Trail Notes

From the trail.

Reports, guides, and stories from our guides and the people who travel with us.

Stories28 Apr 2026

A Shepherd's Story: 60 Years on the Same Mountain

We sit down with Pjeter, an 82-year-old shepherd in Theth, who has summered on the same alpine pasture since 1962.

Equipment20 Apr 2026

The Definitive Packing List for the Peaks of the Balkans

Everything you need (and what you can skip) for the 192km cross-border trek.

Travel Tips10 Apr 2026

The Best Time to Hike the Balkans: A Month-by-Month Guide

Wondering when to plan your Balkan adventure? Here is the honest, ground-truth seasonal guide from local guides.

Travel Tips8 Jun 2025

Best Time to Hike the Balkans: Month-by-Month Seasonal Guide

When should you visit Kosovo, Albania, and Montenegro for mountain hiking? A month-by-month breakdown of weather, trail conditions, crowds, and what to expect each season.

Equipment1 Jun 2025

Best Hiking Gear for the Balkan Mountains: What to Pack in 2025

The definitive packing list for multi-day hiking in Kosovo, Albania, and Montenegro. Boots, layers, navigation tools, and the essential items most hikers forget.

Destination Guide22 May 2025

Montenegro Hiking Guide: Prokletije National Park and the Balkan Peaks

Montenegro's share of the Prokletije — including the Visitor Peak, Grebaje Valley, and Rosni Plato — is wilderness hiking at its finest. Here's how to explore it.

Destination Guide15 May 2025

The Valbona–Theth Trek: Albania's Most Iconic Mountain Crossing

Day-by-day guide to the Valbona–Theth traverse — Albania's most famous mountain hike. How to get there, where to stay, what to expect on the pass, and how to do it right.

Destination Guide8 May 2025

Gjeravica Peak: A Hiker's Guide to Kosovo's Highest Summit (2,656 m)

Gjeravica is the roof of Kosovo — a bold 2,656 m summit in the Prokletije range on the Albania border. Here is everything you need to plan and complete the ascent.

Destination Guide1 May 2025

Albania Hiking Guide: From the Accursed Mountains to the Albanian Alps

Albania's northern mountains are among Europe's most dramatic and least-visited. This guide covers the best hikes in the Albanian Alps — Valbona, Theth, the Razem Loop, and beyond.

Destination Guide18 Apr 2025

Kosovo Hiking Guide: 7 Best Trails to Explore in 2025

From the dramatic Rugova Gorge to the summit of Gjeravica — Kosovo's highest peak — this guide covers the seven best hiking trails in Kosovo for all ability levels.

Destination Guide10 Apr 2025

Peaks of the Balkans: The Complete Hiking Guide for 2025

Everything you need to know about hiking the 192 km Peaks of the Balkans trail through Kosovo, Albania and Montenegro — routes, difficulty, best time to go, and what to pack.