12-15.sept. 2024.
Dates
4 days
Duration
12+
Years
moderate
Category
Accursed mountains
Location

Accursed mountains and their mountain range are one of the wildest and most impressive landscapes in the Balkans. These mountains, also known as the Dinaric Alps, stretch along the northeast of Montenegro, northern Albania, Kosovo, and Metohija. Prekletija stretches from Lake Skadar in the west, Komovoi, and Mokra Gora mountain in the north, Metohija Valley in the east, and Drim River in the south. Accursed mountains are distinguished by their characteristic limestone relief and wild beauty.

According to many mountaineers, the Accursed Mountains are the most beautiful mountains on the Balkan Peninsula.

On this four-day tour, we will explore the trail „Peaks of the Balkans“ from the Albanian side of the Accursed Mountains, which leads to the Montenegrin part of the mountain range. Paths that reveal the most beautiful parts of Prokleti will lead us through the picturesque valleys of Theth, Valbona, and Ropojana. We are also waiting for the ascent to the peak of Maya Harapit, which has spectacular mountain scenery.

DEPARTURE LOCATION The parking lot at the municipality New Belgrade
DEPARTURE TIME 7 h Belgrade
INCLUDED IN THE PRICE Transportation by minibus from Belgrade

A total of 3 nights with half-board service (breakfast and dinner) in private accommodation (passions-guest house) in Vusanje, Theth Valley and Valbona

Mountaineering tours

  • from the valley of Ropojana - ascend to the peak of Maja Harapit and the valley of Theth
  • from the Theth Valley to Valbona, along the "Peaks of the Balkans" trail section
  • from the Valbona valley via Maja Rosit to Vusanje

Entrance fees to Prokletije National Park

Permit to cross the border outside the border crossing

Local taxes

Meals: 3 breakfasts and 3 dinners

Transfer terenskim vozilima na lokalu

Local mountaineering licensed guides

Tours according to the program and tour guide

NOT INCLUDED Other individual costs

International travel health insurance

Additional notes:

  • Necessary personal equipment for the Accursed Mountains-Maja Harapit, Theth Valley, Valbona, and Ropojana tour: Deep hiking shoes with Vibram soles, trekking poles, and adequate clothing according to the weather conditions. Backpack with necessary mountaineering equipment for a three-day hike, enough water (1.5-2 l per day), energy bars, fruit, spare t-shirts, long hiking pants, raincoat, headlamp, sunscreen, hat or cap, and passport.
  • Important: from the second day, the equipment for three days of hiking is packed in a bigger backpack, because there is no road for regular vehicles.
  • Mountaineering tours are recommended for people in good physical condition. They are not recommended for people with health problems. The guide reserves the right not to take persons with inadequate equipment on the hike. Consumption of alcoholic beverages before and during hiking is prohibited; in case of bad weather and other objective circumstances, hiking can be postponed to another date.

Reservations for the Accursed Mountains-Maja Harapit, Theth Valley, Valbona, and Ropojana tour:

  • The entire amount or ~ 40% or 110 EUR is paid when registering. The balance of EUR 170 is to be paid by August 30 at the latest. Payment is made through an account in dinar equivalent at the middle exchange rate of the NBS on the day of payment.
  • Own transportation: in case you come with your own transport, the price of the tour is 225 EUR. Reservations: At the time of application, the entire amount or ~ 40%, ie EUR 90, is paid, and the rest of EUR 135 no later than August 30 (payment is made through an account in the dinar equivalent at the mid-rate of the NBS on the day of payment).
  • Accommodation: three- and four-bed log cabins in Vusanje with separate bathrooms, three- and four-bed rooms in private accommodation with shared bathrooms in Theth and Valbona.
  • Food: three breakfasts and three dinners are provided. The food is homemade and delicious.

