Walking in Northern Albania: Into The Accursed Mountains
Group Tour
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Overview
Extending across vistas liberally scattered with deep river valleys, alpine lakes and national parks, the towering limestone gorges of the Accursed Mountains, or Albanian Alps, provide the perfect backdrop to one of Europe’s last great adventures.
After soaking up the past in the historic town of Shkodër, the gateway to the north, our journey takes us through quaint mountain villages and through some of the region’s most precious and unspoilt landscapes from the remote Vermosh and ...
Extending across vistas liberally scattered with deep river valleys, alpine lakes and national parks, the towering limestone gorges of the Accursed Mountains, or Albanian Alps, provide the perfect backdrop to one of Europe’s last great adventures.
After soaking up the past in the historic town of Shkodër, the gateway to the north, our journey takes us through quaint mountain villages and through some of the region’s most precious and unspoilt landscapes from the remote Vermosh and Lepusha valleys up over three stunning mountain passes towards Theth, the jewel in Albania’s north and the epic Valbonë Valley before finally returning by ferry along the breath-taking waters of Lake Koman.
This is an incredible adventure encompassing epic scenery, stunning walks and an insight into traditional but dying way of life.
HIGHLIGHTS
At a glance
MEALS
TRANSPORT
On this tour we will use a minibus, a local ferry and our own two feet!
GROUP SIZE
EXPERT TEAM
ACCOMMODATION
4 nights x Superior
2 nights x Simple
ENTRANCE FEES
FITNESS RATING
WILD MILES
ACCOMMODATION
As an overall ethos, wherever possible we aim to use characterful accommodation that enhances the overall travel experience, not just offers a bed for the night. This can obviously vary dramatically from country to country and from trip to trip.
On this particular trip we will be in comfortable hotels and locally run guesthouses (with mainly en-suite facilities). In Vermosh, Vusanje and Thethi we stay in guesthouses where there may be more than two beds in each room but we are limiting occupancy to a maximum of two people per room. Please note that the accommodation mentioned in the itinerary is intended as a guide only and is always subject to availability.
FITNESS RATING
LOW: You should be comfortable walking around towns and cultural sites. May include some optional walks (typically 1-2hrs).LOW/MODERATE: May be of a long duration and/or involve numerous border-crossings. May include easy/moderate day walks (up to 2-3hrs/day). You should be relatively fit and lead a generally active lifestyle.
MODERATE: May include several easy/moderate day walks (up to 2-5hrs/day) possibly at altitude. You should be relatively fit and lead a generally active lifestyle. Previous experience of similar trips helpful.
MODERATE/HIGH: May involve several days of moderate hiking (up to 3-6 hrs/day) possibly at altitude. You must be a fit and active traveller with appropriate trekking experience.
HIGH: May involve several days of moderate/strenuous trekking (up to 4-7 hrs/day) possibly at altitude. You must be a very fit and active traveller with appropriate trekking experience.
Wild Miles Club
When you book a trip with Wild Frontiers you are awarded points, which are based on the return distance from London to the arrival city of your trip. Points are awarded for all our holidays, including both our escorted group tours and tailor-made trips. When you accrue points, you will qualify for the following discounts on all future bookings:
| Blue | More than 10,000 points | 2.5% discount |
| Bronze | More than 30,000 points | 5% discount |
| Silver | More than 45,000 points | 7.5% discount |
| Gold | More than 60,000 points | 10% discount |
Map & Itinerary
Individual departures may vary so please refer to the information in the tour specific links in the Dates and Prices section below
Day 1 Tour starts in Tirana. Drive to Shkodër
Day 1 Tour starts in Tirana. Drive to Shkodër
Meeting at Tirana airport we'll head immediately north to one of Europe’s oldest and most historic cities. Located close to the border with Montenegro, Shkodër stands as a gateway to Albania’s stunning northern landscapes, with impressive views of the Drin River to the east, the Adriatic Sea to the west and the majestic Albanian Alps to the northeast. Historically an important trading post for centuries, the city is home to the ancient Rozafa Fortress, which we'll visit this afternoon and which sits strategically located on the hill overlooking the city and surrounding vistas.
