12-day guided Peaks of the Balkans

There were a lot of different people from many countries and aged between 24 and 67. I was the oldest and especially I had a chance to cerebrate my 67th birthday at a guest house in Montenegro on the way of trekking. Taking this opportunity, I would like to express my sincere appreciation not only to the nice guides – Drini and Erenik – but also the good friends who shared the unforgettable travel with me for more than 10 days. I returned back to my everyday life and I hope I could have another chance to visit the nice country again with my wife.
Thanks again to everybody.

Es waren zuviel nette andere,die den peaks of the balkan auch sehen wollten,die Natur war atemberaubend schön,leider gab es überall Müll. Die Hüttengastgeber/innen waren sehr bemüht, Essen sehr gut,über 12 T. halt meist gleich. Führerin Tesi war perfekt

Preveza and Franc were the most awesome guides. They were friendly, professional, and so very knowledgeable about all aspects of the Peak of the Balkans experience! Our group was so lucky to have these two experts as our guides through this amazing adventure!

Top marks for the tour, for the scenery, including the amazing alpine meadows (July 2026), the food, the hospitality, and our wonderful guides (Nadih and Franc) who made sure that everything ran smoothly. Even the weather cooperated, with only two hours of rain one morning. However, in order to enjoy this tour, a good level of fitness is a must, as most days start with a steep ascent lasting about two hours, to be followed later by a steep descent. You get a great workout and the views are tremendous if you can cope with the pace and put in the effort required. The trail is marked but the paths are not maintained, so can be uneven, stony, slippery when wet. Bring good hiking shoes/boots.

We had the most amazing time on our 8-day Peaks of the Balkans tour with Zbulo. Our guides Blendi and Fidan were excellent. We loved the other people in our group and were amazed by the views. We would not hesitate to return to Albania for another tour with Zbulo.

The Peaks of the Balkans trek was magnificent! Stunning scenery, professionally run, great food, better than expected accommodations, and wonderful guides. I wouldn’t do this trek unless you’re fit. Nearly every day is a challenge, although nothing is technically difficult.

I would do another tour with Zbulo in a heartbeat! It was such an amazing experience – the guides were super helpful and knowledgeable, the guesthouses were lovely, the hikes were well planned and beautiful, and I felt prepared with all the helpful info from Zbulo ahead of time. I cannot recommend them highly enough!

Thank you so much for putting together such a lovely itinerary, hiring fantastic guides, and communication so well! I am so impressed with Zbulo as a company.

Since a long time it was my dream to make to PEAK OF THE BALKANS
A travel guide mentioned Zbulo as a local travel agency. So complete organisation was really great: from booking, speed of answering questions, the tour itself. Nevertheless our 2 guides were brilliant!!! For sure it is possible to make the trip by your own, but there are really heavy sections, making no fun to hike. For example: asphalt streets or really steep and pebble trails. This kind of trail parts have been bypassed by car. And: our normal baggage was transported by car or horse, so there was only the need to carry water, dry clothes, jackets etc.
Daily hiking time 8 hours as an average. Meals at guesthouses tasty and owner of guesthouses more than friendly.

I would do another tour with Zbulo in a heartbeat! I did the 12-Day Peaks of the Balkans and it was such an amazing experience – the guides were super helpful and knowledgeable, the guesthouses were lovely, the hikes were well planned and beautiful, and I felt prepared with all the helpful info from Zbulo ahead of time. I cannot recommend them highly enough!

Strongly recommend Zbulo for their local knowledge, excellent guides, who were clearly highly respected, and seamless organization. The 12 day Peaks of the Balkans walk does not religiously follow the official route, but for good reason, as Zbulo have cut out the boring sections on sealed roads. A superb walking experience, with great scenery and fascinating history.

Excellent and very competent support from ZBULO (special thanks to Eda) and the two guides Anton and Fidan. The main focus of the 12-day tour was hiking together with the group, with bus transfers covering shorter and less interesting stretches. We had a great time together.

Even during the booking process, we received immediate and targeted assistance, and questions were answered within 24 hours. There were no complaints on the tour either, except for one slightly cloudy day… 😉

All the accommodations were very good, and everything was provided. The food was excellent, and the staff very friendly and accommodating.

I would do another tour with Zbulo in a heartbeat! I did the 12-Day Peaks of the Balkans and it was such an amazing experience – the guides were super helpful and knowledgeable, the guesthouses were lovely, the hikes were well planned and beautiful, and I felt prepared with all the helpful info from Zbulo ahead of time. I cannot recommend them highly enough!

I discoverd Zbulo, by an article in a Belgian magazine. A hiking trough the balkan was already a long time on my list. Now I could do it! The guides are very well known with the region and the mountains. The guesthouses that Zbulo selected were great. Clean, great hospitality, good (and lot’s off) food. Even a hot shower every night. It was a physical challenging hike for me, but I was informed! Our guides did their best to make it a great experience for everyone.

