Local roots, global standards
Out of This World is InAlb's 13-day small-group hiking tour of Albania: six guided hikes, about 57 km, with one top-rated local hiking guide for the whole trip. You cross the Theth to Valbona pass, wade the Holta and Osumi canyons and climb to the glacial lake on Gramoz, with Koman Lake, UNESCO Berat and Gjirokastra and thermal springs between the hikes. Groups of 4 to 12, breakfast included. From €1,900 per person, two sharing.
Planned and operated by InAlb, Tirana. Last updated .
This is Albania’s most complete hiking tour: 13 days, north to south, through the wildest corners of the country. Stand on the Albania and Montenegro border above Lepushe, cross the famous Theth to Valbona pass in the Accursed Mountains, wade through Holta and Osumi canyons under 150 m walls, ride the Koman Lake ferry, soak in thermal springs and reach the highest glacial lake in Albania on Gramoz. Six real hiking days, about 57 km, are spaced with lighter days, UNESCO towns and local food. Small group, one specialised top-rated local hiking guide for all 13 days, 3-star hotels and mountain guesthouses, 24/7 support.
Out of This World is a 13-day guided small-group hiking tour of Albania, starting and ending in Tirana and run by InAlb’s own team. It combines hiking in the north, the south and the east of Albania in one loop, and it is built for travellers who want the real thing: long days on the trail, nights in family-run mountain guesthouses and landscapes that look like another planet. This is not a walking holiday with the odd stroll. It is a proper hiking tour with six trail days, including Albania’s most famous crossing, the Theth to Valbona pass.
The route runs north first. From Tirana you pass Kruja, Lezha and Shkodra and drive one of the country’s most spectacular mountain roads to Tamare in the Albanian Alps. From there you climb to the Maja e Vajushes viewpoint above Lepushe at 2,057 m, where you look down into Albania and Montenegro at the same time, hike to the Blue Eye of Theth, and cross the pass to Valbona on the old mule track that is the only way between the two valleys. The Koman Lake ferry, the fjord of Albania, brings you back towards Tirana.
Then the south. Holta Canyon narrows to 10 m between 150 m walls with a milky-blue thermal spring at its mouth, and UNESCO Berat is your reward that evening. Osumi Canyon hides eight waterfalls in 26 km of rock, and you wade and swim through the best of it. UNESCO Gjirokastra, the Benja thermal pools under an Ottoman bridge, the Langarica canyon and the river caves of the Sarandapor springs follow, before the last climb to the glacial lake on Gramoz at 2,350 m, the highest in Albania, on the Greek border. The tour winds down in Korca and on the shore of Lake Ohrid before the return to Tirana.
Six hiking days add up to about 57 km. Hard days are followed by lighter ones on purpose, so your legs recover before the next climb. One specialised, top-rated local hiking guide is with you for all 13 days, trained in mountain safety and familiar with every section of the route. You sleep in 3-star city hotels and family-run mountain guesthouses, breakfast is included every day and packed on the early mornings, and our team is on call 24/7.
Tirana > Kruja > Lezha > Shkodra > Tamare > Lepushe > Theth > Valbona > Koman Lake > Tirana > Holta Canyon > Berat > Osum Canyon > Gjirokastra > Permet > Benja > Leskovik > Erseke > Gramoz > Korca > Pogradec > Lin > Tirana
Our driver meets you at Tirana airport and takes you to your hotel in the centre. Depending on your arrival time, take a first walk: a coffee in the Blloku district, the murals and the buzz of Skanderbeg Square. Tonight is for resting before an early start.
Moment of the dayThe first evening in Tirana, boots still clean.
3-star hotel in central Tirana, or similar.
An early start with a packed breakfast. Kruja first, for the castle and the old bazaar, then a short stop in Lezha and a brief look at Shkodra, the cultural capital of the north. From there the road climbs through Koplik and Vermosh, one of the most spectacular drives in the country, to Tamare in the heart of the Albanian Alps. The visits are short today so you arrive in the mountains in daylight.
Moment of the dayThe first sight of the Accursed Mountains from the Vermosh road.
Family-run mountain guesthouse in Tamare, or similar.
