Overview
The Via Dinarica is a long-distance network of trails, covering over 2,000km of the Dinaric Alps. Hiking the Via Dinarica in Kosovo takes eight days, walking in the wilderness wonders of Bjeshkët e Nemuna National Park. It’s a self-guided tour with some cool combo-highs. One day you hike to both Maja e Dromodolit (2,120m) and Mount Hajla Shkrelit (2,011m). And on another, you trek up to the iconic Jelenka Pass (2,275m) on the border with Montenegro, allowing you to hop in and out of both countries. With a night in both Montenegro and Albania thrown in. You also get to summit Mount Gjeravica, Kosovo’s highest mountain at 2,656m.
- Accursed Mountains
- Mount Gjeravica, Kosovo’s highest mountain (2,656m)
- Maja e Dromodolit (2,120m)
- Mount Hajla Shkrelit (2,011m)
- Jelenka Pass (2,275m)
- Pristina
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Pristina/Peja
Arrive at Pristina Airport, where a private transfer takes you to the historic city of Peja. Depending on your arrival time, we recommend some superb natural and cultural landmarks of Kosovo, such as the UNESCO Patriarchate of Peja Monastery, or a cascade of waterfalls.
- Accommodation: Hotel Camp Karagaq or similar
- Meals included: none
Day 2: Podi Jakupit – Reka e Allages | 12km
Today begins with a short transfer to the small shepherd settlement of Podi Jakupit. The hiking route leads through a pine tree forest, towards the border between Kosovo and Montenegro. Continue west on the trail to Hajla Pass, before reaching Reka e Allages, a typical mountain shepherd village where there are several guesthouses, offering comfortable accommodation and delicious local food.
- Walking for the day: 12km, ↑335m ↓825m
- Accommodation: Hajla Cabin or similar
- Meals included: breakfast, packed lunch, dinner
Day 3: Reka e Allages – Maja e Dromodolit – Hajla e Shkrelit – Bogë | 16km
The first part of this section follows the same route as the first day. The trail is well-marked and ascends gradually, through a small meadow until reaching the tree line. After 5km of walking along the ridge, the trail crosses onto Maja e Dromodolit (2,120m), before continuing on towards Hajla e Shkrelit (2,011m) and then descending towards Qafa Dasmoreve mountain pass. After a sharp left, follow the path to Bogë, a village located in the Rugova region of the Albanian Alps. From Bogë, a short transfer takes you to the village of Kuqishtë.
- Walking for the day: 16km, ↑1,200m ↓1,035m
- Accommodation: Guri I Kuq Guesthouse or similar
- Meals included: breakfast, packed lunch, dinner
Day 4: Kuqishte – Milishevc | 12km
Today’s route begins with an ascent to the mountain lake, Leqinat Kuqishtes (1,890m), before heading east to the glacial lake, Leqinati Drelajve. The route makes a second ascent to reach Jelenka Pass (2,275m), which offers panoramic views of the surrounding peaks and valleys. Continue along the borderline between Kosovo and Montenegro, crossing the border at various points, before reaching a wetland area, where the route then enters re-enters Kosovo. Your day of walking ends in Milishevc.
- Walking for the day: 12km, ↑1,005m ↓745m
- Accommodation: Guesthouse Lojza or similar
- Meals included: breakfast, packed lunch, dinner
Day 5: Milishevc – Babino Polje | 16km
Today’s route follows some of the least trodden trails of the Accursed Mountains in Kosovo, also joining the Peaks of the Balkans trail for the section between Kuqishtë to Babino Polje. This section is the least frequented of the whole trail, providing a sense of isolation and total peace. The day of walking ends in Babino Polje, a typical Montenegrin shepherd village, famous for its local dairy products and cuisine.
