I always thought the landscape below the tree line would be more beautiful because there (yes you guessed it!) it is still green. But when you get above the tree line and walk over ridges (>2000m), I have to admit that it is fantastic. The huge mountains and the beauty of it, imagine yourself in another world for a moment. And this world I would like to share with you.
During this week I will teach you some important mountaineering and survival skills that might come in handy!
I am Mentor Vokshi and am from Peja/Pec Kosovo. Peja/Pec is located in the western part of Kosovo and is part of the National and International Park of the "Cursed Mountains". Always mountains have fascinated me and have always been a mountaineer. As they say the blood creeps where it cannot go.
Before becoming a mountaineer, I worked as a Civilian Local Hire for NATO forces as part of the peacekeeping mission in Kosovo. Since 2016, I have been active as a mountaineering and via ferrata guide. Most of my experience has been gained in the cross-border area "Peaks of the Balkans". Besides practicing mountaineering and guiding, I am also closely involved and instructor for the new via ferrata guides.
I look forward to meeting you!
Getting to Albania by train, yes this is possible! You first travel to Italy. From Italy, ferries cross the Adriatic Sea daily to Albania. Want to know more? If you want to know more about this, let us know. Then we will provide an itinerary. Or book your own trip through The Train Traveller.
Which flight is best to take:
During the Meet & Greet, you can choose to travel together or carpool together. The adventure thus begins from day one!
The Albanian Alps also known as the Accursed Mountains is a mountain group in the western part of the Balkans. It is the southernmost sub-region of the 1,000-kilometer-long Dinaric Alps series (Dinarides), stretching from northern Albania to southern Kosovo and northeastern Montenegro. For the most part we walk through Albanian Alphen and cross the border several times with Montenegro and Kosovo.
The route we walk is perhaps the last piece of untouched wilderness in Europe. We walk through rugged landscapes, glacier lakes and mountain villages and hospitality and genuine friendliness of the mountain people.
Check other travel information such as weather, climate, etc. here.
Booking is possible until June 20, 2024
#newadventures
An adventure away from Europe and the 21st century.
Albania is not the first country that springs to mind for a backpacking trip. In fact, from the Netherlands it is quite difficult to arrange everything locally. For Bergen Magazine I wrote a blog about how we experienced Albania. I can tell you it was really great, so incredibly beautiful and a hospitality we can all learn something from. If you want to read the entire blog, click on the button below. Enjoy reading it!
Download the travel guide here and find out where to sleep, the route, what to bring and more practical information!
#bucketlistideas
Unplugged Outdoor
Boterbloemstraat 28
4841 LM Prinsenbeek
Basecamp spot in the forest & in the mountains
Phone number
+31 (0)6 164 476 33
KvK no. 85131709
Don't forget to download the travel guide and find out where to sleep, the route, what to bring and many more practical tips!
