Peaks of the Balkans Trail

The Peaks of the Balkans is a circular walking route of around a hundred and ninety kilometres through the Accursed Mountains, crossing between Kosovo, Albania and Montenegro on high passes and staying in village guesthouses along the way. It was set up in 2012 by linking old herding and smuggling paths. Cross-border permits are required in advance for each frontier the route crosses.

What you actually see

• The high passes - the crossings between the three countries.
• The village guesthouses - the accommodation the route is built around.
• The Accursed Mountains - the limestone range the whole trail circles.
• The old paths - herding routes the trail was assembled from.

When to go

June to September is the season; snow closes the passes outside it. Guesthouses operate only in those months. Permits must be arranged weeks in advance.

Honest expectations

Cross-border permits are mandatory and take weeks to arrange, and walking without them causes real problems. Days are long with substantial ascent. Guesthouses are simple and must be booked ahead in season.

Nearby

Boge and Peja are the Kosovo entry points, and the route runs into Albania and Montenegro.