Hiking in Kosovo
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Hiking and mountains have started to become an asset for tourism in Kosovo. Kosovo has over 90 years of mountaineering tradition.
Understand
[edit]The central mountains are not quite difficult to climb, but they make a good hiking trail, their height ranges from 800-1200 meters. The Mirusha River divides these mountains into two groups. The first is located southwest of the central mountains and includes: Milanovi,, Gajrak, Zatriq, Bajrak and Gremnik mountains. The second group consists of Carraleva, Goleshi, Berisha, Kosmaqi, Drenica, Qyqavica mountains. The fenced mountains are located near the border areas. They are more difficult to walk because of their steep paths and require a lot of experience and agility. The mountains that are in this group are: the eastern mountains of the Albanian alpine mountains, Hasi mountains, Pashtrik peak, Sharr mountain, Kortnik, the eastern mountains of Gallak, Kopaonik and Rogozna
History
[edit]Walking as activity started in its true sense around 1930, the year in which a group of friends climbed Mount Gjeravica in Peja. This was the first time a peak in Kosovo was climbed (there are no references to this). Although people began to show interest after a while, many mountains were close to the border areas and people needed special permission to visit them because of the political issue at the time.
This is why people were able to actually become active travelers only after the war, especially in 2003-2005. The vast majority of Kosovo's terrain is mountainous.
Climate
[edit]Kosovo has a continental climate. Kosovo has warm, dry summers, cold snowy winters and rainy springs and autumns.
Mountaineering Clubs
[edit]The Mountaineering Federation of Kosovo represents and protects the interests of mountaineering clubs from all over Kosovo. Fully dedicated to the active role in the protection, conservation, and access to the mountains.
Several guided hikes start from Prishtina every Sunday by bus to various areas of Kosovo with various levels of difficulty offered by the mountaineering clubs. Destinations are listed on Wednesdays on their Facebook pages with reservation required. You may also show up at the bus but the place is not guaranteed.
Every major town also has their own mountaineering clubs focusing on their area.
- 1 Mountaineering and Sport Climbing Federation of Kosovo (Federata e Bjeshkatarisë dhe Ngjitjes Sportive e Kosovës), Agim Ramadani 59 10000 Pristina, Kosovo, ☏ +383 44168273.
The Federation covers dozens of clubs with weekly activities for a small fee.
- Klubi Alpin Prishtina, Rr. Anton Harapi 58, Prishtina, ☏ +383 44 312 744, alpineclubprishtina@gmail.com. Mountaineering club in the area going on regular hikes every Sunday. Dedicated guided hikes can also be provided by arrangement. €-€€.
- Kosova Hiking Trips (Hiking Njeri), Rr Agim Ramadani A-3/9, Prishtina, ☏ +383 44 312 744, beni@hikingnjeri.com. Beni Islami (Hiking Njeri) is a figure of the hiking and skiing community in Kosovo. Hikes by Hiking Njeri go every Sunday in different areas of Kosovo. €-€€.
- 2 Mountaineering Society Pashtriku (SHBA Pashtriku), Sylejman Hadum Aga nr. 101, Gjakova (Grand Bazaar), ☏ +383 44 246 769, shbapashtriku@hotmail.com. hours by arrangement. Mountaineering club in the area going on regular hikes every Sunday. Dedicated guided hikes can also be provided by arrangement. €-€€ on Sundays open to all, call or email for dedicated tours.
- Klubi Alpin Podguri, Istog, ☏ +383 44224477, klubialpinpodguri@gmail.com. a mountaineering club based in Istog. €-€€.
- SHBA Gjeravica. a mountaineering club established in 1928 based in Peja, in the shadow of the Accursed Mountains. €-€€.
- SHBA Lybeteni Ferizaj. a mountaineering club established in Ferizaj.
Another option is to hire individual guides through the Kosovo Tourist Guides Association.
- GUIDEKS (Kosovo Tourist Guides Association), Rexhep Mala 28A, 10000 Prishtina, Kosovo, ☏ +383 49372639, +383 44128830, guidesinkosovo@gmail.com. GUIDEKS is the Association of Tourist Guides of Kosovo and represents tourist guides of the cultural and natural profile of the country. The organization with a wide membership base promotes tourism through professional and certified tourist guides. GUIDEKS is also the national representative from Kosovo in the European Federation of Tourist Guide Associations FEG.
Destinations
[edit]High alpine mountains
[edit]Accursed Mountains
[edit]Accursed Mountains is the most beautiful mountainous area of Kosovo covering numerous peaks, including the highest one Gjeravica, and the Rugova Mountains. This area is well connected with Montenegro and Albania enabling cross-border hikes.
Peaks of the Balkans
[edit]This is a cross-border hiking area covering Kosovo, Montenegro, and Albania. The trail winds through high alpine mountains up to 2300 meters above sea level and leads through mountains scenery, with diverse landscapes, from green valleys to mountain lakes, waterfalls, rivers and remote picturesque mountains villages.
Sharr Mountains
[edit]Coverse divers areas such as Brezovica and Brod.
Other mountains
[edit]Moderate hilly and mountainous areas are in north-eastern Kosovo, covering Gollak around Prishtina, Shala e Bajgorës in the north-east and Novo Brdo in the east. These areas are most accessible from the capital Prishtina.
Forests and lowland
[edit]Outside Prishtina, Gërmia Park is a forested area offering great hikes for the capital.
Mirusha Waterfalls in Klina, central Kosovo, offers stunning waterfalls easily accessible and an exciting hike along its cascading falls.