Trail Running the Peaks of the Balkans Part 1: The Route
Part 1: The Route
I spent a portion of last July running a long distance hiking trail in the Western Balkans passing through Albania, Montenegro, and Kosovo traversing the Bjeshkët e Nëmuna (in Albanian) or Prokletije (Serbo-Croatian) mountains, both translating to the Accursed Mountains. The route connects ancient mule, shepherd, and soldier tracks connecting remote regions and villages that were once separated by strict borders. Along the route you can find bunkers built over two generations ago when communist regimes controlled Yugoslavia and Albania.
The history of the trail and the region is complex, and I can’t possibly do it justice in one Instagram post, so consider this a very broad overview of what I learned about the route while I was there. The trail was established by the leaders of Kosovo, Montenegro, and Albania, local hiking clubs and consultants, and the German development organization German GIZ who were inspired by the Balkans Peace Park Project, whose mission is below:
“At the heart of our vision is a transnational park, a rugged mountainous region spanning Albania, Montenegro and Kosovo, a symbol of peace and cooperation where communities from all three countries work together to protect their fragile environment, stimulate local employment, and promote sustainable visitor activities in the region.”
This long distance trail links Muslim, Catholic, and Orthodox communities and by partnering with Albanian and Kosovar mountain guides and Montenegrin guesthouses, people are able to hike + run point to point on the route and experience a different kind of energy in these isolated mountain villages.
For my week-long route, I selected portions I thought would be best for a week of trail running by cutting out longer road sections and adding on other incredible running trails in nearby valleys that weren’t included in the long distance route. It’s incredible, and I encourage you to go and learn more!
-Liz, Founder + Owner of Runcation Travel
Offered as guided + self-guided now on the website here.
