On Wednesday, we checked out of our cozy cabin in Zabljak and drove south to Gusinje. When you’re on a Montenegrin road trip (or perhaps any road trip through the Balkans), it’s important to leave plenty of time for animal-related delays. Having snagged some annual Montenegro Parks passes for 13[…]
One of the attractions we planned to visit during our time at Durmator National Park is Tara Canyon, which is one of the largest canyons in Europe. On Thanksgiving Monday, we were initially going to try to check another longer mountain hike off our list (Durmitor Ice Cave). But, we[…]
By far, the most popular hike in Durmitor National Park is to the peak of Bobotov Kuk: the highest mountain in Montenegro. We hiked up the adjacent mountain instead. At 2393 meters tall, Prutas Peak sits 130m shorter than Bobotov. But, hikers who have done both say that this one[…]
Yesterday we set out for Planinica (“Small Mountain”) in Durmitor National Park, Montenegro. The internet promised that this would be a full-day hike with lots of variety. Accurate on both accounts! The hike begins near the park entrance at Black Lake, following the 102 route. Right away, we encountered a[…]
Yesterday, we said goodbye to Albania – our wonderful home for the past month – and made our way north to Žabljak, Montenegro. We’ll be staying in a cabin here for the next week. The main attraction near Žabljak is Durmitor National Park: a UNESCO site full of glacial lakes,[…]
After completing the majestic Valbona Pass hike, we decided to stay a couple of extra days in Theth before taking the bus back to Shkoder. Theth is a cute village, slightly bigger than Valbona. You still won’t find a grocery store here, or an ATM. But hey, it has the[…]
Photos of the hike from Valbona to Theth are what made James and I want to visit Albania. This weekend, after travelling around Albania for nearly a month, we finally got to cross this experience off our bucket list. Somehow, it was even more incredible than I imagined. Having arrived[…]
Albania is home to a bucket list hike: the Valbona Pass through the Accursed Mountains. This 17km hike between Theth and Valbona offers nonstop jaw-dropping mountain vistas. (More in the next post). Theth and Valbona are both small villages with limited services. So, hikers usually drop off their luggage in[…]
On Monday, we took the bus to Shkodër: a charming, midsized city at the foothills of the Albanian Alps. This city is basically a required stop if you want to do any hiking on the Albanian side of the mountain range. The week started off rainy, which was perfect for[…]
Osumi Canyon is a 26km river gorge in Southern Albania. We visited the canyon as a group tour from Berat. As you know, I prefer independent travel when possible. But, I think Osumi Canyon would be tricky to fit in that way. You would have to rent a car and[…]