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Peaks of the Balkans

Trail Running

Summer 2026

 

Quick Facts

  • Destination: Albania, Montenegro, Kosovo — Accursed Mountains (Bjeshkët e Nëmuna / Prokletije)
  • Trip Length: 7 days / 6 nights
  • 2026 Dates: June 28 – July 4
  • Price: $2,799 per person — no single supplement for solo travelers
  • Difficulty: Level 3 of 4 in the Runcation system (Levels 1, 2, 3, and Full Send)
  • Daily Distance: 6–20 miles
  • Daily Elevation: +3,600 to +4,900 ft per day
  • Group Size: 8–14 participants
  • Guide Ratio: 1 guide for every 8 participants
  • Accommodation: 5 nights in traditional family-run guesthouses + 1 night in a hotel
  • Meals Included: All meals — breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day
  • Baggage Transfer: Yes — included throughout (carry only a hydration pack)
  • Highlights: Three-country trail running; summit at the Albania/Montenegro/Kosovo three-border point; UNESCO World Heritage Lumi Gashit valley; crystal-clear "blue eyes" springs; runnable singletrack and ridge running
  • Border Permits: Included for all three countries
  • Guides: A mix of certified local mountain guides and U.S.-based trail running guides
  • Start / End: Shkodër, Albania
  • Nearest Airports: Tirana, Albania (TIA, ~90 min) or Podgorica, Montenegro (TGD, ~1 hr)
  • This trip: Running since 2025
  • Self-Guided Option: Available — see the Self-Guided Balkans link below

Called Europe’s last true wilderness, the Peaks of the Balkans provides the world's newest transnational long distance trail running experience through the Western Balkans passing through Albania, Montenegro, and Kosovo. You’ll traverse 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 once separated by strict borders and filled with bunkers built over two generations ago when communist regimes controlled Yugoslavia and Albania. The concept for this route began as a symbol of peace where all three countries worked together to “protect their fragile environment, stimulate local employment, and promote sustainable visitor activities in the region.”

On this guided trail running tour we’ve included the highlights of the Peaks of the Balkans tour and included other gems not included on the map to make it the an ultimate week-long trail running experience of the top trails and routes in Albania and Montenegro. You’ll get a chance to visit the lakeside city of Shkodër, the lesser known blue-eyes (crystal clear water springs) of the region, and run point to point across the many valleys of the Balkans. Over the course of the week you’ll stay in a mixture of hotels and traditional guesthouses where you’ll refuel on some of the most local and fresh dishes, from grilled local meat with a side of vegetables from the garden, salads, tarator, byrek, cheeses, and in-house baked breads. If you’re a runner that is looking to tackle some mileage and elevation gain over the week but prefers smooth, flowy, and less rocky mountain trails, this trip is for you!

Trip Difficulty: Level 3 (click to learn more about trip difficulty levels).

 
 

 
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Overview

•Knowledgable local trail running guide to explain the important culture, history, and local flora and fauna of the region

•Discover flowing singletrack alongside rivers, swim in blue eyes (crystal clear natural springs), and stand atop a peak on the border of Kosovo, Montenegro, and Albania

• Some of the most runnable mountain trails of any of our trips while you run through the Balkans passing through Albania and Montenegro

• Comfortable hotel for 1 night and comfortable scenic traditional guesthouses for 5 nights


• Enjoy fresh and local Mediterranean cuisine of the Balkans with all meals included (breakfast, lunch, and dinner)

• Baggage transport from hut-to-hut and all logistics and bookings taken care of

• Discover the lakeside city of Shkoder before running point to point through the Balkans including highlights of the Peaks of the Balkans and other local hidden gems

• Explore Europe’s wilder side on one of the newest transnational long distance routes while trail running through the Accursed Mountains


 

 

Sample Trip Itinerary

Day 1

Welcome to Albania!

Day 1: Your trip will start Day 1 in Shkodra/Shkodër where you will meet the guides and then receive transfer from the lakeside city into the mountains! Along the way you’ll watch the scenery change before rolling down your windows for that fresh mountain air. You’ll arrive in time to explore the local blue eye before being welcomed at your first guesthouse in the scenic Theth Valley. For your first meal in Albania you’ll be treated to fresh local cuisine open-air underneath the mountains before catching up on sleep for the day ahead.

