Ski Touring Kosovo & Albania
Guided Ski Tour Across the Best of the Sharr Mountains
Overview
If you are looking to escape from the usual beaten paths in winter, why not join a week long ski-touring adventure that explores the best peaks of the Sharr Mountains along the border of Kosovo, Albania & North Macedonia.The Sharr Mountains are perfect for ski touring as they are high, rounded, older mountains with very few rocky cliffs. The tour moves through the entire mountain range starting in Kosovo and ending in Albania, selecting the best parts of each valley. From the mountain peaks after taking in breathtaking, panoramic views, long uninterrupted descents await. The tour take in some popular ski resorts that may have people at the beginning of the trail but spends more time in remote regions where indeed you will be “solo” enjoying the mountains.
Highlights
Just a few of the highlights are listed below, but rest assured if you never been to the Balkans before, the entire trip will be a feast for the senses & a cultural adventure of the highest order.
• Korab Peak - Climb and ski the highest peak of Albania and North Macedonia
• Radomirë - The picturesque village in North Albania with a very low number of visitors
• Virgin mountains - Uncrowded skin tracks & rails and uninterrupted views devoid of man-made structures
• Untracked snow - Enjoy first tracks on empty powder slopes, plus long descents all the way from summit to valley
• Local food - Fabulous local cuisine & fresh-cooked specialties based on meat, vegetables and dairy products
• Hospitality - People in this region are incredibly welcoming to any traveler, providing the best hospitality despite the often remote locations.
Make a Booking Enquiry ->
Program
The guided tour begins with a pick-up from Prishtina airport in Kosovo, and transfer to Brezovica ski resort. From that point on everything is taken care of, other than the first night's dinner which can be easily taken in Brezovica's many eateries. After the option to ski the first afternoon at Brezovica or take in the sunset with a short ski tour to a minor peak, the following 6-days will take in a new peak every day as the tour moves gradually to the southwest along the Sharr Mountains from Kosovo into Albania. As well as the highest mountain in the region, Korab, other peaks climbed and skied include Black Rock Peak, Dovodenica, Guzhbaba, and Kleq Peak. Each night is spent in a local hotel or guesthouse, with 5-nights in Kosovo & 2-nights in Albania. At the end of the tour, the last night is spent in the charming city of Prizren, where you can experience Kosovan city life. For detailed information on the standard program, see the Itinerary tab.
The Skiing
The tour involves skiing several major peaks of the Sharr mountains. The highest, Korab Peak, is at 2,764m, with all others within a range of a few hundred metres below that. Terrain transitions from pine forest up to 1,700m then open, high alpine beyond. The ski-touring will include sheltered forests. beautiful alpine ridges, broad bowls and some steeper terrain for those up for a challenge.
Distances skied per day vary from 7.5km to 17km with daily ascents/descents ranging from 900m to 1,567m vertical.
Lodging & Meals
A cosy selection of lodgings await you on the tour. The accommodation is in simple home-stay/guesthouse/lodge- style with simple bathroom facilities. Rooms are likely to accommodate between two to five people per room and it may be necessary for male and female groups to share the room unless noted otherwise on your request, but not guaranteed in each guesthouse. It always depends on the availability of rooms. Sheets and blankets, towels, shampoo, warm water and other basic services are provided, but it’s recommended to pack a travel towel and sleep sack (sheet) just in case. Private rooms may be available at an additional cost, but availability is limited.
The food in this part of the world will be something you will eagerly anticipate at the end of each day. Food is freshly cooked in a traditional manner and has a mix of Balkan, Turkish, and European influence. At the guesthouses, the breakfasts are simple, homemade bread with locally grown vegetables, dairy products, and eggs. Dinners include traditional soups, meat dishes, vegetables, pies. Guesthouses also will provide you with a packed lunch – often including a sandwich with cheese and vegetables. Vegetarianism and diets will not be a problem as the home-stay families can provide alternatives. However, the choices are basic and limited. Consider bringing your water bottle to refill along the way. Water is provided in guesthouses, tap water is drinkable.
Ski Ability & Gear
The tour is suitable for strong intermediate ski-tourers & splitboarders in good physical condition. The ability to ski & ride in mixed snow conditions, ascend for up to 4 to 5hours, and use avalanche safety gear is advantageous. In he high alpine there is terrain suitable for all abilities, including experts.
Participants are required to bring all their own ski-touring or splitboarding equipment. There is no rental option for any gear.
Starting/Finishing Point & Transfers
The tour starts and finishes at Prìština (in English - either Pristina or Prishtina) airport. Pristina International Airport Adem Jashari (PRN) is the main international gateway to the country and is located 20km west of the Kosovo capital of Pristina. Flights to Pristina are available from most major European airports including Munich (MUC), Frankfurt (FRA), Paris (CDG), Geneva (GVA), Zurich (ZRH) & Vienna (VIE), Istanbul (IST), London-Luton (LTN) in the UK, and all major Scandinavian airports. A host of minor European airports also provide direct links.
Transfers during the tour will be private for the group. The private transfer is done by either regular car or 4×4, depending on the road conditions. On the trail, shortcut transfers can be arranged for the trails that are distant or to skip asphalt road segments.
Make a Booking Enquiry ->