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...

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...

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 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...

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...

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 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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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....

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...

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...

You would not necessarily associate Korbit Mountain with ice-crusted mountaineers dangling from taut ropes. For a starter, with about 540 meter altitude it is not of memorable height, especially as an easy 4WD road leads to the village of Shpatë at 360 meter. And then the path is wide most of the time, though you can build in as...

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...

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...

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...