The guide Deni is the sole reason I did not give 4-5 stars. The company s very responsive and seems to be an great company. If you book with this company, you need to ask who the guides will be and their guiding style. I found Deni to be impatient to the point of being contemptuous. Deni was a very capable mountain man however he had a tendency to be dismissive of those not at his skill level. The pace was go, go, go, stop and wait for others rather than slightly slower so the wait was shorter. Some examples of Deni’s guiding style are: walking at a pace the majority of the group could not keep up to unless we hiked so fast all wee did was look at our feet (missing all of the scenery) and when he was repeatedly asked to slow down he said his pace was a pace for “normal” people. For one peak only 2 of 12 were able to walk at the speed Deni required. For another it was 4 of 12. When at the back of the group he spoke on his mobile phone the vast majority of the time. When at the front he moved so fast the majority of the 12 could not keep up. He did not seem to know (or care) when hikers were injured or struggling and had to be told by our group where there was a problem. At times there was such a spread in the group, if anyone was injured they could have been eating for 20-30 minutes for a guide to notice. On time, When Deni was asked if he had extra water to share with the guests he asked us if we had ever hiked 30 days without food or water and told us stories of how he does. No extra water was carried. Questions about the geography were often answered by ” yes of course just look at the geography”. I have been on many guided trips and I would say Deni was the most arrogant guide with the most minimal people skills I have ever encountered. The company is very responsive and it was too bad Deni was not

Consider the type of guiding style and the apparent go, go, go, philosophy of your guides

The 12 Day Peaks of the Balkans Hiking Trip was really a worthwhile trip. The guides were excellent and the scenery was spectacular. This is a bucket list trip!

The staff at head office were really helpful and answered questions in a timely fashion. Thanks Eda!🙏

I do not think you could do better for the Accursed Mountains. Owners are guides and they they to live up to it creating an immersive experience and keeping the essentials in view always.
You can do the tour without guides, but frankly, ours were just the „cherry on the cake“ – the little things that matter were also taken care of – all round Great. Kudos again Igli and Xhoni!

Great hiking trip! Awesome landscapes, small group- first time I went on a long hiking trip but this was my Route 66 once in a lifetime experience! 10 out of 10 🙂

The second night in Kosovo I would Change hostel- it did not fit in (even though nice view) strange guy from Munich and bed uncomfortable, Igli should know the Name.

You geta good overview of the mountains.

The guide “Arber” needs to tone his delivery down. It felt like he was giving us orders, like we’re students or solders under his command. He needs to realize we’re paying for this and not be so rude.

Anton was a terrific guide and the hike was beautiful.

In your “Is this trip for you?” balance was considered essential. A person in the group stated on day 1 (to me at least) that they had poor balance and then later stated to the group that they could not feel their feet. I am not sure they received the “Is this trip for you?” because they booked through a third party. However, if they do not meet the requirements, suggest considering having them not join the group.

Zbulo is amazing!! Peaks of the Balkan’s was the trip of a lifetime. Everything was coordinated seamlessly and beautifully. Our guides, Kreshnik and Renald, took fantastic care of us 24 hrs/day. Their knowledge of the mountains, Albanian history, and the areas we visited was exceptional. If you are looking for a unique, rustic, gorgeous hiking adventure, ZBULO IS IT!

Zbulo is amazing!! Peaks of the Balkan’s was the trip of a lifetime. Everything was coordinated seamlessly and beautifully. Our guides, Kreshnik and Renald, took fantastic care of us 24 hrs/day. Their knowledge of the mountains, Albanian history, and the areas we visited was exceptional. If you are looking for a unique, rustic, gorgeous hiking adventure, ZBULO IS IT!

The reason we can’t give you a 10 is because the issue is you are in contract with these guest houses and we feel that we could have had better sleeping arrangements and food . We would have been happy to pay a little more for better quality of lodging. 3 of the guest houses were nice out of the total nights we were trekking.

Great 12 days (9 full walking) in the impressive and beautiful mountains.

Highly recommended.

I booked directly with Zbulo – fast and easy communication and lower risk of misunderstandings (as several in the group experienced with their 3. Party bookings)

The Peaks of the Balkans Tour was truly a once in a lifetime experience experience. The hiking is no joke – it’s very difficult most days, but the reward is tremendous. The ability to get into these very remote places in this part of the world is truly a very special opportunity, and if you love being challenged and meeting incredible people along the way, then sign up for this 12-day trip.

Again, Mirjeta was really wonderful. She works very hard and is truly passionate about this work.

Peak of the Balkans with Zbulo in September. This was a great trip, challenging enough, well organised and thought out by the team. There were twelve of us, small enough for everyone to get to know the others. Both guides were excellent, knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the countries we walked through.
Most of the accommodation was in mountain huts, basic but fine. The food was all home made at the guest house, freshly prepared and good.
I would do it again and recommend it to others.

