The Albanian Alps and Fjords of the Balkan Peninsula FOREIGN TRIP

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Step back in time and discover Albania - stretching to the crystal clear waters of the Adriatic and Ionian sea, it boasts a unique blend of virgin nature, Alpine mountains and rich cultural traditions. One of the world’s most mountainous countries and one of Europe's least visited - Albania offers magnificent tranquillity and unspoilt beauty. Famous for Europe’s oldest lake, this is also the homeland to Mother Teresa.

Explore the highlights of northern Albania and admire its enchanting Accursed Mountains and timeless mountain villages on this week long trip. Hike the most stunning section of the "Peaks of the Balkans" trail, visit deep canyons and a bright blue lake with an overhanging waterfall. Venture into a scenic fjord ride which will leave you awestruck by the surrounding steep mountains carpeted from the water to the peaks in ancient forests. Stay at frozen-in-time towns to get a close glimpse of a different pace of life and enjoy the famous Albanian hospitality and local traditions.

Trip Highlights:

• Hike an iconic section of the 192km long "Peaks of the Balkans" trail originally set to bond Albania, Kosovo and Montenegro

• Enjoy a scenic fjord ferry ride through the heart of the Albanian Alps

• Conquer The Pyramid (2039m) located on the Montenegro border

• Visit the ancient Rozafa Castle - dating back to Roman and Ottoman times

• Admire the crystal waters of the Blue Eye Lake and its majestic waterfall

• Stay in one of the oldest and most significant towns in Albania - Shkoder

• Visit the vibrant capital Tirana

• A small group limited to just 16 with 1 English speaking local Albanian Mountain Guide per 8 people to keep it really special

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Photos - All photos were taken by our guides on previous trips

Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPa4pBloyOY

Holiday Description

Nestled between the turquoise waters of Italy and northern Greece, Albania is on the rise as a top hiking destination. From sandy Mediterranean beaches to rugged snowcapped mountains, it offers a tranquil and diverse experience in nature. Charming with the simplicity of its countryside, the sounds of cowbells and the smiles of the friendly locals, Albania is the perfect place for the curious traveller.

On our week long trip we go deep in the heart of the Albanian Alps also known as the Accursed Mountains due to their craggy tops, untamed terrain and breathtaking vistas. We admire their lyrical beauty and pass through deep green valleys and thick wild forests to visit places where traditions hold strong. We hike the most famous and tough part of the "Peaks of the Balkan" trail (Theth-Valbona) and also conquer one of the highest peaks in the area that lies on the border with Montenegro - The Pyramid. Our trails also lead us to deep narrow canyons, bright blue lakes with roaring waterfalls and two ancient castles dating back to Roman and Ottoman times. We enjoy a breathtaking ferry ride through a deep fjord admiring the crystal waters of the Komani Lake and the rugged mountain walls all around.

Important Notes

Although this trip is designed as a mixture of varied hiking and sightseeing, some of the hikes involve tough and long uphill/downhill sections and this trip is only suitable for hikers with experience of mountain hiking. Hiking boots ideally with ankle protection are essential due to the uneven and rocky terrain on some hikes.

ITINERARY

Friday 1st July

Pick up from Tirana airport and transfer to Shkoder. We stop to enjoy some lunch on the way before we continue our journey through the countryside to Shkoder - a capital during 300 BC and one of the oldest and largest towns in Albania. We also visit the ancient Rozafa Castle - rising imposingly on a rocky hill and guarded by rivers, the castle is steeped in legend and history predating Roman times with breath taking panoramic views.

Saturday 2nd July

Saturday's hike: The Field of Denelli
Distance: 8 miles (12km)
Ascent: approx 960m
Descent: approx 960m, a steep downhill section
Grading: Challenging/Mountain
Hiking time: About 5 to 6 hours of actual hiking

We are transferred to Theth National Park for our hike through the scenic Boga Valley.
We hike the famous Field of Denelli trail that takes up the mountain to 1570m altitude and reveals breathtaking views. We spend the night in the remote and idyllic village of Theth.

Sunday 3rd July

Sunday's hike: Grunas Waterfall and Canyon, Blue Eye Lake
Distance: approx 14 to 18km
Ascent: approx 400m
Grading: Intermediate
Hiking time: About 6 hours of actual hiking

We’ve planned a day of discovery hiking to the most remarkable places in Theth National Park. Our first stop is the impressive 30m high Grunas Waterfall and the popular canyon admiring its fairytale like beauty and vast carbon formations. Our path then follows the crystal clear river and brings us to curious naturally formed stone tubs with pools of lucent waters. We enjoy lunch at the famous Blue Eye Lake - fed by a waterfall, it captivates with its turquoise waters and untamed allure.

Monday 4th July

Monday’s hike: Theth-Valbona
Distance: 9 miles (14km)
Ascent: 1000 metres
Grading: Challenging/Mountain
Hiking time: About 5 to 6 hours of actual hiking

This is one of the most popular trails in Albania and a key section of the 192km long "Peaks of the Balkans" trail. Our transverse hike passes through colourful alpine meadows into the heart of the Accursed Mountains revealing far reaching panoramic views over the stunning mountain peaks and lush valleys. This famous trail follows an ancient mule path linking two tribal regions. After our ascent we gently descend to the village of Valbona where we stay for the night, while our luggage is transferred by donkey.

