Albania Hiking Holidays

Albania offers a breathtaking blend of rugged mountains, pristine coastlines, and rich cultural heritage, making it a hidden gem for hiking enthusiasts.

From scenic trails in the Albanian Alps to coastal paths along the Ionian Sea, every journey reveals untouched landscapes and authentic local experiences.

With its warm hospitality, diverse wildlife, and trails suited for all levels, Albania is the perfect destination for those seeking adventure and connection with nature.

Ten Days, Four fatural parks and four cities

First Day: Upon arrival into Tirana you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Spend the day at leisure.

Second Day: Tirana Walking Tour and Gamti/Bovilla Hiking

Third Day: Hiking in Mt. Dajti (Tujani Peak 1,511 m)

Fourth Day: Shkodra Walking Tour

Fifth Day: Hiking in Albanian Alps (Valbona Peak 1,965 m)

Sixth day: Durrës Walking Tour.

Seventh Day: Hiking in Mt. Tomorr (Cuka e Tomorrit Peak 2416 m)

Eighth Day: Berati Walking Tour.

Ninth Day: Hiking in Llogara, (Thanasi Peak 1,352 m)

Tenth Day: Spend the day at leisure. Transfer from Hotel to Airport. Good Bye.

Included:

  • Breakfast daily.
  • Packed lunch – Fifth day, seventh day and ninth day.
  • 9 nights in 3 – 4 stars accommodation.
  • Airport transfer on day 1 and 10 (Tirana)
  • Entrance fees to the Natural Parks.
  • Guided hiking tour in Dajti Mountain National Park, Llogara National Park, Alps of Albania National Park, Tomorri Mountain National Park
  • Guided walking tour in Tirana, Shkodra, Durrës and Berat
  • Services of English speaking tour guide.
  • All relevant transfers and transportation in private A/C vehicles

Not Included:

  • International flights and visas
  • Entrance fees to sites other than those listed
  • Tipping – A personal gesture

We offer our hiking holidays from March or April to November. These are the best months for an enjoyable walking holiday and you can experience the beauty of the Albanian nature.

Guided daily travels are usually 4-8 hours but can be longer. Timing is related to the weather conditions and the physical preparation of the participants. 

The ascents vary between 250 m to 1.600m. There are some stages during the hike where you will encounter steep uphill’s, descents, and many sections of the trail which require care including over rocky ground and along undefined routes.

You must be sure footed and have a good walking pace in order to fully participate. Peak climbs (optional) are challenging and can only be attempted by group participants who the guide considers to be fit and able to climb.

The accent is on keeping a steady pace with time to stop and take photos (subject to weather conditions). You will need a good level of fitness to participate fully in this adventure.

It is considered suitable for people with an active life of style that exercise hiking. At any time weather conditions may be variable and you should be prepared for all conditions.

General Trail Information:

Dajti Mountain National Park, Mt. Gamti (Bovilla Lake) – Age Range: Ages 16+; Physical Rating: Moderate: Elevation gain: 250 m; Length: 3.5 km; Technical difficulty: Moderate; Trail type: Out-and-back.

Dajti Mountain National Park, Mt. Dajti – Tujani Peak – Age Range: Ages 16+; Physical Rating: Moderate: Elevation gain: 500 m; Length: 15 km; Technical difficulty: Moderate; Trail type: Out-and-back.

Alps of Albania National Park, Village of Theth /Valbona Peak – Age Range: Ages 16+; Physical Rating: Moderate: Elevation gain: 1000 m; Length: 24 km; Technical difficulty: Moderate; Trail type: Out-and-back.

Tomorri Mountain National Park, Mt. Tomorr /Cuka of Tomorri Peak – Age Range: Ages 16+; Physical Rating: Moderate: Elevation gain: 1600 m; Length: 20 km; Technical difficulty: Moderate; Trail type: Out-and-back.

