TRAIL RUN ALBANIA
NEW DATE: 22 JUNE - 29 JUNE 2024
ONLY 1 SPACE LEFT
PRICE:
£1695PP ($2115)
BOOK WITH JUST 10% DEPOSIT + PAY OFF IN SIX INSTALLMENTS
SINGLE ROOM UPGRADE: £155 ($195) PER PERSON
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EXPERIENCE OVERVIEW
Albania is without question one of Europe’s hidden wonders. Ancient Roman history rubs shoulders with some of the most breathtaking mountain scenery you can imagine. Waterfalls and ‘Blue Eye’ pools, charming mountain villages, a Mediterranean climate, delicious food, and empty trails await.
Spending four core days running among the mountains and valleys of the alps, traversing the high peaks which run the natural border between Albania and neighbouring Montenegro.
We’ll experience running on empty trails as well as lush alpine meadows and waterfalls, with impromptu stops to bathe in natural hot springs. Our nightly accommodation will be cosy mountain lodges with delicious Albanian cuisine and wine to ensure we are well-rested and recovered.
Alongside the alps, we’ll be spending some time urban running as we explore the communist-era sights of Tirana.
INCLUDES:
7 Nights accommodation in boutique hotels & mountain guesthouses
Twin or double room share throughout (single supplement available)
Fully-supported trail running trip
Cultural sightseeing
Full board throughout
All transfers
4:1 Runners to Guide Ratio
Trails & Trees: with every booking, we plant a tree
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ITINERARY
+ DAY 1: ARRIVE INTO TIRANA (TIA)
+ DAY 2: TO THE ALBANIAN ALPS
+ DAY 3: HIT THE TRAIL TO GERBAJA VALLEY
+ DAY 4: ONWARD TO THETHI
+ DAY 5: THETHI WATERFALL TRAIL & BLUE EYE SWIMMING
+ DAY 6: TRAIL TO VALBONA VALLEY
+ DAY 7: FJORDLAND LAKE KOMAN & BACK TO TIRANA
+ DAY 8: DEPARTURE DAY FROM TIRANA (TIA)
OUR ROUTE
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OUR ITINERARY
DAY 01 | WELCOME TO TIRANA
Welcome to Tirana! Capital of Albania and what a surprising place to visit. Surrounded by mountainous scenery and packed full of cultural wonder. We pick you up in the arrivals area of the airport (you won’t miss us!) and whisk you to our hotel in the central part of the city by private air-conditioned minibus. Check in and relax before meeting with your fellow group for an introduction and briefing by your guide. Late afternoon, the group will head out into Tirana for a slow-paced run to stretch legs and explore this mysterious city.
DAY 02 | ONWARD TO THE ALBANIAN ALPS
After an early breakfast and final kit check, we’ll catch our mini-bus as we travel to the north of the country, our final destination being the Albanian Alps. It's a long drive today (approx. 5 hours), but we'll be making stops along the way. Our route will take us via Shkodra city where we’ll get some cultural immersion into ancient Albania. We’ll visit the old castle located in front of the city and also check out some of the city sights, and have lunch before heading onward to the village of Vermosh, one of the country’s northernmost villages. Arriving in the mountains, we check into our village accommodation, explore the surrounding area and feast on some delicious Albanian cuisine.
DAY 03 | TRAIL RUN TO GERBAJA VALLEY
Trail Running: Approx. 15km
After breakfast, we'll head to the trailhead at Vermosh as we follow the mountain path crossing the border into Montenegro. This is a stunning day traversing some very impressive mountain passes and valleys as the journey leads us through the valley of Gerbaja to the small alpine town of Vuthaj. Arriving in this beautiful town, we check into our hotel with time to relax. Time is available in the afternoon to visit the Ali Pasha springs for wild swimming and relaxing. Evening feast on tasty local cuisine.
DAY 04 |THE TRAIL TO THETHI
Trail Running: Approx. 18km
We'll transfer you back to the trailhead this morning for another remarkable day in the mountains where we cross back into Albania. The accursed mountains soar on the horizon as we pick up a trail which follows an old smugglers’ route passing waterfalls and large mountain lakes. The mountain trail picks its way through beech forests, alpine meadows and old military bunkers from the communist regime. As we cross a handful of mountain passes we'll see from the top of the valley of Theti way down below. The trail descends steeply, before flattening out at the valley bottom which leads us to our charming mountain guesthouse.
