The unusual relief of the Mountain with Holes (Mali me Gropa) reminds stormy seas or dunes. Actually, it is composed of hundreds of crater-like karst sinkholes spread across a large plateau. One of the most picturesque mountainous regions in the vicinity of Tirana, this area is gradually gaining popularity among tourists and is a fantastic place to go for a day trip from the capital.
As seen from Tirana, the Mountain with Holes is located behind the Dajt mountain ridge. An asphalt road leads to the mountain village of Shëngjergj at its foot. You can get here from Tirana by public transport – buses leave from the Kinostudio bus terminal in the north-eastern part of the metropolis (opposite the Kastrati petrol station, see map below) at 7:00, 10:00, 13:00, and 15:00. The ride along the winding road takes about an hour and covers just under 40 kilometers. There is a guesthouse in the village where you can extend your stay in this picturesque mountain landscape.
From Shëngjergj it is only about ten kilometres to the karst plateau, the journey can be done with 4x4s. The usual hike includes a climb to the mountain of Micek (Maja e Micekut) at 1827 meters – from there you will have the landscape dotted with sinkholes in the palm of your hand. A map with GPS route and photos can be found here. An off-road car continue along the mountain road to the village of Guri i Bardhë in the Mat region.
Rabbit Lake (Liqeni i Lepurit) is a great place to walk if you don’t feel like climbing up to the plateau. A marked path leads uphill for 30 minutes from Vërri, the neighborhood of Shëngjergj where the asphalt road ends. During the summer, swimming is ideal in the deep green, mountain lake, which is actually a small reservoir. The views of the surrounding mountain range are equally breathtaking.
The Mali me Gropa-Bizë-Martanesh Protected Landscape Area includes, in addition to the Mountain with Holes, a large surrounding area, which is rich in fauna and flora. Two-thirds of the reserve is made up of mixed forests inhabited by bears, lynx, otters, and 130 species of birds, including the golden eagle, which is the national symbol of Albania.
TIP: On your way from Tirana, six kilometres before Shëngjergj, stop at the waterfall of the same name (Ujëvara e Shëngjergjit). It is formed by a stream that flows out of the Mountain with Holes and falls from a height of 30 metres into a small lake. Park your car (or get dropped off from the bus) at the road bridge over the Erzen River, from where it is at most a 20-minute walk to the waterfall.
Useful Links
Accommodation
Use Booking.com to find the best places to stay on Mountain with Holes.
Flights
Find the cheapest flights to Albania on Kiwi.com. It combines various airlines into a single itinerary.
Car Rental
Discover Albania with cheap & reliable car rentals through Rent from Locals.
Mobile data
Airalo provides affordable and convenient mobile data to keep you connected wherever you travel. Forget local SIM or roaming charges.
Experiences
Book a day trip to Mountain with Holes on Viator.com.