5 Best Hikes in Albania I’d Recommend + My Hiking Tips

What is the Best Season to Go Hiking in Albania?

That’s a great question! The best time of year to go hiking in Albania is during spring, April to June, or in Autumn, which starts in September and ends in November as this is when you will find the best weather conditions.

Why? Well, December through March is when they have their harsh winters, and trekking in Albania becomes a whole lot more difficult.

The temperature can get as low as -9°C (15°F), and there may be snow on the ground that could make it hard for you to trek through the dirt roads with your hiking boots.

And if you’re going in the summer months (July or August) then those are months where it’s mostly hot weather, though it’s also the season for summer music festivals in Albania.

This means sometimes that people might not want to take their Albania hike at this time, because of the high temperatures which become overwhelming.

The Best Albania Hiking Tours to Do

If you don’t feel comfortable hiking alone in Albania, there are plenty of guided tours that you can do instead. Check out the best hiking tours in Albania here.

What Should I Pack for my Hike in Albania?

Hiking in Albania can be an incredible experience, but it is important to pack the right equipment. Do not forget your water and backpack!

You will also need a camera or mobile phone with GPS if you want to take pictures of the scenery.

Bring clothes that are durable for hiking up hills as well as dry quickly – this includes technical clothing made from synthetic materials like polyester (or other quick-dry fabrics).

Don’t forget sun protection! Make sure you have enough food before leaving home so that you don’t end up starving when out exploring either, though you’ll want to save room for traditional Albanian food afterwards.

Pack light snacks such as dried fruit or nuts which are easy, and leave room in your bag for a few Albanian souvenirs on the way home.

List of packing items I recommend:

• Hiking shoes, good sneakers or boots (good grip and ankle support)
• Waterproof jacket for rain/wind protection
• Light, waterproof trousers with reinforced knees and seat area to avoid wear on the fabric from sitting down – also good if it rains as you can keep your legs dry under
• Maps.me app is a fantastic resource to have on your phone which outlines the trails throughout the country without the need for WiFi
• Torch or headlamp for walking in the dark at night
• Wool or fleece clothing layer to keep warm during winter months
• Sun protection: sun hats, sunglasses and high SPF sunscreen
• Waterproof bags that can be clipped onto your belt loop so you have easy access to them during a rainstorm

Now that you’re prepared (my Albania travel tips cover the rest), let’s discuss the best 5 trails for hiking in Albania.

1. Theth-Valbona Hike

Distance: About 10.5 miles or 17 km

Hours: 6-8 hours

Difficulty level: Medium

Theth to Valbona is the most popular hike in Albania and the most spectacular, crossing a vast mountain range.

It is an astonishing experience that will take your breath away at every turn!

You’ll climb through woodland, past high mountain meadows and up into dramatic areas of limestone cliffs before descending down to the green Valbona Valley.

This Valbona Pass hike takes from 6-8 hours depending on how many times you want to stop for photos, and trust me, that will be a lot! After all, it’s considered the best hiking in Albania for a reason, and one of the reasons I think you should visit Albania.

The times will also depend on where your accommodation is from the trail (I’ve rounded up the best hotels in Albania too). If you stay at a lodge (or one of the best hostels in Albania) that’s far from the trail, you may want to consider getting a ride to the start to cut some time off the end.

The nearest accommodation to the start of the trail in Theth is Guest House Gjelaj or Marash Rrgalla Guesthouse.

And the nearest accommodation option to the trail starting in Valbona is Hotel Margjeka.

This hotel was so amazing and they also have one of the best restaurants in Valbona so it’s a great place to stay if you need a hearty bite to eat before or after the hike! For something fancier elsewhere, see my luxury hotels in Albania.

2. Kakome to Krorez Hike

Hours: 1.5 – 2 hours

Difficulty level: Easy/Medium

If you’re looking for hike which takes you to pristine beaches, this is the hike for you!

This is one of the best locations for hiking in Albania and it has some of the best views in all of Albania. It is relatively easy and takes you through some of the most beautiful scenery along the Albanian Riviera.

The Kakome to Krorez hike takes about 2 hours to complete and is a beautiful walk that hugs the coast, and an easy add-on to the things to do in Saranda.

The coastal trail takes you through forests, past bunkers and even 2 monasteries before reaching Krorez beach on the other side of the mountain

You will have to catch a taxi or drive your car (here’s how to hire a car in Albania) to the entrance of Kakome gate. You will see a big closed gate blocking the entrance to the beach.

