Trek 95km of the High Scardus Trail, one of Europe's newest long-distance hiking routes known as the 'Soul of the Balkans'
Tackle the lofty summits of Ljuboten (2498m) and Tito (2748m) for the best views in the rugged Sharr Mountains
Hike along the border between Kosovo and North Macedonia, brimming with glacial lakes, alpine plateaus and dramatic limestone cliffs – eyes peeled for bears, boars, lynx and deer
Bunk down in a cosy mountain hut, wild camp in a remote spot under the stars and rest your weary legs in a spa hotel
Day 1
Arrive in Pristina, Kosovo's capital – the youngest capital city in Europe. Meet your fellow travellers and get a quick pre-trip briefing with your host, before getting a good night's sleep ahead of your first day of hiking tomorrow.
Day 2
After breakfast in Pristina you'll be driven to the village of Shterpce, close to the border with North Macedonia, where your hike into the wild Sharr Mountains begins. Starting at 1000m, you'll hike up through an enchanting forest (eyes peeled for lynx and bears) before the trail opens to a panoramic view of the entire Sharr range. You'll hike up to the summit of Ljuboten, a local favourite, which at 2498m stands alone from the peaks around it and can be seen from both Pristina and Skopje. Having climbed up in Kosovo, you descend into North Macedonia, as you make your way to the country's oldest mountain hut. The historic Ljuboten Mountain Hut – built in 1931 – promises a warm and cosy evening of traditional food, good company and intriguing tales of the surrounding mountains and their adventurous history.
Day 3
After fueling up with a hearty mountain breakfast an exciting day of hiking awaits. Warm up your legs on a charming single-track trail to start the day before reaching the bottom of a rocky scramble. As you ascend, enjoy Ljuboten's quirkily named rock formations – including Ljuboten's Neck, Goat Rock and Pointed Rock. Your midday reprieve awaits at the picturesque Livadica Lake, offering not only the chance to refuel but also an opportunity to cool off with a refreshing swim (braving the cold lake waters if you fancy it). The views from this vantage point are nothing short of spectacular. After lunch, it's downhill back into Kosovo and the mountain village of Lubinje, where your guesthouse awaits.
Day 4
Hop in the van for a quick transfer to today's start point above the village of Lubinje, one of the most lush and captivating sections of the Sharr Mountains. Venture through the heart of a dense forest, where the trail winds its way amidst towering trees and serene surroundings. As you climb, the trees thin to reveal a panoramic vista of high, rugged peaks. Ascend the pass that marks the border with North Macedonia discover to a refreshing oasis – a natural spring and small lake beckon for a brief respite before the final ascent. Having conquered the pass, enjoy a gradual descent to the charming Macedonian village of Vetjse.
Day 5
Another quick transfer takes you to the start of today's trail, which weaves beneath some of the Sharr Mountains' most stunning peaks. You'll hike up through pasture, over rocky terrain and past waterfalls until reaching the glacial gem of Karanikola Lake. After another incredible day, and a thorough exploration of the northern Sharr Mountains, it's time to descend to the remote village of Bozovce before driving on to the resort of Popova Shapka. After a few nights in rustic mountain accommodation, kick back and relax with a night in a spa hotel complete with a pool and sauna, a chance to rejuvenate before tomorrow's big day.
Day 6
Limber up the legs for another big day of climbing, tackling the highest peak in the Sharr Mountains. At 2748m, Tito is also the second-highest summit in North Macedonia – the highest not shared with a neighbouring country. At the summit stands a curious tower overlooking stunning 360-degree views of the expansive mountain range you have traversed. Taking a detour from the summer trail on the way down takes you to a hidden camping spot on the mountain for a unique night under the stars. Your hosts will prepare a comfortable wild camp, complete with warm food brought up from the valley. It's sure to be a special night and the perfect way to end your mountain adventure.
Day 7
Wake up in your beautiful wild camping spot, have breakfast, and embark on your final day of hiking out of the mountains. Last is definitely not least, as another stunning day's walk awaits. Descending from camp you reach the Smreka River before climbing above Bogovinje Lake, the largest lake in the Sharr Mountains. You traverse Kosovo's 'Silent Waters', passing Shutman Lake and finally descend to the village of Brod. Celebrate with a beer at a local hotel before your host drives you on to Prizren, where you have the evening to enjoy the charming city. Head out and swap stories with your new hiking friends over a traditional Kosovan meal.
Day 8
After breakfast in Prizren, and a short walk around the old city, your host will transfer you back to Pristina and the airport.
Our trips do not include flights, trains or other travel to the start point and back from the end point.
Tips are not included in the trip cost; these are entirely at your discretion. If you would like to tip, the amount should be reflective of your perception of service and quality.
You know your own spending habits best, so please budget an appropriate amount for things like optional meals and drinks, shopping, optional activities, and laundry.
Travel insurance is compulsory for all of our adventures and you are required to provide your policy information before departing. Your insurance should include adequate protection for overseas medical treatment, evacuation/repatriation, your baggage and equipment and the specific activities involved on your adventure. We also strongly recommend it includes cancellation and curtailment insurance, should you be unable to join your trip for specific reasons such as illness. Our recommended travel insurance provider is Campbell Irvine (opens in new tab), as their insurance offers all of the above.
Visa requirements often change, and you are responsible for obtaining any required visas for this trip. Please check with your nearest embassy or consulate for up-to-date advice.
Looking for a private room? See Optional Extras for details and pricing.
