Cat Ski Freeride Touring in Kosovo
A Perfect Fusion: Cat Skiing meets Freeride Touring in the Accursed Mountains of Kosovo
If you value exploration over repetition, you may be ready for the ultimate adventure in freeride touring by heading into one of Europe's last untamed powder sanctuaries. Six days of cat-powered access to virgin lines in Kosovo's forbidding Accursed Mountains isn't just freeriding - it's pioneering terrain that elite riders whisper about. Limited to just 12 seasoned backcountry specialists ready to claim what others will never find; will you answer the call or wonder what you missed?
Kosovo is the hidden gem of the Balkans. This breathtaking country offers a unique experience that combines the thrill of freeride & ski touring with the convenience of cat skiing. Staying at the Gacaferi Guest House, the sole winter accommodation at this altitude in the region, this remote outpost becomes your private basecamp ehre you can experience authentic Balkan cuisine & complete immersion in the mountains.
Embark on a fantastic journey through untouched powder and majestic peaks, as you explore the stunning backcountry of Kosovo by combining the power & mobility of a snowcat, with the freedom & exhilaration of ski-touring & splitboarding. Pack your bags, grab your skis or splitboard, and get ready to embark on an unforgettable journey through the most stunning mountain landscapes in the Balkans.
Highlights
This tour includes 6-days of unadulterated freeride bliss, and whilst skiing is undoubtedly the star of the show, this trip offers so much more. Over six action-packed days, you'll:
- Explore the best freeride lines in Kosovo with expert guides in diverse terrain - technical chutes, sprawling bowls, old-growth glades.
- Enjoy cat-powered mobility to rapidly access remote sectors and maximize vertical.
- Undertake strategic touring: push beyond boundaries to claim virgin descents.
- Immerse yourself in the rich culture, cuisine and hospitality of Kosovo.
- Experience progressive challenges & expanding your skills & confidence in big mountain environments, with each day building upon your ‘technical arsenal’.
- Spend a week with like-minded powder hounds, forging friendships that will last a lifetime.
Send a Booking Request for the fixed-date tour starting 24th January 2026 ->
Send a Booking Request for the fixed-date date starting 7th February 2026 ->
The Skiing
Kosovo is the perfect destination for freeride enthusiasts looking to escape the crowds and experience something truly extraordinary. The combination of ski touring and cat skiing allows you to maximize your time on the mountain, ensuring that every moment is filled with excitement & adventure. The tour takes place in the Accursed Mountains - a freeride paradise offering a backdrop that's nothing short of spectacular. Each day brings a new adventure, a new line to conquer, and views that will leave you breathless. The terrain is challenging, the snow is incredible, and the scenery is out of this world.
Imagine carving through pristine powder, surrounded by the rugged beauty of the Accursed Mountains in Kosovo. Now, picture doing this for six full days, accessing the best lines with the perfect blend of cat skiing mobility and freeride touring flexibility. Catski & freeride touring isn't your average ski trip. It combines the best of both worlds to create an unparalleled experience for experienced skiers. Cat skiing offers the mobility to explore vast areas of the mountains, while ski touring allows the group to reach those best lines that most skiers only dream about.
Each day will start with a snowcat ride up into the mountains. From the drop-off ski-touring provides the freedom to go wherever the group desires, allowing discovery of hidden spots and secret powder stashes that are inaccessible by traditional means. And when you feel like taking a break from climbing up the slopes, cat skiing is there to whisk you away to other untouched areas, ensuring that you make the most of your time on the mountain.
As with any backcountry ski tour, the daily skiable vertical and distances travelled will be dictated by the weather, snow conditions, the guide and the fitness, ability & wishes of the group.
Lodging & Meals
Surrounded by ancient pine forests and commanding views of pristine terrain, the lodging for the tour is the Gacaferi Guest House, located high in the alpine zone at 1,840m above sea level. Situated in the heart of the Kosovar part of the Accursed Mountains, and close to the three-border point between Albania and Montenegro, a full 7-nights’ accommodation is included in the tour. Gacaferi Guest House is the only commercial lodgings operating at this altitude during the winter, meaning the region is largely deserted once the snow starts falling. The guesthouse offers comfortable accommodations and local cuisine served in the charming ambiance of a hut surrounded by Gacaferi Mountain's high-altitude pine forest. Full board (all meals) are included in the tour tariff. The authentic Balkan-style cuisine will delight the taste buds and more than satisfy the hungriest of freeriders!
Guides & Coaches
The tour includes the services of a local mountain guide, plus two of the tour operators most experienced instructors & coaches.
During the tour there will be opportunities to undertake a ‘Backcountry Intelligence Upgrade’. This will include advanced avalanche assessment beyond basic protocols, strategic line selection in complex alpine terrain, technical descent tactics for variable snow conditions, video analysis of your technique with personalized coaching, and real-world testing of DOWN SKIS cutting-edge equipment.
Ability, Experience, Fitness & Gear
All participant skiers & splitboarders need to be able to navigate black diamond terrain with confidence & precision, have prior backcountry experience and touring fundamentals and be seeking technical progression in big mountain environments.
The tour is only suitable for adults and children from 15 years and older.
Physical intensity on the tour is high. You need to be able to ski/ride for an entire day, day after day, including uphill skinning/bootpacking.
Ski-touring & splitboarding gear (including basic avalanche safety equipment) are not included in the tour tariff. However, there will be the ability to demo the latest DOWN skis for anyone that wishes.
Getting There & Away
The tour starts with a pick-up from Prishtina (PRN) airport. Pristina can be reached by flights from numerous major & minor airports within Europe (i.e. Zurich, Vienna, Geneva, Lyon, Munich, Frankfurt, Istanbul & many others).
From the airport, your hosts will meet you for transport to the snowline, and then an oversnow transfer to the accommodation in the mountains. On the final day of the tour after breakfast, head back down the mountain before being dropped off at the airport for departure.
Booking & More Info
The trip is open to individuals, couples, or groups of friends on two fixed date tours in late January & early February. The tours require at least 10 guests in order to run. The total size of each tour group will be a minimum of 10 & a maximum of 12 guests. If there are not enough people, you can use the price of your booking towards another trip, or you can be fully refunded for your purchase.
Make a Booking Enquiry for the fixed-date tour starting 24th January 2026 ->
Make a Booking Enquiry for the fixed-date date starting 7th February 2026 ->