The group will meet at Tirana Airport before transferring (3 hours) to the remote hamlet of Tejze (1100m) in the far North-West corner of Albania. Our journey takes us along the 'Road of Nation', a scenic motorway connecting Albania to Kosovo which cuts through the middle of the Mirdita Highlands. Tejze is located at the base of Mount Korab and is the main gateway to the mountain. A cluster of houses above the village of Radomire, this is the end of the road and tomorrow we'll walk directly from our accommodation. Transferring from Tirana Airport in the evening, we will stop for dinner at a roadside restaurant en-route to our family run guesthouse in Tejze. During dinner we'll be briefed on the week ahead.

Today starts with an early breakfast before we head off on our first full day of walking. We have the added bonus of walking directly from our accommodation on a woodland trail that is soft underfoot and takes us over rolling hills covered in fir trees. An hour after leaving the guesthouse we'll reach an open plateau. For the next couple of hours the trail climbs slightly more steeply towards higher ground and we walk over a pass known as The Korab Gate. This spectacular pass is southwest from the main summit and our trail offers superb views towards Little Korab (2500m) which is opposite the main Korab summit. We'll also have a fantastic panorama across to Macedonia's Mavrovo National Park. The final part of the climb is on a "goat trail" which is not exposed and ascends gradually all the way to the summit. From the top the views are fantastic and after the all-important summit photos we'll start our descent which takes approximately 3 hours. We'll return back down to the village hopefully in time for a welcoming cup of mountain tea. After brief refreshments we'll transfer (3 hours) to Gjakova in the Republic of Kosovo where we overnight in a hotel near the historic ottoman bazaar. Over dinner we'll be briefed on the plan for tomorrow when we head into the heart of the mountains and leave civilization behind!

After breakfast, we drive (2 hours) in 4WDs until the end of the mountain road. Here we leave our vehicles and start on the trail to Mount Gjeravica. From now until the end of the trek we'll be hiking through a remote area as our kit bags are carried by horses. For the first hour the trail is easy underfoot as we head off on a footpath that is just above the tree line. Once we are above the tree-line and over the next two hours, the climb becomes slightly steeper as we approach a beautiful section of the trail which traverses a wide ridge. There are awesome views over the Sulbica gorge on our left and the pretty Gropat e Erenikut Meadows on our right. This is one of the main routes to the top of the second highest point in Kosovo and as we contour the shore of the splendid alpine Lake of Gjeravica. The final section of the path (approximately 1 hour) towards the top becomes steeper and slightly more rugged underfoot. From the summit we are rewarded with breathtaking views including the Accursed Mountains of Albania. After the all-important summit photos and our picnic lunch, we'll start our descent towards Albania on wide open trails and across grassy slopes. The descent (2.5 - 3 hours) includes views of three lakes which are part of the Doberdol-Sulbica plateau - the lakes of Dashi, Sulbica and Verdhe. Tonight we overnight on the Doberdol Plateau (1600m) in simple but traditional shepherd's huts. These basic structures offer a "camping" experience without a tent and are similar to a "Scottish mountain bothy." Managed by a local shepherd, each hut has a basic kitchen and dormitory style accommodation. Tonight's dinner will be prepared in the hut.

This morning we may wake up to the sound of the resident cows and sheep! This whole area is used by mountain shepherds who head up to high pastures during the summer months to provide their flocks and herds with alpine meadows to graze, before returning to the valleys in the autumn. After breakfast we'll start on the trail which is mainly undulating and good underfoot for the majority of the day (6 - 7 hours). Today is really interesting and historically important as we cross-border hike between Albania and neighboring Montenegro. We'll be walking on dirt tracks that were used in the times of the Communist regime to patrol the border with Montenegro. During the day we'll hike along a gentle ridgeway overlooking the Gashi River Valley and its protected area. The Gashi River starts in the glacier area of Doderdol and flows in the area of Valbona. The valley is famed for its oak, coniferous and beech forests which are home to brown bears, chamois, wolf and eagles. Towards the end of our trekking day we'll leave Montenegro and descend gradually into Albania as we follow a gravel road which runs alongside the Markofsha stream. Finally we reach the small village of Çeremi (1200m) and our simple guesthouse with a welcoming hot shower! We are surrounded by un-spoilt nature in a village which is only used in the summer months - a peaceful end to a fantastic day of walking.

After breakfast we leave the village of Cerami and start along a beautiful forest trail for the first hour of the day. Rich in birch trees and densely forested, this wonderful woodland has meandering streams running through it. After leaving the woodland we reach a grassy plateau which has views towards the Kollata massive and for the next two hours we'll pass meadows which lead us to the Bori Pass, the natural border into Montenegro. After crossing into Montenegro the next part of the route (1 - 1.5 hours) is slightly more technical. Here we'll make our way through a dramatic limestone landscape which contains narrow trails and brief scrambling sections. The final steep climb brings us to the summit of Zla Kolata - Montenegro's highest peak. Here our hard work is treated to amazing views not only towards Montenegro "Black Mountains" but also across The Accursed Mountains, the most dramatic part of the Albanian Alps. Our descent takes approximately two hours as we initially head down the same way before making a detour off after the area of limestone. This trail takes us to the wild and remote area of the "Lugu i Persllopit Trough" (1500m). This narrow alpine basin is truly off the beaten track and sees very few walkers. Our luggage and tents will have already arrived so whilst the leader and camp staff organise dinner, we'll have time to prepare for a night under canvas.

After the past few days of relatively challenging trekking today is shorter (about 3 hours). This morning we'll wake up in a wonderful setting and have breakfast before we start our descent to the Valbona Valley. Initially we walk on a forest trial that is soft underfoot and make our way through a beautiful area of woodland. This trail brings us to the elevated mountain terrace of Bregu i Rrethit. A rocky plateau provides spectacular views down onto the Valbona Valley and across to the rocky dome of Mount Jezerca (2694m) the highest peak in this range. Finally our trail descends steeply into the secluded hamlet of Kukaj, before reaching the bottom of the Valbona Valley (800m), and our guesthouse which we will reach by midday. The afternoon is free to relax in the picturesque surroundings, relax with a book or just lie back and enjoy and solitude. If you're feeling energetic you can explore the local area on walking trails that lead to the higher meadows of Grykat e Hapura just above the tree-line.

An early morning start today as we leave the narrow valley of Valbona and take a transfer (1 hour) to the tiny port of Fierza. Here we board a local ferry boat to travel across the spectacular Lake Koman. Our journey lasts for almost 3 hours and this is a wonderful way to experience a fjord style landscape. With its steep sides, high mountains and occasional farmstead the lake is perfectly still and gives a feeling of stepping back in time. Originally created by the River Drin this wonderful area used to be the main transport link for local people until the Kosovo motorway was built. After the end of our journey on Lake Koman we transfer (3 hours) to the bustling capital of Albania - Tirana. Here we'll stay near in the centre and after checking in at the group hotel we'll head out to stroll through Tirana on foot. We'll wander through large boulevards of Italian, Communist and Ottoman architecture and experience Tirana coming to life at night. Dinner tonight will be in the lively area of Blloku which is the most popular place for local Albanians to head to in an evening. Here we'll celebrate with dinner in a local restaurant and a few drinks including, for the brave, the local raki!

Your holiday ends after breakfast. You may wish to do some further exploration of Tirana or extend your stay here before making your way to the airport by taxi in time for your departing flight. If you would like to extend your stay in the capital of Albania then please contact the KE office and we can assist with this.