Tuesday 5th July

Tuesday’s hike: The Pyramid (2039m)
Distance: 8-9 miles (12 - 14km)
Ascent: 1092m
Grading: Challenging/Mountain
Hiking time: About 5 to 6 hours of actual hiking

Today we conquer the Pyramid (2039m), which is exactly on Albania and Montenegro's border. We hike through lush green beech and pine forests following the right side of the valley. Reaching the top we are rewarded with broad awe inspiring views of two countries - Albania on one side and Montenegro on the other.
Please note, this hike is tough, for anyone who doesn't want to visit it, there is an option to stay at the mountain hut at 1670m and wait for the group to return.

Wednesday 6th July

After the challenging hikes we have planned a special treat - a scenic ferry ride through a deep fjord along the mesmerising Komani Lake. We enjoy a leisurely journey on the serene Komani Lake waters and indulge the magical landscapes of the Albanian Alps before returning to Tirana where we spend the night.

Thursday 7th July

Breakfast marks the end of our adventure. You are welcome to make your own arrangements to the airport - a taxi is typically about €15-€20

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Cost

The trip is £665 per person.

To join us please RSVP Yes and pay by PayPal. All trip payments are non-refundable and non-transferable.

Once full payment has been received for the trip and the trip is sold out (full), then you may try to sell your space to a member of the same sex by advertising it for sale on this page.

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Start and end time

ALL times are in local time to the town i.e. the times listed for Albania are in Albanian local time

We suggest an inbound group flight below and for anyone arriving on this flight or is at the airport at this time, we will arrange a complimentary transfer to the accommodation at 12:40pm. If you arrive after this time, you will need to make your own way to the accommodation and we can wait for the suggested flight only - if delayed.

Inbound flight 01.07.2022
British Airways 8:15am from London Heathrow (LHR) to Tirana (TIA) landing at 12:20pm
Flight: BA2650

Return
Trip ends Tirana city on day 7. The trip ends after breakfast and you are welcome to make your own arrangements to the airport or if holiday permits you can extend your stay for a night and explore this city.

Food

Breakfast and dinner will be provided each day, as well as lunch at the Blue Eye Lake. You are welcome to explore the local cuisine for lunch each day and choose your own. The local cuisine is Mediterranean with influences from Italian, Greek and Turkish cooking. Vegetarian and vegan food can be catered for, but will be a more limited choice.

Some dietary requirements such as lactose free, nut free, gluten free cannot be catered for.

We need to be aware of all dietary requirements prior to booking, so please do email us to verify if they can be catered for first: info@outdooraholics.co.uk

The price includes:

• 6 nights accommodation in twin ensuite rooms - we stay in a mixture of guest houses and hotels. In Albania these are not to the same standard as Western Europe

• Breakfast and dinner each day, lunch at the Blue Eye Lake

• All travel for the hiking days and a complimentary airport transfer at the start of the trip

• Luggage transfer by horses/mules - this needs to be soft luggage only and max 15kg, otherwise you will need to pay for your own luggage transport by car and it is very expensive

• Ferry ticket across the Komani Lake

• Albanian/English speaking mountain guide/s who are also Qualified Outdoor First Aiders

• Compliance with the 2018 Package Travel Regulations including Financial protection

The price doesn’t include:

• Flights

• Lunch at a well known traditional restaurant upon arrival - €16 per person

• Meals other than the above mentioned (a typical lunch can be had for approximately €6-€8)

• Rozafa Castle entrance fee (~ €2.5)

• Drinks and personal expenses

• Travel insurance – this is essential that you take out and you will need to provide a copy of it on the trip

Insurance

It is a requirement of participating in all Outdooraholics trips outside the UK that you have valid travel insurance that covers the cost of emergency medical treatment and also specifically the activity of hiking (up to 2100m in this case). It is also recommended that this covers illness, cancellation and curtailment. You will be required to provide a copy of this on the trip and without it we cannot accept you onto the trip and no refund will be due in this case.

Outdooraholics cannot verify policies or what they cover so please confirm this with your insurer and the guide accepting your policy is not an indication that we confirm it is valid or covers what we list, only your insurers can confirm this. There are lots of insurers who cover hiking like the BMC: https://www.thebmc.co.uk/insurance

Please note that you will also need to ensure you have all valid documents to visit this country including a passport and a Visa if you require one.

Safety

The hikes are led by experienced and trained guides. Outdoor activities involve a risk of personal injury. Please come with hiking footwear and suitable hiking clothes such as warm clothes, waterproof jacket and trousers in case of rain - for more info please click here: https://outdooraholics.co.uk/equipment.pdf

T&C

By signing up to or attending this event you agree to the T&C below: https://www.meetup.com/Outdooraholics/pages/3458542/TermsConditions

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Errors and Omissions Excepted

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