I really enjoyed our trek. It was challenging but guides knew the ins and outs of the trails and were very encouraging. The scenery was amazing and the trails not at all crowded. The huts varied in size and amenities and provided a bed to sleep in but not much more. I didn’t find the food very appealing but others in the group seemed to enjoy it more. Having said that I would definitely recommend the tour. The trek itself was so scenic and inspiring that the inconvenienced did not diminish the overall experience.

Earlier this month, my friend and I completed the 12-day Peak of the Balkans trek with Zbulo! Albania & Beyond, and I can honestly say it was an experience we’ll never forget. The trek took us through some of the most stunning landscapes I’ve ever seen, and though it was challenging at times, the beauty of the region made every step worthwhile.

We were part of a small group of 8 trekkers, and our guide, Andon, was fantastic. He knew the trails inside out and always had a smile or a word of encouragement when the going got tough. His knowledge and calm demeanor made us feel safe and well looked after throughout the journey.

I also want to give a shoutout to Eda, who we communicated with before the trek. She was incredibly helpful and made sure we were well-prepared before we even set foot on the trail.

One thing to note—while the trek was amazing, it was definitely full-on. There were days when it felt like a rest day would have been really welcome, just to catch our breath and soak in the scenery at a more leisurely pace. If there’s one suggestion I’d make, it would be to include a rest day somewhere in the middle of the itinerary.

All in all, I highly recommend Zbulo! Albania & Beyond. The trek was well-organized, the landscapes were breathtaking, and the camaraderie within our group added to the experience. If you’re considering trekking in the Balkans, this is the way to do it.

Anton and Pervesa were both so great. Felt very safe with Anton as the guide. He was very positive and professional and competent. Pervesa was the sweetest person ever and so kind and caring to us all. I am very impressed with the service I received from start to finish.

Hiking the Peaks of the Balkans was an outstanding the experience. The scenery is stunning and we got to experience small slices of local life when staying in the guest houses. Anton and Preveza are amazing guides. Anton speaks excellent English and has a wide knowledge of the history and culture of the areas we hiked in. Plus, he is incredibly enthusiastic, funny, warm and encouraging. As I was the slowest hiker, I spent a lot of time at the back chatting with Preveza, who is a wonderful empathetic soul. But be prepared for very long days and very steep climbs. It was much harder than I thought it would be. At 70, as the oldest member of the group, it was quite a challenge, but totally worth it.

The organization of the trip was excellent.

The quick responses, maintaining relationships with the travelers, is very professional and caring.

All the accommodations were perfect, wonderful, charming families, very pleasant and comfortable accommodation.

Anton is an excellent guide, he was very attentive to the walking pace that our group was able to do, it was perfect.
They took care of our travelers’ needs at all times.

Earlier this month, my friend and I completed the 12-day Peak of the Balkans trek with Zbulo! Albania & Beyond, and I can honestly say it was an experience we’ll never forget. The trek took us through some of the most stunning landscapes I’ve ever seen, and though it was challenging at times, the beauty of the region made every step worthwhile.

We were part of a small group of 8 trekkers, and our guide, Andon, was fantastic. He knew the trails inside out and always had a smile or a word of encouragement when the going got tough. His knowledge and calm demeanor made us feel safe and well looked after throughout the journey.

I also want to give a shoutout to Eda, who we communicated with before the trek. She was incredibly helpful and made sure we were well-prepared before we even set foot on the trail.

One thing to note—while the trek was amazing, it was definitely full-on. There were days when it felt like a rest day would have been really welcome, just to catch our breath and soak in the scenery at a more leisurely pace. If there’s one suggestion I’d make, it would be to include a rest day somewhere in the middle of the itinerary.

All in all, I highly recommend Zbulo! Albania & Beyond. The trek was well-organized, the landscapes were breathtaking, and the camaraderie within our group added to the experience. If you’re considering trekking in the Balkans, this is the way to do it.

The trek was very well organised and we were kept informed by Zbulo in advance of the trip. The scenery is nothing short of spectacular. Don’t underestimate the climbs and descents which can be challenging especially in hot weather. Our guides, Blend and Renis, were fantastic, ever kind and considerate.

Enjoyed a fabulous hike with Zbulo! on their Peaks of the Balkans hike. The small group size was great (we felt for those is massive groups!) and the guides were fantastic. Being with a local company felt like a really positive way to support the countries we were travelling in – esp as countries that are really working hard to promote tourism business to assist more remote communities to flourish. It also meant that any special arrangements like additional transport at the start and end of the hike were easily sorted. Couldn’t recommend the hike more highly as one that offers an exceptional variety of landscapes and culture, and couldn’t recommend Zbulo! more highly as a company to travel with. Thank you!

Had to cut my holiday short due to family matters back home. However l can confirm that l found alot of support from Anton our guide and the agency Zbulo travel who ensured to help me unite with my family. During my brief stay, I can also confirm that l was very impressed by the beauty of Albania and the over all tour organisation, so l am looking forward to returning back and finnish the Tour of the Balkans some time in the near future.

