Okay, so I’ve been seeing these crazy beautiful pictures of the Accursed Mountains in Albania all over Instagram. You know, those super dramatic, jagged peaks? I finally decided I had to see them for myself. Let me tell you, it was an adventure!
Getting Started and Planning
First, I spent ages online, just trying to figure out the best way to even get there. It’s not exactly a hop, skip, and a jump from, well, anywhere. I found some helpful blog posts (nothing beats real people’s experiences, right?), and pieced together a rough itinerary. The most popular route seemed to be the hike from Valbona to Theth, so I decided to go with that.
I booked my flights to Tirana, the capital of Albania. Then, I figured out the bus situation – a furgon, which is like a shared minivan, to the town of Bajram Curri, then another one to Valbona. Sounds simple enough, yeah? (Spoiler: it kinda was, but also kinda wasn’t!)
The Actual Trekking
- Day 1: The furgon ride was…an experience. Let’s just say the roads are winding, and Albanian drivers are…enthusiastic. But the views! Oh my god, the views were already stunning, even before I got to the mountains proper. I arrived in Valbona, found a guesthouse, and just soaked it all in.
- Day 2: This was it – the big hike! I got up early, loaded up on breakfast (gotta have that fuel!), and hit the trail. The first few hours were pretty steep, going up, up, up. My legs were definitely feeling it, but every time I stopped to catch my breath, I looked around and was reminded why I was doing this. Seriously breathtaking.
- Day 3: I reached the Valbona Pass, which is the highest point of the hike. Words can’t even describe the panorama from up there. Just endless peaks and valleys, all rugged and wild. It was incredible. After that, it was mostly downhill to Theth. I was tired, but on a total high. I will never foreget that view.
- Day 4:Theth is a charming little village. I spent the day exploring, visiting the famous “lock-in tower” (super interesting history!), and just relaxing by the river. I met some other travelers, and we shared stories and tips.
Wrapping Up
Getting back to Tirana was another furgon adventure, but by then, I was pretty used to it. I spent a couple of days in the city, which was cool, but honestly, the mountains were the highlight. The scenery, is truly some of the most beautiful I’ve ever seen, I already planning a return trip!
If you’re thinking about doing this trek, just do it! It’s challenging, but so, so rewarding. You won’t regret it.
