Is a trip to Albania worth it? 6 outdoor insider tips with GPS data for your Balkan adventure
- Wibke Helfrich
- Oct 2
- 4 min read
Do you find lounging on the beach boring? Would you rather go hiking, climbing, or kayaking? Then you're just like me. In my outdoor blog, you'll (hopefully) find no typical travel tips for Albania, but rather real adventures away from the crowds – including precise GPS data . So you can get started right away.
Here are my 6 insider tips for outdoor experiences in Albania:
1. Peaks of the Balkans – Long-distance hiking through the Albanian Alps
The ten-day trail leads through Montenegro, Albania and Kosovo , through beautiful mountain landscapes, remote villages and clear mountain air –
The long-distance hiking trail “Peaks of the Balkans” is a dream for outdoor enthusiasts
With my GPS data, you can find the best stages and navigate safely – even without marked trails.
Desue Mountains are wild and wonderful.
👉 Tip: Even if you don't want to hike for ten days, you can still do just part of it. The stretch from Teth to Valbona is very popular and accordingly crowded . I found the route from Vusanje (in Montenegro) to Theth much more beautiful—and more secluded .
👉 Outdoor tips & GPS data: in this blog post you will find tips and GPS data for all stages
2. By ferry across Lake Koman – fjord feeling in Albania
Okay, not a hike – but still a really cool experience: The ferry ride through Lake Koman is like Norway in Albanian.
The drive from Shkodër to the Koman Dam is not for the faint of heart. The road has more potholes than asphalt. Nevertheless, it is easily manageable with a regular car and a slow speed. From Fierzë, the end point of the ferry crossing, it is just under an hour to Valbonë, a good starting point for a hike in the Accursed Mountains (see 1.).
👉 Tip: You can book the ferry on Lake Komani with the ferry company Berisha .
We drove to the ferry dock the night before and were allowed to spend the night right on the ferry in our Caddy. It was a really cool experience. However, there's no guarantee you'll be able to do the same. 🙃
3. Kayaking adventure on the Shala River
The day kayaking trip across the Koman Dam to the Shala River was one of my travel highlights in Albania.
The Shala River is touted as the Thailand of Albania: snow-white beaches and turquoise waters in front of brilliant white limestone cliffs.
The mountains rise up to 1,200 meters into the sky. We glide between mighty limestone cliffs and feel like little hobbits in Lord of the Rings. Further upstream, the steep mountain slopes are completely covered with bushes and low deciduous trees and truly look tropical, Thai. We paddle leisurely past rocks lying in the water and enjoy the bottle-green river and the magnificent view.
👉 Outdoor tips & GPS data: Here are my insider tips & the GPS data for paddling.
4. Circular hike to the cave churches in Prespa National Park
The view of the lake with the island of Golem Grad in front of it is magnificent, and the cave church with its magnificent frescoes is unique.
The hike leads through Prespa National Park, which stretches across Albania, North Macedonia, and Greece. From the highest point at 1,106 meters, you have a magnificent view down to the lake and the island of Golem Grad, which was inhabited by humans as early as 2,500 years ago. The highlight of the hike is certainly the cave churches , which were carved into the rock in the 14th and 15th centuries. Hermits once lived here.
Like adventurers, we climb steep ladders into the churches.
The artistic frescoes, far from any civilization, are a real surprise. On the way back, the lake invites you to take a dip.
👉 Outdoor tips & GPS data: I have uploaded the GPS data for this beautiful hike to Outdooractive .
5. Hot springs of Kanioni Holtës – wild bathing in nature
The Kanioni Holtës Gorge is such an insider tip that we have trouble finding it. A weathered sign stands by the road, and we follow it along the gravel road. The industrial buildings and the somewhat run-down hotels/swimming pools don't look particularly inviting either. That changes as soon as you hike through the ice-cold water into the gorge. The rock walls tower meters high, so dense that they almost touch. The turquoise water forms small pools. One of them is lukewarm—a welcome change from the ice-cold water.
The hike through the gorge is like a journey to another world.
How happy I am when, after about one and a half kilometers, the walls are a little further apart and the sun manages to touch the ground again. Anyone who wants to can turn back here. Those who don't yet have cold feet can continue to the end of the gorge at the dam.
👉 Outdoor tips & GPS data: I have uploaded the GPS data for this hike to Outdooractive .
6. Sport climbing in Albania – limestone, sun and sea views
Whether sea views in Gjipe or alpine climbing spots in the interior – Albania is a climbing paradise with potential.
My favorite area is Kabashi
The approach was too bumpy for the Caddy. My sister said, "We can always take the bus." I started laughing, because we were standing in the middle of a washed-out gravel road, and I asked, "Oh, and where's the bus supposed to come from?" At that moment, a minibus rumbled along and took us to the starting point of the climbing rocks.
The climbing area itself is hidden in a valley and offers beautiful tours of medium difficulty that are very well secured.
👉 Outdoor tips & GPS data: On The Crag and 27 Crags you can find some topos for different sectors in Albania.
Conclusion: Outdoor paradise with guaranteed adventure
👉 One more request before you set off:
In many Balkan countries – including Albania – the topic of waste prevention and disposal is unfortunately still in its infancy. Please use reusable water bottles and avoid plastic wherever possible. This way, nature will remain as wild and untouched as you wish it to be – also for those who come after you.
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