This was our first experience with a group hike through a tour company. We really appreciated all the work Zbulo did to handle logistics so that it was pure vacation for us. All the land transfers, guest house bookings, food arrangements, were handled without incident; perfectly smooth. Zbulo even arranged for taxi rides to different airports and an independent travel day to another city. Throughout all our dealings with them from the time of booking to the time we left Albania, they were extremely accommodating, helpful, and proactive about making everything work for us. They definitely take service to another level.
We did the Peaks of the Balkans hike, which was 12 days. Our guides were very professional, safe, very personable, and attentive wherever the need might be. If your guide is a if your guide is Anton, you’re sure to be laughing a lot during your trip. The guides – Igli and Anton, were responsive to all inquiries and concerns and even illness when somebody wasn’t feeling well. They did a very good job of keeping us all moving together so that no one got lost or left behind or was left to feel like they were holding everyone up. The itinerary was well put together for moderate hiking. Each day felt quite full. Expert hikers will find that it may not be enough distance or challenging enough, but still, it would be enjoyable. The scenery was spectacular with great mountain vistas and a huge variety of alpine flowers.
Two thumbs up.

Had to cut my holiday short due to family matters back home. However l can confirm that l found alot of support from Anton our guide and the agency Zbulo travel who ensured to help me unite with my family. During my brief stay, I can also confirm that l was very impressed by the beauty of Albania and the over all tour organisation, so l am looking forward to returning back and finnish the Tour of the Balkans some time in the near future.

The accommodations were much more comfortable than I expected. It was a nice luxury to have a hot shower and comfortable beds every night, very different from the rustic shepard huts I was envisioning! Food was really good too.

Another suggestion is to compile and provide on your website a list of good books on Albania history, politics, literature, culture, etc. Also where to find a Peaks of the Balkans map. Perhaps you could sell them? It would’ve been nice to have one ahead of time, but I couldn’t get one in the US. I was able to buy one at the Roshkadoli guesthouse in Kosovo however, which was great.

I really appreciated Anton and Igli sharing a lot about their personal lives and experiences and also history and politics. They did a good job connecting with the group. I hope you have or will have in the future some female Albanian guides too!

Overall, a really fun trip and exceeded my expectations!

Very enjoyable trek through three countries. Each days walk presented unique beauty. Accommodation and food were both well above expectations. Very genuine, welcoming hosts.

Update the descriptions on accommodation offered. Based on what we read, most of our grp members thought we would be sleeping in sheppard huts. We were all surprised by the level and quality of accommodation that we experienced. Peaks of the Balkans finisher t shirts would add to the final celebration.

Highly recommend Zbulo. Great, easy communication prior to trip, excellent/knowledgeable/fun/attentive guides (Anton and Igli), great itinerary, stunning scenery (12-day Peak of the Balkans), lovely accommodations with friendly hosts and great healthy food, a few strenuous days but very do-able, a great multi-cultural group of 12 of us who all got along beautifully (we were lucky!). Loved every minute! No qualms recommending Zbulo!

Fantastic, unforgettable experience with a guided group for the Peaks of the Balkans trail through the mountains of Albania, Kosovo and Montenegro. The scenery is stunningly beautiful whatever the weather (and we had plenty of all kinds). Our Zbulo guides Anton and Igli were both lovely and looked after us well – I learnt more about Albania (and even some Albanian). Accommodation is mostly in shared rooms, all comfortable and the local hosts were all very welcoming.
If you love hiking and meeting like minded people, then this the perfect trip!

Highly recommend Zbulo. Great, easy communication prior to trip, excellent/knowledgeable/fun/attentive guides (Anton and Igli), great itinerary, stunning scenery (12-day Peak of the Balkans), lovely accommodations with friendly hosts and great healthy food, a few strenuous days but very do-able, a great multi-cultural group of 12 of us who all got along beautifully (we were lucky!). Loved every minute! No qualms recommending Zbulo!

I have just returned from my second hiking trip with Zbulo, which might not be the last.. Both the PoB 12 days and the High Scardus Trail 8 days were amazing. Perfectly organized, beautiful landscapes, very informative, professional and friendly guides and just a really good mixture of hiking, getting to know Albania and sharing the experience with a like-minded group. Highly recommend!

All of it! The guides, the group, the accomodation, the routes and locations, the transport was excellent and the food was great!

That they absolutely should do it! Everything is so carefully organised. For those who doubted if they could psychically walk one of the days they were taken care of with some alternative travel options.

The wonderful guides, the great members of the group, the hospitality of the Albanians, the food in Kosovo, the raki in Montenegro and the “crazy guy” from Bosnia in Babinio Polje.

Also the Peaks of Hejla and Arapi and the Grbeja Valley.

Definitely do it, it’s worth it. And do it with Zbulo.

It’s hard to choose- I really loved learning about the Albanian culture by both experiencing the remote mountain areas/ guesthouses and from Erenik and Dea sharing their insights, tales and views. The wonderful group constellation and Erenik’s and Dea’s positive energy and excellent guiding made this a really special trip!

