Balkan Peaks Ski Tour #1 / KOSOVO
from25 February – 1 March 2024 | A Unique Snow Adventure in Sharr Mounts of Kosovo // Early Bird Booking Until 01 February 2024
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Vacation Style Holiday Type
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Activity Level Moderate - Difficult
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Group Size Small Group
Sustainable mountain tourism activities in the Balkan Mountains have evolved into a magnificent spectacle over the years, almost eliminating borders in the mountains of the small countries of the region. One of the positive outcomes of a project developed to generate tourism income on the basis of sustainability for the local population was the Balkan Peaks Trail, which naturally captured our attention. In order to prevent the abandonment of the mountainous regions of Kosovo, Montenegro, and Albania and to bring these regions closer together, national and local tourism organizations, along with mountaineering clubs, joined forces with German Development Cooperation. To develop the “Peaks of the Balkans” regions as a single destination for mountain tourism, a transnational hiking trail, one of the few in the world, was created, and a common foundation was established for more.
Thanks to visa-free visits for TR citizens as well as the availability of frequent and economical direct flights, we have prepared fantastic tours in this beautiful and expanded destination. Our goal is to offer you unique tours of the region in both summer and winter seasons.
Although they are small countries in Europe, there are many routes to explore, walk, and climb. Nature enthusiasts from all over Europe have begun to flock to the wide range of activities and nature trips in various regions. In villages and summer pastures, dozens of charming accommodation establishments and mountain houses serve visitors. Due to the relatively low part of the Alps, walking and activity routes suitable for participants of all physical performance and experience levels are offered.
In this region, it is possible to do snowshoeing, to have amazing skiing holidays and cultural trips during the winter season. Here we are with the first episode of our Balkan Peaks Ski Tours series. We prepared this tour with a focus on Kosovo. We have prepared a ski touring adventure on the sides of the Balkans facing Kosovo, on the borders of all three countries. We are heading to one of the most beautiful areas named Sharr Mountains. Our goal is to make ascents and descents in this magnificent nature on different peaks with altitudes of around 2500 m. Sharr Mountains are located between Kosovo, Albania, and North Macedonia, consisting mainly of old mountains with very few exposed terrains. Our tour has routes that we have prepared by selecting the best areas in every valley along the Sharr Mountains chain. We are sure that you will feel the solitude and wilderness, which are among the most attractive aspects of ski touring and backcountry adventures. Most of the places we will go are in remote areas where you will truly experience the well-preserved and even wild nature of the mountain “alone”. As we start some routes, we will pass through popular ski resorts where there are crowds. But after a calm climb, we will get away from the crowd and enjoy the view at the peaks. The most beautiful pleasure of skiing is that the descent is always more valuable after the effort of climbing in this solitude.
We are looking forward to joining ski touring and backcountry skiing enthusiasts on the ‘’Balkan Peaks Ski Touring Trips’’ to both engage in activities, discover new mountains, and support sustainable tourism projects in this friendly geography.
Therefore, we designed these tours as an exploration tour catering to enthusiastic people. We recommend it to participants who enjoy skiing activities and have a moderate to advanced level of physical performance and experience.
Are you ready to join this backcountry adventure wind from the Balkans with us?
Here we go!
Itinerary Outline
Day 1: Arrival in Pristina. Transfer to Prevalle.
Day 2: Ski touring from Prevalle to Dovodenica. Accommodation in Prevalle.
Day 3: Transfer from Prevalle to Brezovica. Ski touring from Black Rock Summit to Brezovice. Return to Prevalle.
Day 4: Ski touring from Prevalle to Guzhbaba Summit and back to Prevalle. Transfer to Peja.
Day 5: Transfer to Kuqishte. Ski touring from Kuqishte to Lugu I Shkodres and back to Peja.
Day 6: Transfer from Peja to Pristina. Free time in Pristina. Transfer to the Airport.
