While Albania as a whole was virtually sealed until 1991, this area was isolated to an even greater extend because of the condition of access roads. WebThe Accursed Mountains (Albanian: Bjeshkt e Nmuna; Serbo-Croatian: and the fifth highest peak in Albania. Total distance 7kms, highest point 810m), Our final day of walking will take us up to the spectacular Thore Pass. Walking in Northern Albania - Into The Accursed Mountains Group Tour View gallery Overview Map & Itinerary Dates & Prices 8 Days From 1,295 Make an Enquiry Book Now Home There is little public transportation, and on many routes this means just one minibus early in the morning. The trek is graded as moderate with an average daily walking time of around 5hrs, but please note there are two full day treks in the itinerary. He looks at me kindly and smiles: No problem. The rapids near Dragobia seem to be a popular place. The Kitchen, of course, serves up sumptuous, home-cooked local grub which can be enjoyed out in the tended-to part of the forest that makes up the gardens. Read more about Outdoor Albania , Self-guided tours, Small group departures, Tailor-made tours. Two police cars. The rectory where the story of blood feud is set has since disappeared, but the church and the defense tower are still there. The trail will exit in the main road, where a vehicle is instructed to reach you and take you in Vuthaj for dinner and accommodation. Go, immerse yourselves in the deep turquoise waters and incredible panoramas. To reach Kelmend you leave Shkodra by following the highway North to the border crossing with Montenegro, called Hani i Hotit. We will switch to a local van and drive downhill to a nice guesthouse in the village where we will stay overnight and enjoy a tasty homemade meal. Meeting at Tirana airport we'll head immediately north to one of Europes oldest and most historic cities. Take an extra day or so to explore the countrys quirky capital. The elegant, white building overlooks the town and provides a very comfortable stay with a bit of local personality. All camping gears and food will transfer by a horse. If walking on foot does not sound appealing, a horse or donkey can likely be arranged with one of the villagers for an appropriate fee (5,000 lek). Hans Avontuur travels to Albania in search of a fierce, rugged mountain range. ), Casual Clothing for Travel and Town Wear (Lightweight, Easily Washable), Reusable cloth bag for shopping (to avoid plastic bags), All land transport required by the itinerary, Airport transfers other than group transfers, United States Consulate, Podgorica: +382 20 410 500, Canadian Embassy, Belgrade, Serbia (also responsible for Montenegro): +381 11 306 3000, Australian Embassy, Belgrade, Serbia (also responsible for Montenegro): +381 11 330 3400, British Consulate, Podgorica: +382 81 205 460, Podgorica International Airport: +382 0 20 444 244, Embassy of United States: +355 4 224 7285, Consulate of Canada to the Republic of Albania, Tirana: +355 4 225 7274, Tirana International Airport: +355 42 381 800, Pristina International Airport: +383 38 501 502 12 14. SeasonMay-November 11 days Included: Accommodation at boutique hotels, guesthouses or shepherd huts. The pass (Qafa e Thors 1685m) behind Bog is closed by snow during the winter, often as early as November and well into May. Leave Greabaje on foot (between 08:00-08:30hrs) and walk on a fine beech forest trail, climbing through the meadows toward the panoramic spot of Volusnica to the ridge that leads to the peak of Taljanka, from where you can gaze at Albaniass wildest alpine landscape: The Massive of the Accursed Mountains. Please note that the accommodation mentioned in the itinerary is intended as a guide only and is always subject to availability. No more time to quickly put ten euros in my passport. There are Wi-Fi and electrical plugs. This unpredictability can be one of the most exciting aspects of adventure travel and for many of our clients often leads to unexpected highlights as the tour-leader necessarily adapts the tour to the changing conditions. It is just a few kilometers away from Gjirokastra, a UNESCO protected city in the South of Albania. Soviet maps from the 1950s can be downloaded from mapstor for $1 per sheet (with discounts for bulk orders). Drive to Thethi National Park. We then suggest that you purchase flights that are flexible and ideally refundable as due to the nature of adventure travel, itineraries and destination accessibility can change at any time. Historically an important trading post for centuries, the city is home to the ancient Rozafa Fortress, which we'll viist this afternoon and which sits strategically located on the hill overlooking the city and surrounding vistas. Visit our Why Wild Frontiers page to find out. Please verify the settings in the Twitter widget. He finds exactly what he is looking for. Many rooms also feature a balcony for tranquil views over the charming city, whilst picture postcard views of the castle and mountain city can be enjoyed from the restaurant. Youll discover the This is a sparsely-inhabited area and the trails are not marked and signage is sparse. Rooms are spacious, simple and modern, equipped with air-conditioning and other mod-cons. Day 5: Walk overlooking the spectacular of Karanfili's massif. There the Albanian packhorses and the guide await the group (see picture). There is Wi-Fi throughout the building an indoor restaurant serving local dishes and an outdoor terrace. The Southern Dinaric Alps / The Accursed Mountains: a spectacular massif that connects naturally Albania, Montenegro, and Kosovo. As harsh and hostile as