Self-guided · Albania & Montenegro · Coming soon
Two countries,
one week in the
Accursed Mountains.
A loop through the wildest corner of the Balkans, from Theth over the pass to Valbona, out to remote Doberdol and Hrid Lake, and back through the Ropojana valley. Guesthouse nights with home-cooked food.
- Days
- 8
- Distance
- 85 km
- Ascent
- 4,500 m
- Grade
- Moderate to challenging
Trip Essentials
The walk
Shepherd paths,
high valleys and family guesthouses.
The Peaks of the Balkans trail links Albania, Montenegro and Kosovo through the Prokletije, the Accursed Mountains. This week takes the best of it, crossing between Albania and Montenegro and leaving out the Kosovo section.
You walk the classic pass from Theth to Valbona, cross to Doberdol, the most remote stop on the trail, and pass Hrid Lake on the way to Babino Polje. The last days visit the Gerbaja valley and walk back to Theth through the Ropojana valley, once a guarded Cold War border.
Most nights are in family-run guesthouses, where dinner is whatever's been cooked that day. Cross-border permits are arranged for you.
The route, day by day.
A fixed self-guided package: every stage, every night's accommodation and every luggage transfer is arranged before you set off.
- 01
Arrive in Shkodër, on to Theth
Transfer from Shkodër up into the mountains to Theth. Night in a guesthouse.
- 02
Theth → Valbona
The classic crossing over the Valbona Pass between Albania's two great valleys. Night in Valbona.
- 03
Valbona → Çerem
Into quieter country near the Kosovo border. Night in Çerem.
- 04
Çerem → Doberdol
Up to Doberdol, a high summer settlement and the most remote stop on the trail. Night in Doberdol.
- 05
Doberdol → Babino Polje
Into Montenegro past Hrid Lake. Night in Babino Polje.
- 06
Gerbaja valley and Taljanka
Transfer to the Gerbaja valley and walk up Taljanka peak for the view over it, then transfer to Vusanje. Night in Vusanje.
- 07
Ropojana valley → Theth
Transfer to the Ropojana valley and walk back over into Albania to Theth, then transfer to Shkodër. Night in Shkodër.
- 08
Departure
Breakfast, and the trip ends.
Where you'll stay
A good bed at the end of every day.
A hotel in Shkodër and family-run guesthouses in the mountain villages, with one night in a mountain hut. Rooms in the mountains are simple and often shared.
Getting there
Fly to Tirana or Podgorica and travel on to Shkodër. Transfers into and out of the mountains are included.
What's included?
A fixed self-guided package — accommodation, luggage transfer and route notes all taken care of before you arrive.
Seven nights in a hotel, guesthouses and a mountain hut
Most meals in the mountains
Transfers between the valleys as set out in the itinerary
National park fees and cross-border permits
A Peaks of the Balkans map and route notes
Your Trail Book
All planning and booking by Big Trail Adventures
Not included
- Flights
- Airport transfers to Shkodër
- Drinks
- Dinner on night 7 in Shkodër
- Travel insurance (we recommend it)
Coming soon
Be first on the trail.
This trip opens for booking soon, with walking mid-June to late September. Drop us a line with roughly when you'd like to go and how many of you there are, and we'll let you know the moment it's ready.
Things walkers ask us.
How hard is it?
Moderate to challenging. The days are long, on mountain paths with big climbs and descents, and the trail is remote. You should be a confident hill walker.
Do I need a permit to cross the border?
Yes, and we arrange it for you.
When can I book?
Very soon. We're confirming prices with our local team now. Register your interest and we'll tell you as soon as it opens.
Who do I book with?
You book with Big Trail Adventures and pay us. We arrange everything with our local team, who look after you on the ground.
Is the Peaks of the Balkans tour self-guided?
Yes. This is a self-guided trip: you walk the 85 km route independently, with no guide and no group. Accommodation for all 7 nights is booked for you, route notes and maps are provided, and there is local support in the region if anything goes wrong.
Do I need a guide or can I walk it alone?
No guide is needed. The route is walked on marked paths with the notes and mapping supplied in your pack. You choose your own start date within the season (mid-June to late September) and walk each day at your own pace.
Who arranges the accommodation?
We do. A hotel in Shkodër and family-run guesthouses in the mountain villages, with one night in a mountain hut. Rooms in the mountains are simple and often shared.
