Rugged mountain peaks, sleeping under the stars and hiking ancient shepherd trails through untouched landscapes. The Albanian Alps are still one of Europe’s best-kept secrets. But when you start researching hiking in Albania, practical questions quickly come to mind. Is the route safe? How do you navigate through this remote wilderness? And is a five-day mountain trek too physically demanding? To find out for ourselves, we laced up our hiking boots and set off on an unforgettable adventure. Expect an active multi-day trek where you hike at your own pace, while all logistics are taken care of (from permits to luggage transport). In this review, we share our honest experience with The Balkan Trail, a guided hiking adventure along one of the most spectacular sections of the famous Peaks of the Balkans route. From challenging elevation gains and local food to guesthouses, camping and our packing list. We also share our best tips on how to combine this incredible trek with an unforgettable road trip through the rest of Albania!
What can you expect from The Balkan Trail?
The Balkan Trail is a concept by Travelbase, a travel agency specializing in adventurous and active travel experiences in unique destinations. Through a variety of outdoor concepts, Travelbase helps travelers discover some of the world’s most beautiful natural areas independently, while still benefiting from thoughtful preparation and practical support.
The Balkan Trail is not a leisurely walk through the mountains. It’s a challenging five-day trek through the rugged Albanian Alps, with sections crossing Montenegro and a small part of Kosovo. You’ll hike from guesthouse to guesthouse while tackling significant elevation gains and descents every day. On average, you’ll spend around 6 to 8 hours on the trail each day, including breaks, and cover approximately 15 to 18 kilometers.
The intensity of The Balkan Trail: challenging, but doable
Based on our experience as active hikers, we can say that the trails are not technically extremely difficult (you don’t need any climbing experience, for example). The biggest physical challenge comes from the constant ascents and descents. One day you’ll be climbing steeply through dense forests and green valleys towards a mountain pass at around 2,000 metres, while the next day you might spend hours descending over rocky and uneven terrain. A good basic fitness level and a pair of well-broken-in hiking boots are definitely essential. So even if you’re not an experienced mountaineer or top athlete, completing the trail is absolutely possible. The most important thing is being mentally prepared for a physical challenge and walking at your own pace.
Ultimate freedom
One of the things we loved most about this adventure was the incredible sense of freedom. Although you hike as part of a group, everyone walks at their own pace. It is therefore completely normal to find yourself hiking alone for parts of the trail, and we would actually recommend embracing this. Only when you slow down and walk at your own rhythm do you truly connect with your surroundings and experience the incredible peace and silence of the mountains. And whenever you do meet other hikers from your group along the way, it’s always a great opportunity to share a conversation and enjoy the journey together.
The rewards along the way
Every day, you’ll be treated to views you won’t soon forget. Think dramatic mountain peaks, deep valleys, and ice-cold mountain streams where you can cool your feet for a moment. One moment you’re walking through a deserted Alpine village where time seems to have stood still; the next, you’re standing at the tri-border point of Albania, Montenegro, and Kosovo. The sense of satisfaction when you arrive at the next guesthouse after a long day of hiking is priceless.
Sleeping, food and logistics: how comfortable Is The Balkan Trail?
After spending an entire day hiking through the mountains with a daypack (or even your full backpack), there are three things you’ll be craving at the end of the day: a warm shower, a hearty meal and a comfortable place to rest. So, how is all of this organised during The Balkan Trail? Let’s take a closer look at the practical side of this adventure.
Camping at the guesthouses
Get ready for a fantastic outdoor adventure. On The Balkan Trail, you’ll be sleeping in your own tent on the grounds of various guesthouses. When you sign up, you can indicate whether you’d like to rent camping gear, such as a tent, sleeping bag, and sleeping mat, or bring your own.
At the guesthouses, you’ll pitch your tent in the garden or on the meadow right next to the accommodation. This means your experience is truly back-to-basics, making it an incredibly adventurous way to experience the Albanian Alps. You’ll use the guesthouse facilities, including the toilets and showers. The camping spots are often located in some of the most spectacular settings, surrounded by mountains and untouched nature. And because you’re far away from civilisation, you can enjoy a breathtakingly clear sky full of stars right from your tent at night.
