Tucked away in the southeastern corner of Europe, Albania is a true hiker’s paradise that is still largely undiscovered by mass tourism. Flying into Albania, you immediately see how mountainous this country is – about 75% is covered in mountains or hills. From the towering peaks of the Accursed Mountains to the enchanting valleys and wild rivers, Albania offers hiking trails to suit all abilities. There is something for every interest as well. For the culturally-curious wanderers, Albania offers a unique capital city and ancient villages worth exploring on foot. Wildlife enthusiasts can enjoy walks along the many rivers, lakes and wetlands. Beach lovers get coastal hiking with opportunities to swim in the uncrowded turquoise waters of the Albanian Riviera.
We spent a week in Albania in September 2023, just enough time to hike one of the most epic trails in the country and aimlessly wander two of Albania’s largest cities. You’ll find our personal stories about that trip at Voyage from Valbona to Theth. For a quick but thorough guide on Albania’s hiking opportunities, keep reading.
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Where to Hike in North Albania
The North Albanian Alps, located in the northern part of the country, are home to some of the highest peaks in Albania, including Maja e Jezerces which stands at 8,839 ft (2694 m). The trails in this region offer breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. This mountain range is part of the larger Dinaric Alps which follow the Adriatic coastline from Italy down to Albania.
The formidable Accursed Mountains (Prokletije) are here, as is Theth National Park and the Valbona Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This region is home to some of the most stunning scenery in the country. If you’ve read about Albania or seen photos recently, this is probably the region that was mentioned.
Best Day Hikes in Albanian Alps
Most hiking enthusiasts come to Albania for this region, specifically near the villages of Theth or Valbona. If you want to book your own accommodations and design your own trip, this is the best Thethi Guide online.
Valbona to Theth
7mi (12km) rough estimate, depends on location of guesthouse
If you only have time for one trail, this is the one to do. This hike takes you through the Valbona Valley, one of the most beautiful valleys in Albania, and the towering peaks of the Accursed Mountains. It’s the most popular hike so you’ll need to book lodging early to get the best guesthouses. It’s possible to hike from Theth to Valbona but we don’t recommend it, the descent into Theth is steep and it would be miserable to begin your hike climbing up.
Getting to Valbona requires hours of road and boat transport, so plan accordingly and do your research. This is our favorite site for all things Valbona and the less-touristy (but equally gorgeous areas of Tropoja).
Blue Eye of Theth
4mi (6km) roundtrip from Nderlysaj
9mi (14km) 1-way from Theth
The Blue Eye (Syri i Kalter) is a SUPER popular destination with locals and tourists, so expect crowds and arrive early. You can hike this from Theth or drive/taxi to the parking lot in Nderlysaj where you will find cafes and toilets before you begin your hike to this famous blue lagoon.
Lëpushë to Maja e Vajushës
5.6mi (9km) roundtrip from Lëpushë
Trail signage isn’t good for this route but locals will tell you, you HAVE to hike Lëpushë! It’s a beautiful village and a gorgeous hike up to Mt. Vajushës. For better signs, begin this hike from Montenegro’s Grebaje Valley – both are equally beautiful. Excellent winter hiking in Lëpushë.
Maja e Rosit
11mi (18km) roundtrip from Valbona National Park
A long day with over 5,000ft elevation gain, but well worth the challenge for the views. A good option if you want a less crowded trail and prefer to return to Valbona instead of hiking to Theth.
Kalabak Peak (Maja e Kalabakut)
15mi (9km) loop
This route is part of the High Scardus Trail and offers a greener, softer side of Albania through the Sharr Mountains.
Where to Hike in South Albania
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. Close to Berat, the Vjosa and Osumi Rivers offer excellent day hikes with rafting or kayaking.
Best Day Hikes in South Albania
Mount Korab
10mi (16km) roundtrip from Radomirë
Vastly different from Albania’s Northern Alps, the summit to Mt. Korab takes you through the Radika Mountains which border Albania and North Macedonia. Wide open grasslands and lakes make this a uniquely beautiful mountain trek.
Kallamas Loop
7mi (11.5km) loop
One of Albania’s hidden gems in the lesser-known Prespa National Park, the Kallamas Loop is perfect for those who love wildlife and ancient ruins. The trail takes you around a lake and offers the chance to see eremite churches from the 14th and 15th centuries that were built into cliffs.
Where to Hike in Coastal Albania
Albania’s crystal clear coastline isn’t just for sunbathing, it’s an excellent place for coastal hiking. Llogara National Park provides a blend of seaside vistas and mountainous terrain. Hike to the peak of Maja e Çikes, the highest point in the park, and enjoy panoramic views of the azure sea and surrounding mountains. Nearby Karaburun Peninsula offers a rugged stretch of land, hiking through olive groves, along secluded beaches, and up to the ancient ruins of the Karaburun Castle with breathtaking views of the coastline.
Best Day Hikes on the Albanian Riviera
Mt. Çika Trail
8mi (13km) roundtrip
This popular trail in Llogara National Park begins at the parking lot near Llogara Pass. It’s a climb made famous by Lord Byron, featured in his poem “Childe Harold Pilgrimage.”
Sant Andreas Bay (Shën Andre Bay)
10.5mi (17km) roundtrip from Palasë
This coastal hike near Llogara National Park takes you to a secluded beach with turquoise waters that look like the cover of a travel magazine. If you love a long day of hiking, the walk to Grama Bay makes this a total 16mi (26km) roundtrip.
