Sunday, September 10, 2023 - Sunday, September 24, 2023
Serbia, Kosovo, Albania, Northern Macedonia,
International,
Balkan Countries
Step back in time to join us for a wonderful fifteen-day journey through the Balkan countries of Serbia, Kosovo, Albania, and North Macedonia. This trip provides a rich mixture of hiking and culture. Our eight days of hiking includes four days trekking in rugged mountains along the new long-distance High Scardus Trail, a cross-border route connecting Albania, Kosovo, and North Macedonia. Our luggage will be transported, requiring us to carry only daypacks. We will climb the highest peaks in Kosovo, Macedonia, and Albania, and have a couple days with easier walks to scenic wonders. The rest of the trip is filled with fascinating cultural exploration. Serbia, Kosovo, and North Macedonia are small landlocked countries that were formerly part of Yugoslavia. Until the nineties Albania was one of the most isolated countries in the world, as their dictator did not trust either the east or the west. Our adventure begins in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. After a guided tour of this beautiful city, we will drive to Banska Stena, considered to have the "Best View" in Serbia and then to Uvac Canyon, where there are a series of tightly packed, looping arches as the Uvac River meanders through the canyon. We then travel to Kosovo where we will do a couple hikes and stay in the two fascinating and beautiful cities of Pristina and Prizren visiting a couple UNESCO World Heritage sites. Our serious hiking then begins in earnest as we climb the highest peak in Kosovo, then embark on the High Scardus Trail, starting by hiking into Albania. Following four exciting days on the trail, we finish our trip with two cultural days in North Macedonia as we visit the colorful mosque in Tetovo and then get a tour of the capital city of Skopje. We will be accompanied by an English-speaking local guide throughout the trip.
