Albania’s trail of colors draws growing hiker crowds

The Korab-Koritnik Nature Park in Albania, located at an altitude of over 1,300 meters above sea level, continues to be visited by tourists in every season of the year, CE Report quotes ATA.

The Director of the Kukës Protected Areas Administration, Lefter Gjana, told ATSH today that "during the period January–June 2025, the park was visited by around 10,250 local and foreign visitors."

According to him, the most frequented trail has been the “Trail of Colors,” which begins in Shishtavec and ends in Çajë, stretching about 13 kilometers, along with the Brekije–Gjallica Peak trail.

The Trail of Colors is part of the High Scardus Trail, a route that runs along the borders of three countries: Kosovo, Albania, and North Macedonia, with a total length of 495 kilometers. Scardus is the Latin name of the trail, meaning “multi-colored,” because along the way hikers pass through the largest alpine pastures in Southeastern Europe, where in springtime one can find a variety of wildflowers.

The most unique flower that can be encountered along this trail is the Albanian Lily (Lilium albanicum), an endemic plant classified as a threatened species.

From June until the end of August, the alpine meadows are filled with colorful flowers, where tourists capture unforgettable moments with their cameras.

Emanuel Pjetri, a tour guide from Pukë, told ATSH that “June has seen a high influx of hiking enthusiasts compared to June of last year. This past weekend, I accompanied a group of 65 hiking lovers, some of whom were climbing this trail for the first time and were amazed by the beauty of the area.”

Most of the tourists hiking the Trail of Colors are locals, but there are also many from Kosovo and various parts of the world.

“To reach the trail, the starting point is from Hoxha’s shepherd’s hut in Novosej, heading toward the Kallabak Peak at 2,174 meters, where the Trail of Colors begins, offering especially breathtaking views in this season. The return is then made through the village of Çajë,” Pjetri explained.