Conditions in case of cancellation by travelers:

  • If the reservation is canceled within 30 days from the date of arrival of the group, the organizer does not charge a fee. If the reservation is canceled within 30 to 7 days from the date of arrival of the group, the organizer retains a fee of 40%. If the reservation is canceled in less than 7 days from the date of arrival of the group, the organizer retains a fee of 100%. Note: The advance payment upon cancellation is non-refundable, except in case of replacement by another passenger.
  • In case of changes in the monetary market, as well as changes in the prices of carriers and other service providers, the agency reserves the right to adjust the price of the arrangement.
  • Tura Prokletije-Maja Harapit, dolina Theth, Valbona i Ropojana se organizuje za minimum 18 prijavljenih putnika.
  • In case of insufficient number of registered passengers or unfavorable weather conditions, the deadline for notification of the postponement or cancellation of the tour by the organizer is 3 days before departure.
Price list number 1 from 19.07.2024.
With this program are valid General conditions of travel organizer of the travel agency Explore Balkans doo.
license number OTP 22/2024, A category.
1

First day: Belgrade - Vusanje

  • Departure from Belgrade at 7 AM
  • Journey to Montenegro, with stops and sightseeing. Tour of Peter's Church and Monastery Sopoćani near Novi Pazar. kod Novog Pazara.
  • Peter's Church or the Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul is the oldest monument of church architecture in Serbia and was originally the seat of the Bishopric of Raš. According to written sources, it originates from the 8th century. The monument is of exceptional importance and was entered in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979 as part of Stari Ras and Sopoćani.
  • Sopoćani Monastery from the 13th century is the endowment of King Stefan Uroš I Nemanjić, better known as Uroš the Great. The Church of the Holy Trinity is located at the very source of the Raška River. The frescoes of the Sopoćani monastery are a real masterpiece of art, which many years later brought Sopoćani world fame.
  • In the late afternoon, we arrive in Vusanje at the foot of the Accursed Mountains Accommodation in log cabins. Dinner. Overnight stay.
2

Second day: Ropojana - Qafa Peja - ascend to Maya Harapit - Theth valley

  • Breakfast.
  • After breakfast, leave the accommodation and go on a tour that involves crossing the border outside the border crossing. For this reason, permits for crossing the border will be prepared in advance.
  • Transfer by off-road vehicles lasting about 30 minutes to Ropojana Valley. Ropojana valley is a place rich in springs, waterfalls, canyons, and mountain lakes.
  • The hiking tour starts near the Ropojana lake. On this tour, we will cross into Albania, so it is necessary to bring documents.
  • Ascent to the Qafa Peja pass, from where we go to the top Maja Harapit at 2218 m, which, due to its specific appearance, is also called the Albanian Matterhorn.

Albanske Prokletije

Prokletije-Maja Harapit
Ascend to Maja Harapit
  • Return partially along the same path back, then continue the hike to the village and Theth National Park, on the Albanian side of Prokletije. The national park was established in 2022 and is characterized by a preserved ecosystem, glaciers, valleys, rivers, mountains, waterfalls, dense forests, and rock formations. The village of Theth it was founded 400 years ago by six brothers. Certain parts of the village still bear their names today. According to the inhabitants of the village, which is Catholic, the village was founded as a refuge to avoid conversion to Islam by the Ottomans.
Theth ALB Valley
The Valley of Theth
  • Accommodation in private households (guest houses). Dinner and overnight.
  • Information about the mountain trail: moderate, total duration of about 8 to 9 hours with breaks, a total length of about 15 km, with a total ascent of about 1000, and a descent of about 1400 m.
    • Beginning of the trail: Ropojana Valley at about 1200 m
    • Goal: Maja Harapit 2.218 m,  Theth 1200 m
    • Altitude difference: 1018 m
    • Length of the trail: 15 km
    • Trail difficulty: moderate
3

