The Peaks of the Balkans trail— a 120‑mile loop that weaves through Montenegro, Albania and Kosovo—has become a magnet for hikers seeking a remote wilderness experience. The route crosses the limestone peaks of the Accursed Mountains, glacial lakes and cloud forests, offering a rare sense of peace in southern Europe.
Growing popularity and economic impact
Originally launched in 2006 as the “peace trail,” the path was intended to reshape perceptions of a region once known for Cold‑War isolation and 1990s conflict. Today, visitors from Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, the United States, Australia and beyond are completing the trek in ten days or breaking it into shorter sections.
Local entrepreneurs are feeling the benefits. In the Montenegrin village of Vusanje, Adis Balić runs the Grlja restaurant and guesthouse, which opened seven years ago. He says the business served about 400 campers a year before the trail opened; this season the number has risen to more than 3,400. The guesthouse provides 15 beds in four rooms, while most trekkers camp under canvas. Meals feature family‑grown vegetables, homemade cheeses and traditional dishes such as ajvar, a roasted pepper and eggplant spread.
What hikers need to know
The trail does not require technical climbing skills, but it is demanding. Hikers should bring sturdy boots, a well‑packed backpack, walking poles and a good level of fitness. The cumulative altitude gain approaches 35,000 feet—more than the height of Mount Everest—so training and preparation are advisable. Summer days can be hot on the ascents, while the descents require careful footing.
Highlights include a lunch stop and an icy swim at Lake Hrid in Montenegro, situated over a mile above sea level, and the chance to see disused concrete bunkers from Albania’s former communist era.
Local hospitality
Guides like Dušan Dragosavljević, who works for Serbian‑based A.C.E. Adventure, stress the region’s hospitality. “When you’re in the Balkans without accommodation or food, people will help you out—Balkan people are very hospitable,” he says. Many families, once dependent on subsistence farming, now supplement their income through tourism generated by the trail.
Peak season runs from June through September, with May and October offering quieter alternatives but a higher chance of snow. The route remains largely free of mass tourism, preserving the natural beauty that first attracted adventurers from northern Europe.
Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