Communal accommodation in guesthouse with dinner included

Transfer Shkodra-Theth Included: Drive Time ~2 hours

DAY 2

         The Classic: Theth - Valbone

Day 2: After breakfast, we'll get an early start on one of the most popular point-to-point trail runs in the region with spectacular views over Valbona and Theth valleys. The route follows route follows the path of an ancient mule track linking the tribal regions of Shala and Nikaj. From Theth (740m) you’ll climb up into old beech and birch forests before reaching a coffee bar with a view. Stop for a traditional cake, soda, or coffee before continuing your climb over the Valbona Pass (1795m) where you’ll be able to view the most southern glacier in the northern hemisphere. The descent starts off steep before smoothing out into singletrack dirt through forests and then a dried riverbed as you drop all the wall down to the to the Valbona valley (940m) in the heart of the national park. Valbona National Park covers a big area in the surrounding valley where the most famous peaks are, such as Jezerca Peak, Rosi Peak, and Kollata Peak. Enjoy a refreshment and a spectacular dinner at your guesthouse for the evening (seriously, it’s one of the best)!

Shared accommodations in communal guesthouse with breakfast, lunch, and dinner included

~10.5 miles /+3,800 ft / -3,100 ft *

*Please note, exact mileage and ascent/descent info each day subject to change, but this is a good guideline

DAY 3

Into the Wilder Balkans

Day 3: After an early breakfast we'll head out the door of our hotel and back up into the mountains. Don’t let yesterday’s crowds fool you as today we’ll head deeper into the Balkans with the trails to ourselves. You’ll start the day with a short transfer from the guesthouse to cut out a road section before starting your climb with a view down in Cerem valley and west towards Kollata massive and Bori’s Pass. Today you’ll run from Albania into Montenegro entering a beautiful forest that opens occasionally past shepherd’s seasonal settlements. Highlights include views of the Lumi Gashit valley, which is a protected UNESCO World Heritage site. Stop for a traditional blueberry cake of the Balkans or enjoy the forest fruits like blueberries, strawberries, and rasperries along the trail (especially in July and August. After your first long descent of the day into the traditional village of Doberdol, you’ll make your steepest climb of the day towards the three-border point between Albania, Kosovo, and Montenegro (2366 m). After enjoying the views, you’ll do some ridge running where the trail meets up with the the Via Dinarica trail before descending into a typical Montenegrin shepherd village (Montenegrin bosniak Muslim community speaking south Slavic) where you’ll spend the evening.

Shared accommodations in communal guesthouse with breakfast, lunch, and dinner included

~20 miles /+4,900 ft / -3,100 ft

DAY 4

Running through Montenegro

Day 4: Just when you thought that there can’t possible be another day of spectacularly runnable ridges with scenic views for miles, you’ll find that there’s plenty more today. This stage is one of the longest sections of the entire Peaks of the Balkans trail. It starts with a shady mellow ascent climbing further and further into a forest. As the trail shoots up for the short but steepest section of the route, you’ll plateau out to a dreamy field with smooth singletrack and views of the Albanian and Montenegrin mountains in the distance. You might pass a herd of sheep or two on your descent to a small village located at the entrance of Ropojane Valley through where the trail continues towards Albania. This village is inhabited entirely by the Albanian Community known for their heart-warm hospitality (and is also a popular destination among the Montenegrin population). Take a side trip to a waterfall, blue eye spring, or relax in your comfortable cabins overlooking the valley.

Shared accommodations in communal guesthouse with breakfast, lunch, and dinner included

~ 13.5 miles/+4,300 ft / -4,300 ft

DAY 5

         Off the Beaten Path

Day 5: Today is our shortest day of the trip and we’ll venture to a nearby valley that wasn’t included in the Peaks of the Balkans route, but it definitely deserves to be included on this itinerary! You’ll take a short transfer from the guesthouse to an area rich in beauty and history and have the opportunity to cross the border from Montenegro to Albania which was heavily guarded for 50 years during the Communist Era.. You’ll start through a birch and beech forest before climbing to a ridge with a front and center view of massive limestone peaks. After you complete your loop, make sure you try the most refreshing lemonade you’ve ever had at the coffee shop at the base before transferring back to your guesthouse for another evening in the spectacular valley.

Shared accommodations in communal guesthouse with breakfast, lunch, and dinner included

~ 6 miles/+3,700 ft / -3,700 ft

Discover hidden gems of the Balkans with some of the best trail running around.

DAY 6

Spectacular Finale

Day 6: After a delicious breakfast, we'll head out for our last day on the trails, and one of the most beautiful. We’ll pass by uncrowded blue eyes, massive limestone walls, and fields of green grass and flowers. Today you’ll cross the border again between Montenegro and Albania as you trail run through the craggiest part of the National Park Accursed Mountains. Almost the entire hike is surrounded by steep mountains with stunning views. You’ll also get a look into the region’s past when it was a forbidden zone during the Communist era. A border military post, a bunker and the border crossing pyramid marker still remain while crossing this point. Enjoy one last chance for a mid-run Balkans coffee bar stop (there’s even an espresso maker at this one) before descending down into Theth to complete your trail running week through the Balkans.

