Where to go to the mountains in Albania?
Albania is a country of mountains that make up over two-thirds of its territory. As a result, there are countless options where to go to the mountains – for those who can make do with easy hikes, as well as for those who enjoy difficult trails in the wilderness.
The most famous and most visited mountain range is the Albanian Alps in the very north of the country. The beauty of the jagged peaks here bears comparison with the Dolomites, which they resemble closely. The great advantage here is that you will find both lively mountain resorts with adequate services and completely secluded places of unspoilt nature that tourists rarely visit.
Albania’s highest mountain is not in the Albanian Alps, but in the Korab mountain range on the border with Northern Macedonia. The eponymous summit reaches a height of 2,764 metres. The landscape here is less dramatic than in the Albanian Alps, the peaks are more rounded but full of beautiful meadows and pastures. There are significantly fewer people in Korab than in the mountains of the Albanian north.
A counterpart to the Albanian Alps are the rugged mountains of Albania’s south. The Ceraunian Mountains with its highest summit of Maja e Çikës are particularly stunning, completing the beautiful natural backdrop of the Albanian Riviera. However, the Zagoria and Kurvelesh regions also offer great hiking opportunities. The most dramatic mountain landscape outside the Albanian Alps can be found in Nemërçka.
Many places good for hiking can also be found in the mountains of central and eastern Albania. The most easily accessible is the Skanderbeg Mountains (Mali i Skënderbeut), which stretches from the Drin Valley in the north to Elbasan in the south and separates the mountainous interior from the coastal plain. Dajt National Park near Tirana is particularly popular.
There are also great hiking opportunities near the city of Korçë in the southeast of Albania, be it in Prespa National Park or Bredhi i Drenovës Protected Landscape.
If you want to experience true Albanian wildness, you should visit the remote Lurë-Mali i Dejës, Bredhi i Hotovës or Shebenik-Jabllanicë National Parks or the isolated mountain ranges of Ostrovicë or Valamarë in southeastern Albania.
Where can I get hiking maps of Albania?
The range of tourist maps has improved a lot in recent years, the most visited mountains or trekking areas can now be found at 1:50.000.
But for hiking in Albania, I find far more useful than printed maps the mobile app Mapy.cz which is completely free and allows one to download a detailed off-line map of Albania. You can even import downloaded GPX tracks into the app.
Where can I buy gas canisters in Albania?
Finding gas canisters has long been a headache for those who travel to Albania by plane and want to go on multi-day treks. While pierce-through cartidges are fairly easy to get in larger supermarkets or gas stations, screw type canisters have long been virtually unavailable in Albania.
But there are at least two places now that have screw type canisters in supply. The first is the Tony Store, an outdoor gear store located in the wider centre of Tirana. The second is the inconspicuous Riparime shop in the centre of Shkodër – especially appreciated by those travelling to the Albanian Alps.
Tips for trips in Albania
The most beautiful hikes in the Albanian mountains are mentioned in the individual chapters of my website.
An unrivalled global database of hiking, cycling, driving, paddling or whatever tours is Wikiloc.com. You’ll find thousands of downloadable trails, often with photos and descriptions.
The Palm Tree Production is an unrivalled project that has recorded dozens of treks on foot and by off-road vehicle, including those in the most remote parts of Albania. The downloadable trails are accompanied by photographs and detailed descriptions. The only drawback is that the descriptions are slowly getting old since they were made in the early 2010s.
Useful Links
Accommodation
Explore diverse, reliable accommodations in Albania with Booking.com, ensuring a comfortable and enjoyable stay.
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
Viator.com offers a way to book diverse tours and activities in Albania, providing access to trusted local partners.