Meeting at Tirana airport we'll head immediately north to one of Europe’s oldest and most historic cities. Located close to the border with Montenegro, Shkodër stands as a gateway to Albania’s stunning northern landscapes, with impressive views of the Drin River to the east, the Adriatic Sea to the west and the majestic Albanian Alps to the northeast. Historically an important trading post for centuries, the city is home to the ancient Rozafa Fortress, which we'll visit this afternoon and which sits strategically located on the hill overlooking the city and surrounding vistas.

From Shkodër this morning we will drive for a couple of hours, initially following the shores of Lake Shkodra before ascending on a scenic road via hairpin bends and panoramic viewpoints towards the village of Tamare and the Berdolec Pass, from where our first hike begins. Our trail today follows meadows and birch woods up to the rounded Greben Peak (1840m). From here, the views, weather-permitting, over Mount Trojan and the barren Accursed Mountains will give an enticing taste of the incredible landscapes that will serve as our constant backdrop over the next few days. Passing shepherd huts en route, we will then descend along forest trails towards the remote valley of Vermosh, where we’ll encounter our first experience of Albanian mountain guesthouse hospitality.
Approx. 5hrs walking (490m ascent, 790m descent. Total distance 10kms, highest point 1840m)

A short transfer will bring us to the village of Lepusha with its spectacular location and scattered rural settlements. From here we will start walking through forests and pastures, and past abandoned ruins of the army structures that once guarded the border day and night during the communist era. In their absence, we are now free to reach the ridge and cross the border into neighbouring Montenegro, enjoying some of the most spectacular views in the whole of the Dinaric range. As we descend towards Grebaje, we’ll have unobstructed views of the limestone towers of Karanfil, the Balkans’ answer to the Dolomites! Having reached the valley bottom, a short drive will take us to our rural host in the ethnically-Albanian village of Vusanje, situated at the entrance to one of the most stunning valleys in the region.  
Approx. 6hrs walking (580m ascent, 790m descent. Total distance 10kms, highest point 1931m

A short transfer through the scenic Ropojana Valley will bring us to the start of today’s trail. With our luggage loaded onto horses, we’ll start climbing towards the karst Runica plateau, traversing lunar-esque landscapes en route to Peja Pass (1721m) where we’ll stop for a picnic lunch to appreciate the beautiful valley of Theth from high above. Our route descends via a zigzag trail alongside the vertical dome of Mt Harapi that overlooks the entire valley before talking us through the upper neighbourhood of Okol towards our guesthouse, which will be our base for the next two nights. 
Approx. 6-7hrs walking (845m ascent, 660m descent. Total distance 15kms, highest point 1721m)

Today we will enjoy a more leisurely day (although anyone who wishes can undertake an additional 6km/3hr walk to the Blue Eye pools today, should they wish) of exploring Thethi and the surrounding area. Standing as the most well-preserved alpine village in Albania, Thethi has been declared a Protected Historic Centre and, located in the heart of the Theth National Park, offers some outstanding natural beauty. The village itself has a lot to offer, including the stone-built Catholic Church, the blood feud tower ‘Kulla e Ngujimit’ and the stone-walled terraces which date back to the Bronze Age. As we venture out of the village, we will follow the River Shala, through the beautiful Grunasi Canyon towards the picturesque hamlet of Nderlysaj where we’ll be able to soak up the peace and tranquility of this very special mountain setting before a short transfer take us back to Thethi for a second night. 
Approx. 3 hrs walking (0m ascent, 240m descent. Total distance 7kms, highest point 747m)

Today offers some spectacular scenery as we hike one of the area’s most celebrated trails, which has for centuries connected the glacial valleys of Valbonë and Thethi, crossing over the 1795m high Valbonë pass, which is only accessible during the summer months due to heavy snowfall. We will be accompanied once more by horses which will carry our luggage as we tackle this challenging but hugely rewarding hike. From the pass we can take in some of the region’s most spectacular views before descending towards a large bowl of alpine meadows, framed by rocky slopes and on towards the village of Rrogam at the entrance to the Valbonë Valley.
Approx. 7hrs walking (980m ascent, 770m descent. Total distance 13kms, highest point 1795m)

On our final full day, we will travel on a small public ferry from Fierza dock along Lake Koman which was created as part of a major hydroelectric project dating back to the 1980s. This idyllic and spectacular ride will take us along the Drin River, which over the centuries has carved its way through the mountains to create some magnificent canyons and narrow passageways that are reminiscent of the celebrated Norwegian fjords. After a two-hour slow cruise, we continue by road to the historic town of Krujë, located just located just north of Tirana and the international airport. Here we visit the imposing castle, home to its acclaimed Skanderbeg Museum, dedicated to Albania's national hero, before settling in for our final dinner and evening.

The tour ends after breakfast. Those on the suggested group flight (see the GETTING THERE below)will be transferred to nearby Tirana airport in time for check-in.