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...

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...

Mali i Polisit, for all its bulk, is a rather inconspicious mountain. For once, many people will not even notice that it is there, as it consists mainly of a high, seemingly flat plateau. Those driving from Elbasan to Librazhd through the Shkumbin valley only see its lowest slopes. Mali i Polisit doesn't have a...

A half-day hike to one of the most impressive water falls in Albania. Quite eerily, the water emerges straight out of the rock. Sotirë falls are in fact two falls: one coming from higher-up, and slim. The other straight out of the rock face, broad and wild. Naturally, the falls are biggest in spring, when the melting snow of...

When in Gjirokaster, Cajupi is right in your face, and the people of Gjirokaster get excited when talking about it - or hearing about your intention to make it to its summit. Still, we are not aware that Cajupi is climbed very often by visitors, though shepherds are going there regularly as evidenced by the many water holes on and...

Mali i Brarit is the source of endless delight. Mali i Brarit has been the mountain to which we returned most frequently, and which we enjoyed every time. From the west, Brar Mountain can be climbed from either Brar village or Priske e Vogël - or PeV in case you wondered. The normal route to the plateau and either of the...

A very short but utterly satisfying hike to a high point with good views, on the border between Tirana and Elbasan regions. Kodra e Xhanivet sits south-west of Tirana, an area characterized by steeply eroded hillsides and excellent tranquil hiking. For a change to other hills in the area, a hike to the summit cliffs of...

Mali i Papatit is almost as high as Dajti Mountain, and both the drive to its trailhead (see gps trail) and the climb offer wonderful insights into the area hidden behind Dajti Mountain and the entire front range near Tirana. From the trailhead, a short dirt road and then a mule path lead up to the meadows of the south ridge of...

Maja e Zebe is the highpoint of Mali i Shentit, the long ridge to the south of the highway from Rreshen to Kukes, and north of the Lure National Park and Lure Mountain. Maja e Zebe, topping out at almost 2000 meter altitude, is an easy hike - provided you know how to get there. Unfortunately, we didn't have fine weather, but...

Everyone heard the name Kalimash, as it is used to describe the place of the longest tunnel in Albania, made for the Autobahn connecting Tirana and the Adriatic with Kosovo. Few of those who look forward to the tunnel experience, are aware of the road that leads across the mountain that harbors the tunnel. Even fewer people may...

Maja e Gurit Gjon is enthusiastically named a Natural Monument in the promotional picture book of the Lezha Regional Council. And when traveling the bumpy road from Rreshen towards Lure, Guri Gjon rises dramatically behind the abandoned mining town of Kurbnesh, almost like a little a miniature version of El Capitan in the Yosemite...

We continued our tour of the Rocks of Mirdita with Guri i Nuses, which translates into the Stone of the Bride. Don't even try to discover the long lost legend behind the name. Others tried before, including Ndue Dedaj, and abandoned the attempt in abhorrence over the endless variations of young girls' death and...

We were heading into the Gramsh - Grabove area, waiting what the weather would be like. As one year before, while the rest of Albania was nearing a heat stroke, Gramsh experienced major thunderstorms, rendering some of the more difficult access roads impassable. We therefore had to reorganize, and decided to hike Mali i...

Who wants to climb a mountain that nobody knows and nobody sees? Well, once you happen to see it (as we did when we were climbing Mali i Polisit), you may actually want to hike Maja e Gaferit. With 1890 Meter, Maja e Gaferit has a respectable height for a central Albanian mountain, and it looks beautiful. It has a 300 Meter...

Maja Rrunja e Lurës has a long name, but offers a relatively short but invigorating hike. For those wishing to spend some time in the Lure area and visit more than the lakes, Maja Rrunja e Lures is an ideal excursion. Rrunja provides views across Lure National Park, including towards the dramatic Mali i Dejes (see separate...

Kroi Bardhe has a sort of mystic reputation. Everybody seems to have heard of it, hardly anyone knows where it is. We eventually found a description in the promotional picture book published by the Council of Lezha Region, where it is praised as a high altitude camping ground organized around a spring with medicinal qualities....

Maja e Velivarit or Velivar as shown on most maps, is the highest summit of the range known as Deshat by the people of Macedonia. Deshat is the southern part of ridge that separates Albania from Macedonia between Diber and Kukes; the northern part is the Korab Massif, with Maja e Korabit being the highpoint of both countries....

An ultra-prominent peak, or Ultra in short, is a mountain with a topographic prominence of 1,500 meters or more. In order to climb a higher peak, you first have to descend at least 1500 meter. Prominence – at least for the mountaineer - is a measurement for the subjective significance of a summit regardless of its actual...

When mentioning Mourgana to someone in Albania, you are likely to draw a blank. This is, perhaps, because Mourgana is the southernmost big mountain in Albania and remote. But then, because it is the southernmost big peak, you would expect more attention... Sitting on the border between Albania and Greece, most travelers heading...