Albania: Circular hike to ancient cave churches in Prespa National Park & GPS data

A worthwhile detour: At Lake Prespa, you feel very far away. This is probably due to the fact that the area was long off-limits due to border disputes between the three neighboring countries: Albania, Greece, and North Macedonia. On the Albanian side, a twelve-kilometer hike through Prespa National Park leads to ancient cave churches, which are among my highlights in Albania. You can find all the information and GPS data here.

Key Facts + GPS Data: Circular hike to ancient cave churches in Prespa National Park in Albania

♡ Factor: ♡♡♡♡♡

Walking time : 4 hours

Altitude : 459 m up and down

Length : 11.2 km

Accessible by public transport?

No.

Directions: Kallamas can be reached via the SH79 from Albania or the R1307 from North Macedonia. The road is the same. It just has different names in different countries. A small turnoff leads to Kallamas.

GPS data: I have uploaded the GPS data for the hike to the Outdoor Active website

Starting and ending point: Kallamas

Gear: For this hike, I recommend hiking boots or trail running shoes. Hiking poles can also be helpful. Don't forget your swimsuit.

You can find more blog entries about the Balkans here

Click on the first image to start the photo gallery:

Ancient frescoes all to ourselves

The hike leads along the rocky shore

The starting point of the hike is the idyllic village of Kallamas

The descent to the lake

In the evening, the fishermen go out on the water to fish

Beautiful and scary: a snake

🌿 What makes Prespa National Park so special

Prespa National Park is located in southeastern Albania and extends into North Macedonia and Greece . It was founded in 1999 to protect the many migratory birds and rare animal species around Lake Prespa.

Lake Prespa is rich in fish and a habitat for turtles, pelicans, and many protected plant species. With a bit of luck, you might even spot pelican colonies or wild turtles on the hike .

🗺️ The circular hike – nature, history and views

The starting point is the small village of Kallamas , located directly on the lakeshore. From here, the trail leads you steadily uphill through a diverse landscape of juniper bushes, pine, and chestnut forests .

At the highest point of the hike, at 1106 meters , a breathtaking panoramic view of the lake awaits you - and of the mysterious island of Golem Grad , which was inhabited over 2,500 years ago.

⛪ Highlight: The hidden cave churches from the 14th and 15th centuries

Things get truly spectacular when you reach the medieval cave churches that were once carved into the rock by hermits .

Like explorers, we climbed steep ladders into the cave churches. Suddenly, we found ourselves standing before centuries-old frescoes. We could hardly believe that such artistic and impressive works lay completely abandoned in no man's land.

🏞️ Cooling off at the lake

After the descent, Lake Prespa offers something special: on warm days, the clear water invites you to swim – a perfect reward after the tour.

⛺️ Sleeping place with local connection

During our road trip through the Balkans, we slept right by the lake. In the morning, the shepherdesses came by, driving the cows to pasture . They were at least as interested in us as we were in them.

♻️ Another personal request

In Albania, waste disposal is still in its infancy. Please bring reusable water bottles , avoid plastic, and leave no trace – this will ensure the preservation of this natural paradise for the future.