the mountain world is on the outside, so warm and soft it is on the inside, of peoples homes. Albania is home to some of the worlds most underrated and unknown natural wonders, and Theth National Park is no different.. With stunning mountains that erupt into the air, aqua rivers flowing between them, and plenty of waterfalls and gorges to enjoy, this national park in the Shala Valley near the Montenegro border is a must-visit. If you are concerned about drinking untreated water, we suggest you bring a supply of water treatment tablets. The founding group of Albanian Trip consists of travel enthusiasts born and bred in Tirana, the capital of Albania. and this can happen with little or no notice. A 200 (or equivalent) deposit is required to confirm your booking. They belong to the Dinaric Alps, which stretch over 650 kilometers from Slovenia to Albania. Rooms are fitted with central heating, quality windows and modern bathrooms though space and furniture is limited in some. The first village you arrive at is Tamare, the local center with tourist info, restaurant, shops and hospital. Showing the Albanian lifestyle to every traveler: thats been the goal of Off Limits Albania since 2013. The wooden and stone structure is built to a high standard and rooms are found within the main building or as separate log cabins. The Accursed Mountains (Albanian: Bjeshkt e Nmuna; Serbo-Croatian: , Prokletije, pronounced [prkltij]; both translated as "Cursed Mountains"), also known as the Albanian After checking into our hotel we will enjoy a delicious final dinner in this historic town located just north of the countrys capital and within good distance of the airport. Ecotour Albania want to help you discover them all. Everyone knows the story and also perhaps those involved, but if asked, no one answers. *Please refer to the Detailed Itinerary of your individual departure for more information. Visit the Responsible Travel area of our website to read more, including the work of the Wild Frontiers Foundation through which we fundraise to aid community empowerment and education projects. Behind it is my goal: a view of the Karanfili, one of the most spectacular rock formations in Europe. and with enough time, you too can practice the art of trailblazing.a. Approx. The This trip is designed to enjoy an unforgettable combination of natural beauty and the cultural richness of the Albanian Alps. Hidden in the north of Albania, near the Montenegrin border, Vermosh is the northernmost village in the country. Among those who speak English or Italian and are accustomed to foreign tourists, a price of around 20 is common, and includes breakfast and dinner. Descending along a rickety wooden staircase, climbing up the other bank and look out at an azure blue, almost perfectly round mountain lake, filled by a waterfall: the Blue Eye. Day 1: Welcome to Albania! If you have time to spare, the trail can be found through a bit of detective work (following donkey dung, etc.) The best way to experience the Accursed Mountains of Albania, Montenegro, and Kosovo is by hiking independently with a small group. Webstandard Accursed Mountains Highlights experiencing the warm hospitality and honest curiosity about tourists of villagers in Kelmend hiking in the unreal karst vastness of the central massif enjoying the relaxed village life and a refreshing swim in Theth spectacular views of the entire Valbona valley from Kollata massif We strongly suggest you refer to your countrys particular advisory site before booking and contact us if you have any queries or concerns. We are here to help you. If you are on a tight schedule, a guide is recommended. That is not what I need in an area torn apart by many border conflicts after the Yugoslavia war. Sleeping in Grbaje, in a simple wooden house with a gabled roof, typical of the katuns, as alpine pastures in Montenegro are called. Trek: 10 km, 5-6 hours, elevation gain: 1040m; elevation loss: 660m. Try buying local foods from people in villages (this may be tricky without speaking Albanian!) The restaurant of the hotel "Margjeka" (located up in the valley about 500m before the minibuses end) serves huge portions of self-slaughtered meat. Still today, most of the houses or kulla are built in grey stone and roofed with wooden planks. The neatly maintained paths, the duration marked route signs, the theme walks, panoramic terraces, mountain huts with e-bike charging points. Continue your walk on old mountain trails, meet the first shepards and discover the first bunkers, which are spread in big number all across Albania. A few years ago, a hotelier, a newcomer from Tirana, threatened some locals with a gun. Since 2015, a good asphalt road leads from Fierz to Valbona , which has made the valley more accessible and also more vulnerable. Rain is always possible so please come prepared. The lodging at Vila Dine is simple but provides a very comfortable and welcoming base whilst exploring the region. But I want to go to the valley of Valbona. Open the window. The main city of the area is Bajram Curri. If you can, talk to people. The tour operator is based in the small village of Asim Zeneli, in the South of Albania, and has been welcoming horse, nature, history and culture lovers since 2011 together with their stable of forty three, perfectly maintained horses. Theres nobody around, my optimism grows with every kilometer. Over coffee I get into conversation with locals who tell me that there is a shortcut that bypasses the closed border crossing there is discussion about the right location with Montenegro.
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