You can walk one of the most beautiful hiking trails in the world in the Balkans. The Peaks of the Balkans is a route that cuts through the impressive mountain landscapes of Albania, Kosovo and Montenegro. Discover this hidden gem in Eastern Europe and join The Balkan Trail on one of the most beautiful hiking trails in the world.
What is the concept?
The Balkan Trail is a dream for any adventurous hiker. The trek takes you through one of the most beautiful nature reserves in Europe. According to the World Travel & Tourism Award, The Peaks of The Balkan is even one of the most beautiful hiking trails in the world. You will cross three fascinating countries and get a unique insight into the life of this isolated area during this tour. You will sleep in the most special places in nature and with the local population.
It is a challenging hiking route, mapped out for adventurous hiking enthusiasts. With The Balkan Trail you walk along the most beautiful parts that have been specially selected for this trail so that you can experience and experience the best of this trekking in one week. A few years ago it was not yet possible to walk this route, but with the new border crossings you can undertake this unique trek through the mountain areas and discover the Balkans in an authentic way.
Who is The Balkan Trail suitable for?
You will cover between 10 and 20 kilometers per day, with quite a few differences in height. It is therefore important that you have a good basic condition and health, but you do not necessarily have to be an experienced tractor. The Balkan Trail is physically more challenging than, for example, The Iceland Trail, but is therefore doable for everyone with the right mindset and perseverance.
The route of The Balkan Trail
Albania, Kosovo and Montenegro are not really countries where you can easily plan a walking route yourself and set out. That is why a beautiful 5-day trail has been mapped out along the highlights. You start in Montenegro and from there you walk through the Prokletije (Albanian Alps) through rugged landscapes to the Albanian village of Theth. This area was a forbidden zone during the communist era and at the border crossing you can still see old military bunkers. The next day you will discover more of the area and culture and in the late afternoon you will walk to the Valbona Valley in Albania.
On day 4 you walk between villages that are only inhabited by shepherds in summer. In the valley many animals walk in the vast fields and here you get acquainted with the simple life of the local population. Day five focuses on the border area and you climb out of the valley to the top to enjoy sweeping views of the three countries of Montenegro, Albania and Kosovo. Then you start the descent again and after a swim in the remote Hrid Lake you walk through a dense pine forest to the hamlet of Katun. From there you start the next day a walk through the Gerbaja Valley, one of the most beautiful valleys of The Balkan Trail.
The trail through the mountains is over. In the morning you will be taken from base camp Plav to Podgorica where you can explore the city for a whole day. You can spend the night in one of the hotels or hostels, you can also book your overnight stay here via The Balkan Trail. The next morning you independently take a taxi to the airport (+/- 10 euros) or continue your journey independently.
Spend the night in nature
During the trip you will sleep 5x in your own tent in unique places. Most places have sanitary facilities, but one place is so remote that you have to do without showers for a day. During this trip you can rent camping equipment or you can bring your own.
Dates and prices of The Balkan Trail
The Balkan Trail takes place in the summer and several departure dates are available. The Balkan Trip costs €490 per person excluding flights. If you book the trip with flights and shuttle, the prices start from €790 per person.
During The Balkan Trail, 5 overnight stays are included, as well as trekking and border crossing permits, entrance tickets to the national parks, internal transport, guidance from experienced guides, GPS tracking and a trail book.
Flights, meals, camping equipment, luggage transport and walking sticks are not included, but can be booked optionally. Full board meals can be booked for the 5-day trail and you can rent camping equipment so that you do not have to bring it yourself. Luggage transport with a donkey or horse is also possible and you can rent walking sticks if you like.