There is something truly special about camping in nature: you unzip your tent in the morning and step straight into a world of towering mountain peaks. Now that’s a memorable way to wake up. And the evenings are just as special. After a long day on the trail, you gather with fellow hikers at the guesthouse for a local dinner, share stories from the day and then retreat to your own cosy tent for a well-deserved night of rest.
Food on the road and at the guesthouses
Hiking makes you hungry, and luckily the Albanian cuisine does not disappoint. The meals served at the guesthouses are local, fresh and nourishing, exactly what you need after a long day of trekking. Both breakfast and dinner are included at the guesthouses where you camp each night. In the evening, you’ll sit down for a traditional home-cooked meal, often featuring dishes such as oven-baked potatoes, chicken or other locally sourced meat and fresh salads. Your day starts with a simple but satisfying breakfast of eggs, cheese, tomatoes and bread, giving you the energy you need for the trail ahead.
Lunch arrangements vary from day to day. Sometimes the guesthouse prepares a packed sandwich for you to take on the trail, while on other days you’ll make your own lunch pack during breakfast. Our personal tip: whenever possible, take an extra boiled egg or some fruit from breakfast with you. It makes for a great energy boost later in the day when the kilometres and elevation start to add up.
Although you’ll be hiking through remote and untouched mountain landscapes, on some days you’ll also pass small mountain huts run by local families. These are the perfect places to take a short break and buy a refreshing drink, cold water or a local speciality. Make sure to try the byrek with cottage cheese or spinach, a flija (a traditional layered pancake) or a freshly baked slice of raspberry cake.
You’ll burn a significant amount of calories during the trail, so we highly recommend bringing enough snacks from home. We packed protein bars, energy bars, gingerbread-style snacks and nuts to keep us fuelled throughout the hiking days. Don’t forget to bring electrolytes as well, which you can add to your water for extra hydration and recovery.
Good to know: the information above applies if you have added the meal package to your booking. Without this package, you’ll need to arrange and bring all your own meals and snacks during the trail.
What's included in The Balkan Trail?
When you book this adventure, most of the practical details are already taken care of, making your hiking experience much more enjoyable. The following elements are included as standard:
All overnight stays in your own tent on the grounds of the guesthouses;
Permits and transfers: All cross-border permits and local transfers have been arranged for you;
Access to parks: admission tickets for the national parks along the route;
Guidance: you’ll be accompanied by three guides during the trail, including one local guide who speaks English. We also had a Dutch guide (Carmen) and a Belgian guide (Lynn). Together, they made it an incredibly fun trip for our group;
Navigation: access to the official The Balkan Trail app.
Once you've signed up for the trip, you'll receive an invitation to download the Travelbase App. There, you'll find all the practical information you need for the trip, such as the itinerary, offline GPX routes, the packing list, and a chat feature where you can communicate with your group.
What can you add to your booking?
To make your hike as comfortable as possible, you can add various extras when you book.
Meals: breakfast, packed lunches, and dinners during the trail hike;
Luggage Transport: during the booking process, you can choose to add luggage transport, and we would highly recommend this option. This means you only need to hike with your daypack, while your larger bag is transported to the next guesthouse by horse or local vehicles. It is a real luxury that saves you from carrying extra weight and makes the trail much more comfortable.
Duffel bag: don’t have a suitable hiking backpack for the trail? No problem, you can easily rent one when booking your adventure. This is ideal if you don’t want to invest in a large trekking backpack for a single trip.
Camping gear: During the trail, everyone camps at the campground, but keep in mind that you don’t necessarily have to bring your own gear from home. You can easily book a complete package, including a tent, sleeping pad or air mattress, sleeping bag, and other essentials.
