At the Peaks of the Balkans
On the crests of the Balkans, an authentic trek between three little-known countries.
Duration
8 days
From
€680/pers.
Ideal seasons
Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Style
Guided tour
Comfort
budget
Travelers
Solo, With friends, Couple
The spirit of travel
The Balkan peninsula is one of the last bastions still little known and explored by tourism.
Yet endowed with undeniable historical, cultural, and gastronomic richness, this destination will undeniably become an unforgettable journey.
Join us for a dive into an incredible circuit through the mountains of the Balkans.
The stages of your journey
Highlights
Day-by-day itinerary
Pristina - Peja - Kuqishtë, Kosovo
Meet our guide at Pristina/Skopje Airport and head towards the city center.
Join Pristina, Capital of Kosovo, the youngest country in Europe. Explore Kosovo's political and economic capital where you will discover an unprecedented architectural contrast in Europe and a bustling city in constant evolution.
Then head to Peja, Kosovo's third largest city.
Peja → Kuqishte
Head towards the Rugova Gorges to reach your guesthouse in the mountains in Kuqishtë.
Traditional dinner and overnight stay in Kuqishtë.
Hiking: Kuqisthë, Kosovo – Babino Polie, Montenegro
Kuqishte → Babino Polje
After breakfast, briefing on the week then start the hike.
Hike from Kuqishtë to Babino Polie through numerous water sources and passages across the mountains.
You will enjoy breaks by the glacial lakes "Liqeni i Kuqishtës" & "Liqeni i Drelajve".
In mid-afternoon, you will reach Montenegro and arrive at the village of Babino Polie on the border between Kosovo and Montenegro.
Arrival at your guesthouse in mid-afternoon.
Hike difficulty: moderate
Total elevation gain: 1,151 m
Total elevation loss: 1,109 m
Maximum altitude: 2,276 m
Minimum altitude: 1,438 m
Hiking: Babino Polie - Plav, Montenegro – Vusanje, Montenegro
Babino Polje → Plav (Monténégro)
After breakfast, you will start the hike towards Plav.
You will reach Hrid Lake which represents one of the highest altitude points of the day. Enjoy free time to swim and relax by the lake.
Continue the hike then arrival at the sublime Plav Lake located at 900 meters above sea level at the end of the day. Free time to swim or relax by the lake.
Hiking difficulty: moderate
Cumulative elevation gain: 597 m
Cumulative elevation loss: 1 123 m
Maximum altitude: 2 046 m
Minimum altitude: 1 002 m
Plav (Monténégro) → Vusanje
Transfer by vehicle after free time to Vusanje, a valley located in the heart of the mountains.
Drop off your luggage in your charming chalet and enjoy the landscape to rest.
Dinner and overnight stay in Vusanje.
Hiking: Vusanje, Montenegro – Theth, Albania
Vusanje → Theth
After breakfast, transfer by car to Lake Jerzerce then start hiking towards Theth.
You will cross magnificent landscapes including the Grlja waterfall on the Montenegrin side and the Jezerce glacial lake passing to the Albanian side.
You will stop at the natural spring of the blue eye « Syri i Kaltër », an underground cave 9 meters deep.
Begin the hike and pass at the foot of the day's highest point, the Peja Pass or « Qafa te Pejes » at 1,742 meters altitude.
In late afternoon, arrival at Theth, an intact and uninhabited village in the heart of the valley.
You will settle into your guesthouse where you can rest after your day of hiking.
You will then enjoy a meal composed mainly of local products (cheeses, meats, vegetables). Night in Theth.
Difficulty level: moderate
Total elevation gain: 1,100 m
Total elevation loss: 1,524 m
Hiking at Blue Eye, Albania
Breakfast at the guesthouse and departure by 4x4 for a one-hour drive, then hiking towards the "Blue Eye" or the blue eye. An incredible natural water spring and a paradise-like location where you can rest and swim in clear and limpid water.
Lunch by the water spring or on wooden tables built in the surrounding area by locals.
Free time, then return to your guesthouse.
Dinner and overnight stay in Theth.
Hiking difficulty: easy
Walking duration: 2 hours (round trip)
Hiking: Theth - Valbona, Albania – Prizren, Kosovo
Theth → Valbonë (Albania)
Breakfast in Theth, then start the hike to Valbona.
A day of hiking through stunning landscapes in the Albanian Alps. You can relax during the hike in small cafés nestled in the heart of the mountains.
Mid-morning, you will reach the Valbona Pass, which is the highest altitude peak of the day, to admire the incredible landscape of the two sides of the mountain.
Arrival in Valbona in mid-afternoon.
Hiking difficulty: moderate
Total elevation gain: 1 104 m
Total elevation loss: 705 m
Maximum altitude: 1 806 m
Minimum altitude: 727 m
Enjoy a refreshing drink to celebrate the end of your hiking tour then return to Kosovo to reach Prizren, the cultural and historical capital of the country.
Surrounded by mountainous landscapes, discover the old Ottoman town center of the city where the Lumbardhi river flows.
Prizren - Pristina, Kosovo
After breakfast, guided tour of Prizren, cultural and historical capital of Kosovo.
Its cobbled streets and tea salons in the old bazaar give Prizren a unique Ottoman charm. You will visit three religious buildings located nearby: the Sinan Pacha Mosque, the Orthodox Cathedral of Saint George and the Catholic Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help.
Also visit the Albanian League of Prizren, the first league for the defence of Albanian rights established in the late 19th century.
Free time to visit the Prizren Fortress for a breathtaking view over the city.
Lunch in Prizren.
You will then depart for Pristina for your last night in the Balkans.
Dinner in Pristina, then enjoy your last evening to discover Pristina's very lively nightlife.