Notes:
The above program represents our ideal plan. Depending on snow and weather conditions, variables such as the physical condition of our team, and technical skills, our tour leaders may make changes to the programs. Our tour includes stages with a significant altitude gain in a single day, steep climbs in remote areas of the mountains. In some stages, we may change our ski skins several times a day or carry our skis on our backs. The climbs and descents specified in the program involve daily altitude gains and descents of 1000 meters or more. Our activity requires sufficient physical fitness, mental resilience, and technical knowledge and skills. Proficiency in parallel turns in different snow conditions is required. Additionally, you should be able to comfortably ski on blue, red, and black slopes.
- ● Tour leadership, consultancy, Turkish guidance throughout the tour
● Local guide
● All specified vehicle transfers in the program
● 5 nights of half-board (HB) accommodation in TWN/DBL rooms at specified hotels
● All meals specified in the program
● Refreshments during vehicle transfers
● Travel insurance
● General safety equipment
● Basic First Aid Kit for the group
- ● Transportation to Pristina Airport
● Personal equipment / Backcountry skiing materials**, backpack, poles, etc.
● Meals not specified in the program
● Out-of-program requests and expenses
● Alcoholic and some bottled beverages
● Museum and archaeological site entrance fees
● Tips
**Shovel, avalanche probe, avalanche transceiver (DVA): Limited items are available from our agency for free of charge. Please inquire during the reservation process.
SNG Supplement: 400 Euro (Subject to availability.)
Flight Details:
Departure: February 25, 2024, Istanbul (IST) – Pristina Airport (PRN), TK1017, 08:30-08:10
Return: March 1, 2024, Pristina Airport (PRN) – Istanbul (IST), TK1020, 20:30-00:10
Visa Information:
Kosovo does not require a visa or passport from TR citizens. Please check for further information for other passport holders:
https://www.beinkosovo.com/visa-and-passport/
The exemption from the visa requirement applies to the citizens of the following countries:
Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria*, Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Belgium*, Belize, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria*, Canada, Chile, Columbia, Costa Rica, Croatia*, Cyprus*, Czech Republic*, Denmark*, Dominica, East Timor, El Salvador, Estonia*, Fiji, Finland*, France*, Germany*, Greece*, Grenada, Guatemala, Guiana, Holly See*, Honduras, Hungary*, Iceland*, Israel, Ireland*, Italy*, Japan, Jordan, Kingdom of Saudi, Arabia. Kiribati, Kuwait, Latvia*, Lesotho, Liechtenstein*, Lithuania*, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta*, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Monaco*, Montenegro, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands*, New Papua Guinea, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway*, Oman, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Poland*, Portugal*, Qatar, Romania*, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and Grenadine, Samoa, San Marino*, Sao Tome and Principe, Serbia, Seychelles Islands, Slovakia*, Slovenia*, Solomon Islands, South Africa, South Korea, Spain*, Swaziland, Sweden*, Swiss Confederation*, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and Northern Ireland*, United States of America, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela
*EU or Schengen member states
Who is this tour for?
This tour is suitable for individuals with intermediate to advanced skills in alpine skiing/snowboarding, sufficient physical fitness, and those who have completed basic backcountry skiing theoretical training before the tour. The activity requires adequate physical condition, mental resilience, and technical knowledge and skills.
Basic knowledge and skills required for participants:
• Use and maintenance of backcountry skiing/splitboarding equipment
• Basic winter mountaineering and/or backcountry skiing/splitboarding knowledge and skills
• Climbing techniques with backcountry skiing/splitboarding
• Ability to use search and rescue equipment
• Basic awareness of avalanche safety
• Basic knowledge of avalanche search and rescue
• Climbing and descending in deep snow with backcountry skiing/splitboarding
• Group movement in risky areas and emergency planning awareness
Backcountry Skiing Equipment:
Participants must have their personal backcountry skiing equipment for this tour. Only a limited number of shovels, avalanche probes, and avalanche transceivers (DVA) can be provided free of charge from our agency.
Please inquire about availability during the booking process.
Recommended Clothing and Necessary Items:
A checklist of recommended personal items and clothing will be provided to you by us based on your request.