Llogara National Park, Llogara Pass/Thanasi Peak – Age Range: Ages 16+; Physical Rating: Moderate: Elevation gain 600 m; Length: 12.5 km; Technical difficulty: Easy; Trail type: Loop.

What should you bring on your hike? The gear list.

What do you need to bring? Or maybe a better question: what not to bring? For your own safety and pleasure on the trail you need to have gear you feel comfortable with.

The ideal gear list considers the following factors:

– Season and weather conditions: how hot or cold will it be on the trail?

– Terrain: this can be anything ranging from rocks to snow.

– Length of the trail

There is a basic gear list independent of the type of trail.

Basic gear list for hiking

Hiking gear

  • Backpack
  • Hiking poles
  • Hiking shoes
  • Sunglasses

Clothes and sleeping

  • Raincoat
  • Rain pants
  • Base layer
  • T-shirt
  • Long sleeve shirt
  • Fleece and/or down jacket
  • Hiking trousers
  • Beanie
  • Gloves
  • Hat and/or buff
  • Socks

Care and safety

  • Sunscreen
  • Toothbrush and toothpaste
  • Toilet paper and other toiletries
  • First-aid kit with a rescue blanket
  • Emergency sleeping bag (bivy sack)
  • Medication
  • Whistle (most backpacks have one incorporated)
  • Band-aids
  • Tweezers
  • Pocket knife
  • Head torch
  • Map and compass
  • Optional: GPS

Personal

  • Insurance papers
  • ID or passport
  • List of essential phone numbers
  • Charger
  • Mobile phone
  • Visa
  • Debit or creditcard
  • Cash

Seasons and terrain

  • Hiking shoes
  • Gaiters
  • Pick
  • Helmet
  • Umbrella (sun protection)
  • Extra warm clothes

The right gear list is something you need to establish yourself taking the trail and its specific factors and season(s) into account. Before departing, make sure you have all the essentials, that you are comfortable in your hiking shoes and that you have enough food and water.

The guide can change the itinerary of the tour due to unforeseen weather conditions.or the overall ability of the group. These changes are made to ensure the safety and well-being of travelers and to maintain the overall quality of the experience.

Passport & Visa – any questions should be directed to the relevant embassy of your destination country; find out more here. It is your responsibility to be in possession of a full passport, valid for your chosen destination.

Travel Insurance – having adequate and valid travel insurance is a condition of booking with us.

TIRANA

Tirana, surrounded by mountains and the coast, in the heart of Albania, between the old and the modern, preserves and offers treasures of national and European culture, making it a welcoming destination for every tourist from all over the world.

Tirana was declared the capital late, in 1920, when it also had architectural influence from Italian and Austrian names, who helped in the modernization of the then capital of Albania.

But, before becoming the capital, Tirana or otherwise ‘Terana’, as it was called by our Illyrian ancestors, dates back to the Paleolithic era, 10 thousand to 30 thousand years ago.

The antiquity of Tirana is broken from the moment when Sulejman Pasha Bargjini declared it a city, 400 years ago, in 1614, at which time work began on the construction of the city’s infrastructure with the construction of a mosque, a hammam and the first bakery. Nearly 200 years later, Tirana began to be governed by the Toptani family.

The initial evidence of a newborn city after 1920 was precisely the initiative of renowned Italian architects, who contributed to the design of Tirana’s historic center with 20th-century buildings.

Tirana is a colorful city. Whether you are a fan of history, gastronomy, culture, tradition, nightlife or exploration in general, it offers a range of destinations that should not be missed during your stay in the city.

BOVILLA

Bovilla Lake is the largest reservoir in the district of Tirana. The reservoir is supplied with water from the Terkuze River, which originates from the northern part of Mount with Holes (Mali me Gropa) and the rainy waters of the surrounding hills.

The lake is surrounded by a mountain range, like the mountains of Brari, Mount Gamti, etc. in which climbing is popular by the passionate of this sport. From any height of the lakeside mountains you can enjoy the spectacular view of the landscape.