Drive up to Lepushe and hike to the Maja e Vajushes viewpoint through wildflower meadows and pine forest. Hike: 8 km round trip, 4 to 5 hours, 750 to 950 m of climbing, high point 2,057 m, graded hard. From the summit you stand on the border and look down into Albania and Montenegro at the same time, with the whole of the Accursed Mountains spread out around you in silence.
Moment of the dayTwo countries at your feet from the summit of Maja e Vajushes.
Family-run mountain guesthouse in Tamare, or similar.
Drive round to Theth, the most picturesque village in the Alps, and visit its stone church. Then the loop: Theth to the Grunas waterfall and on to the Blue Eye of Theth, a spring that glows an impossible turquoise from five metres deep, and back. Hike: 11 km round trip, about 5 hours, 300 to 350 m of climbing, graded moderate. Back in the village, the Theth zip line is an optional extra for anyone who wants it.
Moment of the dayThe Blue Eye of Theth glowing turquoise between the rocks.
Mountain hotel in Theth, or similar.
Albania’s most famous hike. An ancient mule track climbs from Theth to the Valbona pass at 1,797 m and drops into the Valbona valley, with the Accursed Mountains all around. There is no road between the two valleys, so this is the only way across, and from the top you see both valleys at once. Hike: 15 km, about 6 hours, 1,068 m up and 792 m down, graded hard, and tougher in this direction. Trekking poles recommended. Your bags travel round by road.
Moment of the dayStanding on the pass with Theth behind you and Valbona ahead.
Mountain hotel in the Valbona valley, or similar.
A relaxed morning in Valbona, then the ferry from Fierza across Koman Lake, the fjord of Albania, between sheer cliffs on jade-green water. From Koman the road takes you back to Tirana for a night in the city and a proper rest.
Moment of the dayThe cliffs closing in around the ferry on Koman Lake.
3-star hotel in central Tirana, or similar.
Hike into Holta Canyon, where Mars-like walls soar 150 m and narrow to just 10 m, and a milky-blue thermal spring waits at the entrance. You wade and cross the river on the way in. Hike: 6 km round trip, 2 to 3 hours, 150 m of climbing, graded easy to moderate. The afternoon is for UNESCO Berat, the city of a thousand windows: the castle quarter, the Ottoman bridge and the Mangalem lanes.
Moment of the dayThe canyon walls closing to ten metres above the emerald water.
3-star hotel in Berat, or similar.
A full day in the 26 km Osumi Canyon: sheer walls up to 450 m, eight hidden waterfalls including the Waterfall of Love that splashes onto your head as you wade through, and emerald pools for swimming. Hike: 7 km, about 4 hours, 150 to 200 m of climbing, graded moderate, with wading and swimming. Optional rafting or tubing on the Osum. Drive on to Gjirokastra for the night.
Moment of the dayWading under the Waterfall of Love.
3-star hotel in a traditional house in Gjirokastra, or similar.
A morning in Gjirokastra, the stone city: the castle and the old bazaar. Then to Permet in the Vjosa valley for the Benja thermal pools, warm mineral water under an Ottoman bridge, and a walk into the Langarica canyon when the water level allows. Night in Permet.
Moment of the dayFloating in a thermal pool under the Katiu bridge.
Guesthouse in Permet, or similar.
South along the Vjosa to Leskovik and the Sarandapor thermal springs, one of the most remote corners of the river, where you can swim into river caves among strange rock formations and cliffs full of nesting birds. Bring water shoes, a dry bag and a change of clothes. An optional horse ride around the springs is available for those who want it. Continue up the valley to Farma Sotira, a family-run eco-farm below Gramoz near Leskovik, for the night.
Moment of the daySwimming into a river cave at Sarandapor.
Family-run eco-farm guesthouse below Gramoz, or similar nearby.
An early start with a packed breakfast for the trailhead at Starje. The hike climbs over open meadows and mule paths to the glacial lake on Gramoz at 2,350 m, the highest in Albania. Standing at its edge you are on the border, looking into Albania and Greece at once, with shepherds and their flocks for company. Hike: 10 km round trip, about 4 hours, 1,150 to 1,300 m of climbing, graded moderate. Return the same way and drive to Korca.
