Q: How fit do I need to be?

Each tour page shows two ratings from 1 to 5: fitness , for how long and steep the days are, and technical , for how rough the ground is. Nothing in Albania needs ropes or scrambling, but mountain paths are rocky and loose near the passes. Our Hiking Difficulty Guide explains the scale. Not sure which tour suits you? Ask us .

Q: How do I get to the starting point of the tour?

Everything starts from Tirana airport : Shkodër , for the Alps tours: two hours by road , by bus or by a transfer we book for you Theth : a paved road up from Shkodër, about two hours, open from late spring to the first snow Valbona : the Koman ferry , two and a half hours down the lake , which looks like a fjord, then a van up the valley Himarë , for the coast: about four hours by road through the Llogara tunnel Exact times and pick-up points come with your booking confirmation. Flying into a different airport, or want a night in Tirana first? Let us know and we arrange it.

Question 1

Do I hike with a guide?

Accepted Answer

No. You walk without a group or a guide, with the route in our navigation app and the guidebook on your phone. Both work offline, so a weak signal on the trail is not a problem.

How a self-guided tour works, step by step.

Question 2

How fit do I need to be?

Accepted Answer

Each tour page shows two ratings from 1 to 5: fitness, for how long and steep the days are, and technical, for how rough the ground is. Nothing in Albania needs ropes or scrambling, but mountain paths are rocky and loose near the passes.

Our Hiking Difficulty Guide explains the scale. Not sure which tour suits you? Ask us.

Question 3

Is accommodation included, and what is it like?

Accepted Answer

Yes. All nights on the tour are included, with breakfast and a private room: guesthouses in the mountain villages, hotels in towns and on the coast. A few remote stops on the Peaks of the Balkans are simpler.

Each tour page shows example stays, and the exact names come with your booking confirmation. Want an upgrade or an extra night? Let us know.

Question 4

Are meals included?

Accepted Answer

Breakfast is included every day. Lunch and dinner you pay on the spot, often in cash, and your guidebook lists where to eat at each stop.

Question 5

Can you accommodate my food restrictions?

Accepted Answer

Vegetarian is easy in Albania: byrek, beans, salads, cheese and eggs are on most tables. Vegan and gluten-free take more planning in small village kitchens, so tell us when you book and we pass it on to every place you stay.

Question 6

Will my luggage be moved for me?

Accepted Answer

Usually not. Between mountain villages there is often no road, so you carry your own pack, and 25 to 45 litres is enough. Where a tour keeps the same hotel for several nights, your bags stay in the room.

Question 7

Can I choose my start date or add nights?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Tours start on the day that suits you within the season, and we can add nights before, during or after the tour. Tell us your dates and we check availability.

Question 8

How far in advance should I book?

Accepted Answer

For July and August in the Albanian Alps, book in spring: the mountain villages have few rooms. The coast in spring and autumn usually has space a few weeks ahead. Travelling sooner? Ask us what is still free.

Question 9

Can I go alone?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A room of your own costs a single supplement; ask us for the price on your dates.

Question 10

How do I get to the starting point of the tour?

Accepted Answer

Everything starts from Tirana airport:

Shkodër, for the Alps tours: two hours by road, by bus or by a transfer we book for you
Theth: a paved road up from Shkodër, about two hours, open from late spring to the first snow
Valbona: the Koman ferry, two and a half hours down the lake, which looks like a fjord, then a van up the valley
Himarë, for the coast: about four hours by road through the Llogara tunnel

Exact times and pick-up points come with your booking confirmation.

Flying into a different airport, or want a night in Tirana first? Let us know and we arrange it.

Question 11

Do I need a passport or a permit?

Accepted Answer

A passport, yes; no visa for stays under 90 days for EU, UK, US, Canadian and Australian citizens. Anyone else applies through Albania's e-visa portal.

The Peaks of the Balkans routes cross into Montenegro and Kosovo away from any border post, and that needs a permit from the border police of all three countries. We apply for it as part of your booking; you carry a copy on the trail. Routes that stay inside Albania need no permit.

Question 12

Should I get travel insurance?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and we can arrange it. Any of our tours can include insurance: it is your choice at the time of booking, and Redpoint Travel Protection, our partner, provides the policy.

On the Peaks of the Balkans you also walk in Montenegro and Kosovo, so check that whichever policy you take covers all three countries.

Question 13

Do I need cash?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and more than you think. The currency is the lek; euros are accepted in the valleys; no cash machine in Theth or Valbona.

What runs on cash: dinner and drinks at the guesthouses, the ferry, the van, the café hut at the top of the pass. Draw it in Shkodër.

Question 14

What if the weather turns or a pass is closed?

Accepted Answer

Mountain weather changes fast. If snow, storms or a closed pass make a crossing unsafe, we arrange a local mountain guide for that day (paid on the spot) or a way round by road, and you hear from us the evening before, not at the trailhead.

Question 15

What happens if I need help on the trail?

Accepted Answer

Call the support number in your guidebook, at any hour. A missed ferry, a closed road or a lost booking is ours to fix, and one call rearranges the day. In an emergency, dial 112.

Question 16

Are the tours suitable for children?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the route and the child. Each tour page shows the daily distances and the fitness rating: teenagers who hike regularly manage the mountain crossings, and younger children do better on shorter coastal walks. Tell us their ages and we suggest a route.

Albania Hiking Tours

Self-guided hiking and walking tours in Albania

Our Self-Guided Hiking Tours

Albanian Alps Hiking Tour

Best of the Accursed Mountains Hiking Tour

The Albanian Coastal Trail

Peaks of the Balkans Trail Highlights

Peaks of the Balkans Trek