Thethi is often referred to as the Chamonix of the Albanian Alps, and it is said that it receives up to 10,000 visitors a year. The upgrade of Albania by the Lonely Planet to a top destination in 2011 has certainly contributed to Thethibecoming a "boom" tourist destination. . While Thethi certainly is a top destination for...

Tomorri is probably the best known mountain in Albania. It has religious significance, and there is a shrine on the (lower) south summit, also called Mali i Kurbanit or Mali i Babait. The south summit is separated from the higher north summit - called Cuka Partizan - by a 10 kilometer long ridge. The ridge is difficult and the...

The town of Bulqize is not known for its hiking potential, but for its chromium mines. Mali e Lopës, the mountain that looms large south of Bulqize, has been mined for many decades. Mining is hard work and often hazardous, and while it provides jobs, the conditions and remuneration will remain an issue until properly regulated...

The Shebenik-Jabllanica National Park is one of the largest National Parks in Albania. It is in a fairly remote corner along the border with Macedonia. The area has great touristic potential, but as of writing, infrastructure is minimal. There are some tourist huts being built in Stebleve, and we were told they will open in winter...

Hardly anyone seems to know where Ostrovicë Mountain is. There is even wild disagreement on various maps as to its altitude or the highest point of its long summit ridge. From all the mountains in the south of Albania, Ostrovicë must rank among the most remote, certainly among the most beautiful, and also among the most...

Der Pannesterz ist ein Hügel, der steht ein bisschen im Weg zwischen Kalterherberg un dem Venn, routenabhängig. Da drumherum das Hochmoor geschützt ist, muss man über den Pannesterz fahren, um dahin zu kommen, wo man hinkommen will.   In diesem Fall waren es die Buschpfädchen, die Hillbrücke, der...

From the distance, Mali i Munellës looks like a giant tooth, like a molar sticking out of the gums. That is, of course, if you know where Munelle is, and from where to look for it. Munelle is the highest point of Lezhe Region. It sits between Fushe Arrëz and the new Autobahn connecting Rreshen and Kukes. As the highway runs...

A short stroll or a 3 hour hike, depending on where you start. Unlike most other hikes in Albania, this has the options of having a drink or a meal at the trailhead or somewhere around. There are superb views across Tirana, the Lake and towards Dajti and the mountain chain east of Tirana. We got the idea of this hike from...

We had to go to Bishkek for business, and took 4 days off for a trip around Lake Issyk-Kul. This in November, it was too late in the year, the days were too short and the weather too unstable to venture into the high mountains. But we still managed to see the magnificant scenery of Kyrgyzstan, the special colours of fall, many...

After two months inactivity, caused by rain, work and travel, we finally got a nice sunny winter Sunday. We opted for a slow start - a ramble - in the hills on the west side of the Durishit Ridge. We always thought to do this or a similar when nobody had a really good idea. But this hike is a good idea! It opens up to the hiker...

January and February of 2013 were particularly rainy in Tirana, and it was difficult to catch a weekend with benign weather. At one of those, we "ticked" Mali i Fagut, a mountain that is not very visible from Tirana, as it hides behind the front range made up of Dajti Mountain, Priske Mountain and so on. For those who ventured...

This is a long trail of almost 16 kilometer, requiring good orientation, river crossings (in winter), and other obstacles. But then, you will be rewarded with many experiences and some good (in)sights into what must be the most remote area west of Tirana. Our original route-finding experience extended to 18.3 kilometer and more...

Mali i Shiragut - previously known as "Enver Hoxha Mountain" is the little brother of well known Tomorri. Shpiragut is seen prominently when approaching Berat, though the gaze of the visiting tourist is usually attracted to the much more dramatic Tomorri. But as so often, the best views are not to be had from the highest...

The area west of Petrele (or west of the Tirana - Elbasan road) is not an area really known for its touristic attraction. Life is hard for the farmers everywhere except in the fertile valleys of the Zhulima Valley. The entire area is subject to heavy erosion, which makes it difficult to eak out a living. For the adventurous...

This hike to a beautiful waterfall near Krrabë is proof that you can't have your cake and eat it. The waterfall is only there after a good heavy rain - or an entire season of rain! But then, the trails are muddy, and it will not be easy to cross all those little streams that are in your way, and which make up the waterfall....

This is a relatively short, easy hike using part of the very long Priske ridge. The hike is for those who don't need to climb the highest mountain tops, but still wish to enjoy some peaceful hiking along ridges with very good views into all directions. The hike along the ridge is very easy to follow. When descending, the trail...

A short drive (about 14 kilometer) from Gilazi on the main road connecting Baku and Quba are the Candy Cane Mountains. The mountains have beautiful rose and white stripes and swirls, and are littered with small conical fossils. We had only a few minutes, but there is enough to see for a day excursion! For...

I quote from the excellent guide book to Azerbaijan from Mark Elliott: "Like cows, mud vulcanoes constantly fart flammable gases.They also like throwing gobs of mud and streaming forth watery flows with a vigor that varies seasonally. This behaviour is gently amusing rather than life threatening. Mud vulcanoes are cold and have...

The Ishmi River Canyon - or probably better known as Zeza canyon - winds its way between Kruja and Gomnit mountains. There are two bridges over the Ishmi River - one at the entrance to the canyon, and one in the middle of it - showing the importance of the old trading route. In ancient times, part of the track used to be paved...

We found a trail from Rrëja e Velës to the main summit of Mali i Velës, the widely visible mountain behind Lezha town. We had climbed Mali i Velës before, from the village of Kalumet, from where a path leads to the weatherstation on the northern end of the main Velës Ridge (see separate trail). Then there was no time to...