With their sharp peaks, deep valleys, crystal-clear streams, and historic villages, the Albanian Alps (Alpet Shqiptare) are one of the most stunning places in Albania. It is an island of unspoiled nature, of which there are only a handful left in Europe. The mountains offer an endless number of trekking opportunities, as well as encounters with traditional mountain hospitality. Make sure to include a trip to the Albanian Alps in your itinerary.
5 things not to be missed in the Albanian Alps
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Location and characteristics
The limestone mountains are situated in the northernmost part of Albania. They also extend into the territories of Montenegro and Kosovo. Montenegrins refer to them as Prokletije, while Kosovar Albanians usually call them Bjeshkët e Nemuna. In both cases, it means the Accursed Mountains.
The highest peak of the Albanian Alps is Maja e Jezercës, 2694 meters above sea level. It is also the highest peak of the entire Dinaric Mountains, which stretch for 700 kilometres from Slovenia through Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Albania. It is also the highest mountain in Albania, lying entirely within its territory (the highest mountain, Korab is shared with Northern Macedonia).
The beauty of the Albanian Alps can bear comparison with the real Alps. But with the difference, you won’t find crowds, overpriced hotels, discos, or ski resorts.
Its location on the heavily guarded border with the former Yugoslavia during communist totalitarianism made the Albanian Alps an almost perfectly isolated area, where even Albanians themselves were often not allowed. This has meant that in many places, the traditional way of life of the local highlanders has been preserved.
The Albanian Alps are divided into three main regions: Theth Valley in the southwest, the Valbona Valley in the east, and the Kelmend region in the northwest. The access routes to each of them are very different, yet they are all reachable by public transport.
The Albanian Alps are formed by many solitary rock massifs divided by deep valleys rather than having a central ridge like other mountains do. Getting from one valley to another can take hours by car. For example, the journey from Theth to Valbona will take you a full day by car, while it’s only a few kilometres on foot.
A government decision in January 2022 merged the two national parks here (Theth and Valbony Valley), along with the Gash River Nature Reserve, into a single entity. This created the vast Albanian Alps National Park (Parku Kombëtar Alpet e Shqipërisë), which covers an area of approximately 830 km2.
TIP: If you’re heading to the mountains, buy supplies food and other equipment in town. There are modest grocery stores in Theth, Valbona or Tamara, but you probably won’t find everything you need.
When planning your hikes, be aware that it could happen that you don’t encounter any water throughout the entire day. Especially in late summer, springs tend to dry up. Always carry spare water in case you can’t find a spring or it runs dry.
Peaks of The Balkans multiday trek
One of the most exciting developments in Albanian tourism is the Peaks of the Balkans circular hike in the Albanian Alps. Thanks to the assistance of a German foundation, a ten-day trek through the most picturesque sections of the mountains has been established, with possibilities of overnight stays in guesthouses. The trail follows the ancient paths once used by shepherds.
The beauty of the trek is that it is not limited to Albania as you will have a chance to visit also the Montenegrin and Kosovar parts of the mountains. Detailed descriptions of the individual stages and the background to the cross-border procedure can be found here. The journey can be shortened to take fewer than 10 days thanks to a number of shortcuts.
Information about the transboundary procedure can be found here. It can be organized via tourist agencies, such as Zbulo.
Sights in the Albanian Alps
Useful Links
Accommodation
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Flights
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Car Rental
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Experiences
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