Moment of the dayThe glacial lake at 2,350 m with Greece on the far shore.
3-star boutique hotel in Korca, or similar.
A guided walk through Korca, the city of serenades: the main square, the Orthodox cathedral and the old bazaar. Then the shore of Lake Ohrid at Pogradec and the fishing village of Lin, one of the oldest settlements in Europe, before the drive back to Tirana for a farewell evening.
Moment of the dayThe still water of Lake Ohrid at Lin.
3-star hotel in central Tirana, or similar.
Breakfast, then our driver takes you to Tirana airport for your flight, timed to your departure.
Moment of the dayOne last look back at the mountains from the plane.
Each scale runs 1 to 5, from very easy to demanding.
Good for. Fit, active travellers and hikers who want raw nature, mountain guesthouses and real adventure. Solo travellers are very welcome: a safe, sociable way to hike Albania.
Not for you if anyone under 18 or over 65, anyone with mobility, heart or similar health issues, or anyone who wants a relaxed cultural or beach trip, or who is not comfortable with 4 to 6 hour hikes, steep rocky paths and rustic mountain guesthouses. For a lighter mix, see our other multi-day tours.
Not suitable for travellers with limited mobility, heart or similar health issues, or outside the 18 to 65 age range: remote mountain trails, river wading and rustic guesthouses. One dedicated guide trained in mountain safety, first aid on every hiking day, weather checked before each hike, proven trails only. Solo hikers are welcome and never alone on the trail.
Dietary needs. Vegetarian and other dietary needs are catered for with advance notice, with fewer options in remote mountain areas.
Entry fees. Entrance fees to the national parks, castles, canyons and thermal springs on the itinerary are included. Optional activities are extra, per person: the Theth zip line on day 4 (€25), Osum rafting or tubing on day 8 (€35) and horse riding at the Sarandapor springs on day 10 (€70).
Add them in the booking box, or tell us when you enquire.
14 travellers rated this trip
✓ Every review from a confirmed bookingEverything was amazing, the Valbona Theth hike was the highlight of my trip. The landscapes looked like something out of another world, just as promised. Our guide Ardit was patient and supportive, especially on…
The highlight for me was nature itself Holta canyon, the mountain of Gramoz and Theth valleys. Each place felt untouched. Theth's church with the peaks in the background was like a postcard. The glacier…
Broken-in hiking boots, layered clothing for mountain temperatures and a warm layer for the evenings, a rain jacket, a daypack of 20 to 30 litres, trekking poles, recommended for the Theth to Valbona pass, water shoes, a dry bag and a change of clothes for the canyons, swimwear and a quick-dry towel, sun protection: hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, a reusable water bottle, some cash in lek for the mountain villages, any personal medication.
Six hiking days of 4 to 6 hours, two of them hard. Build up with long walks before the trip. Trekking poles help on the pass.
Ages 18 to 65, in good physical condition, with no mobility, heart or similar health issues. Under 18 with hiking experience and an accompanying adult, ask us first.
Lepushe viewpoint 8 km and 2,057 m. Blue Eye of Theth 11 km. Theth to Valbona 15 km and 1,797 m. Holta Canyon 6 km. Osumi Canyon 7 km. Gramoz glacial lake 10 km and 2,350 m. About 57 km in total.
Day 2 and day 11 leave early. Breakfast is packed for you on those mornings.
Holta, Osumi and the Sarandapor springs mean wading and swimming. Bring water shoes, a dry bag and a change of clothes.
Two sharing a double or twin room. A single room costs €450 extra for the trip, add it in the booking box. Mountain guesthouses are warm and family-run, and more rustic than city hotels.
On the Theth to Valbona day your bags travel by road. Carry only a daypack on every hike.
Carry some lek. Cards are not accepted in the mountain villages.
Mid-April to mid-October. Mountain weather changes fast, pack layers and a rain jacket even in summer. Your guide checks the forecast before every hike.
Strongly recommended, with cover for hiking and canyon activities.
Fly into Tirana International Airport. Airport transfers are included. Send us your flight details after booking.
Non-hikers, travellers who want a relaxed pace, anyone under 18 or over 65, or anyone with limited mobility, heart or similar health issues.
Strongly recommended, with cover for hiking up to 2,400 m and canyon activities.
