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Aerial view of the Lin peninsula on Lake Ohrid, turquoise water on both sides
Trekking & Cultural Immersion

Albania's Transhumance Trail

7 Days Skanderbeg Square, Tirana Moderate to Challenging Group of 1–15
From
€735
per person See Availability
The Trip

Seven days living the shepherd's life in Albania

A guided trek through the wild heart of the Shebenik-Jabllanicë highlands — a stretch of the ancient Via Egnatia near Polis, the summit of Maja e Kallkanit, and a night camping below the peaks before staying with shepherd families at the bergerie of Ramazan Bicaku in Dorëz and the shared stani at Urimi. A French-speaking guide travels with you throughout, private transfers link every stage, and the trail ends on the shores of Lake Ohrid — from the peninsula village of Lin to the springs of Tushemisht.

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The Route

Seven days, one loop through the Shebenik-Jabllanicë highlands — from the ancient Via Egnatia near Polis to the shores of Lake Ohrid at Lin and Tushemisht.

Day 1

Tirana → Elbasan → Polis

58 km drive

Via Egnatia Trek → Marinaj

7.75 km↗ 221↘ 344 m
Day 2

Marinaj → Fushë Studën

25 km drive

Maja e Gurit (out & back)

8.31 km↗ 731↘ 731 m
Day 3

Maja e Kallkanit → Dorëz

16 km↗ 800↘ 900 m
Day 4

Dorëz → Stani i Urimit

9.9 km↗ 529↘ 224 m
Day 5

Stani i Urimit → Skënderbej

15.9 km↗ 245↘ 992 m
Day 6

Skënderbej → Prrenjas → Lin

local bus + private transfer

Lin Loop Trek

8.1 km↗ 166↘ 166 m

Lin → Tushemisht

25 km drive
Day 7

Tushemisht → Pogradec → Elbasan → Tirana

130–140 km drive
Map of Albania's Transhumance Trail, from Polis through the Shebenik-Jabllanicë massif to Lin and Tushemisht on Lake Ohrid

Itinéraire & étapes: programme ZT GIR 1 2027 — Ma vie de berger en Albanie (7 jours). Base map: Natural Earth. Routes are indicative.

Look Day by Day

Practical Information

The essentials, in one place — pick a topic on the left.

Price

Price per person is €735 for departures through August, and €740 from September. A single-room supplement of €5 applies for solo travelers, and triple rooms save €3 per person. Rates valid for the 2027 departure dates below, quoted until 25 September 2026.

The cost includes

  • Guesthouses, a homestay, a shepherd's bergerie and one night camping
  • Full board from lunch on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 7
  • A French-speaking guide with you throughout the trip
  • Private ground transportation and all local transfers
  • Baggage transfers between stages
  • Hotel and tourist-service taxes
  • 24/7 French-language support throughout the trip

The cost excludes

  • International flights
  • Getting to and from the Tirana meeting point — we meet the group at Skanderbeg Square, no airport transfer included
  • Travel and repatriation insurance
  • Beverages
  • Site and monument visits not mentioned as included
  • Gratuities and personal expenses
See available dates

Best Time to Go

This trip runs on fixed departure dates from May to October 2027, following the shepherds' own transhumance season in the highlands.

  • May and June: streams and pastures are at their fullest from the spring melt, and the highlands are turning green.
  • July and August: the warmest, most reliable weather for the summit days.
  • September and October: quieter trails, cooler mornings at altitude, and the shepherds beginning to bring their flocks down.
  • See Plan Your Trip below for the exact 2027 departure dates.

Meeting Point & Transfers

Your trip starts and ends in Tirana. We meet the group in the city center, not at the airport.

  • Meet your guide at Skanderbeg Square at 9:00 AM on Day 1 — this is where the trip begins.
  • Private transfers link every stage that isn't covered on foot — no shared minibus.
  • Baggage is transferred ahead of you between stages, including on the nights you carry only a day pack.
  • The trip ends back in Tirana on Day 7, after the drive from Tushemisht via Pogradec and Elbasan.

Flights

Flights aren't included, and there's no airport pickup — you'll make your own way to the meeting point.

  • Fly into Tirana International Airport (TIA) and arrange your own transfer into the city.
  • Be at Skanderbeg Square by 9:00 AM on Day 1 — we recommend arriving in Tirana the evening before.
  • The trip ends back in Tirana on Day 7, so book your onward travel for that evening or later.
  • We recommend booking flights only once your spot is confirmed.

Guides & Safety

This is a guided trip — a French-speaking guide walks with your group from Skanderbeg Square on Day 1 to Tirana on Day 7.

  • 24/7 French-language support backs up your guide for the whole trip.
  • Along the way you'll meet the shepherds and host families who run each stop, including the bergerie of Ramazan Bicaku at Dorëz.
  • Trails cross mountain passes and open pasture with steep sections — a regular hiking base is recommended (see What to Expect below).

FAQ

Is this trip guided?

Yes — a French-speaking guide travels with your group for the whole trip, with private transfers between stages and 24/7 support if you need it.

What does "sans bagages" mean?

On Day 3 (camping at Dorëz) and Day 4 (the shared stani at Urimi) there's no vehicle access, so you carry only a day pack — your main luggage is transferred ahead and waiting for you at Skënderbej on Day 5.

How fit do I need to be?

Daily hikes run 7.75–16km with climbs and descents up to 900m. Day 3 (Maja e Kallkanit to Dorëz) is the most demanding. A regular hiking base is recommended — see What to Expect below.

Will I have phone signal on the trail?

Coverage is patchy in the highlands and non-existent around the bergerie and shepherd stani. Your guide carries emergency communication, but expect to be offline on the trail itself.

Day by Day

Hover a day for a preview — or tap on mobile.

What to Expect

To describe a trek properly, it helps to break it down. Here's what to plan for, based on distance, weather, and terrain.

Distance & Elevation

Roughly 66km on foot across six trekking days, with daily distances between 7.75 and 16km.

  • Day 3 (Maja e Kallkanit to Dorëz) brings the steepest climbs of the trip; Day 5 the longest descent, at 992m.
  • Two nights (Day 3 camping at Dorëz, Day 4 at the shared stani in Urimi) are spent without your main luggage — pack a separate overnight bag; it's transferred ahead to meet you at Skënderbej on Day 5.

Weather

This trip runs in the shoulder seasons either side of summer, so mild days and cool nights at altitude are typical, with a real chance of showers, especially in May and October.

  • Layers matter more than any single heavy jacket.
  • The bergerie and camping night are basic — bring a warm sleeping bag liner for Day 3 and Day 4.

Terrain

A mix of ancient trade routes, farm tracks, forest trails, and open shepherd pasture — mostly well-marked, occasionally steep.

  • Your guide leads the way, so you can focus on the trail rather than navigation.
  • Trekking poles help on the steep descent from Maja e Kallkanit into Dorëz.

Plan Your Trip

Pick a start date and let us know how many are travelling — this trip runs privately, just for your group.

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Request Your Dates Ask for a Quote
This is a private departure — book for your group of up to 15, on one of the fixed 2027 departure dates above. €735 per person for May–August departures, €740 from September. Single travelers add a €5 supplement; triple rooms save €3 per person. Quote valid for confirmation until 25 September 2026.
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