Double accommodation in hotel with breakfast, lunch, and dinner included

~ 13.5 miles/+3,600 ft / -3,100 ft

Transfer Theth-Shkodra Included: Drive Time ~2 hours

DAY 7

Departure!

Day 7: Today enjoy breakfast in the hotel garden before you’re free to depart at any time you like, leaving the Balkans with tons of memories.

Breakfast included

 

this trip includes staying in traditional guesthouses, similar to mountain huts. Guesthouses include shared rooms in homes and scenic cabins with shared meals and bathrooms (towels and bedding provided). You will share a room with one to a couple people. to learn more about the mountain hut experience, visit this page.

 

What’s included

All accommodations and bookings 

Trip logistics of route planning, lodging, and transportation reservations

A 8:1 ratio of participants to expert, professional mountain guides

All transfers as described in the itinerary

Baggage transport from guesthouse to guesthouse throughout the route (all you carry is a hydration pack!)

Knowledgable local mountain running guide and running coach along the entire route

All meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) included

Border Permits

Entrance Fees for National Parks

Map

Trip packet with detailed info including packing and weather resources

Access to a personal trip WhatsApp group and community

Not included

International airfare

Alcoholic beverages 

Travel Insurance

Extra expenses due to a change in itinerary or in case of you having to shorten the day or trip as a whole (including personal return trips to the airport/next destination/etc.)

Pick up and drop off from airport available as an add-on: Transfer Tirana/ Podgorica Airport - Shkodra

Transfer Shkodra - Tirana City available as an add-on

  • A few things make this one of our favorites. It’s technically a three-country trip — you'll cross between Albania, Montenegro, and Kosovo, with a summit at the three-border point (2,366 m). All your meals are included (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) — unusual for our guided trips and a delicious window into Balkan home cooking, fresh from the gardens, ovens, and grills of family-run guesthouses. Your guide team mixes certified local mountain guides with U.S.-based trail running guides — local depth on the route, history, and culture, plus familiar communication and trail-running coaching on the runs themselves. We handle all your border permits across the three countries. And the route mixes the iconic Peaks of the Balkans Trail with a couple of hidden valleys we've added in — places that aren't on the official map but absolutely deserve to be.

  • This is a Level 3 trip. You'll cover 6–20 miles per day with 3,600–4,900 ft of elevation gain on mountain terrain — mostly flowing singletrack and ridge running with some technical sections. You don't need to be an ultrarunner, but completing 15+ miles on trails with 3,000+ feet of elevation gain is solid preparation. The Balkans offer some of the most runnable trails of any of our European trips — many participants find the daily mileage feels better than the numbers suggest. That being said, it’s still a challenging mountain running trip! An optional 12-week training plan from our running coach is available as an add-on.

  • You'll spend 5 nights in traditional family-run guesthouses (shared rooms — typically one to a couple people per room — with shared bathrooms and family-style meals) and 1 night in a hotel. The guesthouses are simple, warm, and authentic — picture homemade bread, fresh-from-the-garden vegetables, grilled local meats, and the chance to learn about Balkan culture from your hosts. For a sense of what staying in mountain accommodations like this is like, see our Mountain Hut Experience page.

  • You'll spend 5 nights in traditional family-run guesthouses (shared rooms — typically one to a couple people per room — with shared bathrooms and family-style meals) and 1 night in a hotel. The guesthouses are simple, warm, and authentic — picture homemade bread, fresh-from-the-garden vegetables, grilled local meats, and the chance to learn about Balkan culture from your hosts. For a sense of what staying in mountain accommodations like this is like, see our Mountain Hut Experience page.

  • No. Runcation Travel charges no single supplement on this trip. About half of every group are solo travelers, and the family-style guesthouse meals and cozy accommodations are part of how the group bonds.

  • US, Canadian, UK, and EU citizens do not need visas for tourist stays in Albania or Montenegro. Travelers from other countries should check with their consulates before booking — and please obtain any necessary visas in advance so we can secure your border permits. Border permits for the three-country crossing are included and handled by us, so you don't need to apply for those yourself. A valid passport with at least 6 months remaining beyond travel dates is required.

  • This is one of our best food trips. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are all included. Expect Balkan classics — grilled local meats, tarator (cold cucumber-yogurt soup), byrek (savory pastry), fresh cheeses, garden vegetables, in-house baked breads, and seasonal fruits like blueberries and strawberries straight off the trail in July and August. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and other dietary restrictions are accommodated — please let us know in advance so guesthouses can prepare.

  • The trip starts and ends in Shkodër, Albania. The closest international airports are Tirana, Albania (TIA, ~90 km / 90 min) and Podgorica, Montenegro (TGD, ~60 km / 1 hr). You can reach Shkodër via intercity bus, rental car, or our airport transfer add-on. Once you're in Shkodër, your guide handles all transfers to and from the mountains.