- Walking for the day: 12.5km, ↑610m ↓775m
- Accommodation: Eco Lodge Hrid or similar
- Meals included: breakfast, packed lunch, dinner
Day 6: Babino Polje – Dobërdol | 13km
Starting from Babino Polje, follow the route along the border between Kosovo and Montenegro, before reaching Katun Bogićevica, which overlooks Babino Polje Valley and surrounding pine forests. From Katun Bogićevica, the route re-joins the Via Dinarica Trail, crossing several mountain passes along the way. There is the option of a detour, following a trail that crosses onto Trekufiri, the three-border summit, meaning you will technically be on the border of three countries (Albania, Kosovo and Montenegro) at the same time. Today’s walk ends in Dobërdol, Albania, where your accommodation for the evening awaits.
- Walking for the day: 13km, ↑745m ↓450m
- Accommodation: Guesthouse Leonardi or similar
- Meals included: breakfast, packed lunch, dinner
Day 7: Dobërdol – Mount Gjeravica (2,656m) | 16km
Today’s route heads east, through Dobërdol Valley, crossing from Albania to Kosovo at Ali Peja Pass. Continue on the high altitude trail, passing a heart-shaped mountain lake, before heading uphill to the ridge (2,440m). Head east and begin your ascent of Mount Gjeravica (2,656m), the highest mountain in Kosovo. The trail to the top is rugged, but the extensive views of the Accursed Mountains make your efforts worthwhile. After a moderately steep descent, the route passes two mountain lakes, before ending in the seasonal shepherd settlement, Gropa e Erenikut. From there, a transfer takes you back to Peja.
- Walking for the day: 16km, ↑1,018m ↓1,091m
- Accommodation: Hotel Camp Karagaq or similar
- Meals included: breakfast and packed lunch
Day 8: Departure transfer to Pristina
After breakfast, a transfer takes you to Pristina Airport or city centre
- Meals included: breakfast
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodations on this tour include a mix of 3-star hotels, guesthouses and a mountain hut. They have been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria including their location, warm hospitality, fine local food or commitment to responsible tourism. Rooms in the guesthouses and the mountain hut are shared. Private rooms may be available on request, depending on availability.
Click to view default hotels
- Hotel Camp Karagaq (Peja)
- Hajla Cabin (Reka e Allages)
- Guri I Kuq Guesthouse (Kuqishte)
- Guesthouse Lojza (Milishevc)
- Eco Lodge Hrid (Babino Polje)
- Guesthouse Leonardi (Dobërdol)
Accommodation is subject to availability. In the event of a particular accommodation being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with an accommodation of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Breakfast is included on all days, as well as six packed lunches and five dinners, on the days spent in the mountains. On days one and seven, dinner is available either at the accommodation or from restaurants in the local area.
Difficulty and terrain
This tour is rated moderate to strenuous and is suitable for regular walkers, with a good level of fitness. The tour involves an average daily walking distance of 14km and an average daily elevation gain of 819m (read more about difficulty grades).
We strongly advise you to only follow marked trails and never try to shorten the path through unknown and unmarked terrain. We will provide you with detailed route notes and maps and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime. More detailed information on route navigation will be included in your holiday information pack.
When to go
This trip is available from June until October. The flexibility of self-guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates, meaning you can start your trip on any date during the season.
Depending on location and altitude, temperatures vary, but from June to September the daily averages are 20-25C. The summer and autumn months offer pleasant conditions for walking, with cool nights and occasional rain. For more information, see our blog, Everything you need to know about walking the Via Dinarica Trail.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
Our recommended airport for this tour is Pristina.
Arrival and departure transfers are included from/to Pristina Airport.
Inclusions
Included
- 7 nights accommodation (two nights in 3-star hotels, five nights in simple guesthouses/a mountain hut)
- 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 5 dinners
- Border permits
- Detailed pre-departure holiday information pack including GPS-checked and regularly updated route descriptions and maps (digital copy sent pre-departure and one printed copy provided locally per group)
- Luggage transfers (one piece up to 15kg, in soft bags only, since mule transportation is used and hard suitcases are not suitable)
- Private transfers as listed in the itinerary
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare
- Drinks
- Lunches and dinners not mentioned in the itinerary
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses
- Local tourist taxes and entry fees (payable locally)
- Any items not explicitly listed as included
- eSIM data for international travel (get an eSIM)
Options, extras and supplements
- If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own
- We regret that this tour is not open to solo travellers
