THE PEAKS

SEP 2026 | ALBANIA

ITINERARY | GALLERY | RACE INFO | PACKAGES

From the alpine valleys of Valbona to the shores of the Adriatic.

Find your race amongst the Balkans’ wildest and most beautiful landscapes. Tackle a challenging single-day mountain marathon or ultra that traverses the spine of the Accursed Mountains.

Let us take care of the details as you travel by ferry through dramatic canyons, share meals in remote villages or allow yourself to explore deeper with our trailblazer add-on through authentic towns, vineyards, and lakeside cities.

Along the way, you'll connect with local communities, learn about their traditional methods of production, and directly support rural medical care through our social development program.

It’s a rare blend of endurance, culture, and impact; designed for those seeking purpose-driven, adventure travel.

 USD 140

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PACKAGES STARTING FROM

A group of runners participating in a trail race through a forested area, with the front runner smiling and wearing a black shirt and shorts.

TOUR PACKAGES

  • running and hiking in the accursed mountains

    THE ULTRA.

    26 SEP | RACE ONLY | USD 140
    FOR THOSE WHO JUST WANT TO RACE

    Race from Valbonë to Vusanje to reach the finish line before sunset.
    Two distances offered - 42km (2000m+) & 62km (3700m+)
    This tour is for those wishing to participate in the race day only. Attendance at the pre-race briefing the night before is compulsory.


    INCLUSIONS
    * Race entry and gpx. file
    * Race day medical assistance and aid station nutrition
    * Finish line drop bag
    * Race finisher t-shirt and photo package
    * 5% Social Development Project (SDP) contribution
    * Post-race recovery breakfast and presentation

    EXCLUSIONS
    *     International flights to/from Albania
    * Accomodation 
    * Transport to/from start/finish line
    * Travel Insurance

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  • A group of people celebrating at the top of a mountain during a hiking trip, with mountainous landscape and cloudy sky in the background.

    THE WEEKENDER.

    24 - 27 SEP | 4D/3N | USD 990
    FOR THOSE WHO WANT A WEEKEND GETAWAY

    This tour includes the race day (for those wishing to participate) and a 4 days/3 nights itinerary!

    See itinerary below for package highlights.

    INCLUSIONS
    * Package i) plus:
    * Pre-race briefing, welcome dinner and performance
    * 3 nights accommodation (twin share 3 or 4 star hotels)
    * All ground transportation, fuel and drivers (Including boat)
    * Airport transfers to/from Tirana or Shkoder
    * All activities as outlined in itinerary

    EXCLUSIONS
    * International flights to/from Albania
    * Travel Insurance
    * Gratuities for guides

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ITINERARY AT A GLANCE

    • Shkoder

    • Komani Lake ferry

    • Lekbibaj village & hospital SDP

    • Traditional Çifteli Performance

    • The Blue Eye

    • Grunas Waterfall

  • Arrival in Tirana & Transfer to Shkoder
    Meet at Tirana International Airport. All transport is arranged by our team. From TIA we’ll head north to Shkoder where you’ll check in at Luminosa Hotel. The afternoon is free to explore the city or relax after travel before a big welcome dinner at The Secret Garden.

  • Shkoder to Valbonë via Lake Komani Ferry & Lekbibaj SDP
    We leave early for the Lake Komani ferry - one of the most scenic routes in Albania. After navigating the canyons by boat, we stop in the village of Lekbibaj to visit our social development project for lunch to see where 5% of your booking is being contributed! We transfer through the mountains to Valbonë and check in at Natyra Balcony. In the evening, enjoy a traditional çifteli (Albanian lute) performance, group dinner and pre-race briefing.

  • The Peaks Ultra: Valbonë to Theth (42km or 52km)
    Both Marathon (42km) and Ultra (52km) distances start in Valbonë and pass through Theth, its surrounds and The Blue Eye before finishing atop Qafa e Thores above Theth. Aid stations will be manned by local mountain guides and healthcare professionals. Overnight in Bujtina Polia.