Day 2 Shkodër – Vermosh Valley: Meadows, Hikes & Hospitality
Day 2 Shkodër – Vermosh Valley: Meadows, Hikes & Hospitality
FFrom Shkodër this morning we will drive for a couple of hours, initially following the shores of Lake Shkodra before ascending on a scenic road via hairpin bends and panoramic viewpoints towards the village of Tamare and the Berdolec Pass, from where our first hike begins. Our trail today follows meadows and birch woods up to the rounded Greben Peak (1840m). From here, the views, weather-permitting, over Mount Trojan and the barren Accursed Mountains will give an enticing taste of the incredible landscapes that will serve as our constant backdrop over the next few days. Passing shepherd huts en route, we will then descend along forest trails towards the remote valley of Vermosh, where we’ll encounter our first experience of Albanian mountain guesthouse hospitality.
Approx. 5hrs walking (490m ascent, 790m descent. Total distance 10kms, highest point 1840m)
Day 3 Vermosh Valley – Vusanje: Over the Taljanka Ridge (1931m) to Montenegro
Day 3 Vermosh Valley – Vusanje: Over the Taljanka Ridge (1931m) to Montenegro
A short transfer will bring us to the village of Lepusha with its spectacular location and scattered rural settlements. From here we will start walking through forests and pastures, and past abandoned ruins of the army structures that once guarded the border day and night during the communist era. In their absence, we are now free to reach the ridge and cross the border into neighbouring Montenegro, enjoying some of the most spectacular views in the whole of the Dinaric range. As we descend towards Grebaje, we’ll have unobstructed views of the limestone towers of Karanfil, the Balkans’ answer to the Dolomites! Having reached the valley bottom, a short drive will take us to our rural host in the ethnically-Albanian village of Vusanje, situated at the entrance to one of the most stunning valleys in the region.
Approx. 6hrs walking (580m ascent, 790m descent. Total distance 10kms, highest point 1931m
Day 4 Vusanje – Thethi: Trek back to Albania via the Peja Pass (1721m)
Day 4 Vusanje – Thethi: Trek back to Albania via the Peja Pass (1721m)
A short transfer through the scenic Ropojana Valley will bring us to the start of today’s trail. With our luggage loaded onto horses, we’ll start climbing towards the karst Runica plateau, traversing lunar-esque landscapes en route to Peja Pass (1721m) where we’ll stop for a picnic lunch to appreciate the beautiful valley of Theth from high above. Our route descends via a zigzag trail alongside the vertical dome of Mt Harapi that overlooks the entire valley before talking us through the upper neighbourhood of Okol towards our guesthouse, which will be our base for the next two nights.
Approx. 6-7hrs walking (845m ascent, 660m descent. Total distance 15kms, highest point 1721m)
Day 5 Theth: Exploring Theth National Park
Day 5 Theth: Exploring Theth National Park
Today we will enjoy a more leisurely day (although anyone who wishes can undertake an additional 6km/3hr walk to the Blue Eye pools today, should they wish) of exploring Thethi and the surrounding area. Standing as the most well-preserved alpine village in Albania, Thethi has been declared a Protected Historic Centre and, located in the heart of the Theth National Park, offers some outstanding natural beauty. The village itself has a lot to offer, including the stone-built Catholic Church, the blood feud tower ‘Kulla e Ngujimit’ and the stone-walled terraces which date back to the Bronze Age. As we venture out of the village, we will follow the River Shala, through the beautiful Grunasi Canyon towards the picturesque hamlet of Nderlysaj where we’ll be able to soak up the peace and tranquility of this very special mountain setting before a short transfer take us back to Thethi for a second night.
Approx. 3 hrs walking (0m ascent, 240m descent. Total distance 7kms, highest point 747m)
Day 6 Thethi - Valbonë Valley: Hike over the Valbonë Pass (1795m)
Day 6 Thethi - Valbonë Valley: Hike over the Valbonë Pass (1795m)
Today offers some spectacular scenery as we hike one of the area’s most celebrated trails, which has for centuries connected the glacial valleys of Valbonë and Thethi, crossing over the 1795m high Valbonë pass, which is only accessible during the summer months due to heavy snowfall. We will be accompanied once more by horses which will carry our luggage as we tackle this challenging but hugely rewarding hike. From the pass we can take in some of the region’s most spectacular views before descending towards a large bowl of alpine meadows, framed by rocky slopes and on towards the village of Rrogam at the entrance to the Valbonë Valley.