Trust and follow the packing list, including down jacket etc., even if you are packing when it’s 36 degrees…:)

I spend many hours here in Alaska walking/climbing local front range mountains with my dogs summer and winter. I found my trip to the Balkans challenging physically but was very inspired by the daily life of the local habitants in these mountains. There are many people who live in the midst of these mountains a lifetime. Change is happening with the burst of tourism. I pray that this will not change their deep commitment to simple living amongst the mountains and nature. Modern life might make daily life easy but it does not necessarily bring deep satisfaction with living/life.

What a fun trip! Hiking trails guided is actually a new experience for me. The majority of my hiking climbing trips over a lifetime have been self organized or small team organized. So hiring Zbulo to organized and execute a twelve day hike in the Balkan mountains was a surprisingly wonderful choice. I was hesitant to join 12 strangers for doing this adventure. However with the excellent organization and the enjoyable guides, our group bonded into a fun and caring group of trekkers. Each nightly guest house provided excellent food, beds and hot showers!
Zbulo provides absolutely great service.

360 degree great views day after day, some great people and brilliant guides.

Just book it… The views are amazing, the people are great, the countries are diverse and interesting, everything is taken care of for you and it’s incredible value.

Check if there is a trip with bledar or Nedih and you cannot go wrong.

But make sure you’ve done some hiking first, or are in good shape as it looked pretty uncomfortable for the people who showed up with no hiking experience/no base level of fitness

To be awed every day by gorgeous & different looking valleys and mountains; our delightful and experienced guides; the friendly Albanian people, their hospitality and the high quality fresh homegrown food.

Definitely travel with Zbulo, their customer service, communication and quality of guides are awesome!

All of the hiking was exceptional. Especially the ones that resulted in reaching a peak of a mountain. It was incredibly rewarding.

12 days is long, make sure you’re fit. Make sure you’re comfortable sleeping close to others and roughing it at times. The wilderness hiking and food make it all worth it.

Amazing company to work with, so professional in organizing the hike with excellent communication skills. The hike itself was beautifully done with experience people leading us through the mountains.
Anyone interested in hiking the Balkans will not go wrong going with Zbulo discover Albania.
10 out of 10

12 day trek in Albania, Kosovo and Montenegro. My first group experience in the mountains outside of Norway ever, and I¨ve been to to a lot of mountains all over the globe. From start to finish very good service and excellent communication with the agency. 100% professiinal, and relatively cheap compared to overall service. I am impressed and happy! YES, YES, YES!

This tour was incredible. The hiking, nature, food and views were amazing. The hikes themselves were very challenging at times but the views were breathtaking, making it all that more rewarding. There are long days involved, but the guest houses are extremely hospitable and generous. The food was delicious and catered to a lot of dietary needs! I would highly recommend this tour and company to a friend!

I absolutely loved the parts where we had ice to cross, I loved finding the fresh bear footprint in the mud. I loved that there were so many butterflies on the days the sun was shining. I loved the local families we stayed with – meeting local people. I loved learning about the challenges people went through under the communist regime when trying to escape across the borders.

Be a fit hiker – practice walking uphill before coming on the trip. I consider myself a fit person (I do HIIT twice a week and run) but I was slow on the uphill compared to the rest of the group.

Personal highlights was getting a small private hobbit cabin in Montenegro when the top bunk bed I had was impossible to climb into or out of. Great service from the host.

The fantastic flowers blossoming everywhere was also excetional.

The route itself was also extremely beautiful

Stay positive and just enjoy the trip!

Excellent experience hiking with Zbulo! The trip was organised very well, the guide Mirjeta was knowledgeable and made me feel very safe, and she did very well adjusting the trip as the weather changed.
Before the trip Zbulo went above and beyond helping me arrange all the documents for the trip.
I thoroughly enjoyed the trip and can definitely recommend Zbulo for anyone looking to explore Albania and Kosovo!

If you enjoy trekking, the mountains, beautiful people, and more rugged adventures, I can not recommend this area and tour company enough.

The stunning natural beauty of the area and its people won my heart in ways I can’t describe. I have been lucky enough to visit many places on this rock, but this is one of the few places I have visited multiple times. And am still drawn to return to explore more.

While in the area, I was able to try out multiple tours. No tour company stood out as much as Zbulo. Ricardo was incredibly helpful in making any arrangements needed. And if you are lucky enough to have Mirjeta as a guide for your tour, well, you will be blessed with the most sublime mountain guide there is. She is absolutely fantastic and reflects the natural beauty of the area.

As a recent article in BBC describes, this is Europe’s last true wilderness. If you like to visit places more on the off-beaten path, do yourself a favor and book a tour with Zbulo today before this area is spoiled.

The long mountain days.