  • Yes — we also offer Peaks of the Balkans as a self-guided trip for runners who want the routes, accommodations, baggage transfers, and border permits handled but prefer to run on their own schedule without a guide. Email selfguided@runcation.org to set one up.

Who should attend? What pace do you run?

You do not need to be an expert trail runner! However, please note, this is a LEVEL 3 trip. Runners must be able to complete the full distance each day on the trip itinerary (10-20 miles) with significant amounts of elevation gain and loss (3,000-5,000 feet per day) in mountainous environments and at times on technical trail (think rocky, rooted, or steep with loose rock) or in unfavorable weather conditions in the mountains. It is expected that all participants will hike the long and strenuous uphill climbs at altitude, and run whenever the guide determines is feasible (including downhill and flat sections). We can accommodate different paces, photo and video stops, and taking time to soak up and enjoy the route and your vacation. We cannot, however, accommodate walkers or hikers on this running trip.We can accommodate different paces, photo and video stops, and taking time to soak up and enjoy the route and your vacation. We cannot, however, accommodate walkers or hikers on this running trip. If you’re psyched about visiting the Balkans and can meet this trip requirements, you should attend!

Optional 12-week training package available from an experienced running coach to ensure you're trained and ready to go for this adventure of a lifetime! This option is available as an add-on when booking.

Our Guides

Our guides include local, professional trail running mountain guides with certified regional guiding credentials. These include International Mountain Leaders, Middle Mountain Guides, Wilderness First Aid certified, Search and Rescue Members, and more. They are runners that know the ins and outs of this route and are prepared with a safety or alternate plan for any sort of unexpected weather or injury. Plus, they’re a ton of fun and we think they’re the best. Join one of our guided tours to find out!

Solo Travelers

We have no single supplement fee for solo travelers on our guided tours. We love solo travelers, and about half of all our guided trips (often even more) are solo travelers.

How to Arrive

Our trail running tour begins Shkoder, Albania. The closest International Airports are Tirana, Albania (~90km away/90 minutes) or Podgorica, Montenegro (~60km/1 hour) You can arrive to Shkoder by an Intercity or International bus, renting a car, or adding transfer as a trip add-on.

Before You Go

Passport:

Must have a valid passport valid through 6 months upon date of travel.

Visas:

Please note, travelers who are not residents of the U.S., Canada, U.K., or an EU country generally require a visa to enter both Albania and Montenegro. In some cases, individuals who hold a valid residence permit or visa from one of these countries may be allowed to enter without obtaining an additional visa. Please make sure to obtain all necessary visas before traveling so that we can secure your border permits.

Our Content

All content on this website, including but not limited to trip itineraries, day-by-day descriptions, written narratives, and images, is the intellectual property of Runcation Travel and is protected under United States Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S. Code) and international treaties including the Berne Convention.

Unauthorized use, reproduction, or distribution of any part of this content — including copying text for use on other websites, marketing materials, or commercial operations — is strictly prohibited. Any such use may result in legal action, including claims for statutory damages, actual damages, and attorneys’ fees.

We regularly monitor for infringement. If you are interested in licensing or collaborating, please contact us at info@runcation.org.

Book now June 28-July 4, 2026
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Participant Testimonials
“Runcation made our epic Balkans running trip possible! The logistics from start to finish were smooth, the communication was extremely clear and helpful, and we had the absolute best time. I plan to take another Runcation ASAP!!!”
— Tess, Self-Guided Balkans Runcaton
“No vacation has rewired my brain like running around the Accursed Mountains in Albania, Montenegro, and Kosovo.”
— Jake, Guided Balkans Runcation
“The Self-Guided Trip to the Peaks of the Balkans was amazing. We had a fantastic time. Everything was seamless... the organization, the paperwork, the guesthouses, the trail guides, and the trail itself was incredible. We had the best time and can’t wait to go back. Runcation Travel did an amazing job getting us all the things for our trip. Thank you so much!”
— Erika, Self-Guided Balkans Runcation

Trail run the Peaks of the Balkans with spectacular ridge running and views of the mountains in all directions. Cute trail dog not included.

Want to learn more about what it’s like to run the Balkans? We wrote a three part blog series about our scouting trip running point to point along the Peaks of the Balkans where you can learn more about the history of the route, what the trail running is like in the Accursed Mountains, and what it’s like to stay in a guesthouse in Albania and Montenegro. Learn more about it on our Instagram page, or read it on the blog below.

Part 1: The Route
Part 2: The Guesthouses
part 3: The Running

🕓 Originally published: August 1, 2024
🔄 Last updated: July 30, 2025