Many hikers are familiar with the famous trails of Western Europe. Camino de Santiago, Tour du Mont Blanc, and the Laugavegur Trail might come to mind. If you are looking to try something a little different, consider the Peaks of the Balkans.
The Peaks of the Balkans is a ten-day, 192-kilometer trail through Albania, Montenegro, and Kosovo with beautiful views, mountain passes, and 9,800 metres of elevation. We hiked the trail in early July. While camping is possible, we were able to keep our backpacks light by staying in lodges along the way.
We were in awe of the sights of the Albanian alps (also known as the Accursed Mountains) as we crossed though remote mountain passes where we watched shepherds move their flocks across the landscape. We spent many hours on big mountain ridges with panoramic sights. One, on the Montenegro side, gave us stunning views into both Montenegro and Kosovo as we traversed the border.
Making our way through the pine and spruce forests of Kosovo, it felt like a remarkable place to be considering that only twenty-one years ago more than 1,300 Canadian troops were deployed here with their allies as peacekeepers after the war.
Indeed, this trail is a wonderful tribute to a new era in the region. Opened in 2011 with support from the German government, this trail network makes use of ancient paths that became impossible to use during the Cold War and the long period of tension and upheaval in the region.
Along the way, we stayed in lodges and guesthouses. All of these offered great family style dinners with breakfast and a take-away lunch with plenty of options for vegetarians.
Making friends was easy and we got used to seeing many of the same people for dinner and a beer each night at our lodges.
Surprising for those of us who are used to hiking in Canada, there are often at least a couple spots to stop for coffee or a bite to eat each day, even in remote mountain areas.
If you are thinking of going, planning is essential. Check out the official website. Book your accommodations in advance. You will need to obtain special visas to legally cross the uncontrolled border areas between the mountains.
Seeing the growth in the region and the people coming from all over Europe and North America to visit, I suspect it might not be long before the Peaks of the Balkans starts showing up on the lists of world-famous trails.
- Courtesy, Matt Ostergard