  • Recovery, Transfer to Shkoder via Montenegro

    Start the day with a recovery breakfast and an optional visit the relax at the Blue Eye. After check-out, we transfer from Theth back toward Shkoder for lunch and onwards to TIA for flights out or onwards travel in Albania.

BOOK A CALL WITH US
Two hikers resting in a mountainous area with a woman sitting on the ground and a man standing near a horse loaded with gear. Mountains in the background.
A table of partially eaten food, including salad, fish, bread, cheese, and soup, with people dining.
Group of five people standing in a river near a waterfall, smiling and posing for the photo, surrounded by rocks and greenery.
A person wearing a colorful headscarf sitting on a boat with a mountainous landscape in the background.
Two women sit on the front of a boat on the water surrounded by green mountains, smiling and wearing sunglasses.
A woman in a black bikini standing in a clear, shallow river surrounded by green forested mountains.
People at a beach with umbrellas, lounge chairs, and kayaks, surrounded by mountains and trees.
A group of people with backpacks hiking on a narrow wooden bridge over a body of water, with trees and rocks in the background. A sign indicates a maximum of 20 people on the bridge.
Group of tourists listening to a guide in a canyon with rocky walls and sparse vegetation.
A woman smiling and sitting on the edge of a boat with mountains and water in the background.
Four people sitting on a boat, looking at mountains and water, with clear blue sky and clouds in the background.
People enjoying a creek while surrounded by trees and rocks in a forest setting.
A woman hiking on a mountain trail with rocky cliffs and greenery, carrying a yellow backpack with a water bottle, wearing a hair clip, sunglasses, and a sleeveless shirt.
Group of people hiking on a forest trail surrounded by tall green trees and rocky terrain.
Two women standing outdoors on a grassy area with mountains and cloudy sky in the background. One woman is wearing a black tank top and shorts, smiling, with her leg crossed. The other woman is wearing black pants, a black top, a cap, and glasses. A
A black cow with white markings on its face stands on a dirt path in a mountainous area surrounded by green trees. There are small structures made of stone or concrete on the left and a wooden sign with writing on the right, along with red flags and
A woman with a hair clip and striped shirt sitting outdoors at a table, holding a glass, with mountains in the background.
Mountain landscape with rugged peaks, green forested slopes, scattered houses, and a blue sky with clouds.
A scenic view of a mountainous landscape with green hills and cliffs in the background. In the foreground, there is a small village with a few houses, trees, and a stone tower. The sky is partly cloudy, and the area appears to be peaceful and rural.
A woman sitting on a rock outdoors, smiling and wearing a white cap, black jacket, and hiking boots, with a small plush toy near her foot, surrounded by trees and rocky terrain.
A woman standing on a rock near a waterfall, smiling, wearing a striped long sleeve shirt, black shorts, and white sneakers, with lush green foliage around.
Mountain landscape with rugged peaks, green slopes, and a cloudy sky.
A small stone house on a hillside surrounded by green trees, with a mountain range in the background under a blue sky with scattered clouds.
Mountain landscape with rugged peaks, lush green forested slopes, and a small village at the base of the mountains.
People sitting at an outdoor table raising beer mugs in a toast, with a scenic background of a church and green mountains.
Group of people hiking outdoors on a mountain trail, raising their hands and smiling, with mountains and cloudy sky in the background.
Group of people outdoors on a hiking trail with clouds overhead, one person holding a red flag with stickers, others wearing casual clothing and hats.
Woman with a backpack and trekking pole hiking on a mountain trail in a mountainous landscape with trees and distant peaks.
A group of people enjoying a boat ride on a river surrounded by green mountains on a sunny day.
A woman wearing sunglasses and a pink helmet smiling and adjusting her helmet while standing outdoors among trees, with other people in the background.
A group of women sitting at a table outdoors, with mountains and a cloudy sky in the background. They are drinking beer and smiling.