Approx. 7hrs walking (980m ascent, 770m descent. Total distance 13kms, highest point 1795m)
Day 7 Valbonë Valley – Krujë: By ferry across Lake Koman
Day 7 Valbonë Valley – Krujë: By ferry across Lake Koman
On our final full day, we will travel on a small public ferry from Fierza dock along Lake Koman which was created as part of a major hydroelectric project dating back to the 1980s. This idyllic and spectacular ride will take us along the Drin River, which over the centuries has carved its way through the mountains to create some magnificent canyons and narrow passageways that are reminiscent of the celebrated Norwegian fjords. Unlike the fjords however, in comparison this area is vastly unpopulated by tourists and offers some spectacular unspoiled views as we slowly cruise south for about 2½ hours. Continuing by road to the historic town of Krujë, located just located just north of Tirana and the international airport. Here we visit the imposing castle, home to its acclaimed Skanderbeg Museum, dedicated to Albania's national hero, before settling in for our final dinner and evening.
Day 8 Tour ends in Krujë
Day 8 Tour ends in Krujë
The tour ends after breakfast. Those on the suggested group flight (see the GETTING THERE below)will be transferred to nearby Tirana airport in time for check-in.
ACCOMMODATION USED ON THIS TOUR
Hotel Tradita, Shkodër
This 64-room characterful hotel offers one of the most memorable stays in the country. It houses a locally famous restaurant and bar as well as a spacious terrace. The reception area serves also as an ethnographic museum of sorts and all rooms are fitted with traditional furniture and feature original Albanian decorations.
Guesthouse Leonard Lumaj, Vermosh
This eponymously named guesthouse is run by Leonard and his charming family in the Vermosh valley in Albania’s remote north-west corner. Spread over two buildings and with a garden dining area, the guesthouse contains some vintage fixtures and fittings, and offers stunning views down the valley. Leonard also acts as the valley’s only bus driver and is therefore a key and well-respected member of this small but tight-knit community. With excellent home-cooked food provided, Leonard’s place is simple but unquestionably the best place to stay in the valley.
Moonlight Guesthouse, Vusanje
The view from the terrace of the Moonlight Guesthouse offers one of the most spectacular vistas in the entire region. With its location in Vusanje, an ethnically Albanian village within Montenegro, the guesthouse, established in 2018, offers approximately 20 rooms and a simple yet very comfortable stay.
Bujtina Polia, Thethi
Bujtina Polia offers excellent accommodation in the heart of the valley in Thethi, a highlight of the Albanian Alps. The stone guesthouse has just 20 rooms, all spacious and light, offering very clean and comfortable facilities, including en suite bathrooms. Enjoy delicious home-cooked meals in the downstairs restaurant area, or relax on the open terrace and soak up the stunning scenery. The guesthouse is well-located in the centre of Thethi right by the church, a great base from which to explore.
Vila Dini, Valbonë Valley
The exterior, yellow brick structure set against alpine mountains is reminiscent of a Swiss alpine chalet. The lodging at Vila Dine is simple but provides a very comfortable and welcoming base whilst exploring the region. Rooms are fitted with central heating, quality windows and modern bathrooms though space and furniture is limited in some. There is Wi-Fi throughout the building an indoor restaurant serving local dishes and an outdoor terrace.
Hotel Panorama, Krujë
The elegant, white building overlooks the town and provides a very comfortable stay with a bit of local personality. Rooms are spacious, simple and modern, equipped with air-conditioning and other mod-cons. Many rooms also feature a balcony for tranquil views over the charming city, whilst picture postcard views of the castle and mountain city can be enjoyed from the restaurant. Dining at the hotel has a rustic yet stylish appeal, with quaintly carved wooden doors and furniture, exposed brick support pillars and wonderful local dishes. Other facilities include an outdoor pool, bar and lounging area.