No vaccinations are required for most travellers. Tap water in the mountains is spring water and usually fine, bottled water is cheap in the towns. Bring any personal medication and blister care.
The currency is the Albanian lek. Carry cash for the mountain villages, where cards are not accepted. ATMs are in Tirana, Berat, Gjirokastra and Korca. Tipping the guide and driver is appreciated, not expected.
Mid-April to mid-October. May, June and September have clear trails, green landscapes and comfortable temperatures. July and August are hot on the lower sections and warmest for the canyon swimming. Mountain weather changes fast, so pack layers and a rain jacket.
Buy a local SIM at Tirana airport. Mobile signal is patchy in Theth, Valbona and on the trails, and guesthouses have basic WiFi.
Small groups of 12 at most, family-run guesthouses and local restaurants in the mountain villages, one local guide and driver for the whole trip, and no trace left on the trails. InAlb is a Travelife Partner.
A 3-day Theth and Valbona trek sees one corner of the Albanian Alps. InAlb's 13-day small-group hiking tour starts there, with Lepushe, the Blue Eye of Theth and the Theth to Valbona pass, then continues south to Holta and Osumi canyons, UNESCO Berat and Gjirokastra, the Vjosa thermal springs and the glacial lake on Gramoz, ending on Lake Ohrid. Six hikes, about 57 km, one guide throughout, 4 to 12 travellers, from €1,900 per person.
Six guided hikes. Lepushe to the Maja e Vajushes viewpoint, 8 km and hard. The Blue Eye of Theth loop, 11 km and moderate. Theth to Valbona over the pass, 15 km and hard. Holta Canyon, 6 km, easy to moderate with wading. Osumi Canyon, 7 km, moderate with wading and swimming. The Gramoz glacial lake, 10 km, moderate. Hours, climb and high point are on each day card. About 57 km in total.
A good level of fitness. Two hikes are graded hard, the Lepushe viewpoint and the Theth to Valbona pass, with steep, rocky ascents and descents. The others are moderate. You do not need to be an athlete, but you should be comfortable walking 4 to 6 hours on mountain terrain with real elevation gain. If you do not hike often, build up with long walks before the trip.
Some. You should have done full-day hikes before and know how your body handles 4 to 6 hours on rocky, uneven ground with up to 1,300 m of climbing in a day. You do not need mountaineering skills: the routes are mule tracks, forest paths and canyon riverbeds, and your guide sets the pace. Trekking poles help on the Theth to Valbona pass. If your last long hike was years ago, start walking now.
Anyone under 18 or over 65, anyone with limited mobility, heart or similar health issues, and anyone who wants a relaxed cultural or beach trip. Under 18 with hiking experience and with an adult, ask us and we decide case by case. If 4 to 6 hour hikes, steep rocky paths, river wading and rustic guesthouses do not appeal, this is not your tour. For culture and coast, see our other tours.
Yes. InAlb's 13-day Albania Hiking Tour crosses the Theth to Valbona pass at 1,797 m on day 5, 15 km in about 6 hours, after the Lepushe viewpoint on day 3 and the Blue Eye of Theth on day 4. You sleep in family-run guesthouses in Theth and Valbona, your main bag goes round by road, and you leave the Alps on the Koman ferry. One licensed guide leads all 13 days. From €1,900.
It is the longest and hardest day: 15 km, about 6 hours, 1,068 m of climbing to the pass at 1,797 m and 792 m down into Valbona, on an ancient mule track. It is tougher in this direction than from Valbona. Your luggage goes round by road, so you carry only a daypack. Most reasonably fit hikers manage it with a steady pace and breaks at the pass.
You carry only a daypack of 20 to 30 litres with water, layers and your packed breakfast on the early mornings. Your main bag stays in the vehicle, and on the Theth to Valbona day, when there is no road between the valleys, it travels round by road and waits for you at the guesthouse in Valbona. Pack the canyon days' water shoes, dry bag and change of clothes in the daypack.
Yes. Days 1, 2, 6, 9, 10, 12 and 13 have no long hike: scenic drives, the Koman Lake ferry, city walks, thermal pools, canyon swimming and short walks. Hard days are followed by lighter ones on purpose so your legs recover before the next climb.
