Balkan Walking Holidays and Hiking Tours

Hiking in the Balkans means limestone ridges, glacial lakes and shepherd villages. Our cross-border trip climbs into the Prokletije, or Accursed Mountains. The range spans Montenegro, Albania and Kosovo. It holds Kosovo's highest peak, Gjeravica at 2,656 m, and Montenegro's highest, Zla Kolata at 2,534 m.

Paths range from old trade and military trails to steep, rocky climbs. On the Peaks route, waymarks differ by country and thin out at junctions. Carry an offline map or GPX track.

See Prokletije National Park for the terrain on the Montenegrin side. Our Montenegro vs Albania comparison shows how the two countries differ for walkers.

The Peaks of the Balkans is a 192 km circular trail through Albania, Kosovo and Montenegro. The full circuit has 10 stages and takes about 10 days. Hikers sleep in village guesthouses along the way.

Our 8-day guided Peaks of the Balkans trip walks sections of it. The first days are in Kosovo, around Peja, with Dečani Monastery, the Rugova Gorge and an optional climb of Hajla. Next you cross the Jelenak Pass at 2,250 m and walk into Montenegro. Then you hike from the Grebaje valley to Theth in Albania, and from Theth to Valbona. The trip ends with the Lake Koman ferry, Shkodra and Lake Skadar.

Our Peaks of the Balkans guide covers stages, seasons and planning. To walk the full circuit, ask us about a longer tailor-made trip.

Yes. Walking across the borders between Albania, Kosovo and Montenegro needs a border-crossing permit, arranged in advance. Our Peaks trip crosses two borders on foot. It walks from Kosovo into Montenegro at the Ravno Pass. Later it crosses from Montenegro into Albania on the way to Theth.

Rules and lead times change, so check the current requirements well before you travel. Permits sit outside the Peaks trip package. Ask us how to arrange yours when you enquire.

Plan your cash too. Montenegro and Kosovo use the euro, and Albania uses the lek. Cash machines are scarce along the trail, so draw money before you set off.

Walk the Peaks of the Balkans from mid-June to mid-September. By then the snow has cleared from the high passes and the village guesthouses are open.

Each mountain national park has its own season. In Durmitor, June to September is best, and snow can linger into June. Biogradska Gora is best from May to October.

The coast has a longer season. Trails in the coastal mountains can be walked from March to November. Coastal temperatures can pass 30°C in summer, so start early. Spring and autumn suit the coastal routes best.

Our month-by-month season guide has the detail for each month.

For hard mountain days, choose the Peaks trip or the Durmitor, Biogradska Gora and Prokletije trip. The second climbs Crvena Greda in Durmitor, walks through the virgin forest of Biogradska Gora and ends in the Prokletije.

From the Bay of Kotor to Lake Skadar is a moderate 8-day point-to-point walk. It follows old trade and military trails, including the Ladder of Kotor, to Cetinje and Lake Skadar.

The Bay of Kotor walking trip is moderate too. Based in Kotor and then Budva, you walk over Vrmac, through Old Bar's olive groves and down to Sveti Stefan.

The family trip is easy, and its main walks last about three hours. It adds rafting on the Tara and nights at shepherds' summer pastures.

Yes, on two of these routes. The Kotor to Lake Skadar trip and the Durmitor and Prokletije trip run guided or self-guided. The Peaks, Bay of Kotor and family trips run guided.

Self-guided, you walk at your own pace. On the Durmitor and Prokletije trip you get an orientation meeting, GPX tracks, maps and a roadbook. You also get a local mobile phone with a 24/7 service line. On the Kotor to Lake Skadar route you get an orientation meeting and park tickets for Lovćen and Lake Skadar. On both, your luggage moves on between overnight stops.

Choose a guide if you are unsure about mountain navigation. The Prokletije day in the Karanfili range is partly unmarked.