Hiking the High Scardus Trail: Three-week trek through the mountains of North Macedonia, Kosovo and Albania (Cicerone Multi-day Hiking Guides)

Trek one of Europe’s wildest and least explored long-distance routes on the High Scardus Trail (HST), a 314km journey through the mountains of the Western Balkans.Following the borders of North Macedonia, Kosovo and Albania, the trail runs from Staro Selo on the edge of the Shar Mountains to the monastery of Saint Naum on the shores of UNESCO-listed Lake Ohrid, linking remote border ridges, high summits and traditional mountain villages over three challenging weeks. The route begins with an epic crossing of the Shar Mountains (Shar Planina), traverses the Korab and Deshat ranges, and includes an ascent of Mount Korab (2,764m), the highest mountain in both Albania and North Macedonia.Continuing south, the trail explores the Jablanica and Galichica mountains, often following the border ridge itself before descending into cirques, pastures, valleys and gorges, and finally reaching the Saint Naum Monastery beside Lake Ohrid. The High Scardus Trail is described in 22 daily stages and divide