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Accommodation displayed here should be taken as a guide only. *Please refer to the Detailed Itinerary of your individual departure for more information.
PRIVATE HOLIDAYS: DATES DON’T FIT?
All group tours can be taken on a private basis.
Additional Details
Responsible Travel
With local people, culture and eco-systems in mind, responsible travel and sustainable tourism are at the core of Wild Frontiers. We believe that a successful trip not only delivers a unique and unsurpassable journey for our travellers but also benefits the people and places we visit.
When designing our tours, we actively seek out experiences that have a positive impact on the communities and precious environments we visit - from supporting social enterprises; resting our heads in rural homestays; and eating at locally owned restaurants; to helping fund conservation projects that protect wildlife and their habitats.
Visit the Responsible Travel area of our website to read more, including the work of the Wild Frontiers Foundation through which we fundraise to aid community empowerment and education projects.
Getting There
If you would like us to send you a quote for the suggested tour flights or on any alternative flight that may suit you better, please let us know, noting that for our US clients, we will most likely refer you to one of our preferred partners. For this trip our suggested flights from the UK (subject to change) are shown below.
If you wish to arrange your own flights you are completely free to do so and in this case we can arrange any transfers or supplementary accommodation that you may require. However please note that if you are planning on making your own flight arrangements, we recommend that you first check with us to see if the trip is guaranteed. We then suggest that you purchase flights that are flexible and ideally refundable as due to the nature of adventure travel, itineraries and destination accessibility can change at any time. For more information, please refer to our booking conditions.
If travelling to/from the start/finish of the tour from another European country you might also want to consider reducing your carbon footprint by travelling at least part of the way there by train. We are unfortunately not (yet) in a position to help you with the actual booking of the train tickets but lots of good information can be found here - www.seat61.com
| Flight Code | Departing | Arriving |
|---|---|---|
| BA 928 | London Heathrow (LHR) 08:25 | Tirana Airport (TIA) 12:30 |
| BA 929 | Tirana Airport (TIA) 13:20 | London Heathrow (LHR) 15:25 |
Visas
Visas are necessary for many of the destinations we travel to and while we aim to provide you with the most up-to-date information, requirements frequently change and as such for the latest advice we advise that you check with the relevant embassies or contact a reputable visa agency. More details can be found here - www.wildfrontierstravel.com/visa
For this tour UK passport holders do not currently require a visa for Albania.
Non-UK passport holders or non-UK residents should contact the relevant embassies for individual requirements.
Further details will be sent out to you on booking, however ensuring that correct and valid visas are obtained remains the sole responsibility of the client.
Extensions
If you have more time available, why not arrive early to adjust to a new time zone or just to get a feel for the country before your tour starts? Or alternatively you might choose to allow a few extra days after the tour to relax or to undertake some further exploration.
The choice is completely yours and we can usually arrange anything from simply additional accommodation and transfers to full tailor-made itineraries.
Please contact the office for more details and to discuss your individual requirements.
Tirana
Take an extra day or so to explore the country’s quirky capital. Allow 1- 2 days.
Southern Albania
Check out our Southern Albania itinerary which often connects perfectly with our Northern Albania dates and will give you an incredible insight into the south’s stunning landscapes. Allow 8 days.
Tirana
Take an extra day or so to explore the country’s quirky capital. Allow 1- 2 days.
Governmental Travel Advice
Many governments issue advice which highlights potential hazards their citizens might experience when travelling abroad. We strongly suggest you refer to your country’s particular advisory site before booking and contact us if you have any queries or concerns. Click to follow links to the advice of the British Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) or the US State Department.
Non-UK citizens should consult the travel advice of their respective governments.
Key Information
CLIMATE
Albania has a variety of climatic conditions, being situated in the transition zone between the typical Mediterranean climate in the west and the moderate continental in the east. In early/late summer you can typically expect daytime temperatures to be around 25-28C and night-time temperatures to be around 12-15C. Rain is always possible so please come prepared.
