Trail Almanac




Distance


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View from the Peaks of the Balkans hiking trail

Open

Peaks of the Balkans

📌

, ,

📍

🌐

Northern

Distance

192

km

Elev. Gain

9,800

m

Duration

10

days

Grade

T3

Route

Loop

Effort

Hard

⚡ Quick Facts
📏
192 km
Distance
📅
10 days
Duration
⛰️
2,290 m
Peak Height
↗️
9,800 m
Elev. Gain
📶
T3
Grade
🏃
Hard
Effort Rating
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🟢 Trail Status
Status Open
Hemisphere Northern
Timezone Europe/Tirane
🗂️ Logistics
Permit Yes
Visa Generally none
Transport Issues
Parking Limited
Wild Camping Tolerated

📊 Technical Details

Distance: 192 km
Route Type: Loop
Grade: T3
Navigation: Hard
Suck Factor: Mind your step
Direction: Anticlockwise
Total Ascent: 9,800 m
Average distance per day: 19 km
Average ascent per day: 980 m
Max Elevation: 2,290 m
Min Elevation: 670 m
Highest Point: Jelenka Pass / Tromeda
Lowest Point: Near Cerem

📅 Best Season

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Peak
Shoulder
Off

💭 Logistics & Budget

🎒 Dirtbag
€25
per day
🧍 Average Joe
€55
per day
🎿 Flashpacker
€110
per day
Budget note:

Cash is king. ATMs only available in Plav, Theth (sometimes empty), and Valbona.

Wild Camping Tolerated
Dog Friendly No
Baggage Transfer Yes
Permit Required Yes
Permit note

Cross-border permit required for Albania, Montenegro, and Kosovo borders. Must be arranged 2 weeks in advance.
Transport Access Issues
Trailhead Parking Limited
Visa Generally none
Accommodation
Campsites Guesthouses Hostels Hotels Wild Camping
Accommodation

Wildcamping technically illegal in some National Park zones without permission but widely practiced near guesthouses/shepherd huts

🎶 Vibe

Remoteness: Backcountry
Popularity: Steady
Social Scene: Friendly
Local Interaction: Integrated
Tourist Overrun: Low
Plushness: Rustic
Trash Level: Noticeable
Avg Local Income: €5,500.00
Cannabis: Severely enforced
Alcohol: Ubiquitous

🛟 Safety & Inclusion

Terrorism Risk Low
Political Risk Low
Solo Female Safety Moderate
LGBTQ+ Friendliness Hidden
Racism Risk Low
Muslim Friendliness Fully integrated
Jewish Friendliness Neutral
Vegetarian Friendliness Workable
Phone Signal Peak Finder
Charging Interval Every 2-3 days

Suggest a correction

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Distance
Current: 192
Duration
Current: 10
Route Type
Current: Loop
Hemisphere
Current: Northern
Status
Current: Open
Start Trailhead Name
Current: —
End Trailhead Name
Current: —
Highest Point
Current: Jelenka Pass / Tromeda
Highest Point Elev
Current: 2290
Lowest Point Name
Current: Near Cerem
Lowest Point Elev
Current: 670
Ascent
Current: 9800
Avg Alt
Current: 1700
Grade
Current: T3
Nav Diff
Current: Hard
Suck factor
Current: Mind your step
Most common direction
Current: Anticlockwise
Good Months (Peak or Shoulder)
Current: 6,7,8,9,10
Wild Camp
Current: Tolerated
Resupply
Current: 3
Dirtbag Budget
Current: 25
Average Joe Budget
Current: 55
Flashpacker Budget
Current: 110
Baggage transfer
Current: Yes
Permit
Current: Yes
Dogs
Current: No
Transport
Current: Issues
Time to Trailhead
Current: 4
Trailhead parking
Current: Limited
Visa
Current: Generally none
Power
Current: Every 2–3 days
Signal
Current: Peak Finder
Safety
Current: High
Terror
Current: Low
Politics
Current: Low
Female
Current: Moderate
LGBT
Current: Hidden
Racism
Current: Low
Muslim
Current: Fully integrated
Jewish
Current: Neutral
Vegetarian Friendly
Current: Workable
Remote
Current: Backcountry
Popularity
Current: Steady
Social
Current: Friendly
Local Interaction
Current: Integrated
Overrun
Current: Low
Plush
Current: Rustic
Trash
Current: Noticeable
Income
Current: 5500.00
Weed
Current: Severely enforced
Booze
Current: Ubiquitous