Hiking poles: you can also add hiking poles to your booking. In our opinion, this is one of the best optional extras you can choose. They provide much more stability, especially during the long descents, reduce pressure on your knees and make the trail significantly more comfortable.
The 5-day route: day by day
The Balkan Trail takes you through one of the most beautiful and diverse sections of the famous Peaks of the Balkans route. You’ll hike through a spectacular region where Albania, Kosovo and Montenegro meet, including the breathtaking tripoint between these three countries. Below, you’ll find the day-by-day itinerary of the five hiking days we completed during this unforgettable adventure.
Day 1: Theth – Valbona (the iconic Valbona Pass)
The adventure starts in the historic Albanian mountain village of Theth, known for its picturesque church and traditional lock-in tower. From the basecamp, you’ll hike past the church in the morning, but if you have the chance to visit it the evening before, we highly recommend it, especially around sunset when the atmosphere is truly magical. Once you leave the church behind, the serious climb towards the Valbona Pass begins, reaching an altitude of over 1,800 metres. In our opinion, this climb was one of the toughest sections of the entire trail.
As you climb higher through the lush green forests, you’ll be surrounded by impressive mountain peaks and breathtaking views over the Valbona Valley. Make sure to slow down and take a moment to truly appreciate the scenery around you. The third mountain hut you’ll encounter on the way up is the perfect spot for a well-deserved break. Here, you can try the delicious traditional ‘flija’, a layered pancake speciality that is a must-try in the Albanian mountains.
Once you reach the pass, you can continue to the viewpoint overlooking the hidden valley of Curraj i Epërm before starting the descent. From here, it takes around two more hours to reach the end of the trail, where a local transfer will pick you up and bring you to the camping spot in Valbona.
Day 2: Valbona – Dobërdol
The day starts with a short transfer to the trailhead in Ceremi (approximately 40 minutes). From this authentic shepherd village, you’ll begin your hike towards Dobërdol. In our opinion, this is the most beautiful day of the entire trail. You’ll walk through a completely untouched region where more than 2,000 different flower species grow, surrounded by some of the most pristine landscapes of the Albanian Alps. Both villages are only inhabited during the summer months, as the area can be covered by up to four metres of snow in winter.
If you hike The Balkan Trail in August, you’ll have the best chance of enjoying wild berries along the route. Throughout the day, you’ll also encounter grazing horses and sheep, and you can stop at a small mountain hut to taste a delicious byrek. As soon as the Dobërdol Valley comes into view, you’ll be amazed by this truly unique location. In the middle of the wilderness, you’ll find a few simple camping spots and nothing else. It’s a place that can only be reached on foot, which makes this destination incredibly special. In the evening, you’ll gather around the table as your host family prepares a delicious local meal. Keep in mind that temperatures can drop significantly here during the night. And one more thing: this is where we saw the most spectacular starry sky of the entire trail!
Day 3: Dobërdol – Plav
The day starts with a challenging climb to Taljanka Peak, the official tripoint where Albania, Kosovo and Montenegro meet. It takes around an hour to reach the summit, and the climb can sometimes be accompanied by strong winds along the exposed ridge. But the effort is absolutely worth it. From the top, the views are simply breathtaking: wherever you look, you’ll see endless mountain peaks stretching across the dramatic landscape.
From here, the route is mostly downhill, with a gradual descent rather than a steep drop. The landscape continues to change throughout the day, although we have to admit that this section feels a little less spectacular and challenging compared to the highlights earlier in the trail. You’ll stop for lunch with the group at a beautiful mountain lake. Just keep in mind that mosquitoes can be quite present here, so don’t forget to pack insect repellent in your daypack. One of our favourite stops of the day was Samel’s Cottage Prokletije. Here, you can enjoy a freshly made glass of raspberry juice and a delicious slice of raspberry cake. A true treat along the trail!
After another hour of descending through the forest, you’ll reach a small camping spot with a bar, where you can relax and wait for your transfer to the next overnight location. A local vehicle will take you to the camping spot by Lake Plav. Once again, a spectacular place to spend the night during The Balkan Trail.
