High Scardus Trail
Guided hiking adventure in the wild Balkan mountains.
Discover the untamed beauty of the Kosovo + Albanian + North-Macedonian.
Date
Mai – October
1 week oder individual, on request
Hiking along the High Scardus Trail
Wild and wonderful
Are there any hiking insider tips in Europe? Join us in the impressive mountain landscapes of the Western Balkan Mountains and find out for yourself.
On our one-week hiking adventure trip, you will experience days in untouched, wild nature and picturesque mountain landscapes. The highlight is an overnight stay at a secluded mountain lake.
During our trip, we explore the Sharr Mountains, the Mavrovo National Park, the wild Jablanica Mountains and the picturesque region around Lake Ohrid. We immerse ourselves in local mountain culture and tradition and enjoy typical food and drink.
Every day we cover altitude differences of 800 to 1200 meters.
Individual tour packages and individual days can be booked individually.
English speaking guide.
Self-guided tour packages and private guiding are also available.
Hey,
I am Marius, founder of Mountain Moments, professional outdoor photographer and passionate mountain lover!
Together with our local mountain guides, we discover the wild mountain regions of the Balkans in winter and summer. Find out more about me.
Contact us for a personalized offer.
Gallery
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Itinerary and description hiking tour High Scardus Trail
A mixture of tradition, culture, wild and lonely mountain landscapes awaits you on the Western Balkans hiking tour.
The mountains are not too high at a maximum of 2780m and are also relatively gentle for the most part. The entire alpine region is virtually deserted (apart from a few mountain farmers). Here you can still feel the wild, untouched mountain world up close and authentically.
The hiking tour along the High Scardus Trail is still a real insider tip.
Fitness level: We hike between 600 and 1200 meters in altitude and 7-18 km per day.
Difficulty: The mountains are not too steep, but some of the paths are pathless. Walking in grassy and rocky terrain should not be a problem for you. There are some steeper sections to conquer, surefootedness is required. You do not need to be free from vertigo.
Dangers: Shepherd dogs, getting lost (on the self-guided tour, hardly any trail markings), for inexperienced hikers we recommend the guided version in any case.
Itinerary
You can expect 5 days in mountain huts and two nights in a tent – all conveniently organized by our guides.
You can comfortably rely on our local guides and our experience.
The planned itinerary:
Day 1: Individual arrival in Skopje. Depending on the time of arrival, we explore the city center and the old town from the Ottoman period or enjoy the view from Skopje’s local mountain. We then continue to the Mavrovo National Park, where Vlad will accommodate us for two nights in his family mountain hut.
Day 2 + 3: We go on two day hikes in the Sharr National Park. Wild nature and steep mountain slopes await us. If the group is fit and the weather is good: long hike to the highest mountain in the Western Balkans region: Korab (2764m). At the end of the third day, we drive to a cozy mounain hut and enjoy the hospitality of Vlad and his family.
Day 4: After an early start we explore the Mavrovo National Park; in the evening we drive towards the Jablanica Mountains.
Day 5: After an early start after sunrise, we cross the Jablanica Mountains. We discover the (almost) unspoilt mountain landscape on mountain trails, some of which are pathless. In the evening, we set up camp by a lonely, wild mountain lake and enjoy the magical starry sky.
Day 6: A wild mountain lake is not enough for you? Then today is your favourite day. We hike with some ups and downs along the 2000 metre altitude mark and the Albanian-Macedonian border and enjoy the picturesque mountain scenery. We spend the night in a mountain hut with a traditional Macedonian dinner.
Day 7: Today we head to the picturesque Lake Ohrid – and we will have a bird’s eye view of two large lakes – Lake Ohrid and Lake Prespa. Here we reach the highest mountain of the Galichica National Park – Magaro (2254m). (Uphill and downhill: each 800 metres in altitude and 8 km distance). We spend the evening in the only mountain hut in the country that has ‘Alpine Club’ standard.
Day 8: Another well-deserved Makiato and we will take you to the airport in Skopje for your journey home.
Start and end: Skopje airport (alternative: Tirana)
Optional: Ohrid city tour, culture and water/mountain sports.
Note: The guide will decide the exact itinerary at short notice depending on the weather, so that you can get the most out of the days.
A view more pics of what awaits you
Impressions
Prices / Services
Group trip
8 days / 7 nights
6 days hiking
From / to Skopje
All transfers on site
Overnight stay in shared rooms (camp in mountain hut), tent (two persons)
3 meals per day (breakfast with cafe etc., lunch on the mountain, dinner in hut, or in camp)
Prices:
2 persons: 1890 Euro p.p.