Third day: Theth - Valbona

  • Getting up early by 7 am and breakfast.
  • After breakfast, depart from the Theth Valley in the direction of Valbona along the famous "Peaks of the Balkans" trail, where we will meet many mountaineers from all over the world. Although the trail is quite visited, it retains its natural wild beauty.
  • The first half of the trail consists of an ascent to the Valbona pass at 1,759 m, and the second half is a descent into the Valbona valley. This hiking trail follows the route of an ancient caravan and pastoral trail that connected the Shala and Nikaj tribal regions. You will enjoy magnificent views of the surrounding peaks, such as the highest peak of Prokletije (the Accursed Mountains) and Dinarides - Jezerski Peak (Maja Jezerce) at 2794 m.
  • Valbona Valley is a national park established in 1996. The name Valbona comes from the Italian words "Val-bona" ​​and means "valley of good", which describes the valley, its river, and the main village in the valley. Covering an area of ​​about 8,000 hectares, it is a true gem of the Prokletije mountain range, known as the Albanian Alps. This spectacular area is located in the Tropoja district, in the north of Albania, and includes the entire valley of the Valbona River, which flows through the mountain village of the same name and flows into the Drim River. Valbona is located between the highest and most rugged mountain peaks of the Balkans and is the main junction of the "Peaks of the Balkans" trails.
  • Accommodation in private households in Valbona. Dinner and overnight.
  • Information about the hiking trail: moderate, tour with a total length of 14 km, with an ascent of 1100 m and a descent of about 800 m. Total duration of 7 to 8 hours with breaks.
    • Start of the trail: Theth Valley at 716 m
    • Goal: Valbona Valley 995 m
    • Altitude difference: 1043 m
    • Length of the trail: 14 km
    • Trail difficulty: moderate
4

Fourth day: Valbona - Maja Rosit - Ropojana - Vusanje - Belgrade

  • Breakfast. After breakfast, departure for a hike from Valbona Valley via Maja Rosit to the Ropojana Valley. We finish the tour in Vusanje, making a complete circle and ending at the starting point.
  • If the weather conditions permit, we will also climb to the top of Maja Rosit at 2524 m. The path alternates between cirques, valleys, and passes, which makes it diverse because every step brings a new landscape and the endless beauty of nature. In the finale to the top of Maja Rosit, there is a stronger climb, and at the top, we are rewarded with phenomenal vistas and views of the mountain massif and the peaks of Prokletije.
Prokletije planinarenje, upon na Maja Rosit
Towards the peak of Maja Rosit
  • Dinner in Vusanje or Plav and departure to Belgrade.
  • Information about the mountain trail: moderate, total length of about 19 km, with an ascent of about 1800 m and a descent of about 1400 m. Total duration from 8 to 9 hours with breaks. The trail is not technically demanding, but it is physically demanding.
    • The beginning of the trail: Valbona valley at 900 m
    • Goal: Maja Rosit 2.524 m, Ropoja Valley 1200 m
    • Altitude difference: 1.624 m
    • Length of the trail: 19 km
    • Trail difficulty: moderate
  • Departure for Belgrade in the late afternoon. The exact return time depends on road conditions and stops along the way.
Prokletije-Maja Harapit
Maja Harapit, Albanian Alps
Prokletije ka vrhu Maja Rosit
Accursed mountains
Uspon na Maja Harapit, Prokletije
Prokletije-Maja Harapit
Dolina Theth Prokletije
Uspon na Maja Harapit, Prokletije
dolina Theth, Prokletije Albanija
Albanske Prokletije
Prokletije Explore Balkans
Uspon na Maja Harapit, Prokletije
Prokletije ka vrhu Maja Rosit
Prokletije-Maja Harapit
Prokletije Dinaric Alps
albanske Prokletije, Albanian Alps
Accursed mountains
Albanske Prokletije
Prokletije - Qafa e Tores 1.760 m
Prokletije-Maja Harapit
Prokletije planinarenje, upon na Maja Rosit
Accursed mountains