Durmitor’s limestone spires don’t care much for borders, and neither does this trip. Over 10 days, we skin through five mountain ranges and three countries, starting among Montenegro’s glacial peaks before angling south into the Moračke Mountains, Sinjajevina, and finally the Accursed Mountains, where Montenegro, Kosovo, and Albania meet on a single ridgeline. Hotels give way to remote huts in the Bogićevica Valley, and dinners shift from mountain lodges to a family’s kitchen table in Lipovo. This is ski touring as border-crossing, one open bowl at a time. Come chase snow across a map most skiers never think to unfold.
Some ski tours stay put on one mountain. This one doesn't sit still for 10 days. We start among Durmitor's limestone giants, move through the Moračke Mountains and Sinjajevina, then finish deep in the Accursed Mountains, where Montenegro, Kosovo, and Albania share a border on a single ridge. Terrain ranges from mellow forest skinning to steeper alpine faces, adapted daily to snow, weather, and the group's ability. Along the way, hotel stays trade off with remote mountain huts, and a homemade lunch with a local family in Lipovo breaks up the routine. Exact objectives shift with conditions, but the itinerary's spine, five ranges, three countries, stays the same.
Included:
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Skiing in the Balkans calls for a good level of physical fitness and confident skiing ability. You should be comfortable on red runs and in variable snow conditions; previous ski touring experience helps but isn’t mandatory, since the itinerary adapts to the group.
Most touring days involve 800-1,400 m (2,600-4,600 ft) of elevation gain and 5-15 km (3-9 mi) of travel, with 5-7 hours spent in the mountains. Expect several consecutive days of physical activity, and some steeper terrain where boot crampons and an ice axe come into play.
We recommend starting focused training 6-8 weeks before the trip. Regular hiking, running, cycling, or stair climbing builds the aerobic base for long touring days, and longer endurance sessions of 2-4 hours (ideally with elevation gain) alongside leg and core work like squats, lunges, and step-ups round out preparation.
The best prep, though, is ski touring itself: aim to be comfortable with 1,000 m (3,300 ft) of elevation gain in a day while still skiing safely and in control on the way down.
Gear:
Clothing:
Other:
Dress comfortably for variable mountain weather. Layers are key—avoid jeans. Avalanche safety gear can be rented in advance.
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Group sizes and pricing:
Skiing in the Balkans tour can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements:
If your group has participants under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
The starting point of your ski touring expedition is Žabljak, Montenegro. To get there, most people fly into Podgorica (TGD), Tivat (TIV), or Tirana (TIA) airports. From there, you can take the included shuttle/transfer service arranged by your guides to reach Žabljak.
You will meet your guide on the afternoon of Day 1 at Hotel Zlatni Bor, Žabljak.
We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with insurance. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, you’ll be offered to simply insure your trip with Redpoint at checkout.
Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner—tailors protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations! Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.
Secure your spot with a 30% deposit upon booking! The remaining 70% of the trip price must be paid 90 days prior to departure at the latest. If booking within 90 days of departure, the full amount is required at the time of booking.
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It was a wonderful experience to explore the country with a local guide who showed us everything and explained a lot about the region. I felt safe at all times, as they knew exactly what they were doing. The food was delicious, the country was beautiful, and the mountains were vast and empty. There were hundreds of Lines that were just for us.