Zublo were very competent. They had the confidence to pick the best bits of the Peaks of the Balkans train and miss out the less exciting parts. We felt that we had the best available accommodation everywhere we stayed and were very impressed how all the transfer minibusses/ 4×4 / horses turned up in exactly the right place at exactly the right time.

The accomodation in Reka e Allages. The hospitality of our hosts in the mountains. The ascent of Mt. Hajla in best weather. The descent from Peja pass to Theth.

We had outstanding guides: highly experienced, friendly and outgoing, flexible – Anton and Blend. The conception of the migratory route was optimal. The organization was simply perfect.

Where the mountains of Kosovo, Montenegro and Albania meet is a little bit of alpine perfection. Go and go trekking now before the secret gets out. Zbulo planning, service and mountain guiding was seamless. Thank you to Adriatik, Fleurentina and Riccardo. The Balkans are magical

Thoroughly enjoyed our trekking with our group and our two guides, Menduh and Agon. It was well organised and exceeded our expectations on all fronts. Although we were a little hesitant that the trip is described as 3/4 in terms of its difficulty, with a reasonable level of fitness we found it wasn’t too challenging and we are both in our early 60s. Thanks Zbulo for a really interesting and fun experience.

Everyday was an amazing experience, views were outstanding. the itinerary was perfect, challenging but not too extreme. The food, considering the remote location, was excellent. i cannot thank the guides enough they were awesome and ensured we were looked after and understood the local culture.

The tour is great. It is not physically demanding but the scenery is absolutely stunning and the group I was with happened to be amazing. We enjoyed each others’ company on the trail and at meals.
The guide, Mirjeta, was brilliant. She took us to all sorts of places where the scenery was stunning or where we could swim (if one was brave enough to try in the ice cold water).
The guest houses were fabulous – not modern but I wouldn’t have expected them to be. They were comfortable and the hosts welcoming. Plus, the food was terrific! I was eating vegetarian at the time and the dishes were tasty and gave me the energy for the next day’s hike.
I had a fabulous time and would go back tomorrow if I could. It is an interesting and lovely part of the world to see!

Long Peaks of the Balkans Trek (12 Days) from 14/8-25/8
Guide: Mirjeta
Zbulo coordinated an unforgettable experience. It would take hours to explain in adequate detail, but in brief, Zbulo excelled at coordinating the logistics, connecting the group to the locals, and bonding the group together. I could not have imagined taking the 12-day trek without Zbulo coordinating the vehicle transfers, guesthouse stays, and food.
Beyond simply removing the stress of logistics, Zbulo chose high quality but less established guesthouses and stops that helped growing businesses and form genuine connections with the guesthouse owners.
The self-guided option also seems like a great option for those who are already traveling in a group, but for anyone traveling alone like me, I recommend the guided option. While group dynamics are always a gamble, I feel that this tour agency attracts very compatible people and has great guides to facilitate good group interactions.
More specifically, our guide Mirjeta did a great job of forming genuine connections with a each and every group member (somewhat inevitable after 12 days together) and connecting us to the locals by interpreting our conversations and offering her own explanaitions.
In brief, if you’re travelling alone and want to make most of the PoB trek, I cannot recommend Zbulo enough.

Great experience with supergood local guides, who gave us a clue about living in the balkan mountains nowadays.
Really great hikes with always a spot to get a refreshing swim 😉
Not to forgot about all those really nice hosts and great places we had the chance to stay.

Our group could not have done this trip without Zbulo. All we had to do was show up at the airport and they took care of the rest. They showed great flexibility through the travel disruptions of 2022.
Our guides Deni & Erind were first class in their mountain skills, local knowledge, and our group was delighted to have them share the trip with us. The trip would not have been the same without them.

The flowers 😂 we loved them, the group, the guides and not to be missed, the food!! And of course our last night out, it was the perfect ending of a great trip!

Go!! Untouched scenery, beautiful walks, people etc. Who needs Italy when there is Albania? We fell in love with this country.

We did a great hike on the Peaks of the Balkans trail excellently guided by Ricardo and Fatlum.
Warm welcomes in every guest house, not only due to the great hospitality of the people but also to fact that our tour guide knew all of them personally.
Phantastic landscape, scenic views, pure nature.

Wow!!! What a trip! Where to start? Everything was wonderful!!! The hosts and their food were all amazing, the places where we stayed were all better than I expected with hot showers, much nicer rooms than what I’ve seen elsewhere AND incredible views, Anton and Blendi did an awesome job (everything is ready when we need it: bus waiting for us at the time requested, rooms ready when we arrive, meals on time… everything runs really smoothly but we know behind the scene there’s a lot of work to make this happen) and they’re both very friendly, helpful and always making sure we have everything we want. We had a great group of people, lots of laugh, lots of raki, lots of sweat (but oh so worth it: I got over 800 photos to prove it!) 😉 And to top it off, flowers everywhere and couldn’t have asked for better weather! As Anton would say “I was VERY IMPRESSED!” 😆 Would totally recommend this tour to any avid hikers! ❤️❤️❤️

