A hike to Maja e Bukanikut, the highpoint of the Mali i Shpatit (Shpat Mountain Range), From the summit of Bukanikut, one can see down to Elbasan and - depending on weather and visibility - the Adriatic Sea. Bukanik is for Elbasan what Dajti is for Tirana. It should be possible, in case no 4WD is available to reach the...

There might be as many Guri i Zi's (black rocks) in Albania as there are white rocks or red rocks. To our knowledge, this 'black rock' is the highest, topping out at way over 2000 Meter. Guri i Zi is one of the prominent highpoints on the western side of Shkumbin valley. Its striking formation is only recognized from...

Allamani mountain is not overly prominent, and more people climb it to look for minerals than simply enjoying its beauty and fresh air. There are many beautiful lakes on the plateau near the summit, inviting the visitor to stay longer. Allamani remains a great mountain, and the described combination of a 4WD track to some mines...

Mali e Dejes dominates the landscape between Burrel, Peshkopi, Puka and Rreshen. It is visible even from further afar, weather permitting, such as from Dajti Mountain and Mount Korab. Most likely, it is one of the most striking mountains of Albania, because of its good visibility and position. It has a steep eastern side, dropping...

Everyone seems to have heard of the fabled Lure Lakes, but not many people seem to venture there. Lure village is considered remote, the road to the Lure Lakes is rumoured to be impossible, nobody talks about climbing Maja e Kunora e Lurës (the "Crown of Lure"). The park is said to be destroyed by excessive logging, the hotel...

Razem is a nice place, cool in summer when the plains and beaches are hot. There are several hotels of all types, including the splashy Natyral Resort, with its good service, indoor swimmingpool and sauna. But then there is not much to do. Except there is Velecikut! And while many guests come with their 4WDs which never left the...

Petrela is best known as an afternoon drive for a lunch or coffee. Here,we walk from the artificial lakein Tirana through the park and over the hills to the restaurant at Petrela castle. The hike is easy but long. The trail ends at the restaurant in Petrela castle, which offers refreshments and meals. Take the bus back to...

Most visitors to Budva prefer to stay at the seaside, and Budva itself is indeed a good place to spend some time. However, for the more energetic, a little hike up an escaprment to a small old church, with fantastic views to Sveti Stefan and the coastline up and down, is the right thing to do. From the car park, walk along the...

Seen from the distance, all the Komovi peaks seem to be reserved for expert climbers only. They are an extraordinary group of mountains, for their isolation and excellent views into all directions. Kom Vasojevicki is the easiest of the three, and qiote frequently climbed. Route-finding is easy in good weather. Shortly before...

Most visitors to the Komovis are intent to climb one or more of its three peaks. On a nice summer day, they are likely to meet many likeminded climbers. An alternative is the roundtrip around all three peaks, which offers good views to all of them. But don't be fooled: this is not an easy stroll - in fact you are likely to climb...

An old path leads from the village of Tujan to the village of Dajti, behind Dajti Mountain. The path travels high above the Tirana River, on its southern bank. The trail, once an important mule path connecting Tujan and Dajti, is no longer in active use and at risk of falling into disepair. In September 2011, it was still...

This climb up to the Dajti Plateau takesa not-so-frequently used trail starting at Tujan village. Returning fromthe Dajti Plateau, our hike takes the more frequently (perhaps once every two weeks?) used route back to Shermini, and cuts back to the starting point in Tujan village. Both trails have been recently cut free from...

Dajti Mountain with 1665 meters dominates Tirana (at 160 meter elevation). It is visible when one approaches Tirana from any side, and often maintains a snow cap in the colder months. There is a road leading up to a plateau at about 1050 Meter, or one can take the cable car. There are many restaurants and it is nice to simply...

Mali i Veles, while not memorably high in real terms (only 1150 Meter), is an impressive but often overlooked mountain. It lies behind the town of Lezha, on its eastern side, while the gaze of most travellers goes to the west with its beaches. Once Veles has attracted interest, its west face looks almost impossible to hike,...

A light morning or afternoon hike in easy reach of Tirana, to the ruins of an old Ilyrian castle. Up mostly on dirt roads, down on a variety of foot paths. There are only some few remnants of the walls left, but the place of the castle provides very good views into all directions - including views of Dajti, Skenderbeut mountain...

Pellumba Cave is - and should be - one of the top hiking destinations from Tirana, especially for those with little time to spare. Half a day can be sufficient, though one could spend many hours in the cave itself. The cave is cool during the hot summer months, and probably warm in winter (though we didn't try). The trail to...

There might not be many places where you can be at a lake, hike to a castle on beautiful trails, and enjoy some of the most splendid views of the "front range" of Tirana and the Adriatic at the same time. We hiked this trail on an afternoon following a long rainy day, and the views stretched as far a to Montenegro. And we need to...

When days become short and cold, the wider Tirana region still offers short and interesting hikes. Mali i Gallushit, though relatively close to Tirana, will always instill a feeling of remoteness, especially when approached from Tirana. The villages on the western and southern slopes, facing the Adriatic Sea, orient themselves...

We are not prone to exaggeration, but this is one of the most engaging ridge walks on offer near Tirana. There are always great ridge walks, but this one can beat many others hands down. More than 10 kilometer long, and almost every meter is a pleasant and often engaging hike. But beware, just when you are proud of yourself of...

Rumija is both a good drive and a good climb. Both are exciting in their own ways, and neither is particularly long or exhausting. Rumija is a very prominent mountain range, with the highest point around 1589 Meter. Views - if not shrouded in fog, must be marvelous, both towards Skader Lake and the Adriatic Sea. In trun, Rumija...