Kukes – Mt. Kallabak – Caje

A 45 min. transfer takes us through the mighty Vanave Gorge and up a winding road into the gora (highlands). When nation states formed at the turn of the 20th century the formerly nomadic, Slavic-speaking Gorani community spread across the border triangle. Today’s hike starts near the Gorani village of Shishtavec, from where a gradual ascent takes us to the rocky outcrop of Mt. Kallabak (2.174 m). It’s the very first peak of the Sharr Massif that separates the three countries. Onward we walk through seemingly endless meadows along a panoramic ridgeline crisscrossing the border between Albania and Kosovo. A glimpse of Mt. Korab (2.764 m) creates pleasant anticipation of the days of adventure ahead of us. Descending into a deep cut alpine valley we reach the remote village Caje, possibly the highest, year-round inhabited settlement of the country. Here we visit the “club”, the nucleus of every Albanian village, for a chit-chat with the elders and a glass of strong raki (local firewater) at the end of our first day on the High Scardus Trail.