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Snowshoeing in Albania
Albania is a southern country where the sun shines for much of the year, yet snow is plentiful during the winter. The interior of the country offers a spectacular display of snow-covered mountains, perfect for exploration through winter sports. This trip will take you to national parks in the north of the country, where we will explore nature blanketed in white. The best way to discover and appreciate these natural beauties is on snowshoes, accompanied by the warm hospitality of the locals.
Group
4 to 10 participants
Flight
Regular or charter depending on departures.
Displacement
Minibus, on foot, by bike, on donkey, cart and felucca.
Accommodation
Homestay and bivouac on feluccas.
Writen by Armand Pasho
Tour Guide in Albania
Itinerary
Day 1
ARRIVAL IN TIRANA
Upon arrival at the airport, a representative from our agency will meet you and escort you to your hotel in the city center.
Overnight in Tirana.
Airport – Tirana: 17km = 25min
Day 2
SHKODER - LEPUSHE
Departure for the city of Shkodra, also known as the City of Culture.
Visit the main monuments and then depart for the northernmost point of the country, the village of Lepushe, located at 1220m.
Visit the village and enjoy a short walk.
Overnight in Lepushe at a guesthouse.
Tirana – Shkodra: 95km = 1h 30min
Shkodra – Lepushe: 88km = 2h
Day 3
LEPUSHE
Today we’ll set off on snowshoes from our accommodation to reach the Berizhdol Pass, where we can picnic in one of the many sheepfolds, which are only used in the summer.
Once we reach the pass, you’ll have a breathtaking view of part of the Accursed Mountains.
Overnight in Lepushe.
Walking time: 3 hours
Elevation gain/loss: +/-400m
Day 4
LEPUSHE - VERMOSH - LEPUSHE
Another beautiful day of snowshoeing awaits you today. We’ll depart for Vermosh, the last Albanian village before Montenegro, considered one of the most beautiful and isolated villages in the north.
Overnight in Lepushe.
Walking time: 4 hours
Elevation gain/loss: +350m -650m
Day 5
KRUJA - QAFSHTAMA
Departure for the town of Kruja. The former capital of the Kingdom of Albania, Kruja was, in the 15th century, a stronghold of the Ottoman Empire until Skanderbeg, the national hero, led the resistance that liberated it in the 15th century and led to the declaration of independence in 1912. You can visit a museum dedicated to this hero, as well as the Kruja Fortress.
After visiting Kruja, we will travel to Qafshtama National Park, located approximately 25 km from Kruja. With an area of 8 km², magnificent mountain scenery, and several small lakes and pine forests, you will feel like you’ve escaped to another world. Enjoy a guided walk in the National Park.
Overnight stay at a hotel in Qafshtama National Park.
Shkodra – Qafshtama = 200 km = 3 hours 45 minutes
Walking time: 2 hours
Elevation gain: 250 m
Day 6
QAFSHTAMA
Snowshoeing from our accommodation to the top of the antennas, where you can see the Adriatic Sea. To reach the summit, we’ll walk through a forest of fir and beech trees.
In the afternoon, a cooking workshop: you’ll learn to prepare typical Albanian dishes. In the evening, you’ll learn traditional Albanian dances.
Overnight in Qafshtama.
Walking time: 4 hours
Elevation gain/loss: +/- 500m
Day 7
Departure for Tirana.
A vibrant and colorful capital, Tirana has many attractions to offer. Explore its cultural and historical sites, such as the magnificent Et’hem Bey Mosque, dating back to the 19th century and a survivor of the atheist dictatorship of the communist years; the Orthodox Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ, the third largest Orthodox cathedral in the Balkans; the National Museum; and the Museum of Secret Surveillance.
Find the piece of the Berlin Wall commemorating its fall, lose yourself in the picturesque and bustling Gabi Market, and finally, end this introduction to Albania in style with an evening in Blok.
Formerly accessible only to the communist elite, this revitalized district is now the heart of nightlife, where all the young people of the Albanian capital gather. Between restaurants and themed bars, let yourself be carried away by the feeling of freedom that now pervades the area.
Overnight in Tirana.
Qafshtama – Tirana: 60km = 1 hour 45 minutes.
Day 8
END OF YOUR TRIP
Book this Tour
Duration
8 Days
Level
Very easy
Style / Type of Trip
Adventure
Activities
Trekking / hiking
Themes
Gastronomy
Trip
Accompanied