Hiking in Albania absolutely blew my mind

It exceeded all of my expectations and more! Before touching town in one of my new favourite countries, I knew I wanted to hike the Valbona to Theth hike… but I didn’t realise how many other hiking trials Albania had to offer.

The mountains are majestic, the beaches are dazzling and the Albanian hospitality is un-matched.

Albania is a hiking-haven for those adventurers looking for something a little different. Although the Valbona to Theth hike is well-trodden, there are plenty of other trials that haven’t yet had their time in the spot light.

Harvey and I visited Albania in October and can’t recommend it enough. The Autumn colors completely transform the landscape to be a blanket of oranges, browns and reds.

Albania has a range of hikes

if you’re a pro, you’ll find many a mountain for you to climb (especially up the north) but there are also plenty of beginner friendly trails too.

Whatever your kinda hike, I’m sure here will be one in this list for you. So, strap up ya boots and let’s get into it.

The secret is slowly but surely getting out about hiking in Albania, it is a gem of the Balkans in terms of the mountainous terrain and EPIC views offered. This little country absolutely blew me away with its natural landscapes and majestic mountains.

Many of the country’s top hiking trails are in the north, just up from Shkoder. Well, the most famous hike is anyway – the Valbona to Theth track. However, there are also other incredible hiking trails along the southern coast including a couple near Himare in the Llogara Pass.

Most of the tracks have been well-trodden and are well sign-posted which is extremely helpful. However, there is a HUGE gap on All-Trials (my go-to hiking app) in terms of trials to follow. I usually like having the route GPS-tracked to make sure I’m heading in the right direction, but not in Albania. We had to raw-dog it and use the signs to guide us.

Albanian hospitality is top-notch, some of the best I’ve ever experienced. In the mountain towns of Theth and Valbona, you’ll find beautiful, locally run guesthouses that will look after you, feed you, get you clued up on the terrain, before sending you off into the mountains <3. Honestly, backpacking in Albania is a dream.

Albania Trail Safety

I’ve noted some of the most important tips for keeping yourself safe when hiking in Albania:

• Let someone know you’re going – Hiking 101, always let someone know where you’re going and how long you expect to be.

• Pack the right gear – What you need to take will depend on the season, the distance, etc. You’ll find more information on what to pack throughout and at the end of this article.

• Don’t leave home without a plan – Research the track you’re about to tackle so you know what to expect and how to prepare.

• Check the weather forecast – This step is crucial. You’ll want to know if it’s expected to piss down, snow or maybe even just be exceptionally hot so that you can prepare.

• Respect the wildlife – Although it’s extremely rare to see them, there are bears and wolves in Albania. You might want to brush up on what to do in the unlikely event that you come across one of these beasts.

• Leave plenty of time – This is especially important in winter when the days are shorter. Leave as early as possible and always take a good head torch, just in case.

• Take enough food and water – I can’t drill this one home enough. Take enough food and a shit load of water. I’ve hiked without enough water before, and in summer, it’s seriously dangerous.

  
  The Top 8 Best Albania Hikes

  
  1. Valbona to Theth 2. Blue Eye to Theth 4.Grunas Canyon, 5.Grunas Waterfall Trail, 6.Theth

  Maja e Qores/ Maja e Çikës 7.Blue Eye, 8.Sardana 9.Gjipe Beach, 10. Himara 11. Maja Rosit, 12. Valbona