Nobody seems to know Maja e Popluks (2569 Meter). This is so because Maja e Jezerce is right next to it, and all eyes and attention seems to be on the highest summit entirely in Albania. Would Maja e Popluks stand alone, it would be an extraordinary mountain, with excellent views to most peaks of the Albania Alps and beyond. As it...

Gropa e Bukura is the "beautiful hole" - a piece of grass that provides the ideal starting point for climbs of Maja e Jezerce or Maja e Popluks (see spearate trail). Gropa a Bukura is at 1700 meter altitude - 1000 Meter higher than Thethi. We took a mule to carry camping equipment from Thethi to Gropat e Bukura, especially as...

The road across Qafe Shtame used to be the main link between Tirana and Burrel, but the top of the pass and especially the way down to Burrel has now fallen into disrepair. Most people, including visitors have heard about Qafe Shtame because of the mineral water of the same name. The drive across the pass is one of the recommended...

Valamares is among our most favorite hikes in Albania. It has all attributes that make a good hike: a hotel right at the trailhead - so you just get up in the morning and start walking. There is 1000 Meter elevation gain, but it feels like a breeze as the trail has a steady gentle slope. The first part of the trail leads through...

We are not too sure about the correct name of this mountain, in the hinterland of Tirana. While it seems to be close to Tirana, it takes almost two hours to drive there. Mali i Snoijt can be seen - and it always visible as a distinct pyramid - from any part of the Martanesh area, and from mountains much farther away. The...

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...

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...

Mali me Gropa (the mountain with holes) is a major mountain in the hinterland of Tirana. Behind Dajti mountain, there are few villages and travel is generally difficult. New asphalt roads around thehighlands made travel through the mountains unncessary, and the old dirt roads are falling into disrepair. Mali me Gropa is a...

There is somewhat of a mystery as to the real name of this mountain. We call it Gamnit. It is very close to Tirana, and it stands in a row with Kruja Mountain, Gamnit, Brari Mountain and Dajti. Of all those, Gamnit looks somewhat forbidding, and it is the most diffcult of those to climb. As for the others, the views from the top...

A perennial favorite for many people in and an around Tirana. The hike starts at the south end of Priske Mountain (the mountain south to Dajti, or right from Dajti when seen from Tirana). It climbs the south-end of the mountain, which affords good views towards Pellumba Cave which also is a worthwhile outing. From the top...

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...

An easy but interesting loop hike from the tourist town of Kruja. Most foreign visitors to Albania and also Albanians end up and one time or the other in Kruja town, to shop for souvenirs or visit the Skenderbej Museum. The mountain behind Kruja town looks almost vertical, and few visitors know that there is an easy pilgrim's path...

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...

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...

Gjallica Mountain towers above Kukes town, and it maintains a snowcap long into spring. One may try to hike Gjallica summit directly from Kukes, but it is also possible to drive up high on the side of the mountain, and hike from there to the top. The drive up is easy with a high-clearance 4WD vehicle and worth a trip in itself. We...

Korabi is the highest peak of Albania, with 2764 Meter. It is also the highest peak of Macedonia. It is on the list of all those with an ambition to climb high mountains, or to scale the highest points in each country they visit. Korabi has a "primary factor"or prominence of 2169 meter, which means one has to walk down for...