Activities such as mountain climbing and rock climbing as well as mountain cycling are all possible here. The area became known in the last 2-3 years and has become a tourist destination. The road from Tirana to the village of Zall-Herr is asphalted. Then it is a rural segment but small cars can pass.

DAJTI NATIONAL PARK

Dajti Mountain National Park is located northeast of Tirana. The park is located in the central part of the Krujë-Dajti mountain range, with a length of about 30km and a width of 10-15km. It extends from the Skorana gorge, in the southwest, to the Palmoit i madh mountain, in the northeast. The park’s borders are connected to Krujë, in the northwest, and to Mati, in the northeast and east.

Typical forms of structural relief are also lithological and tectonic slopes. Slopes are characteristic of the northwestern and northern slopes and the tops of limestone cliffs.

The large amount of precipitation in combination with impermeable terrigenous rocks, leads to a dense network of ravines, streams and rivers. The Erzeni, Tirana and Tërkuza rivers have their origin in the eastern part of the park.

The most important water sources are Selita, Shënmëria and Pëllumbasi. Within the park territory there are also several artificial reservoirs such as Bovilla, Skorana, Shupali, Beshi and Linza.

A total of 991 species of aquatic plants have been identified in the park territory. In the Dajt-Mali massif with Gropa, only 4 endemic plant species have been identified: Skanderbeg’s Bellflower, Margraf’s Bellflower, Korab’s Bellflower and Albanian Thlaspi.

Among the medicinal plants are: Black Juniper, Sage, Linden Flower, Thyme, Wild Rose, Primrose, Shtogu Flower, Salep, Basani Flower, Nettle, Shtogut Grains, Oregano, Pezma Grass, Chamomile Flower, Thundërmushka, Kulumbria, Mëllaga, Zhumbricat, Shpatorja and many others. Likewise, there are Chestnuts, Walnuts, Hazelnuts, Wild Apples, Cherries, Mushrooms, Strawberries, Blackberries, etc.

122 species of Birds have been identified in the park. The number of species in the park is estimated to be 77 permanent, 21 wintering, 38 summering and 7 migratory. 84 species or 59% of the park’s birds are associated with forests, while 59 species or 41% are considered non-forest birds, 108 species are known as nesting birds. In the plains, the following species have been located: Raven, Blackbird, Sparrow, Blackbird, Laurel, Redstart, and many species of thrush.

Mammals constitute one of the most represented groups in the park and 43 species have been identified, including the forest: Brown Bear, Wolf, Wild Boar, Fox, Marten, Bald Eagle, Rabbit, Squirrel, Hedgehog, Otter, as a rare and threatened species; several species of bats, etc.

SHKODRA

Shkodra, the capital of the North and the gateway to the Albanian Alps

The city of Shkodra is one of the oldest cities in Albania, with a history of thousands of years of habitation. Due to its geostrategic position as the main axis connecting Albania with Montenegro, and other countries in the region, the city of Shkodra is the capital of Northern Albania.

Shkodra is located about 90 km from Tirana, the capital of Albania. It lies in the northwest of the country between a plain, hilly and mountainous relief, near the Adriatic Sea and Lake Shkodra, which also determine its Mediterranean climate.

Shkodra is a city of beautiful civic traditions where different cultures have coexisted in harmony for centuries. The city’s main tourist destination is the Rozafa Castle, a thousand-year-old monument erected on a rocky hill at the entrance to the city of Shkodra, surrounded by the Buna and Drin rivers.

As an important cultural heritage destination, there you can visit the Marubi National Museum of Photography, famous for its rare collection of photographs on Albanian history, the Plumb Mosque, old churches, take a walk on the “Kole Idromeno” promenade, which is the old center of Shkodra, and brings to mind the Venetian Mediterranean buildings; you can also discover the special attraction such as the Inglizi Tower.