DAY 05 | THETHI VALLEY & BLUE EYE SWIMMING
Trail Running: Approx. 12km
Today we'll have more of a relaxing day to enjoy the local surroundings of this beautiful part of the Albanian Alps. Depending on how the group are feeling we'll either lightly run or hike to visit the Stone Groves of Nderlysa, the Grunasi waterfall, as well as the Blue Eye of Thethi, a deep blue water hole found in the middle of a woodland. At the Blue Eye we'll have the chance to go swimming, so remember to bring your swimming gear. We'll spend some time here, with lunch served in a local restaurant before heading back to our guest house later on. Rest of the afternoon to relax or do some further excursions if time allows.
DAY 06 | TRAIL TO VALBONA VALLEY
Trail Running: Approx. 18km
We leave the Valley of Thethi behind us today as we start climbing towards the Pass of Valbona and onwards to the village which shares the same name. The trail is beautiful and remains one of the country’s iconic routes for walkers and trail enthusiasts alike, it is also the only direct way into the Valley of Valbona. Arriving in this outstanding place, we check into our guesthouse in the evening to soak up the views. We'll relax with an Albanian feast served with local beers and wine to crown our trail-running journey.
DAY 07 | FJORDLAND LAKE KOMAN & BACK TO TIRANA
We check out of our village guest house today with breakfast overlooking the magnificent Albanian mountains for one final time. Our group transfer will then take us back to Tirana, the journey takes us first to the port where we take a ferry ride across the impressive Lake Koman. We then take a rough, bumpy road for a short while (roughly 1 hour) before hitting the main highway back to the capital. We’ll check into our hotel first, with an afternoon to relax before heading out for our farewell meal.
DAY 08 | GOODBYE, ALBANIA
It’s time to pack up and bid farewell to your newfound trail-running friends and our local team. A group transfer is arranged for you back to Tirana International Airport in time to connect with your onward flight back home.
WHERE WE STAY
BOUTIQUE HOTELS, TIRANA
We’ll stay in one of the newest hotels in Tirana, either the Oxford, Plaza or Boka which are well located in the heart of the downtown district of the city.
Spacious rooms, contemporary design and the ease of access for getting about and exploring are just a few of the reasons why we love staying at these hotels.
COSY MOUNTAIN GUESTHOUSES
Travelling in remote parts of Albania means we will make the most of staying in cosy, but simple village guesthouses. Alpine-style, surrounded by meadows with cows grazing, the gentle sounds of streams trickling past and panoramic views of the Accursed Mountains from every room.
Clean and very charming, the guesthouses will form the backbone of accommodation for the trip. All of which serve up ample amounts of delicious Albanian cuisine.
IMPORTANT NOTES
+ FLIGHTS
We specialise in arranging excellent trail running holidays but do not book international flights. As there is a great variety of value flights departing from all over the world to Tirana International Airport (TIA).
We will discuss with you our trusted and recommended ways to book international flights through excellent ATOL-protected partners who offer great value, ease of service, and flight protection.
+ VISAS
British citizens can enter and remain in Albania for a maximum of 90 days in every 6-month period without a visa.
+ GROUP MANAGEMENT
Being a group of max. 12 runners with a mixture of ages and running abilities we may decide to split into flexible groups, all of which will be supported by our Albanian running guides who will travel with us on the trip.
By splitting the group will allow us all to move more fluidly, allowing all team members to run at their own comfortable pace, without feeling pressured.
+ TRAIL RUNNING
Trail running in Albania is an absolute treat. The country is still well off the beaten path with very few travellers making it into the Albanian alps
We expect the trails to be empty, travelling through beech forests, lush meadows, and open pastures. For the most part, we will be running on the soft grass of the entry valleys. All of the time being surrounded by the jagged peaks of the Accursed Mountain ranges.
At times we will cross over from one valley to the next, climbing stepper paths with boulder and dry rock sections. Our maximum altitude will reach around 1,500m.
Our large luggage will be transported by pack mules on the days we do not have access to a vehicle.
+ TEMPERATURES
Albania enjoys a Mediterranean climate and throughout the spring and early autumn, we can expect temperatures to sit in the early to mid 20 degrees C. The mountain air is refreshingly cool on clear days, but temperatures can drop a touch to the high teens (C) at night. The conditions are absolutely perfect for trail running.
WHAT OUR GUESTS SAY
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