Hiking Albania – The Most Beautiful Hikes

Hiking › Hiking Albania – The Most Beautiful Hikes

Albania proves that you don’t always have to travel to the classic Alpine countries to go hiking. The small country on the Balkan Peninsula has a lot to offer for hiking and outdoor enthusiasts. The mighty Albanian Alps in the north and panoramic views of the Adriatic Sea make hiking in Albania a true experience. Still unsure where to go hiking in Albania? I will reveal the most beautiful hikes in Albania.

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Reasons for hiking in Albania

Albania is still a true paradise for hiking. On many of the hikes, you will be travelling alone and can take in the natural beauty of the Balkans in peace. However, as Albania is not yet a well-developed hiking destination, there is often a lack of clear signposting or trail networks. It is therefore best to find out about the exact routes from the locals or perhaps even go on a guided tour. After hiking, you can get to know the Albanian culture in the small villages and fortify yourself with a wide variety of cuisine.

Reasons for a hiking tour holiday in Albania:

• No crowds and secluded hiking trails
• Stunning panoramas in the mountains and on the coast
• Diverse nature: colourful vegetation, different animal species and magical waters
• Delicious Albanian cuisine – try fli, qebapa and fasul
• Unique combination of mountains & beach

You might like these routes:

Hiking in Northern Albania

Theth National Park: Grunas Gorge and Waterfall

Theth National Park with its original mountain village is still difficult to reach. The best way to get there is on foot or by 4×4. But then you can get your fill of the rugged mountains and discover the unspoilt nature.

From the village of Theth, a beautiful circular hike leads into the Grunas Gorge and to the waterfall of the same name. Follow the river out of Theth and cross a small red bridge. Then there is a short but steep climb before you reach the 30-metre-high waterfall, where you can even take a dip. On the hike back, you cross the river ‘Lumi i Thethit’ and forest paths back to the village.

• Starting point: Reconciliation Tower
• Difficulty: Easy
• Distance: 5 km
• Duration: 1.5 – 2 h
• Highlights: Waterfall with a depth of 30 metres, swimming in the pool

Valbona Valley – Panoramic Tour in the Albanian Alps

The Valbona Valley lies directly on the border with Montenegro and Kosovo. Away from mass tourism, the Albanian Alps can be fully experienced here. The journey is usually made by ferry across the reservoir.
During your hike, you will be accompanied by the scent of pine and thyme, butterflies and lizards, as well as the continuous view of often snow-capped peaks.

The panoramic route is signposted throughout and constantly offers new views of the valley. The start of the circular tour is in the village of Valbona itself, the car can be parked directly at the bridge over the Valbona River.

• Starting point: Valbona river in the village of Valbona/Valbonë
• Difficulty: Medium
• Distance: 7 km
• Elevation gain: 650 metres
• Duration: 3 – 4 h

Highlights: Rich flora and fauna

Korab – The highest mountain in Albania:

At 2754 metres above sea level, Korab is the highest mountain in Albania and the Western Balkans. It is located in the Korab Mountains of the same name, on the border with North Macedonia. If you climb to the summit, you will be the highest person in the entire region for a short time and can look out over the Balkans.

The tour is physically demanding due to the duration and metres in altitude, but does not require any special technical skills such as climbing. Nevertheless, the tour should only be undertaken with an experienced guide who is familiar with the Albanian mountains. On the way, you will pass numerous mountain pastures and cross the Korab ridge. The ascent is rewarded with spectacular views over other high peaks. The descent is via the same route back to the base camp in Radomirë.

• Starting point: The village of Radomirë
• Difficulty: Difficult
• Distance: 16.5 km
• Elevation gain: 1,500 metres
• Duration: 8 – 9 h

Important: No refreshment stops – pack enough provisions!

Puka & Kryezi Waterfalls Trail

The Kryezi waterfall is located around 5 kilometres north of Fushe-Arrez, in the Puka region (Pukë in Albanian). It can be reached via an easy hiking trail and is rarely crowded. The hike leads through pine forests to unique rock formations. At the end, it’s best to cool off at the foot of the waterfall. There are other waterfalls, gorges and lakes to discover in the surrounding area. You can also combine this hike with other routes for a longer tour.

• Starting point: Kryezi village
• Difficulty: Easy
• Distance: 2.5 km
• Duration: 45 min – 1 h
• Highlights: Easily accessible waterfall with swimming opportunities

The best South Albania Hiking Trails

Venture south into Albania and discover a realm of rugged mountains, pristine lakes and ancient villages. The Qeremti National Park, home to the striking Korab Peak, Albania’s highest point, is a welcome challenge for experienced hikers. 

