8 Days - Guided Groups, Scheduled departures.

• A remote and challenging Balkan alpine adventure
• Magnificent, isolated Thethi National Park
• Albanian Highlander hospitality

Inspired by the likes of Robert Carver's book "The Accursed Mountains", Edith Durham's "High Albania", Edward Lear's "Journeys of a Landscape Painter in the Balkans", and even the exploits of Lord Byron, Mark Knowles from Walks Worldwide and a handful of intrepid, adventurous trekkers explored the isolated Accursed Mountains of northern Albania in early June 2010. The general conclusion was that this rarely visited, wonderful yet remote area is not anything like Europe as you would know it. Many a comparison was drawn to more far-flung, exotic destinations including life in the lesser-trekked regions of the Himalayas and the Atlas. In fact during the entire course of our research trek, not a single other trekker was encountered on the rugged, mountainous trails we followed. The scenery is certainly dramatic with rugged peaks rising sharply to over 2600m from low valley floors. However, the everlasting memory will be of meeting the exceptionally friendly and hospitable Albanian Highlanders themselves.

The Accursed Mountains of the north of Albania are both truly spectacular and virtually impenetrable except primarily for a series of high passes that link the small number of farmsteads and homes in the valleys below to the outside world during the summer months. This is a truly special European trekking adventure and well off the beaten track. Ideal for the discerning traveller in search of new cultural experiences and refreshingly different from anywhere else in Europe, this committed trek leads you into the heart of an unspoiled region where very few tourists venture. From historic Shkodra you travel into the Boga Valley and leave the 21st Century behind to then trek over the "Diagonal Pass" and into the valleys of the Accursed Mountains. Moving onwards you head for magnificent Thethi, an area of outstanding natural beauty. Surrounded by high peaks and dominated by the immense vertical rock wall of mesmerising Mt. Arapit (the Matterhorn of Albania), traditional wooden-roofed farmsteads are scattered throughout the valley and there's even a working water powered corn mill and "blood feud" tower too. The crux of the trek is next with the challenging crossing of the Valbona Pass into the stunningly beautiful valley of the same name. After following a shepherds trail to high mountain meadows and descending to tiny Dunisha, your journey through the fascinating north of Albania is completed by taking a passenger boat on the fjord-like Lake Koman, which must surely rank as one of the world's great lake journeys before driving to Tirana, the fast becoming trendy capital city.

Click here to read Mark's report on the successful (if a little damp!) May 2010 reccy trip

FOR A DETAILED ITINERARY AND MORE INFORMATION PLEASE DOWNLOAD THE TRIP DOSSIER