Intensive Peaks of the Balkans Trail (Self Guided)

Early in the morning you head towards the starting point of the trek. You will drive towards Tamarë (North-Albania) and pass the city of Shkoder. From Tamarë, you will begin our Peaks of the Balkans adventure. The Peaks of the Balkans are part of the Dinaric Alps that start all the way in Slovenia and end in the southeast of Albania. The Albanian Alps are even the highest section of the Dinaric Alps. We will get to explore them in the days to come. You will arrive in the small village of Lëpushë, known for its stunning nature. The name Lëpushë refers to the yellow flower that you can find there in the spring season. In the North of Albania, they are known for many delicious bio-dishes with products from the region. Their cuisine is unique, tasty and can only be found in these areas. You will have the chance to try these in the upcoming days. Your destination for today is Vuthaj, but first you will hike to the Talijanka peak (2057m). Here you will cross the border from Albania to Montenegro. Mount Talijanka (2057m) is located in the Grbaje Valley in Montenegro. This valley is U-shaped and surrounded by the grey sharp mountain peaks. The Talijanka peak (2057m) is considered to be one of the most beautiful of the Balkan Peaks. The view of dramatic grey extraordinary-shaped mountains is a sight that even the professional hiker will be amazed by. From this peak, you can also see Lake Plav in Montenegro. You will take a minivan for the last 40 minutes to Vuthaj in Montenegro. In Vuthaj you will have the opportunity to visit the Ali Pasha springs, which is about a 40 minute walk from the guest house, or you can reminisce on the spectacular views you have seen today.

From Vuthaj, we will head towards Theth and cross the border back to Albania. During this trek, we will visit a hidden water place which is difficult to find by yourself if you don’t know the exact location. We will also pass by one of the highest peaks of the Balkans, the Arapi peak (2217m) next to Maja Jezercë (2694m). We will come across multiple shepherd’s huts, in the Albanian Alps which show the way of life away from civilization. In Theth, we will visit the Old Church and the “Lock in” Tower (symbol of Theth). The stories behind these buildings take up centuries full of history.