Much Better Adventures

Adventures / Summit Fever

Hike ‘The Edge’ in Kosovo

Lynx. Bears. A 532.72 km2 national park. Two mountain peaks over 2500m high, and a camp on the edge of the ridgeline that connects them

From
…
Gift This Trip

Trip Ref #9005

Adventures / Summit Fever

Hike ‘The Edge’ in Kosovo

Lynx. Bears. A 532.72 km2 national park. Two mountain peaks over 2500m high, and a camp on the edge of the ridgeline that connects them

DURATION

3 nights

LOCATION

Kosovo

ANNUAL LEAVE

2 days off work

SEASON

May—Sep

GROUP SIZE

Up to 12 people

MEETING POINT

Pristina International Airport, Pristina

ACCOMMODATION

Hostel · Wild camping

DIFFICULTY

Challenging

Although not technically difficult, topping a number of peaks is bound to make you puff, so you should be in good shape.

Trek the spine-tingling ridgeline that connects two 2500m+ peaks in the remote Sharr Mountain National Park

Keep your peepers open for bear, lynx, wild boar and roe deer as you bag up to 4 challenging peaks in a single day

Visit this unspoilt country brimming with glacial lakes, alpine pleateaus and dramatic limestone cliffs before the secret gets out

Included

Guides

Local, certified and friendly English-speaking guides

Accommodation

Two nights in a hostel in Pristina and a night wild camping

Meals

All meals while on trek

Transfers

Both airport transfers and transfers to the Sharr Mountains

Equipment

Everything you need for camping will be sorted

Not Included

Flights to and from the meeting point

Personal expenses

Travel insurance

Some meals as described

The Area

Logistics

Starts

Pristina Airport

Arrive by 20:45 on Day 1

Ends

Pristina Airport

Depart by 19:00 on Day 4

Transfers

Your transfer will collect you at 20:45 on Day 1 and drop you back at the airport at 19:00 on Day 4. If you arrive outside of these times, your host can arrange a private transfer for an extra cost. Please see Optional Extras.

Travel options

There are regular flights to Pristina from major airports across the UK and Europe.

What about all the carbon?

We mitigate 4x the carbon generated by all our customer flights annually through our partnership with Cool Earth.

Day 1

Hostel · Same sex dorm

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 2

Wild camping · Twin or triple share

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 3

Hostel · Same sex dorm

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 4

Departure day

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

What is the food like?

Your host will be able to give recommendations for eating out on the first night, and on the last night together you’ll enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. You’ll have a choice from a few dishes, with extra orders and drinks payable separately.

While out hiking, the food will be simple camping food that you will be given to carry yourself. Picnic lunches include a sandwich for each day (vegetarian or tuna), fruit and biscuits. You may want to also bring a few personal snacks.

Dinner will be simple camping food such as noodles, cooked over a gas stove at the campsite. Breakfast will be muesli with fruit. Food in Kosovo generally is Mediterranean with a strong Turkish and Albanian influence. Breakfasts are typically fresh bread and cheese, eggs or French toast. Lunches and dinners include savoury burek pies, hearty casseroles, spiced sausages, roasted lamb, stuffed peppers and fresh vegetables.

Alternative dietary needs will of course be accommodated.

What is the accommodation like?

Pristina

Your first and last night will be spent at the Han Hostel in Pristina. This stylish hostel continuously gets top ratings for its friendliness and central location. You'll have to share a bathroom, but there's free Wi-Fi and a lounge to hang out in.

Gushababa Camp

Your second night will be spent camping under the stars with stunning views of the mountain range when you unzip your 2 or 3 man tent in the morning.

Upgrades

For solo travellers looking for their own space, an optional private room and tent can be booked for an extra charge, see Optional Extras for the price. Please request this at the time of booking (this is subject to availability).

Day 1

Meet your crew and eat out in Pristina

Arrive into Pristina just in time for a pre-trip briefing with your host. There's time for a late dinner with your fellow adventurers and relax into the Kosovan spirit.

