Hiking the High Scardus Trail | Cicerone

Explore the High Scardus Trail, one of the wildest long-distance hiking routes in the Western Balkans. This Cicerone guide in English describes a 314 km trek in 22 stages through the mountains of North Macedonia, Kosovo, and Albania.

The route connects Staro Selo, at the foot of the Šar Mountains, to the Monastery of Saint-Naum, on the shores of Lake Ohrid. It crosses the Šar, Korab, Deshat, Jablanica, and Galičica massifs, passing between border ridges, high peaks, isolated valleys, and traditional mountain villages.

The route includes the ascent of Mount Korab (2,764 m), the highest point in Albania and North Macedonia.

Practical information

• Guide written in English
• Route of 314 km in 22 stages
• Approximately three-week trek
• Route divided into three sections
• Two short transfers necessary between certain stages
• Detailed descriptions with distances, terrain, and navigation points
• Advice on permits, border crossings, and transport
• Information on accommodation and wild camping
• Suggested variations and shortcuts
• Downloadable GPX files
• Demanding trek in isolated mountain terrain

Main sites and massifs

• Šar Mountains
• Mount Korab
• Deshat and Jablanica Massifs
• Galičica National Park
• Lake Ohrid
• Monastery of Saint-Naum
• Staro Selo
• Radomirë