THE PEAKS.

Mountain landscape with rugged, rocky peaks and green forested slopes under a partly cloudy sky.

FULL 42km | uLTRA 52KM

Challenge yourself with a

Starting early in the Valbona Valley, you’ll ascend quiet alpine trails surrounded by sharp peaks as you delve deep into the infamous Accursed Mountains. Both the 42km (2450m+) and 52km (3350m+) distances traverse remote, technical terrain, from Valbona over high passes, past jaw-dropping waterfalls finishing atop a viewpoint high about Theth.

You’ll climb through forest and rock, pass alpine lakes, and move across ridge lines that were, until recently, closed to the public. Soak in the granite peaks and expansive greenery as you overcome thousands of metres of elevation gain, racing to the finish line before the setting sun.

We’ve curated this experience to be more than just a race. It’s a rare opportunity to run with purpose in one of Europe’s true wildernesses.

Although no pre-requisite experience is required to enter, a very high level of fitness is needed to complete the race safely.

Check out the routes below and please reach out to the Far Corners team if you have any questions.

52KM
42KM
CONTACT

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT.

When you travel with us in Albania, 5% of your booking goes directly toward supporting a small but vital health center in the remote mountain village of Lekbibaj. On Day 2 we will visit Lekbibaj and give our guests the opportunity to see for themselves where their contribution is making a difference.

This clinic serves several isolated communities along the Komani Lake route, near Fierza. With limited resources, just two doctors and a few nurses walk long distances every day to reach people who can’t afford to travel to the city for treatment. They provide care for everything from injuries and infections to chronic illnesses and children’s seasonal fevers often with very few medical supplies.

Your contribution helps provide essential medicines, equipment, and transport support for the medical team, ensuring that the people of Lekbibaj receive the care they need.

A village at the foot of tall, green, rugged mountains with a cloudy sky above.
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FAQ’S

  • There are two package options for FCT x The Peaks: i) THE ULTRA, ii) THE WEEKENDER. Package details can be found here.

  • Albania is visa free for 93 nationalities. Check if you require a visa here and follow the steps to apply.

  • The start line is in Valbone in the Accursed Mountains. The best option is to fly into Tirana international Airport (TIA) from where we will provide shuttle services to Shkoder (not included in RACE ONLY package). Arrive by 3:30PM on Thursday for transfer. Alternatively, you can make your own way to Shkoder or Valbone and meet at the hotel as per the itinerary.

  • For packages with accommodation included, lodging shall be on a twin share basis in 3 and 4 star hotels or guesthouses as per the itinerary. A single supplement is available for extra charge.

  • Meals will be provided as per the itinerary. Breakfast is included each day with welcome and farewell meals included also. A mix of both local and Western food will be available in each location with recommendations provided by the guiding staff.


  • Upon booking you will receive an initial briefing booklet. As the departure date nears, we will send out an in-depth handbook including everything you have to bring from clothing to footwear to safety gear.

  • There will be locally-manned aid stations present every ~15km stocked with nutrition, water and medical resources. There will be search and rescue staff on hand for safety and evacuation, if necessary.  Every participant will have an emergency button on their GPS tracker to alert base camp in the event of an emergency.

  • In mid-September, Albania experiences pleasantly warm, sunny, and comfortable weather, transitioning from late summer into early autumn, with average daytime temperatures around 26-27°C (79-81°F) and cooler nights around 16-17°C (61-63°F). While generally warm, expect a few occasional rainstorms, especially in the mountains, and note that temperatures can be a bit cooler along the coast and in mountainous regions. The seas are still warm enough for swimming, and the crowds of the peak summer season have usually diminished. 

  • Yes, all participants are required to submit their insurance paperwork before race day. While the decision is yours, we recommend using Safetywing

  • All packages are fully refundable for 30 days post-booking. After this date, any deposits or payments will be transferable to future races/tours. For the full cancellation and refund policy, see here.