Your guide adjusts the pace, and most trails have options to shorten a section or rest at a viewpoint while others continue. Safety always comes first: we use proven trails, carry first aid on every hiking day and check the weather before each hike. A section can be modified or skipped if conditions are not right.
One of our two licensed hiking guides, Pandi or Ardit, leads the full 13 days, not a different guide at each stop. Your guide has walked every section of the route many times, is trained in mountain safety, carries first aid on every hiking day and checks the weather before each hike. The tour runs in English. Other languages on request, ask us before booking.
Small. 4 to 12 travellers, which keeps the pace personal on the trail and fits the family-run mountain guesthouses. A departure runs with a minimum of 4 booked, and every group has a mix of couples, friends and solo hikers. With 12 at most, your guide can adjust the pace to the group rather than march everyone at the same speed.
Yes, and many book it alone. You join a group of 4 to 12 with the same guide for 13 days, you are never alone on the trail, and evenings in the mountain guesthouses are shared. Albania is a safe country for solo travel. Rooms are two sharing, so a solo traveller adds a single room at €450 for the trip, your own room in every hotel and guesthouse.
InAlb's 13-day hiking tour runs on five set dates in 2027: 24 May, 21 June, 19 July, 16 August and 13 September, each starting on a Monday in Tirana. May, June and September are the best months, with clear trails, green landscapes and comfortable temperatures. July and August are hotter on the lower sections and warmest for the canyon swimming. Outside mid-April to mid-October the high trails and mountain guesthouses close.
In 3-star hotels in the cities, Tirana, Berat, Gjirokastra and Korca, and in family-run guesthouses and mountain hotels in Tamare, Theth, Valbona and Permet, and at the Farma Sotira eco-farm near Leskovik. Rooms are double or twin, two sharing, and mountain guesthouses are comfortable but naturally more rustic. A single room costs €450 extra for the trip.
Breakfast every day from day 2, and on early-start mornings the guesthouse packs it for the trail. Lunches and dinners are not included, so you choose: guesthouse dinners in the mountains, local restaurants in the towns, and your guide knows where to eat everywhere on the route. Vegetarian and other dietary needs are catered for with advance notice, with fewer options in remote areas.
Twelve nights in 3-star hotels and mountain guesthouses, breakfast daily, one expert hiking guide for all 13 days, the six guided hikes, entrance fees to the national parks, castles, canyons and springs on the itinerary, a private air-conditioned vehicle throughout, the Koman Lake ferry, airport transfers and 24/7 support. Flights, lunches and dinners, a single room, the optional zip line, rafting and horse riding, travel insurance and tips are extra.
From €1,900 per person, two sharing, with a single room at €450 extra. Pick your departure in the booking box and pay a 30% deposit online by card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Klarna or bank transfer. The balance is due 30 days before departure. A departure runs with a minimum of 4 travellers, so book 2 to 3 months ahead for the peak months.
You pay a 30% deposit to book and the balance 30 days before departure. The deposit is not refundable. After paying the balance, you get it back in full 30 days or more before departure, 70% of it 15 to 29 days before, 50% of it 1 to 14 days before, and nothing on the day or for a no-show. Rescheduling for a valid reason is free a month or more ahead, subject to availability.
Broken-in hiking boots, layered clothing, a rain jacket, a daypack, sun protection, a reusable water bottle, trekking poles for the pass, water shoes, a dry bag and a change of clothes for the canyons and the Sarandapor springs, swimwear, and any personal medication. A full packing list comes with your booking.
Not required to book, but strongly recommended. Your policy must cover hiking up to 2,400 m and the canyon activities, with wading and swimming, as well as medical costs, evacuation and cancellation. Buy it when you book so the cancellation cover starts from day one, and bring the policy details with you.
Yes. Albania is one of Europe’s safest countries for visitors, and the trails on this tour are established routes that our guides walk every season. You are always with the guide, we carry first aid on every hiking day, and our 24/7 line is one message away.
Airport transfers are included on day 1 and day 13, timed to your flights, and our driver meets you at Tirana airport. International flights are not included. Fly into Tirana International Airport. Send us your flight times after booking and we time both transfers to them. If your flight lands late on day 1, that is fine, the tour starts with the drive north on day 2.