Gjipe – Circular Hike from the gorge to the beach

This beautiful circular hike takes you through one of the few unspoilt regions of the Albanian Riviera. The roads around the village of Vuno are still unpaved and the bay of Gjipe beach is the perfect place to switch off.

From Vuno, follow the signs for ‘Gjipe’ along gravel tracks to the canyon. You will reach the beautiful beach through the canyon before returning to the starting point in Vuno. There are great views of the gorge and the coast along the way as you pass numerous olive trees.

• Starting point: In the village of Vuno (signpost on the main road)
• Difficulty: Medium
• Distance: 10.5 km
• Elevation gain: 400 metres
• Duration: about 4 hours
• Highlights: Platforms with panoramic views and a swim stop in the bay

Llogara National Park – the Maja Thanasit

The Llogara Pass is one of the highlights of a trip to Albania and the journey is a delight with spectacular views of the mountains and the coast. The national park itself is a popular destination for hikers and offers numerous routes, which you can find out about in the village.

A beautiful hike with a view of the sea is the ascent of Maja e Thanasit, a 1,381-metre high peak. The paths of the approximately 7.5-kilometre hike are easy to manage and not particularly challenging.

• Starting point: Vuno
• Difficulty: Moderately Challenging
• Duration: 1-4 hours depending on the route
• Distance: 7.5 km
• Highlight: Deep canyon and beach

The trail winds gracefully, guiding you through a diverse landscape that ranges from lush forests to panoramic mountain views.

As you venture along the path, the majestic Maja Thanasit captivates with its grandeur. The surroundings are adorned with vibrant flora, creating a tapestry of colors that changes with the seasons.

The plateau of Maya e Dhëmbelit

The small town of Përmet is the starting point of the day tour in the Trëbëshinj-Dhëmbel-Nëmerçka mountain range. The hiking trail leads through diverse Albanian vegetation and constantly offers a fantastic view of the Vjosa River.

The summit plateau of Maya e Dhëmbelit is still used as a pasture by many shepherds. However, these are probably the only Albanians you will encounter here. But watch out for their herding dogs! This is a long hike with many metres of elevation gain, so it is only suitable for experienced hikers.

• Starting point: Main square of Përmet
• Difficulty: Difficult
• Distance: 17.5 km
• Elevation gain: 1,800 metres
• Duration: about 9 hours

Important: Watch out for the shepherd dogs! Partly poor path markings.

Tips for hiking in Albania

Packing list for hiking in Albania

The route and the time have been chosen, but what should you pack for your hiking adventure in Albania? This belongs in your luggage:

• Sturdy hiking boots
• Rain jacket
• Possibly hiking poles
• Sun cream
• Headgear against cold and sun
• Sufficient drinking water
• Food and drink
• Cash
• Hiking map from the tourist information centre or offline maps on your mobile phone

Accommodation options when hiking in Albania

There are not yet many classic hut hikes in Albania as there are in the Alps. However, the following accommodation options are available:

There are plenty of hotels in the larger tourist resorts. It is more difficult in the countryside. The standard is usually lower than here.

Private Rooms | Everywhere in Albania. If you meet someone on the street, they will probably offer you a room or at least take you to a relative who has a room.

Typical Guest Houses | Here you’ll get a bit of a hut feeling and get to know the way of life of the locals in the mountain villages.

Wild Camping | allowed outside the nature reserves. With a tent or campervan. There are designated campsites in the national parks.

Marking of the hiking routes

The more popular routes are generally well signposted, at least in the high season. The paths are often relatively clear, as the network of paths is not yet fully developed, so you don’t have many options anyway.

Particularly in the north, you will often be travelling alone, so you should get enough information about the route from the locals or the tourist information centre beforehand.

In the south, there are water canisters hanging in the trees in summer, which are regularly refilled. However, these are only intended for emergencies, so you should still take enough to drink with you.

Albanian food

What would a strenuous hiking holiday be without good food? Probably only half as nice. But you don’t have to worry about that in Albania. Albanian cuisine is varied with diverse influences from Greece, Turkey and the rest of the Balkans.

In the countryside, you will be served hot meals with lots of lamb in typical guest houses, fresh fish on the coast and small specialities everywhere. Try stuffed peppers, pies filled with spinach or the cucumber dip trator, for example. The prices are comparatively very reasonable and the dishes in Albania are usually shared with the whole table.

Ready for your hike in Albania?

Up the highest mountain in the Western Balkans, or would you prefer a leisurely stroll to small beaches? For hiking fans and those who want to become one, there are numerous options in Albania. The country also impresses with off-the-beaten-track tourism and an exciting culture and history. If you now fancy a hiking adventure in Albania, get advice from our local experts and create your perfect Albania route together with them.