Accursed Mountains Tour Gallery

On the way from Shkoder to Kelmend, looking back on Lake Shkoder

Cemi Canyon before us

Zigzag road down to the bottom of the canyon

The area has plenty of tiny villages and summer alps that dot the dramatic rocky scenery

Cemi Canyon

The bottom of Cemi Canyon, at the border with Montenegro

Administrative center of the area: Tamara

In Kelmend people are still mostly living of their own crops and animals, and almost everyone stays throughout the whole year

Beans drying on a roof in Tamara

Traditional stone house, Tamara

The region is a green oasis in spring, while you can find various fruit and delicious berries in summer

The turquoise waters of the Cem river invite for swimming

Breathtaking views of the Accursed Mountains' heart from Qafa e Bordolecit, near Lepushe

The Albanian Alps within your grasp: Lepushe

Lepushe, Kelmend

Don't be too absorbed by the panoramic views, there is plenty to see on the ground, too

Shepherds' summer alps at Gropa e Berizhdolit

Shepherds bring their animals to the alps in midsummer

Wooden house on the summer alp of Gropa e Berizhdolit

Views down towards Nikc valley

Descend into the valley of Nikc and Vukel

The village of Vukel unfolds before us

Vukli

We follow the road to the center of the village

While most of Albania's population is muslim, the Northern regions are predominantly Catholic and hence the only regions where pork is common

A cow peeking into Vukel's small shop

Large stone houses in Nikc

Arrival at our guest house in Nikc

Our host family for the night

The mobile network still doesn't cover this mountainous part of the country, directional antennas help to catch a signal

On the way into the heart of the Accursed Mountains

House higher up in the natural amphitheater of Nikc valley

Looking back on Nikc

Traditional wooden roofs

Houses higher up in the natural amphitheater of Nikc valley

Cornfield protected by scarecrow

Ascend through shady forest

Curious ladder

Karst formations come in sight

Approaching the summer alp of Dobraces

The shepherd summer huts of Dobraces at 1650m

Local cheese hanging outside the houses

From here we continue to Qafa e Drobraces and into the karst; the pointy peak ahead is Maja e Shtogut

Surrounded by nothing but mountains: the heart of the Albanian Alps

Colourful flowers grow where the snow is melting

The Accursed Mountains' central plateau; straight the way up to Maja e Radohimes, and the base of Maja e Shtogut on the far right

View of Maja e Jezerces / Mt Jezerca, at 2694m the highest peak of the Albanian Alps/Prokletije

Maja e Arapit, the peak most prominent from down in Thethi valley

Buni Sheu i Bardhe; following this direction would lead you to Ropojana valley, Montenegro; in the back to the left the rugged Karanfili range rises

Peja Pass signage

Views towards Thethi valley from Qafa e Pejes

Below Qafa e Pejes, next to Maja e Arapit; views of Okol neighbourhood of Theth

Path up to Qafa e Pejes

Descend from Qafa e Pejes into Theth

Down in the valley, looking back to where we came from: Peja Pass is the lowest pointin the range, while the left of the photo is dominated by Arapi's big wall

Countless butterflies can be found in the valley throughout summer

Minibus driver Jeto greets us

Catholic church in the center of Theth

Houses in Ulaj quarter, greenest part of the whole village

The former ethnographic museum, a kulla(tower)-like defensive buidling (Kulla e Lulash Keqit)

The Kulla, traditional blood feud lock-in tower

On the way to the Southern end of the valley

Postcard setting: traditional house, Theth

Bridge over Grunas Canyon

Often the sun creates a rainbow at the base of the Grunas waterfall

On the briddle way connecting Thethi and Nderlysa

Crossing the river next to the Blue Eye

The colourful Blue Eye karst spring

...and back

Glacial mills rock formations

Bizarre rock formations

Still functioning traditional corn mill, powered by water

Crossing from Theth to Valbona while luggage is transported on mules

Tree covered ascend to Qafa Valbones protects you from heat

View from a meadow on the way to Qafa Valbones towards Shtegu i Dhenve (trail of the goats)

The top of Valbona Pass

Qafa e Valbones, with Mount Poplluks (2569m) to the left in the background

Views back to Shala Valley with Maja e Zorzit (1663m), Maja e Shtegut and Thethi at the far right

The beauty of the mountains is breathtaking

Awesome views of Valbona valley

Houses in Rragam with traditional external entry to 1st floor

Valbona riverbed with Maja e Thate (2406m) and Kolata / Kolac in the background

Yard of our guest house with chicken and goats

Views above Cerem, the sign marking the trail head for Kolata / Kolac is visible below

Kollata massif from Cerem

Stan (summer pasture) on the way to the Montenegrin border

Shepherd's hut on a summer pasture

Sheep skin drying in the sun

The border pyramid at Qafa Borit

Closing in on Maja e Kollata / Kolac

Kollata peaks

Maje e Thate from Qafa Preslopit, to the left lies the path to center of Valbona

Colourful flora

On the saddle of Kollata, with Kollate e Mire / Dobre Kollate (2528m) in the background

From below the highest Kollata peak on the Albanian side you see across to Zla Kolata (Kollata e Keqe), highest peak of Montenegro

View to the East: Plateau of Kollata massif, with Maja e Gjarperit behind, divided by Cerem valley

View to the Southeast down the Valbona river towards Dragobia and Bajram Curri

View to Southwest up the Valbona river, with Zhapores Range to the left and Jezerca Massif to right, and Valbona village in the center

View to the West, Jezerca massif at the top center, to its left Valbona pass

Kollata e Keqe means the bad or evil Kollata

Bjelic Massif with Maja e Rosit (2524m) barely visible behind, further in the back the Karanfil Chain

From the left Pecmarra rises to Cet Harusha which forms a huge cauldron

Descend through the forest

Valbona valley

Valbona valley, near village center

Views to the Kollata massif from Valbona's center

A small river winds through the very broad riverbed, witness of the heavy floodings during spring time

The passenger ferry, have a close look! Its an old Mercedes Setra bus converted into a boat - Albanian's love Mercedes ;)

The passenger ferry across Lake Koman

Beautiful ferry ride across the tranquil Drin river's canyon

Many villages were located in the valley which is now flooded and only a few higher settlements remain

Arrival at the ferry dock in Koman, the location of the first of 3 hydropower plants that are powered by the lake

Mosaic decorating the National History Museum, Tirana

Dajti Express, the cableway up to Mt Dajti with great views over Tirana

Upper cable car station on Mt. Dajti

Hiking to the top of Mt Dajti

Tirana from above

Dajti Ekspres cable car

Et'hem Bey Mosque, Tirana

Statue of national hero Skenderbeg, Tirana