Wow!!! What a trip! Where to start? Everything was wonderful!!! The hosts and their food were all amazing, the places where we stayed were all better than I expected with hot showers, much nicer rooms than what I’ve seen elsewhere AND incredible views, Anton and Blendi did an awesome job (everything is ready when we need it: bus waiting for us at the time requested, rooms ready when we arrive, meals on time… everything runs really smoothly but we know behind the scene there’s a lot of work to make this happen) and they’re both very friendly, helpful and always making sure we have everything we want. We had a great group of people, lots of laugh, lots of raki, lots of sweat (but oh so worth it: I got over 800 photos to prove it!) 😉 And to top it off, flowers everywhere and couldn’t have asked for better weather! As Anton would say “I was VERY IMPRESSED!” 😆 Would totally recommend this tour to any avid hikers! ❤️❤️❤️

Top-notch service, from the transportation to the guides to the accomodations to the food. I’ve trekked all over the world and Zbulo compares with the best. If you’re up for challenging hiking and great mountain views, the Peaks of the Balkans trek is not to be missed.

This summer my friend and me did a 12 day group hiking tour in the Balkan Mountains with zbulo agency. Our guides Anton and Mirjeta made it an unforgettable experience. Not only the impressive scenery of the Balkan mountains, the excellent food, the great people in the team, but also the experience and the care of the guides have been outstanding. A lot of discussions and talks about culture and history with the guides and often with locals gave a lot of insights and made the Balkan area more tangible for us. Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro have got two more friends.

I was part of a group to do the 12-day peaks of the balkans tour and had a fantastic experience. We had Aton as the main guide and Mirjeta as the assistant guide. They are both local to the region and fluent in multiple languages which made a huge difference in understanding the culture and history of the region, as well as communicating with the locals along the trek. The tour was very well organized, most of the guesthouses we stayed at were comfortable enough given the remote locations, the guides were knowledgeable and did a great job accommodating clients of different physical abilities and preferences.

We also came across many other hikers and groups along the trails that didn’t hire any guides, so it’s entirely possible to tackle this on your own. But if you don’t want to worry about logistics and navigation, and spending multiple days hiking with a group of strangers isn’t an issue for you, then going with Zbulo is highly recommended. I’ve made some good friends during the trip and will bring home memories that will be forever cherished.

The Guesthouses were very welcoming and the food delicious. It was great not having to worry each night about where we’d end up. The only ones that were less than stellar was the guest house in Ceremi, which was very overbooked, crowded, and not particularly clean, and the one before we arrived in Thethi (we never really knew the names) which seemed very new an unfamiliar with how to service such a large group. One other small area of feedback in general is to ask guides to be aware of giving too much prioritization to couples. Couples were granted private rooms (sometimes with private bathrooms) about 4 or 5 nights of the trail. This was frustrating for others like myself who paid as much as the couples yet shared a room with 4-5 other people every night and never received the option of a private room. The couples op`e`nly expressed to our guide they did not need a private room and were willing to give that luxury to others, but he seemed oblivious to this request.

Overall, Aurel did a good job with ensuring logistics ran smoothly. However he was a very poor group facilitator, immature, and did not always demonstrate very good judgement or knowledge of the trek. I’ve provided more details in the guide section.

The trip was excellently planned and the hiking beautiful. Every day was another gorgeous hike. Nearly all the guest houses were excellent experiences and I appreciated how smoothly all the logistics ran.

First and foremost, our guide Adriatik was incredible. He is a delightful and well informed young man. He displays all the attributes of a perfect guide. He is compassionate and helpful. He is always concerned with safety and our comfort. His knowledge of the trails and history of the area is impressive. He was liked by everyone in our group. He made the trip a success.

I would like to thank you for providing the transportation and lodging for Adriana from Kruje back to Tirana, since she had to leave a day early. It was generous of you to cover some of her extra travel expenses.

The logistics (buses, cars, mules, etc.) were perfect. It is obvious a lot of thought went into making these arrangements.

The overall trip was fantastic. We loved the area, the hiking, the beautiful mountains, the exposure to some foods unique to the area, and the local people we met.

We loved the boat ride on Lake Koman and the guesthouse on the beach. It was a treat after 11 days of hard hiking. We all enjoyed the amazing lunch at the Agri Tourisimo on our drive to Kruje.

Most of our lodging was good. The hotel stays were fine. Most of the guest houses were adequate. There were at least two guest houses that were unacceptable. The guesthouse in Lepushe was not prepared for us when we arrived at 16:00. Some of the beds were not made, there were not enough clean towels for everyone, and the hot water had not been turned on. Ten people had to share one bathroom upstairs. The guesthouse Kujtim Gocaj in Cerem was too crowded. The owner crams too many beds and guests into some uncomfortable rooms. There was no room for our duffles in the large room where 8 of us slept. There were other groups staying at the guesthouse, and about 30 people had to share two bathrooms. I assume there are better guest houses in these two places. Most Americans would gladly pay a little more money for better accommodations. The trip would have been perfect had we stayed in guesthouses with no more than 2 to 4 beds in a room with an ensuite bathroom. If this is not possible in a particular location it should be made clear in advance so that expectations are set properly.

