Mali i Arithit and Tolla do not just have a name that is easy to remember; a hike to both summits provides indeed for a memorable outing.   With just under the 2000 meters mark, at 1986 and 1976 meters respectively, they may not immediately attract attention. But Arithit (also called Mali i Bardhe, or the white...

Maja e Kreshtës is the second highest point of the Micekut Mountains (the highest being Allamani, about 5 kilometer away as the crow flies). While Allamani is difficult to approach, Maja e Kreshtës is the house-berg of Bulquize. The hike begins in the northern part (Qyteti i Ri) of Bulquize town.   It is here, that...

Mali i Kallabakut is an interesting rocky outcrop in the vast grassy hills of the Shishtavec area. It sits on the border between Albania and Kosovo, quite close to where the borders of Albania, Kosovo and Macedonia meet on a rather inconspicuous hill. Shishtavec, Novosele and Turaj are high altitude villages (between 1400 and...

In May 2014, we went again on the Dajti Crest Trail. The trail markings were slowly fading away, the trail was more overgrown, and the areas destroyed by fire in late 2012 were slowly recovering.   Regardless, it remains a prime hike in Tirana.   This time we concluded the hike with a direct trail to the...

Mali i Nemercke is one of the Albanian ultra-prominent mountains, meaning that - theoretically - you have to descend more than 1500 meter in order to climb a mountain that is higher. In other words, its prominence is more than 1500 meter. The designation of being an Ultra does not necessarily mean that you have to climb 1500 meter...

Mali i Rencit has been on our mind for a while, mainly as a low-altitude bad-weather escape. Rencit is the long ridge stretching along the Adriatic coast between Shengjin in the southeast and Velipoja in the northwest. There are actually two parallel ridges, with Rencit being higher with rather steep cliffs at the seafront, and...

Milë - or Mali i Millëtit, or Maja e Milës - is a little mountain near Butrint. Visitors to Butrint tend to admire the nearby ruins and rarely direct their gaze towards Milë Mountain, which provides the backdrop to the scenery of the Butrint Lake and the Vivari Channel. Milë has a sharp drop towards the west, allowing...

Mali i Trebeshinës (or Trebeshina Mountain) is the big brother of Shendellisë. Trebeshina is more than 100 meters higher. While Shendellisë has a narrow ridgeline, Trebeshinë is rather broad and long. Its mass makes it the ideal home to probably thousands of sheep in summer time (including their dogs), and that is why we...

We had climbed the north summit of Veles a few years ago from Rraboshtë, and its main (southern) summit in 2013 from the village of Veles. The northern and the main summit are separated by an interesting ridge, about one kilometer long. For traversing this ridge, your return hike to from where you started becomes quite long,...

Mali i Gribes is the name of the bulky range that sits at the northwest corner of the southern Albanian mountains. It is in clear view when driving the new highway from Vlora or Fier towards Tepelene. It rises impressively over the Vjosa valley. In summer, its vast expanse is home to countless herds of sheep and their dogs....

We went to Mali i Stugarës, we climbed it in March, we had a good time and enjoyed it. But it was only after we continued our way towards Kakavije, that we realized how beautiful Mali i Stugares is. Mali i Stugares is the second highest summit in the mountain range separating Greece and Albania between Sarande and Kakavije...

With the prospect of rain for the weekend but a few dry hours on Saturday, we were looking for something not too far and not too high. Thartor is a good choice for a low altitude hike, but do not take it too lightly. The hike is part of our "erosion rambles", which are the hikes west of the Tirana - Elbasan axis. This area...

This is a rather short hike starting and ending at the Ura e Kamares and visiting a - somewhat scary - part of the Via Egnatia. The Ura e Kamares crosses the Shkumbin River near the village of Mirake. Most likely, ancient travellers found it difficult to pass the Shkumbin River Gorge between Mirake and Librazhd, and had...

Mali i Shëndëllisë is along the major highway connecting Fier and Gjirokaster. It is in everybody's view, but we had never heard of anyone climbing it. Shëndëllisë had been on our mind for a while, and we were just waiting for a good opportunity. In mid February 2014, snow conditions were getting good, and we rushed down to...

This is an easy walk, for a short winter afternoon. It follows a dirt road around the hill of Pershkop. A peacefull walk, partly through olive groves and certainly good enough for stretching your legs before settling for a coffee or a meal in the vicinity. Views are excellent to the "front range" of Tirana in the east, and to...

Maja e Hutit is the northern end of Mali i Skenderbeut, the major ridge parallel to the coastline of the Adriatic. The highest point of Mali i Skenderbeut is Mali i Liqenit. The ridge spans from Qafe Shtame to the Mat River. It has several highpoints, not all of which have names. We are even unsure about the exact location of...

Mali i Sukes could well be the "houseberg" of Burrel, if the gaze of ambitious mountaineers would not wander off to Mali i Dejes (see separate page). Mali i Sukes is the northern exponent of the wild mountainous area that stretches roughly (in west-east direction) between Tirana and the Macedonian border, and (in north-south...

There is some confusion as to the name of Mal Milot. Following some clues from different maps, we call Mal Milot the north end of the mountain range that has its highest point with Dajti Mountain near Tirana, and continues northwards with Brar Mountain, Gamnit Mountain, Kruja Mountain, Rakshanit and on past the town of Lac,...

Dajti Balcony is rightfully a top excursion from Tirana. At roughly 1000 Meter, it offers grandiose views across the sprawling city, and on to the Adriatic. It can be reached in many ways - by car, by cable car, or you can walk from Linza or Tujan village. The summit of Dajti can be easily reached from the balcony. Perhaps not...

Mali i Palleshit is more of a ridge with several highpoints all just exceeding 500 meter altitude. The ridge itself is not easy to walk because of vegetation and uncomfortable rocky terrain. The intrepid hiker will have to pick just one of the highpoints and aim for it - and this is what we did. Mali i Palleshit connects...