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Off the beaten path! Kosovo may not immediately come to mind, but we can agree that it is a fascinating country. It is right in the heart of the Balkans. During the Unplugged Kosovo Trail we walk through the Kosovo mountains. We roam the Peaks of the Balkans and the Via Dinarica. What makes this trek really special is that we regularly go off the beaten track. Because of this we really consider the mountains ours, because you won't meet many other hikers.
In five days we hike 4 summits during the Kosovo trail. You don't have to be a climbing expert to conquer these peaks. A fit frame and experience in mountains is a must. We walk over ridges with amazing views and climb and scramble over rock formations. The four peaks we will visit: Hajla 2403m, Guri i Kuq 2522m, Tromedja 2366m (mountain peak Albania) and Gjeravicë 2656m (highest peak in Kosovo).
Get to know Via Ferrata. This activity may sound dangerous and reserved for only the bravest. However, this is not entirely true and it is worth a try!
We pass the border with Montenegro and Albania 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 for a moment and feel as if you are moments away from 21st century Europe.
The dramatic peaks are characteristic of Kosovo's landscape and they make the wonder come true: rocky soil made of karst and limestone, rich and varied nature and rare animal species such as brown bear and 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 Peaks of the Balkans and the Via Dinarica spread across the borders of Kosovo, Albania, and Montenegro. By default, we walk at an altitude of about 2,200 meters. Already we reach the highest peak in Kosovo with an altitude of 2,656 meters. The Unplugged Kosovo 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.
After hopefully a good flight, we welcome you to Pristina, the capital of Kosovo. We immediately travel to Peja, the3rd city of the country. The pleasant bus ride takes us into the city center in about 2 hours. You immediately fall from one surprise into another. The colossal mountains surrounding Peja are overwhelming. It is not for nothing that it lies at the foot of the Cursed Mountains. Not far from the center in a quiet street, we sleep in a nice and neat family hostel. Refresh yourself and explore Peja. In the evening we will all enjoy Kosovan cuisine.
Hopefully you slept well and are fit for the day. After a delicious breakfast by the river near our hostel, we will head to Peja - Rugova Gorge. Here we are going to have some adrenaline coursing through our bodies. We are going to do a Via Ferrata. A VIA WHAT? Via Ferrata is a term from mountaineering. Originally Italian, it means "iron road," thus providing a good definition of the term. A Via Ferrata is a course set with steel cables along a rock face. This trail has a length of 450 meters with difficulty level B. Suitable for everyone! The use of safety equipment such as, a helmet, a belt and carabiners ensures that this is done in a very safe way. The Via Ferrata takes about 2-3 hours. After this adrenaline rush, we get ready to go to the first mountain village.
Those who want to make altimeters are guaranteed to get their turn this week, as we wander through the Kosovo Mountains, or the Albanian Alps. We cross the border with both Montenegro and Albania and move from guesthouse to guesthouse. 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 Kosovo and neighboring countries. 4 peaks in 5 days, you can't say that about every vacation right! And to top it off, we visit a local vineyard for some tasty food and some local wine. We deserved that after the past few days.
Unfortunately it is already the last day. One more breakfast together and then towards the bus. We drive back to Pristina from where you travel back home or another destination. It was beautiful, intense and a great experience. Thank you for sharing this with us. Faleminderit
The 1st and last day of the Unplugged Kosovo Trail you will sleep in the center of Peja. Here you will sleep in a family guesthouse, which is just a few minutes walk from the center.
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 will gladly arrange this for you at an additional cost.
The Unplugged Kosovo Trail requires a good level of fitness. 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 and the Prokletije Mountains are high mountains.
We walk 6 to 9 hours daily through the mountains with a daypack on.
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 Kosovo, you will find truly untouched 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. However, do you not have this experience yet? Then a good condition is a must! In addition, you have a flexible and adventurous attitude!
Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, and although this has been diplomatically recognized by 111 countries, there are still many countries that do not accept Kosovo's independence, including Serbia. The country has received massive aid from the international community, especially the EU and NATO. No matter what many people who have never been to Kosovo tell you, it is perfectly safe to travel here. Nevertheless, Kosovo remains one of the last off-the-beaten-path destinations in Europe.
Hi, I'm Jimmy and I'll be your guide during the Unplugged Kosovo Trail. Green is my color, always has been. So I always thought that 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 Kosovo by train, yes you can! You first travel to Munich where the night train to Zagreb departs. In Zagreb you connect to a train to Belgrade. From Belgrade you travel to Skopje and from there you travel to Pristina. If you want to know more about this, let us know. We'll provide you with 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 Accursed Mountains also known as the Albanian Alps 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 Kosovo Mountains and cross the border several times with Montenegro and Albania. The route we walk is perhaps the last piece of untouched wilderness in Europe. We walk through rugged landscapes, glacial lakes and mountain villages and hospitality and genuine friendliness of the mountain people. Check here for other travel information including weather, climate, etc.
Booking is possible until April 22, 2024
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Download the travel guide here and find out where to sleep, the route, what to bring and more practical information!
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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!