Day 4: Plav – Vusanje
After a delicious breakfast by Lake Plav, a transfer takes you to the starting point of today’s hike. You’ll follow a wide, gradually ascending trail until you reach the famous ‘Stairways to Heaven’. This climb is quite challenging, and if you have a fear of heights, this can be one of the more thrilling sections of the hike. The reason is mainly the narrow path along the mountainside. Our tip: try not to focus on the drop below and instead keep your attention on the trail and your footing. Once you reach the top, you’ll be rewarded with an incredible panoramic view: on one side, you’ll see Lake Plav, while on the other side, the rugged peaks of the Accursed Mountains stretch out before you.
At the summit, you’ll enjoy lunch with the group before starting the long descent toward the guesthouse in the village of Vusanje. Here, you’ll spend the night near the impressive Grla Waterfall. A fun tip: if you arrive in Vusanje early enough in the afternoon, take the 20-minute walk to Oko Skakavice, also known as the Blue Eye, where you can cool off with a refreshing swim in the crystal-clear water.
Day 5: Vusanje – Theth
The final stage of The Balkan Trail takes you all the way from Vusanje back to the basecamp in Theth. You’ll hike through the breathtaking Ropojana Valley and cross the border back into Albania on foot. Today’s route is a beautiful mix of ascents and descents, but above all, it is an incredibly scenic day. As you walk through long stretches of green valleys surrounded by towering mountain peaks, you’ll truly feel the calming power of nature. No distractions, no noise, just complete peace and a sense of being fully present. It’s a truly special experience.
Before the descent towards Theth begins, you’ll pass the Qafa e Pejës Pass, a historic mountain route that was once used as an important trading path. From here, a steep descent leads you back towards Theth, where your hiking poles will definitely come in handy. Reaching the finish line is a truly unforgettable moment. A mix of pride, happiness and a deep sense of accomplishment after completing this incredible adventure. You’ll have some time to grab a drink and something to eat before a local transfer takes you back to the basecamp. You did it!
How to combine The Balkan Trail with a road trip through Albania?
After five days of intense hiking, camping in the wilderness and conquering countless metres of elevation gain and loss, there is nothing better than switching gears and enjoying Albania’s culture, comfort and coastline. If you want to combine the adventure of The Balkan Trail with a wider trip through Albania, our best advice is to start your journey with this five-day trek. You’ll still have plenty of energy at the beginning of your trip, and after such a physical challenge, the rest of your holiday will feel like the ultimate reward.
Explore Albania in a 4x4 with a roof tent
Prefer to explore the Balkans without a multi-day hike? Travelbase has also created an adventurous road trip through Albania: Albania Nomads. On this trip, you’ll explore Albania in a 4x4 equipped with a rooftop tent, giving you the freedom to camp in some of the country’s most beautiful locations and discover Albania in a truly adventurous way.
A Tailor-Made Trip to Albania
After the mountains, many travellers continue south to the sunny Albanian Riviera to relax and recharge. One of the most popular destinations is Ksamil, known for its white-sand beaches, turquoise waters and lively atmosphere. Curious about what to do in Ksamil? Read our article about Best Things to Do in Ksamil.
As personal travel advisors, we know exactly how to perfectly combine this adventurous trek with a tour of Albania. We’d be happy to put together an itinerary for you centered around The Balkan Trail, including a visit to the vibrant capital, Tirana, the historic sights in the interior, and, of course, the breathtaking Albanian coast. Want to get some inspiration for the route on your own? Be sure to read our comprehensive guide on the most beautiful places in Albania to discover which destinations you definitely don't want to miss!
Customized roadtrip in Albania
After reading about our experiences, are you ready to hike the Balkan Trail and discover more of Albania? Combine your mountain adventure with historic cities, rugged landscapes, and the country’s most beautiful beaches. We’ll help you create a complete itinerary with a logical route and unique accommodations, so you can experience the best of Albania without spending hours on research and planning.