ALPS NATIONAL PARK

The Albanian Alps, with a length of 64 km, a width of 60 km and an area of 2,020 km², constitute the most mountainous and interesting region of our country. They rank us among the few countries in Europe with Alps.

Most of Albania’s peaks with an altitude of over 2,000m are located here, the highest peak of the Alps, Jezerca (2,694m).

The relief has the shape of a large dome, while the mountain ridges and valleys have a radial distribution. Of particular value are the forms of karst and glacial relief. There are numerous large karst caves, reaching up to 5km in length (Puc’s cave), etc.

Among the main rivers of the Alps are: Shala, Valbona, Cemi, Curraj-Nikaj, Kiri, Gashi, Përroi i Thatë, etc.

The vegetation is distinguished by its richness (forests occupy about 36% of the surface) and great diversity. The extremely isolated character of the Alps, the very high degree of fragmentation and the great contrasts of their relief have created special and extremely diverse ecological and edaphic conditions, which are associated with the large number of endemic plants.

The fauna is rich and diverse. Large, protected and rare mammals are found, such as: Lynx, Wild Goat, Roe Deer, Bear, etc. In the fresh waters of the Alpine rivers, the globally threatened otter is found. While among the birds, the following are found: Bearded Vulture, Vulture, Little Egret, Wild Grouse, Short-toed Sparrowhawk, Grey Woodpecker and Field Partridge, etc. In the fresh waters of the Alpine rivers, the famous trout, etc. are found.

DURRES

Durres, Albania’s vibrant coastal city, offers a fascinating blend of history, culture and stunning Mediterranean beauty. As one of the oldest and most important port cities in the Balkans, Durres has much to offer travelers and history enthusiasts. It is the oldest city in Albania or the Eternal City on the Adriatic Sea, with almost 3,000 years of history.

Sandy Beaches: Durres boasts some of the most beautiful beaches in Albania, where golden sand meets the crystal waters of the Adriatic Sea. Whether you’re looking for relaxation, water sports or a lively seaside atmosphere, Durres has a place for you. The city’s Mediterranean climate makes it a perfect destination for sun seekers.

Durres is like an open-air museum, showcasing Albania’s rich history. The most important tourist attraction in Durrës is the 15,000-seat amphitheater of the Roman Emperor Hadrian, the second largest amphitheater in the Balkans. It is a testament to the city’s ancient glory and is a must-see for history buffs. You can also explore the Durrës Castle, a medieval fortress with origins dating back to the Byzantine era.

BERAT

Berati, nicknamed the “City of One Window”, is a historic city in Albania, nestled in the heart of the country’s lush landscape. Known for its scenic beauty and rich cultural heritage, Berati offers visitors a glimpse into Albania’s fascinating past and a taste of its warm hospitality.

A 2,400-year-old city, a pride of Albanian architecture, a wealth of culture and a symbol of religious coexistence, it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008.

The first thing you’ll notice in Berat is its stunning natural surroundings. The city is divided into two distinct parts: Kala (the old town) and Mangalem (the new town). Both are set against the backdrop of the Tomorr Mountains, and the Osum River winds through the valley, creating a mesmerizing view. Across the Osumi River lies the Gorica neighborhood, with its houses facing the houses of Mangalem.

The Gorica Arch Bridge, built in 1780, is a beautiful architectural monument built to connect Gorica with Mangalem. The whitewashed Ottoman-era houses in the old town with their many windows create a unique architectural spectacle, which has given Berat its nickname.

Berat has a rich history dating back to ancient times, with influences from the Illyrian, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman periods. The city is home to many historical sites, including the Berat Fortress, a fortress dating back to the 4th century.

Within its walls, you can explore the Byzantine churches of St. Mary and St. Michael, each featuring stunning frescoes. Additionally, the Onufri Museum, located in the Cathedral of St. Mary, displays an extraordinary collection of religious art, including works by the renowned iconographer Onufri.

