Southern Albania · A Long-Distance Hike

Shepherd’s Trail

Walk the ancient paths of transhumance — from the Ionian shore to the roof of the south.

192km

of trail

stages

2,523m

high point

∞

shepherds before you

Explore the 12 Stages The Story

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Konispol → Mt. Gramoz192 Kilometres12 StagesAncient Transhumance RoutesThe Blue EyeThe Wild Vjosa2,523 m SummitZagoria ValleyShepherd Paths & Mule TracksKonispol → Mt. Gramoz192 Kilometres12 StagesAncient Transhumance RoutesThe Blue EyeThe Wild Vjosa2,523 m SummitZagoria ValleyShepherd Paths & Mule Tracks

The Story

Walking back into a slower world

For centuries, shepherds have driven their flocks across the south of Albania — up from the warm Ionian lowlands as the grass yellows, toward the cool summer pastures of the great southern peaks. The Shepherd’s Trail follows in their footsteps.

Beginning in Konispol, the city of tangerines at the country’s southernmost tip, the route winds for 192 kilometres through olive groves and river gorges, hidden cave churches and Ottoman castles, wild canyons and high alpine meadows — before climbing, on the final day, to the 2,523-metre summit of Mt. Gramoz. It is a journey through a region where time, in places, seems to have stopped.

Start

Konispol — the Ionian shore

Finish

Mt. Gramoz — 2,523 m

Season

Late spring to autumn

Character

Wild, rural, authentic

A shepherd's flock filling the trail on the spring transhumance

days afoot

The Journey

Twelve stages, south to summit

From the tangerine groves of Konispol to the 2,523-metre crown of Mt. Gramoz. Select a stage to explore the route, the numbers and the moments worth slowing down for.

Stage 1of 12

Konispol · Çuka e Ajtoit · Shkallë

Konispol — Shkallë

8km

Distance

120m

Ascent

340m

Descent

Time

This stage marks the symbolic beginning of transhumance, starting from the southernmost tip of the country in the small town Konispol — the city of tangerines. It is a short, relaxed trail that takes you back in time, connecting a Mediterranean landscape filled with the scent of sage and olive groves, with the earliest evidence of human life in the region. It is here where, as the warmer temperatures set in and the grass yellows, shepherds and their flocks make their way towards the lush pastures of the southern giants Mt. Nemerçka (2,482 m), Mt. Dhëmbel (2,050 m) and Mt. Gramoz (2,523 m).

Don’t miss

Çuka e Ajtoit — ruins of a 4th-century BC castle with sweeping views to Corfu.

Full stage details GPX

The complete stage guide

Full descriptions, accommodation contacts and GPX downloads for all twelve stages.

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The Profile

From sea level to the southern sky

~9,000 m

total ascent

2,523 m

highest point

The Wild South

A living, breathing landscape

The trail crosses one of Europe’s richest corners of biodiversity — from eagles riding the Drinos thermals to swallowtails over the spring meadows, and flocks that have shaped these mountains for generations.

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In Pictures

Scenes from the trail

Stone villages and cave churches, citrus lowlands and high pastures, Ottoman castles and the endless light of the south.

Snow-capped peaks above the trail near Delvinë

A turquoise river winding through the valley

A mountain monastery with arched cloisters

A still mountain lake reflecting the sky

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Plan Your Hike

Everything you need to set off

When to go

Late spring (May–June) for wildflowers and rushing rivers, or autumn (September–October) for stable weather and golden light. The high passes are best avoided in deep winter.

Difficulty

A serious but achievable long-distance route. Gentle Mediterranean lowlands at the start build toward demanding alpine days — sure-footedness and a reasonable level of fitness are needed for the final stages.

Sleeping & eating

Family guesthouses, farmstays and simple village rooms line much of the route, with home-cooked meals and mountain hospitality. A few remote stages need a transfer or wild camping.

Guides & safety

Local mountain guides from the Albanian Mountain Guides Association know every spring, sheepdog and shortcut. Independent hiking is possible, but a guide deepens the experience.

Ready to walk with the shepherds?

Get the full roadbook, stage-by-stage accommodation contacts and local guide recommendations.

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