Your accommodation for the evening will be a private Guest House in the city centre.
Pristina, Kosovo
After breakfast, free time at your hotel in Pristina until your transfer to Pristina/Skopje airport for your return flight.
Price per person
Indicative price per person, based on double room. Each trip is customized according to your preferences.
This trip can be tailored to your preferences
This itinerary provides an excellent foundation for discovery, but it can be fully customized. Our local advisors build each trip tailored to your budget, dates and preferences.
Not included
- All additional expenses not mentioned in the program
- The options
- Tips
- Insurance
- Round-trip flights
Included
- Airport transfers Pristina/Skopje – city – airport Pristina/Skopje
- All transport mentioned in the program
- Your accompanying guide during the tour
- Nights in 4* hotels and mountain chalets
- Full board from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on day 8 (breakfasts, packed lunches during hiking and dinners)
- All the visits mentioned in the program
- Entry fees in territories
- Baggage transfer on day 2 and day 6
Practical Information
Registration is considered firm and final after payment of a deposit of 30% of the total price and acceptance of the specific terms of sale.
The balance must be paid no later than 45 days before the departure date.
See our specific terms of sale for full details.
In the event of cancellation by the traveller, the following fees apply:
- Plus de 60 jours avant le départ : 40 % du prix total (acompte retenu)
- Entre 60 et 30 jours avant le départ : 50 % du prix total
- Moins de 30 jours avant le départ : 100 % du prix total
We strongly recommend taking out cancellation insurance. See our specific terms of sale for full details.
The information below applies to travelers who are nationals of the European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland and Canada traveling to Kosovo for tourism purposes. Entry requirements may change, so we recommend verifying this information with the official authorities before your departure.
Passport
To enter Kosovo, your passport must be valid for the entire duration of your stay and must have at least one blank page for immigration stamps.
The document must be in good condition (no damaged, torn or altered pages).
Tourist stay without visa
Nationals of the European Economic Area, Switzerland and Canada benefit from a visa exemption for tourist stays in Kosovo.
This exemption allows a stay of up to 90 days within a 180-day period from the date of entry into the territory.
Authorities may also request:
a return travel document (return flight or onward journey),
proof of sufficient financial resources for the duration of your stay,
a hotel booking or a residential address during your stay.
Entry formalities
Upon arrival in Kosovo, travelers must present themselves to immigration services and may be required to provide:
information relating to their passport
details of their flight or means of transport
the address of their first accommodation in Kosovo
An entry stamp will be affixed to your passport by Kosovo immigration services. It is recommended to keep this stamp, as it may be requested when leaving the territory.
Traveling with children
Minors must hold their own valid passport covering the duration of the stay.
In certain European countries, when a minor travels without one of their parents, an authorization to leave the territory may be required according to the regulations of the country of residence.
Other nationalities
Entry conditions may vary depending on nationality. Affected travelers should contact the embassy or consulate of Kosovo in their country of residence, or the competent Kosovo authorities.
To participate in our trips, it is strongly recommended to be insured for repatriation assistance and foreign medical expenses.
Your local agency encourages you to review the specific contract developed with our partners CHAPKA ASSURANCES and AXA ASSISTANCE.
To subscribe to an insurance plan, learn about coverage and rates, follow the link below.
CAP EXPLORER: The complete insurance solution designed for a worry-free trip!
Choose the plan that suits you best:
Explorer'Multirisque
Explorer'Annulation
Explorer'Assistance
Explorer' Complémentaire Carte Bancaire
Specific to our trips, we strongly recommend subscribing to them.
If you choose to subscribe to one of these plans, the policy document detailing all coverage and claims procedures is available on the insurer's website.
Your local agency will be aware of it, but only the participant is responsible for complying with claims notification procedures. The participant must therefore keep this policy document with them for the entire duration of their trip.
Chapka — Cap Explorer
Our insurance partnerTravel with peace of mind with our partner Chapka. Cancellation, repatriation, medical expenses, baggage… All the coverage for a worry-free trip.
Travel with peace of mind — I'll handle the insuranceFrequently asked questions
No, French nationals can stay up to 90 days within 180 days in Kosovo without a visa. A valid passport required for at least 3 months after entry. Please note: some Kosovo stamps may cause issues in Serbia (do not enter Serbia from Kosovo without taking precautions).
Go to the My Trips section to find all your projects.
You can send a message to your host directly from the Tea Lounge.
For a tailor-made quality trip, budget between 100 and 170 euros per day per person, including accommodation, meals, internal transport and activities. International flights (250-500 euros return) are additional. Kosovo is one of the most affordable destinations in Europe.
Your documents are accessible in the Documents tab of your trip.
Absolutely. We tailor each trip to match your travel profile. For families, we prioritize relaxed pacing, family-friendly accommodations, fun and educational activities, and comfortable private transfers. Our local English-speaking guides know how to captivate children with age-appropriate stories and anecdotes.
It's simple. You exchange with our local team to define your wishes, budget and dates. You receive a detailed itinerary proposal within 48 hours. You adjust every detail together until it's perfect. You confirm and travel with peace of mind. Your local agency remains available 7 days a week throughout your trip.
In case of emergency, contact your local agency immediately.
Payment is generally made in two installments.
Our agency is part of the Nomadays network, registered in France. You benefit from APST guarantee (Association Professionnelle de Solidarité du Tourisme) which covers 100% of your funds. Secure payment, repatriation insurance included, and English-speaking assistance 24/7 on site throughout your stay.
Let's talk about your adventure — Pristina Region
Custodian of Secret Balkans, based in Pristina
Kosovo often surprises travelers. Those who come out of curiosity usually leave deeply moved by the warmth of the locals and the country's energy.
— Alan
