Gashi River Valley

The Gashi river valley lies in the far north-east of Albania in the Tropoja district, a strictly protected reserve of old-growth beech and fir forest that has never been logged, with the river running through steep terrain and a very high level of biodiversity for the region, including bear, wolf, lynx and chamois. It was added in 2017 to the UNESCO listing of ancient and primeval beech forests of the Carpathians and other regions of Europe, a serial property that now spans eighteen countries. Access is deliberately restricted: it is a strict reserve, and visits require a permit and a guide, arranged through the park authority in Bajram Curri. There is no infrastructure of any kind inside.

What you actually see

• Never-logged beech and fir - old-growth forest in the strict reserve.
• Part of an eighteen-country listing - the European primeval beech property.
• Bear, wolf and lynx habitat - the large mammals the reserve protects.
• The Gashi river - the watercourse running through the valley.

When to go

June to September; snow closes the area the rest of the year. A day to several depending on the route. Permits and guides must be arranged in advance through the park authority and are not always granted.

Honest expectations

This is a strict reserve and access is restricted; casual visits are not permitted. There is no infrastructure, no marked paths and no rescue. Permits take time and may be refused. Roads in the Tropoja district are poor. Large predators are present.

Nearby

Bajram Curri is south-west; Valbona valley lies west.