Kosovo, Montenegro and Albania · 6 days · 115 miles · 3 countries, guesthouses and tent
Peaks of the Balkans Hiking Guide
In late May 2026 I spent six days on the Peaks of the Balkans trail, from the Rugova valley in Kosovo through Montenegro and over to Theth and Valbona in Albania. It was so early in the season that the trails were empty but buried in snow, and on the last day I turned back from an icy pass. This guide has my GPS files, maps and notes for every day, plus the border permits, guesthouses, transport, cash and what it cost.
What's inside
- All six days. Stats, time to allow, my notes, the trail, where to get off, a map with an elevation profile, and links to that day in both of my films.
- My GPX files. My own recordings for each day, with waypoints for where I slept and ate, the passes and where I turned back, ready for AllTrails, Gaia GPS, Garmin or Organic Maps.
- Border permits, explained. Which crossings need one, what Albania, Kosovo and Montenegro each ask for, the 2026 fees, and how to apply.
- Guesthouses and getting there. Where I slept each night and how it was booked, plus the buses, minibuses and the Komani ferry from Pristina, Podgorica and Shkodër.
- Early-season snow. What late May was really like on each pass, the 2026 snow report, and what to carry if you go before summer.
- A 10-stage plan from my GPS. The usual loop from Theth, with my measured distances for each stage, and the part I didn't walk.
- Food, water, cash and costs. Every place I found a meal, where the ATMs are (and aren't), and what I paid.
- Before you go and a trip sheet. One page of year-to-year checks and a printable one-page summary of the whole trip.
Look inside
The details
- Format
- A 60-page PDF sized for a phone (A5, prints fine too) and a folder of GPX files, in one zip download.
- Edition
- 2027 season edition, updated September 2026.
- Delivery
- Instant. After you pay you get a private download link. Bookmark it to download again on any device.
- Payment
- Secure checkout through Stripe. The price is in US dollars, and sales tax or VAT is added where it applies.
- Questions
- Email kraig@kraigadams.com.
Get the next guide
I'm making guides for more of my hikes, and I host a group trip about once a year. Get an email when a new guide or trip is out. A few emails a year.