This was a near perfect trip with a perfect guide. Thank you for making it possible.

Thank you for a fantastic POTB tour in July!
With our guides Drini and Erenik we felt always safe and in good spirits.
The organization was very good, everything worked out as planned.
Besides the great nature, we have learned a lot about the region and the people.
We will definitely recommend you to anybody interested, and perhaps we will meet again with another tour!

A highlight was being able to stop at some shepherd’s hut for coffee or tea or cheese. It was so interesting to see how these people lived so differently than how I expected. I wouldn’t have been able to do that without the guides.

Sign up! And hope for Drini and Enis as guides.

The ascent of Mt Arapi, the friendly group and the great atmosphere (contributed to by the guides).

I have already suggested that two people book next year! However, this is a tough trek and much of the accommodation is basic. People need to understand that before booking. The tour would not suit everybody. I emphasised the challenging nature of the trek and the basic accommodation. But on the other hand, this is a unique experience, which I feel will most likely change over the next few years as the trek gets more well known and popular and more tourist facilities are built. I feel that we did this at exactly the right time for an authentic experience. Therefore, I would say, if you are going to do the tour, do it quickly!

Our very knowledgeable guide was Anton for our group of 5 and he did not exaggerate on all that he delivered. It was great to see the efforts on environmental sustainable tourism…in particular i like stopping at the little cafes etc on the trail, thus ensuring that locals benefit. For me the overriding memories were the hospitality of the hosts and the flowers.

The people I travelled with including my guides. The very interesting guest house people. When Gendit told us how the old system of justice worked when we were in a refuge tower. When Christoph of our group played a traditional instrument so well.

The mountain scenery is very beautiful and dramatic. The trip is very strenuous and continuous. The guest houses vary in character but all are very friendly and welcoming.

Hello,

I would like to make a suggestion. Before I came to Albania friends were worried as they thought Albania was dangerous. Other people on my tour had similar experiences. I did not feel unsafe anywhere along my Peaks of the Balkan trip or in the 3 days I was in Tirana before I did the tour.
My suggestion is that you have attractive Zbulo Discover Albania tshirts made and either sell them cheaply or give them to people when they complete their tours. They will go home to the many countries they have come from and whenever they wear their attractive tshirt will be ambassadors for Albania and Zbulo spreading the word that Albania is safe and beautiful.

John Manuel

Neugierig auf Land und Leute gekommen und begeistert wieder abgereist – dank Reiseleiter und Bergführer Ricardo wurde die Trekkingtour durch Albaniens Berge zu einem unvergesslichen Erlebnis. Nach der Reise ist Albanien kein weißer Fleck auf der Karte mehr für uns, sondern ein schönster Flecken Europa, der die Entdeckung lohnt.

This was billed as a 10 day hike, but it’s really nine days as the first day just includes an orientation and introduction dinner. Our guide Aurel was good. There were different levels of ability among the hikers and Aurel did a good job making sure that people were not pushed beyond their abilities. A very good plan was that for each day’s hike (not every day, but most days), there was an option to sit out the hike and ride to the next location. The Peaks of the Balkans trail is really a collection of trails, so it’s very helpful to have a guide. It would be easy to waste a lot of time going on the wrong trail. Some of the places to stay were a bit cramped, but overall they were adequate and comfortable.

10 Days group track through interesting and unknown region which is not as overcrowded as the Swiss Alps and has a lot of beauty to reveal, unless you are in good shape and able to gain heights of more than 1000m . So be prepared with good shoe-wear and in my opinion poles which are a must. Very kind and professional guide and most helpful Zbulo employees. Every day another surprise where to spend the night and how to be welcomed by most kind hosts with delicious food. What a pity that even the Balkans were infected by the football championship fever, whilst I hate football!!

Wow! That was some trip! We enjoyed every second of it. The people, the views, the food and the hospitality were second to none. And the serenity in Doberdol to end our time in the mountains – we could not ask for more.

Closing a deal over the internet is always a bit frighting. You are never quite sure if the man behind the emails will deliver. But you did deliver big time. From the moment we landed in Pristina to the moment we left it, everything was organised to the very last detail.

And one more word about Ervin. He is a one of the best guides I have encountered. Always smiling and singing. Always happy to help and answer questions and seems to be really passionate about what he does.

Thank you for a very memorable trip. It was SHUM EMIR! (and SHUM ESHISME as well).

Best regards,

Super Wanderungen mit 2 einmaligen Wanderführern: Ervin und Uli. Viel von Albaniens Geschichte erfahren, wunderbare Menschen kennengelernt und tolle Landschaften durchwandert! Hedi Groß, Teilnehmerin von der
Gruppe Rainer Lehnen, Saarbrücken