Peaks of the Balkans Trail
STARTING POINT
Theth
FINISH POINT
Theth
DURATION
12 days / 11 nights
SEASON
From June to October
TECHNICAL LEVEL
FITNESS LEVEL
TOUR TYPE
Hut-to-Hut
PRICE
From 950€/person
- Experience the untouched beauty of the Accursed Mountains
- Cross borders on foot between Albania, Montenegro, and Kosovo
- Stay in rustic mountain huts and guesthouses, experiencing authentic Balkan hospitality
- Discover hidden shepherd hamlets and traditional villages where time seems to stand still
- Follow the path as it winds from rocky paths to lush meadows and shaded forests
- Enjoy the tranquility of a wilderness adventure in one of Europe’s most secluded regions
Self-guided
INCLUDED IN PRICE
What to Bring to the Tour
The Peaks of the Balkans trail connects some of the most remote and untouched mountain landscapes in Europe. This 10-day hiking journey will take you across Albania, Montenegro, and Kosovo, winding through the rugged Accursed Mountains, past isolated shepherd huts, and over high mountain passes.
The terrain is varied, with sections of forested trails, open meadows, and rocky paths. Although the trail does not present technical difficulties, the long daily distances and elevation changes demand good physical fitness and experience with remote hiking.
The remoteness of this trek is part of its appeal, as you’ll pass through small hamlets and villages where shepherds still follow centuries-old traditions. You’ll be staying in simple yet cozy mountain huts and guesthouses, which, though rustic, provide a warm bed, meal, and shelter for the night.
While the remoteness of the trail means limited access to facilities, the occasional small shop in villages will allow you to restock snacks and essentials as you progress through the trek.
This adventure also includes the excitement of crossing borders high in the mountains, where we arrange all the necessary permits for you. This will allow you to have peace of mind as you climb to the tri-border point of Albania, Kosovo, and Montenegro.
We take care of all the logistics for you, ensuring your journey is smooth and worry-free. We secure the essential border permits required for this multi-country adventure and book all your accommodations in advance, providing stays in traditional guesthouses and rustic mountain huts.
You’ll be provided with a comprehensive travel booklet and GPS navigation so that you’re fully prepared for each day’s hike, and we also offer support should you need assistance along the way.
With stunning alpine scenery, welcoming local culture, and the sense of completing one of Europe’s hidden gem long-distance hikes, the Peaks of the Balkans trail is a truly unforgettable adventure for seasoned hikers looking to explore the wild beauty of the Balkans.
If you find yourself short on time or only wish to tackle the most scenic stages of the trail, check out our Peaks of the Balkans Trail Highlights!
Map
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course. We aim to make your decision as easy as possible. Therefore, we crafted several selections targeted at particular groups of hikers – Best for Beginners, Best for Advanced Hikers, Mountain Hikes, Pilgrimages, Classic Treks, etc.
If you remain unsure and overwhelmed, you can fill out this form or book a call with us, and we can help you directly.
Number of people
A fantastic 3 day self guided Hut to Hut hike around Triglav National Park in Slovenia. We experienced a full range of weather which made it an unforgettable trip. The organisation and back up support with GPS maps etc was excellent. Hut staff were friendly and very happy to give advice and suggestions on the routes and directions. Would recommend.
My friend and I went with Triglav Tours for a 3 day, 2 night hike this summer and had the most amazing time!! Our guide, Bine, was awesome and had lots of cool facts to share about the area we were hiking. Additionally, my friend and I had not completed such a technical hike before and the guide and other guests were very patient with us and encouraging, ensuring we felt safe the entire time. The overnights were also such a fun way to get to know Bine, the other guests, and other hikers as well. Cannot recommend Triglav tours enough!!!
I arranged a six-day/five-night trip with Hut to Hut Slovenia. It's the first time I've gone with a tour organizer and I can say it went really well. In the past I've arranged huts myself and it is a huge hassle figuring out how to make the bookings, if the bookings actually exist, and what good/viable routes might be. Having this all sort was, at least to me, totally worth it. The routing is via Ride with GPS, which was great. I'd recommend bringing 1:25,000 scale paper maps as a backup, just in case. The huts themselves differ wildly. Some are really rustic with, ahem, interesting toilet facilities. One was accessible by road and thus had showers, a long menu, and even espresso. All will have some sort of food, but you might only have two options for dinner (one with meat, one vegetarian). The cuisine in the Slovenian huts leans strongly to stews and goulashes with minimal fresh vegetables and/or fruit. Certainly good and hearty but pretty much everyone I talked to said the food was better in the Italian and Austrian huts. Some huts are cash only, some take cards (but the card reader might be down). A 1.5 litre bottle of water is about 6 euro, so if you have a beer with dinner and also buy lunch you need to carry about 25-30 euro per day in cash (assuming you have a booking that includes breakfast). Of the six days of hiking, four were ridiculously spectacular, with the highlight being sunrise from Mt Stol. Getting up to the high mountains, though, can be crazy steep, with switchbacks only sparsely used. Descents are similarly tough, and you have to watch every step. For the first time ever I used trekking poles and my knees thank me. Two days were a bit of a slog, but this is probably unavoidable getting up to or down from the high terrain. Would I do something like this again? Yes, absolutely! But next time it will probably be the Dolomites.
We had a lovely hike today with our guide Klemen. He personalized the tour on our needs and interests, so that we saw places we wouldn't without his experience. The hike was a little bit slippery after the rain from the last days and it went a lot upwards, but it was totally worth it! Thanks again :)
Self-Guided
On a self-guided tour, you explore a destination independently, following a pre-planned route and itinerary without a guide but with all necessary information and accommodation bookings provided in advance.