Three, all per person and bookable in the booking box or when you book: the Theth zip line on day 4 (€25), rafting or tubing on the Osum on day 8 (€35, depending on water level and season) and horse riding at the Sarandapor thermal springs on day 10 (€70).
Yes. For groups of 4 or more we can run the same route as a private departure on your own dates, between mid-April and mid-October, when the trails and mountain guesthouses are open. The itinerary can be adapted, for example an extra night in Theth or a lighter day in the south. Contact us with your dates and group size for a quote.
On WhatsApp, 24/7, on three numbers: your dedicated agent, a second contact and an emergency line. You receive them with your booking confirmation. Your guide is with you every day, and before the trip a local expert replies to any question within 24 hours. Mobile signal is patchy in Theth, Valbona and on the trails, so buy a local SIM at Tirana airport.
To book, you pay a 30% deposit. The balance is due 30 days before departure. The deposit is not refundable. If you cancel after paying the balance, you get the full balance back 30 days or more before departure, 70% of it 15 to 29 days before, 50% of it 1 to 14 days before, and nothing on the day or for a no-show. For a valid reason, you may request to reschedule your multi-day tour at least one month before departure. Rescheduling is free of charge, subject to availability and approval by InAlb. In some cases we review a cancellation individually. Send cancellation requests in writing to [email protected].
Full booking and sustainability policies →A local expert replies within 24 hours, in English, Spanish or Albanian.
Everything was amazing, the Valbona Theth hike was the highlight of my trip. The landscapes looked like something out of another world, just as promised. Our guide Ardit was patient and supportive, especially on the steeper sections. I recommend this experience to everyone
The whole trip was one surreal landscape after another. From Valbona to Theth, Holta Canyon and finally the glacier. I took so many photos but none of them capture how it truly felt to be there.
The highlight for me was nature itself Holta canyon, the mountain of Gramoz and Theth valleys. Each place felt untouched. Theth's church with the peaks in the background was like a postcard. The glacier hike was hard but I will never forget the silence and the pure air at the top.
Swimming in the Osumi canyon was something I'll never forget, sunlight bouncing off the walls, cool clear water and our group laughing like kids. Then, later that week, walking through Rozafa Castle at sunset. This trip had so many different experiences packed into it. Albania has many hidden gems!
Loved this holiday !
I honestly didn't know what to expect from Albania, but this itinerary kept surprising me. From the mountain passes of Theth and Valbona to the calm of the Ionian coast, it felt like traveling through different countries. The Blue Eye was crowded but still magical and the boat trip on Koman Lake was unforgettable. Would absolutely recommend to all travelers who can hike a bit.
The boat ride on Koman Lake was beautiful, but Holta Canyon was my favorite. We even had a picnic there and the sound of water made it special. Everything was well organized.
We had a good experience with Inalb, we had ro sleep with another person ( Jasmina) in a tripple room in Theth because there were not available optionson those dates. Nothing personal and Jasmina was a nice person it was just not comfortable.
Everything was perfect from start to finish and if we needed anything we just had to ask. Everyone was very attentive.
I am not sure Albanians understand that they have a very beautiful country. They were hospitable and the group was great.
Osumi Canyons and Berat's stone houses, everything was magical. I loved the Holta canyons and they took us to some places you just can not find online. The mix of culture and nature was perfect. Loved the food too, especially the homemade byrek in the mountains.
Every day had a lot to offer, well selected hotels, great guides and instructors, meals where amaaazing.
Albania surprised me. I didn't expect such dramatic landscapes snow capped peaks in the summer, crystal rivers, golden beaches all in such a small country. The best part was how uncrowded it all was. Even at major sites like Berat, there weren't too many tourists. The guide tailored the trip for us, suggesting extra photo stops and small local bakeries. The food was so fresh and cheap compared to back home!
I loved the itinerary especially Koman lake and the Albanian riviera. Some hikes were harder than I expected, but the scenery made up for it. If you're not used to hiking just take it slow it's manageable. Food was excellent, especially homemade pies in the mountains.
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Planned and operated by InAlb, Tirana. Last updated 28 October 2026.
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