Maja Thanasit
4.6mi (7.4km) roundtrip
This trail in Llogara National Park is inland but still offers views of the sea. A good hike for cool or cloudy days as it’s wide open with little to no shade.
Cities and Villages to Explore on Foot
Walking Albania’s urban centers and villages is as rewarding as hiking their countryside. Our favorite moments in Albania were the evening walks (xhiro) we took every night in Shkodër and Tirana. If you love street markets, people watching, history and architecture, you will love walking these towns.
Berat
Known as the “City of a Thousand Windows” due to its unique architecture, Berat is also a great base for hiking Mount Tomorr or exploring Osumi Canyon. To truly appreciate the history of this ancient town, book a tour with Berat City Tours.
Gjirokastër
This UNESCO World Heritage City is a must-see for any hiker. The city is home to a number of Ottoman-era buildings, as well as a number of hiking trails.
Rehova
This lovingly preserved village at the base of Gramoz Mountain is very much a hidden gem. It’s in Albania’s eastern region near Korçë and you’ll find opportunities to hike in nearby Prespa National Park.
Shkodër
This historic city is located on the shores of Lake Shkodra, the largest lake in the Balkans. The city is a great base for exploring surrounding mountains and an hour or two of walking the grounds of Rosafa Castle. Like all cities in Albania, expect to see lots of trash on the streets, but don’t let this prevent you from falling in love with this friendly place. We LOVED Shkodra!
Tirana
Albania’s vibrant capital city is perfect for exploring on foot. Its compact, pedestrian-friendly center is home to a captivating blend of Ottoman-era architecture, modern landmarks and bustling plazas, all within easy walking distance. The Liqeni Loop provides an easy 3.5mi (5.6km) walk around Tirana’s Liqeni Lake and park.
Long Distance Trails in Albania
Peaks of the Balkans
112mi (180km)
The most well-known long-distance trail in the Balkans, this epic trek traverses Albania, Montenegro and Kosovo. It’s a well-developed trail system and is possible to navigate and plan on your own, but we still recommend using a local company to help with transport and lodging (your trip will be MUCH smoother if you do).
Via Dinarica
1,243mi (2,000km) depending on route
One of the longest and most challenging trails in Europe, the Via Dinarica follows the Dinaric Alps from Slovenia to North Macedonia. It is divided into several sections, with the Green Trail, the Blue Trail, and the White Trail.
High Scardus Trail
225mi (362km)
Another multi-country trail, High Scardus crosses through Albania, Kosovo and North Macedonia. This is the new kid on the block but it may surpass the other long distance Balkan routes in popularity because it is simply stunning!
Albanian Coastal Trail
40mi (65km)
The Albanian Coastal Trail, stretching from Dhërmi to Saranda, has the potential for a beautiful village to village hike, but recent construction and development issues prevent it from being a reliable route. We mention it, however, because it was created by Zbulo (one of our favorite Albanian tour operators) and it’s worth watching their site to see if this trail reopens.
Best Hiking Tour Operators for Albania
Zbulo Discover Albania
Our top choice for hiking tours in Albania, Zbulo covers Peaks of the Balkans, High Scardus, Albanian Alps and the Hidden Valley village to village trek in Zagoria and Gjirokaster.
Outdoor Albania
This well-established operator based in Tirana offers multi-day hiking tours covering northern routes and southern routes. We especially love their Journey into the Albanian Alps and Hiking in Scenic Southern Albania tours.
Undiscovered Balkans
Based in Montenegro, this is one of our favorites for guided hiking tours in the region. Their Cross-Border Hiking from Montenegro to Albania tour is a fabulous choice.
Albania Rafting Group
We love their 13-day North to South tour that covers the best hiking, water routes and cultural activities that Albania has to offer.
Go As Local
This young Tirana based company is an excellent choice if you want a full service travel agency that can help you design a customized journey that isn’t entirely focused on hiking.
Travel Tips for Hiking Albania
- Download maps.me app to your phone – it will be your best friend on the road and the trails!
- With the exception of popular national parks, trail signage is unpredictable and it’s difficult to find current trail conditions in English, so hire a guide for less popular trails.
- Bring water filtration straws or tablets. While water is usually safe to drink on the mountains it is not safe to drink in the cities. We alternated using our LifeStraws with buying bottled water, which is easy to find everywhere in Albania.
- Get help, don’t try to completely DIY this trip. Albania is still rough around the edges when it comes to services for foreign travelers. It’s safe but they are still trying to “figure things out” so hiring local drivers and hiking guides can save you a lot of stress, time and money. Especially if you plan to cross borders.
- Do your research before deciding to drive here. I’ve seen crazed drivers with no care for rules, but Albanian drivers are on a whole different level!
- Bring allergy medications if you’re allergic to smoke. Albania and this entire region have a heavy smoking culture and while some establishments are beginning to regulate smoking indoors, you will most likely be surrounded by second-hand smoke throughout your visit here.
We’ve barely scratched the surface with this guide, there is SO MUCH more to explore in Albania! We focused on the best hiking currently available for foreign tourists, but if you speak Albanian or can easily navigate unmarked trails, then this country can keep your feet busy for months.
Stay tuned for our next guide on Hiking Montenegro.
