The Highest Peaks Of The Four Balkan Countries: Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Albania

Arrival to Podgorica by van or plane, arrangement with participants. We’ll gather in the evening and start with a meeting at the selected hotel. There is also an option of organized transfer from a nearby airport.

We’ll start our ride on the winegrowing landscape along the outskirts of Skadar Lake. After crossing the Montenegrin-Albanian border, we will continue along the restored road into the valley of the Cijevna / Cemi River and across the picturesque countryside with views of the Cursed mountains / Prokletije and reach Montenegro again. Tourists are just discovering the landscape, parallel to the Montenegrin border, so that it is almost untouched. For a long time, it was closed because of the border. A stop in one of the smaller towns will be good for us. We’ll cross the border again in Grnca, from where is not far to Gusinje, accommodation.

After breakfast we’ll drive into the glacial valley of Ropojana to Vusanje (1020 m), the last hamlet, then we will have a tiring tour to the highest Montenegrin peak of Zla Kolata / Kollata e Keqe (2534 m), which is also the border peak. Many swear that the highest peak is Bobotov Kuk in Durmitor, which is only fourth in height. However, it is more easily accessible. The normal approach will be via the two abandoned Zarunica and Grlata pastures and the Preslopit saddle (2039 m).

From there, the final ascent to the summit Zla Kolata awaits us, which means a bad or evil meadow. Not far away is the highest peak of the Cursed mountain, Maja Jezerce, Karanfili, and deep below us the Plav Valley. Descent along the same path, at the end of the 12-hour tour, a stop at Alipasa’s springs, altitude difference of 1500 m.

Drive under the Cursed mountains to Lake Plav/Plavsko jezero and Plav, the center of an Albanian-populated province with an oriental flair. We’lll take a look at the defense tower of the Redzepagic tower and the mosque. Then continue along the Lim to the town of Berane, which has a rich history and to the mountain town of Rozaje, from where the road rises to the pass below the Hajla Mountains, where we’ll enter to the youngest European country of Kosovo. From there it is no longer far to Peje, which is an important local center and, as far as Serbs are concerned, also a religious center. Not far away is the Patriarchate’s Pec/Pecka Patriacija, built by king Dusan Silni and long considered the seat of an independent Serbian church, founded by St. Sava. We’lll also visit the important natural landmark of the Gorge of Rugova/Rugovska Klisura, as well as the place itself is worth a visit. In the late afternoon we’ll move under mountain Djeravica.

Today we’ll start the tour to the highest Kosovo peak Djeravica / Gjeravice (2656 m), before independence it was the highest Serbian peak. We will drive high below the south slope and hike along the grassy and partly rocky slopes towards the top. The peak is famous for its view, almost all the highest Cursed mountain peaks, the Sar Planina ridge and our future destination Korab are visible. For descent we will choose the another path and past two glacial lakes. Altitude difference 950 m, total 7 hours walking. After the refreshment at the end of the tour, we’lll drive to the valley and to the monastery of Visoki Decani, which is tied to Serbian medieval history with perfectly preserved frescoes. The monastery is also under UNESCO protection. Driving to Gjakovica / Gjakovë.

A tour of the old part of the city around the market and Hadun Mosque, which give the town an oriental and Muslim feel. The next stop will be in Prizren, considered the cultural capital of Kosovo. From the Roman city of Theranda onwards, the city played an important role, changing different owners and seeing bloodshed between nations and religions. We’ll take a tour of the city center with mosques and the famous 14th-century Orthodox Church of Our Lady Ljeviska, with several Serbian kings ruling the fort above the town. After sightseeing, we will leave Prizren and Kosovo, as we’ll take the Pristina-Durrës highway to the border crossing and then across the border to Albanian Kukes. The city lies at the foot of the striking Gjalllica Mountains at the confluence of the White Drim / Beli Drim, which flows from Kosovo and Black Drim/ Crni Drim, which originates in Lake Ohrid. After the stop, we will have an even shorter but winding road to the hamlet of Radomirë, which has been revived by tourism.

After an early breakfast we’ll hike the valley and the western slopes to the highest peak of Albania and Macedonia, at the 2764 meters high Golem Korab / Mali i Korabit. After the grassy slopes, we’ll slowly gain altitude. There is even enough water, since Korab is part of the Sar Planina. Through the Fusha Korabit pasture and the higher Panair pasture, where shepherds graze their herds, we will reach the border and then to the highest peak. The top part consist a few peaks higher than 2700 meters, and from the top we’ll have a view of Sar Planina with Kopaonik, Cursed mountain and Rumija. When descending, we’ll be able to admire the rich flora and stop at the herdsmen who live remote in these hills. Altitude difference 1500 meters, total walking 9-10 hours. After a break at the starting point, we’ll have a shuttle transport to Peshkopi, where we will stay at the hotel and have dinner, and celebrate the successful ascent.

We’ll travel through the picturesque countryside to the lesser-known eastern Albania, rich in chromium ore, to Tirana, the Albanian capital, which we’ll also visit. Starting with the main square, controlled by the statue of Albanian national hero Gjergj Kastrioti Skenderbeg, who excelled in fighting the Turks and creating an independent Albania for a while. Opposite is the National Museum with rich history from the Illyrians to the present day and the mosque. There will also be some time for you to do viewing on your own. Not far away is the mountain town of Krujë, which is marked by the fortress and the Skenderbeg Museum, and it will also be interesting to visit the market.

Drive to Shkodër, the second largest city, where we visit the fortress of Rozafa, which is connected to the legendary Illyrian Queen Teuta, offering a beautiful view of Lake Shkoder, Drim and Bojana rivers. It is time for the market and we will move to Montenegro, where we’ll have a ride along Lake Shkoder/ Skadarsko jezero to Virpazar. There we’ll board the boat and take a ride on the lake that is shared between Albania and Montenegro. Overnight in Podgorica.

On the last day, after breakfast, the tour ends and we say our farewells.