TOMORRI NATIONAL PARK

Mount Tomorri is a unique and impressive mountain that you can visit at any time of the year. From afar, this mountain gives the impression of a natural castle, whose beauty is evident in every season.

Mount Tomorri is located east of the cities of Berat and Poliçan, south-southeast of Çorovodë, west of Gramsh and in the northernmost part of the Tomor Kulmak-Miçan mountain range.

It lies on diverse geological formations, dominated mainly by limestone and porous rocks. The diverse relief is dominated especially by the high peaks (Çuka Partizan 2,417m, Kulmaku 2,175m, etc.), where there are also pockets of permanent snow.

Two streams that flow into the Devoll River are distinguished: the Sotira and Tomorica streams, which originate on the eastern side of Mount Tomor. In the Tomorica valley there are several karst springs, the Kërpica and Sotira springs are distinguished, while the Ujanik springs are associated with moraine deposits.

The park is distinguished by its pronounced biodiversity: Mediterranean shrubs, oaks, beech, conifers and subalpine and alpine pastures. The vegetation is represented by all 4 plant layers of the country.

About 141 species of birds are found, among them some resident species, such as: Owl, Mountain Eagle, Crested Vulture, Wild Geese, Black Woodpecker, Raven, etc.

There are 34 species of mammals present, including endangered ones, such as: Brown Bear, Wild Boar, Wild Goat, Roe Deer, Wild Cat, Wolf, Fox, Marten, Bald Eagle, Wild Hare, Squirrel, Hedgehog, Weasel, etc. There are several species of bats such as: Rhinolophus hipposideros, Miniopterus schreibersi and Myotis capaccinii, which reproduce in the caves of the park.

The national park is perhaps the richest in biodiversity in the country. There are plant elements from both the Mediterranean and Alpine biogeographical zones. This is reflected in the presence of all four phytoclimatic zones of the country. So, the plant groups of maquis and shibljak are present there.

In addition to great scientific values, rich biodiversity, endemic and subendemic plants, landscapes of stunning beauty, the park is also distinguished by its historical and cultural values.

Tomori Mountain has long attracted the attention of Albanians, becoming a symbol of nature, part of their spiritual world, so lovingly highlighted by our great Renaissance people. On its heights and the Kulmak pass, there is the famous Kulmak Tekke, a holy place of Bektashi believers, and many other cultural objects and monuments.

 

LLOGARA NATIONAL PARK

Llogara National Park is located approximately 40 km southeast of the city of Vlora, on the spatial border between the Adriatic and Ionian Seas. It is formed by a watershed with forests, pastures and meadows and rocky areas, very steep. Approximately half of the surface has a slope of over 30 degrees, with a northwesterly direction, with an altitude from sea level that varies from 450-2,018m, the peak of Qore.

In this park are found all the vegetation zones of our country. The flora and vegetation in this region is rich and interesting, about 1400 species of tall plants are known.

Medicinal and aromatic plants constitute a wealth of economic and scientific value, some of them are very rare. Thanks to its geographical characteristics, the region represents interesting habitats for entomofauna. About 93 species of butterflies are found.

Also identified are 10 species of amphibians (Earth’s Beauty, Stream Frog, etc.); 28 species of reptiles (Viper, Common Turtle, etc.); 105 species of birds (Mountain Eagle, Kestrel, Hawk, Raven, Partridge, Woodpecker, Wild Pigeon, Turtle Dove, Blackbird, Nightingale and many other seasonal birds); 55 species of mammals: Wolf, Bald Eagle, Fox, Wild Boar, Wild Hare, Roe Deer, Squirrel, White-throated Sparrowhawk, etc.

The park has long been a highly sought-after ecotourism destination. It serves as a transit bridge for the Ionian coast and has great potential for the development of ecotourism, mountain sports, tours and travels. The park is mainly used for nature walks and tours.

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