It is safe to leave your car on the side of the road there.

This long hike follows a trail uphill, first going past one of the oldest monasteries in Albania, the Monastery of Saint Mary.

This peaceful setting is a great stopover before continuing uphill towards the beach of Krorez.

Once you have had a wander around then continue to follow the trail which leads uphill and hugs the side of the mountain.

You will reach a second monastery – Manastiri i Krorzes and from there you will descend down to the beach.

3. Hike to the Blue Eye from Theth

Distance: 12 miles

Difficulty level: Easy/Medium

Visiting the Blue Eye is a great thing to do for the day, and one of the most rewarding hikes in Albania.

The hike takes around 3 hours and is easy/medium difficulty but as this hike is quite a long way from the main villages, you will get to explore so much of Albania’s nature. If you’re visiting Theth, then you really cannot miss out on this Albanien hiking experience.

You can walk all the way there which takes about 3 hours or you can take a 4×4 to the entrance of the hike and then walk the last 45 minutes to the Blue Eye.

I loved walking the whole trail as parts of the trail had so many spectacular views along the way.

Fun fact: many American tourists looking to hike Trailsday hikes in June choose to visit the Blue Eye on these Albania trails!

4. Hike to Theth Waterfall

Hours: 45 minutes from Theth church

Difficulty level: Easy/Medium

The Theth waterfall hike is one of the best places to go hiking in Albania, and it is one of the easiest to finish with a lot of flat terrain – perfect for a laid back Albania walking holiday!

You can find the waterfall in Theth National Park.

This quick hike is great if you want to explore the local area of Theth and only have an afternoon to spare on your 1 week Albania itinerary as it takes approximately 45 minutes to get to the waterfall.

Treking Albania on this route is highly rewarding: once you do reach the waterfall your breath will be taken away.

📚 P.S. Grab access to my Travelling Albania Guide on Amazon to get a comprehensive insight into the best places to visit in Albania (including secret spots that are not recommended in the usual guides!)

5. Peaks of the Balkans Trail

Sometimes the best hiking trails take you to amazing places (I’ve listed more in my best places to visit in Albania), and on this route you’ll get to experience spectacular mountains and more!

The peaks of the Balkans trail goes through 3 countries in total – you’ll be hiking in Albania, hiking in Kosovo and finally hiking in Montengro.

The route is approximately 192km long, and is one of the most challenging multi day hikes Albania has to offer.

A full traverse takes around 10- 13 days depending on how fast you would like to do it and how long you would like to stay in each place.

If you prefer doing a guided version of this hike, then this tour is a great one to take!

With the peaks of the Balkan trail, you will stay in each of these places along the way depending on where you would like to start/finish:

1. Theth, Albania
2. Valbonë, Albania
3. Çerem, Albania
4. Dobërdol, Albania
5. Milishevc, Kosovo
6. Reka e Allagës, Kosovo
7. Liqinat i Kuçishtës, Kosovo
8. Babino Polje, Montenegro
9. Plav, Montenegro
10. Vusanje, Montenegro

You can find more in-depth information about the Balkans hiking trail on this website.

This hike is definitely for those who are more comfortable with hiking and have a little more experience than the average person.

But the Balkans hiking trail is definitely a once in a lifetime opportunity and experience and some of the best mountains in Albania!

Even More Hikes in Albania!

Hikes are a great way to explore the natural and cultural beauty of this country, alongside the Albania UNESCO sites and castles in Albania.

There are some really interesting hikes in Albania, with stunning views that will make you want to keep exploring for days at a time (pitching up at one of the best Albania campsites is an option).

There are plenty of other hikes to explore in Albania too that I have not mentioned in this post which covers other regions within the county, plus plenty of unique things to do in Albania beyond hiking.

There are more great Albania hiking routes in the north, in south Albania and even in central Albania, such as the Gamti mountain hike which can be reached easily (see my Albania bus timetables) if you’re hiking Tirana and the surrounding area (Tirana is one of the cities in Albania I think is worth visiting).

One of the other most popular hikes in Albania is Mount Çika hike in Llogara National Park, an easy stop if you’re following my Albania travel guide down the coast.

This is a mountainous area in Albania and is truly beautiful, one of the many reasons why I love Albania!

If you have other Albania best hikes to add to this list, let me know down below!