The Albanian Alps — known locally as the Bjeshkët e Namuna, or the Accursed Mountains — are one of Europe’s last great wilderness frontiers. Stretching along Albania’s northern border with Kosovo and Montenegro, these jagged limestone peaks, glacier-carved valleys, and ancient shepherd trails have remained largely untouched for centuries. On this 7-day guided trek with Inside Balkan, you will walk in the footsteps of Albanian highlanders, cross the famous Valbona Pass, and spend nights in traditional stone-and-timber guesthouses where hospitality is considered sacred.
This journey begins and ends in Shkodër — Albania’s cultural northern capital — and takes you deep into two of the Alps’ most celebrated valleys: Theth and Valbona. Connected by the legendary mountain pass at 1,793 metres, these two valleys sit at the heart of Valbona Valley National Park and offer some of the most dramatic alpine scenery anywhere in the Balkans. The trail between them, known locally as the Rruga e Alpeve, has become Albania’s most iconic hiking route — and for good reason.
Beyond the hiking, this tour is a cultural immersion. You will eat slow-cooked lamb with local families, drink raki poured from unlabelled bottles, and listen to stories of the Kanun — the ancient Albanian code of honour that still shapes life in these remote communities. With Inside Balkan, you travel with guides who were born in this landscape. They know which paths to take before the morning clouds roll in, which family makes the best cheese, and where the eagles nest above the canyon walls.
This tour is rated moderate to challenging. You should be comfortable walking 5–8 hours per day on uneven mountain terrain. No technical climbing is required, but a reasonable level of fitness is essential. E-bike or support vehicle options are not available on this trek — it is a genuine mountain experience for those who want the real thing.