Day 2

Hike 'The Edge'

Hiking

8hrs · 12km · 1420m up · 370m down

From Pristina, you'll be driven to the village of Prevalla where your hike into the Sharr and Bistra Mountains begins. Starting at 1500m you’ll hike along one of the most beautiful routes in Kosovo, following a 600-year-old trade route. Keep your eyes peeled for lynx and bear! You’ll hike Kosovo’s second highest peak, Bistra Peak (2650m) and pass the source of the Lumbardhi River which you probably admired from the arched footbridge on arrival in Prizren. With views of the Albanian Alps and Macedonia, you’ll continue your adventure as walk the ridgeline, known as The Edge. Weather permitting you’ll hike two to four of the range’s peaks including Konjushka (2580m) and Bistra (2650m).

When you’ve bagged as many peaks as you can in a day, it’s back to the campsite at Gushababa - you’ll be camping close to the edge so have your camera ready for some stunning sunset shots.

Day 3

Two more peaks and then home

Hiking

6hrs · 15.5km · 870m up · 2050m down

Bag another belter today, as you hike two more peaks, stopping for a rest at a picturesque mountain lake at 2400m before pushing on to the summit. Journey back to Pristina, stopping in Prizren to share a local traditional meal and swap stories with your new hiking friends. From there, you’ll carry on to Pristina, where bed (or a local bar) is waiting.

Day 4

Time to take your weary legs home

Have a lazy start to the day and then enjoy a cultural tour around Pristina during the morning to take in some of the city highlights. The afternoon is free time to explore the city on your own, before heading back to the airport armed with some great stories and a pocketful of photos.

Please Note

All our adventures take place in wild places. Things can go wrong in wild places. Your perfectly planned itinerary may change a bit (or a lot) if the weather turns, someone gets hurt, or a volcano erupts. Usually though, changes make it all the better.

15% Off Outdoor Gear

In need of a few more items? All bookings receive a 15% discount on us to use at Cotswold Outdoor, Snow + Rock, Runner's Need, and Cycle Surgery.

What's included?

  • Tent
  • Sleeping bag & liner
  • Roll mat

What do I need to bring?

  • Day pack (35 litre +)
  • Waterproof jacket and trousers
  • Warm jacket or fleece
  • Thin wicking baselayers (top and bottom)
  • Additional upper body layers and trousers/shorts (not cotton)
  • Hiking boots/shoes and socks
  • Warm hat and gloves
  • Sun protection
  • Water bottle
  • Head torch
  • Pot, spoon and mug/cup to eat and drink from

You should be in good shape. Although not technically difficult, hiking the ridge and topping a number of peaks is bound to make you puff so some strong walking legs will go a long way.

Sure can! Over 50% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.

The Sharr Mountains are pretty similar to most European mountain climates, cold and snowy in the winter and sunny and pleasant in the summer.

We recommend going on this trip between May and September when the temperature averages between 21-27°C. It gets cool at night, so make sure you pack some warm clothing too.

Like any mountain, be prepared for sudden changes in the weather. Although the summers are generally nice and warm, the rain can set in without a moments notice, so do pack accordingly.

We’ve teamed up with the guys at World Nomads to offer insurance designed for adventurous travellers across 140 countries that includes overseas medical, evacuation, baggage and a range of adventure sports and activities. To get yours sorted, click here. We suggest that you book travel insurance as soon as you book the trip, just to cover you for any last minute life changes. We know you’re an active lot and injuries do happen!

All of our group adventures are especially designed for adults to enjoy (18+) as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded.

"I cannot recommend this highly enough! The people on the trip were amazing. Easily the best trip I've ever been on!" Charlotte, 2019, Trustpilot.

We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.

If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.

Yes you can leave any luggage you don't want to take on the hike at the hostel where you stay on the first and last night of the trip.

From …

Transferrable Deposits

Cancel up to 31 days before departure and we'll transfer your deposit into credit for a future booking.

Free Date Changes

Free date changes up to 31 days before departure.

Similar Trips

From

…

PROPER
ADVENTURES

All our adventures get you out of the city to explore the wilder side of our world

EXPERT LOCAL
GUIDES

Get places you wouldn’t yourself. Our guides know where to go, what to do and how to stay safe

HASSLE
FREE

Route planning? Transport? Accommodation? Equipment? It’s all taken care of

SMALL GROUPS
OF GOOD PEOPLE

Join a diverse global community, bound by a shared love of the outdoors