3-4 persons: 1570 Euro p.p.
from 5 persons: 1450 Euro p.p.
Private trip
We will be happy to put together an individual offer for you.
We can also arrange our local guides for day hiking tours on request
Self-Guided Trip
You hike alone / with your group.
You will receive an information pack (GPS track, hut information and local contact details)
You can book additional services such as shuttle service, catering package, camping package (camping equipment and food will be brought to your destination in some places).
Included
Excluded
Request your adventure now
FAQs
What can I expect on the hikes?
Some of the paths are slippery and pathless. Experienced hikers will have no problems here. If you have never been hiking before, you should try it out beforehand.
There is no continuous rescue chain here in the region as there is in the Alps.
Guiding is provided by experienced local English-speaking guides with excellent knowledge of the country and its people.
How fit do I need to be?
Every day we go on a hike with an altitude difference of 800 – 1200 meters.
The hikes are approx. 8-20 km long and take 6-10 hours – you should be in good physical condition.
Is there a possibility for a self-guided tour? And what does that look like?
Yes, we offer a self-guided tour. Self-guided means you hike on your own during the day without a guide. You hike the same route – without a guide but with your GPS device.
At the end of each stage of the tour, refreshments will be waiting for you. Your camping equipment can also be transported on request. Rental equipment (tent, mat) is available.
You save yourself the tedious organization (and the costs for the guide), but have the full adventure.
The tour is otherwise the same as the normal hiking tour.
If you are interested, please ask for the “Self-guided” option in the contact form.
What special dangers await me on this trip?
In general, traveling to North Macedonia without your own car is much safer than the general opinion.
The main danger in the mountains is the wildness – there is no really functioning rescue system. Some regions have sufficiently trained guides and mountain rescuers as well as equipment, but a helicopter rescue is only possible with luck.
We therefore recommend that you have some hiking experience before embarking on this hike. The focus here is on enjoyment rather than sporting records!
In summer, the greatest danger comes from shepherd dogs. They protect their herd – if the shepherd is not nearby, it is advisable to retreat slowly or avoid the area.
Of course, our guides are well trained to deal with these dangers for you.
I get sick or can’t join, what happens then?
No problem, just let us know as soon as possible.
However, if cancellation costs are incurred before you cancel, we will have to pass these on to you.
Insurance – what do I need?
We recommend that you take your typical safety precautions in advance that you would normally take on a mountain trip.
As standard, you should have mountain insurance for alpine accidents (e.g. through alpine clubs), and foreign health insurance is also a good idea (non-EU countries). Travel cancellation insurance is also worth considering.
Does the tour also take place in bad weather?
Bad weather or even storms are part of an outdoor winter tour.
Our guides adapt the daily program daily. You will be informed of any necessary changes to the program no later than the evening before. Our guides will discuss the deviations from the plan with you and together we will find an enjoyable program for the participants based on the guide’s suggestions.
Cultural “bad weather” alternatives are e.g. paragliding, MTB, lake tour, sailing, snowshoe hiking, cat skiing, wine tasting, historical guided city tour etc.
Do you have any tips on travel/air luggage?
Skopje Airport is easily accessible from most domestic airports, even with low-cost airlines (Ryanair, Wizzair…).
Tips for dividing up your flight baggage:
1.) Hand luggage (touring backpack 25-40 liters):
This is where you pack your important hiking equipment. Cell phone, rain jacket, emergency equipment, toothbrush, set of underwear. Everything that is absolutely necessary for a hike. It’s best to wear your hiking boots straight away.
2) Checked baggage: All remaining personal equipment including casual clothing for the evening. Please only carry a maximum of one external pannier or semi-soft suitcase (no hard-shell suitcase).
Is rental equipment available on site?
We can organize rental equipment for you (for a fee), but we recommend that you bring your own equipment.
Available rental equipment: camping mat, tent, sleeping bag.
Please bring your own sleeping bag or at least a sleeping bag inlet.
Thank you for this wonderful “flight day” As an absolute beginner, I am now able to take off and land the drone safely - even by hand. There were also many valuable tips on video and photo recordings. Fly safely even if the connection to the drone is lost. I'm now looking forward to using the drone when traveling. It was really fun. Thanks Marius!
Great photo workshop with a good, relaxed and competent trainer. 👍🏻 Thank you Marius for the beautiful day, the great photo spots and especially for the many helpful tips. 😃 I can recommend it without reservation. 💪🏻