IS THIS TRIP FOR ME?
It may sound obvious but Wild Frontiers tours are not always for everyone and it is important to us that the tour you choose is the most suitable. All our tours have a fitness rating as a guideline but you should check the day-by-day itinerary carefully. In certain instances we may ask you to complete a travel questionnaire before confirming your booking in order to ensure your suitability. Should you have any concerns about your ability to partake in any aspect of the tour then please contact the office.
KEY ASPECTS TO CONSIDER
You will need to be in a reasonable state of health and have a good level of fitness to be suitable to join this tour involving consecutive days of walking.
The trek is graded as high with an average daily walking time of around 6hrs. Please note there are three full day treks in the itinerary. In some places the paths are rocky and uneven.
Walking times and distances have been given in the itinerary, please note that times are averages and dependent on other factors, such as the pace of the group and weather. They also do not include breaks for picnics, photos and the like.
THE NATURE OF ADVENTURE TRAVEL
We feel that it’s worth pointing out that while we will always strive to stick as close to the stated itinerary as possible, it may be necessary from time to time to make changes to our itineraries or services (due to weather, political and religious influences etc.) and this can happen with little or no notice. This unpredictability can be one of the most exciting aspects of adventure travel and for many of our clients often leads to unexpected highlights as the tour-leader necessarily adapts the tour to the changing conditions. However we are aware that this lack of assuredness may not suit everyone. As such, with the greatest respect, if you are someone who needs to know that everything will happen exactly as planned, we would kindly suggest that perhaps our tours are not for you. Adventure travel can be infectious and once you’ve caught the bug, it is likely to never leave you, but especially if this is your first such tour we would strongly urge you to give us a call if you have any concerns whatsoever about your suitability for this trip.
TRAVELLING SOLO AND SINGLE SUPPLEMENTS
As a company approximately 70% of our clients are solo travellers, so it’s very unlikely you’ll be alone!
Our prices are typically based on twin-share accommodation, but single supplements are not compulsory for any Wild Frontiers tour. If you prefer not to pay a single supplement we’ll pair you with someone else of the same sex for you to share with throughout the trip.
On this trip, if you do opt to pay for a single supplement then please note that it will cover you for all nights of the tour except at the guesthouses in Vermosh, Vusanje and Thethi, where you may be required to share with others of the same sex due to the limited number of rooms available in these properties.
Please note that paying a single supplement entitles you to lone occupancy of a single room. In many cases these rooms will be of the same size as a double/twin room, but in some cases they may be smaller.
INSURANCE
Insurance that provides cover for emergency repatriation in case of a medical emergency is compulsory for all tours. You should be aware that due to some of the geographical areas visited and some of the activities included on certain of our trips some standard insurance policies may not always provide adequate cover. As such we strongly recommend that you purchase a policy that adequately covers your trip. Please see the Insurance section for more details.
General Information
TOUR PRICE
All our tours are priced on a land-only basis, giving you maximum flexibility when deciding how to get to and from your tour.
DEPOSIT
A 10% deposit is required to confirm your booking.
PROTECTION FOR YOUR MONEY
For further details please see our travelling with peace of mind page
WILD MILES
This tour will earn you 2234 Wild Miles
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED
We believe in a completely transparent approach to pricing with no hidden extras. As such, please note that the following are not included in the cost of the tour.
Visas & Travel Insurance: Visas will always be tour/nationality dependent but travel insurance is mandatory
Tips: Always optional but some guidance will be given in the pre-departure information documents
International Flights: Please ask us for an obligation-free quote for flights which originate in the UK
Airport Transfers: We include complimentary transfers if arriving/departing on the suggested group flights
Beverages & any costs of a personal nature: This will include items such as laundry and souvenirs
WILD FRONTIERS COMMUNITY
If you’re still not sure if this trip is right or just want to see get some different perspectives, then why not have a look at the wide variety of resources we have on our website? Browse our community section to read our blogs, watch videos and find out about our events.
WHY WILD FRONTIERS?
We are frequently asked what makes Wild Frontiers different from other tour operators. Visit our Why Wild Frontiers page to find out.