Hiking Albania

Whereas it takes 104 km by car to get from Sheper to Përmet, here it only takes 13 km. This old mule track from the Ottoman period is still frequently used by shepherds to cross from the Zagoria to the Vjosa valleys. It crosses the Dhëmbel massif via the Dhëmbel pass, at 1,428 m altitude, and on to the village of Leusa. Magnificent scenery, around 6/7 hours' walking and few difficulties. But the trail is not very well signposted. Information at the Gjirokastra tourist office and/or at the Duli Guest House in Sheper.

Arrëz/Arrëza (approx. 100 inhabitants) lies south of Dardha, close to the Greek border, at an altitude of 1,030 m above sea level. The village is linked to Dardha by a carriage road (11 km) and by a new road from Miras (to the east). We recommend walking to the village via Sinica, 4 km east of Dardha. This makes for a fairly easy 15.2 km loop (approx. 4h30). On the way, through the forests, you'll come across the Sinica waterfall, bunkers, fountains, the Devoll river and an ancient Bektashi shrine (Vakëfi i Dobërgorës).

This network of 495 km of marked trails stretches between Kosovo, Albania and Northern Macedonia, from the Šar Mountains(Scardus in Latin) to Lake Ohrid via the Great Korab. It was created in 2017 by the German agency GIZ and the Austrian association Trail Angels, which specializes in eco-responsible hiking. On the official website (beware, there's a fake site: highscardus.com), you'll find detailed itineraries, accommodation options and prices for self-guided and guided tours.

Moscopole's churches are well signposted and can be explored along two marked trails of 4 and 10 km. In addition to the churches of St. Athanasius and St. Nicholas and the monastery of St. John the Baptist, you can visit the Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God (Kisha e Shën Mërisë), with frescoes dating from 1712, and the Church of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel (Kisha e Shën Mëhillit), whose frescoes dating from 1722 have been badly vandalized. The village also boasts 2 beautiful bridges: the Shën Premte ("Sainte-Parascève") bridge and the Kovaçi ("Blacksmith") bridge.