Throughout the trip, the food reflects local flavours and traditions. Each morning in your accommodation, you'll enjoy local delicacies like homemade bread with Sharr cheese, fresh veggies, eggs, mountain tea, and Turkish coffee for breakfast. When h…
For solo travellers looking for their own space, an optional private room and solo tent can be booked for an extra charge, see Optional Extras for the price. Please request this at the time of booking (this is subject to availability).
To request any extras, message your host via your Much Better Adventures account once you have booked your trip.
All extras must be paid before your trip starts.
Created for adventurers ready to take on a few longer, more demanding days
This trek has multiple long days with plenty of climbing up and down, so you should be in good shape and used to walking in the hills for consecutive days. Although not techni...
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Thursday 18th June 2026
to Thursday 25th June 2026
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Know before you go! Some stuff we'll provide, other things you'll need to bring.
Yes, you can leave any luggage you don't want on the hike with the host, it will be transported by vehicle and available on Days 4, 5 and 7.
This trip visits locations at or above 2500m, where some people may experience symptoms of Altitude Sickness, also known as Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS).
Previous experience at altitude doesn’t guarantee the same response again – your body can react differently on each trip. However, having been at altitude before is still valuable: it gives you a better understanding of how your body might respond, what symptoms to look out for, and how to manage your pace and energy levels.
Your guide is trained to manage the risk of altitude sickness by controlling the rate of ascent, monitoring group wellbeing, and responding appropriately if anyone feels unwell.
Before booking, we recommend considering your personal health, particularly if you have any pre-existing conditions, and consulting a medical professional if you’re unsure. Arriving early to allow your body to acclimatise can also make a big difference.
Your travel insurance must cover the maximum altitude reached on this trip and include emergency evacuation.
This trip operates in areas where daytime temperatures can reach extreme highs, where limited shade and high humidity can also be a factor. These conditions can affect physical performance and increase the risk of dehydration or heat-related illness. Your guide will adjust the pace and monitor the group closely, but hydration, proper clothing, and sun protection are essential.
Before travelling, consider your ability to be active in high temperatures and consult a medical professional if you have concerns – especially if you have any cardiovascular or heat-sensitive conditions. Arriving a day or two prior to the trip may help you adjust gradually to the heat.
Sure can! Over 70% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.
Our team of Adventure Hunters co-create exclusive adventures which are run by highly vetted, specialist hosts. The trip is run by our trusted host partner in the destination. We only work with independent, local, in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. Read more information about the local teams we partner with. You’ll be introduced to the host straight after making a booking via the Much Better Adventures platform.
Much Better Adventures refer to the UK Government’s official travel advice when designing trips and monitoring trip operations. We recommend that all customers are familiar with the practical information provided on the Government’s FCDO website, where current travel advice can be found by searching for the applicable destination(s).
For customers joining this trip from other international destinations – please also read the official travel advice applicable to your country of residence/origin, as this may differ.
We recommend checking out the country-specific information and also talking to a travel nurse.
We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.
If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.
All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. You must be over 18 to join one of our trips.
You're always in good company on one of our adventures.
Our trips are typically made up of a mixture of solo travellers and small groups of 2 or 3 friends, with most in their 30s-50s.
Our sociable adventures are solo-friendly by design and naturally attract outdoorsy people with a shared mindset; a love for adventure, a desire to push themselves and meet awesome, like-minded people along the way.
It’s this camaraderie that has so often turned a great adventure into a life-changing one.
Don't just take our word for it:
See here for more info about the Much Better Adventures tribe.
The Sharr Mountains are pretty similar to most European mountain climates: cold and snowy in the winter and sunny and pleasant in the summer.
We recommend going on this trip between May and October when daytime temperatures in Pristina average between 21-27°C and days are usually in the region of 10-17°C in the mountains. It gets cool at night with the potential for temperatures to hover only a few degrees above freezing, so make sure you pack some warm clothing too.
Like any mountain environment, be prepared for sudden changes in the weather. Although the summers are generally nice and warm, the rain can set in without a moment's notice, so do pack accordingly. A layering system is essential in the mountains.
We partner with the World Land Trust to ensure this trip achieves Net-Zero emissions. We also support their Buy an Acre programme, helping local communities to buy and protect natural habitats in perpetuity.
What's the number?
It works out on average at 220.86kg of CO2 emissions per person, including all local transport, accommodation, food, activities, guides, staff and office operations.
The only thing it doesn’t include right now is flights and travel to the destination. We do make an overall estimate across all our customers separately, but as we don’t book flights, have customers from all corners of the world, and no way of reliably knowing their travel plans, we simply can’t include an individual number in the figure on display here. We’ve got a goal to fix that, so that when you book, there is a way to measure and mitigate the carbon emitted by your flight too.
But what does the number mean?
Yep, hard to picture eh? To give you an idea:
What are we doing about it?
Our trips are relatively low-carbon by design, and we're working with all our hosts to develop long term carbon reduction plans. We partner with the World Land Trust to ensure this trip achieves Net-Zero emissions. We also support their Buy an Acre programme, helping local communities to buy and protect natural habitats in perpetuity, ensuring the protection of the reserve and its wildlife.
Want to know more?
Amazingly, no international travel company has ever publicly published their carbon measurements before, as far as we know. We believe that must change, quickly. So we’re openly sharing the method we used in the hope that other companies will be able to more easily follow suit and build on what we've done so far. You'll find it all here.
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