Take A Seven Day Trip To Albania to Montenegro

Last Updated: August 3, 2026

This guide from FinalRentals, a global car rental platform, covers a 7 day Albania to Montenegro itinerary along the Peaks of the Balkans trail, starting and ending in Tirana. It walks through the day by day route across Prokletije and Theth National Park, what the Montenegro border crossing involves, and what to plan for if you add a self drive stretch.

Steep karst mountains, hidden forests, and mountain villages that still run on hospitality more than Wifi make this one of the last true off the beaten path routes in Europe. The full loop moves from Tirana into the high country of northern Albania, across into Montenegro through Prokletije National Park, and back by boat across Koman Lake.

Trip at a glance

Your seven day route from Tirana

Day 1: Arrival in Tirana.: Airport pickup runs all day, so a late flight will not throw off your schedule. Many travelers start by booking a car at Tirana International Airport, which cuts out taxi lines and puts you on the road straight to your accommodation in Tirana. Settle in, then join a guided walking tour that takes in Skanderbeg Square, before a traditional supper at a local restaurant in Blloku.

Day 2: Shkoder to Lepushe village: The road north runs through the district of Kelmendi, where steep slopes covered in forest and pasture rise on both sides. Stop in Shkoder for a guided tour of Rozafa Castle, which sits on a rocky outcrop with a wide view over three rivers and Lake Shkodra, also known as Lake Skadar. Lunch and free time follow on Tamara Reach's cobblestone promenade along the Cem River, before checking in at your guesthouse in Lepushe Village, one of the remote villages in Albania known for its mountain scenery. Spend the afternoon exploring the waterfall, the historic stone mill, and a handful of marked trails. Dinner at the guesthouse is traditional and generous.

Day 3: The Accursed Mountains, Vajusha Peak, and Grebaje Valley: After a full breakfast and a packed lunch, the walk climbs Vajusha Peak through the forest of Dobku Mountain, part of the wider Albanian Alps. Lunch is eaten with a direct view of the Accursed Mountains, known locally as Bjeshket e Namuna. The trail drops into Grebaje Valley inside Prokletije National Park, and local transport carries you the final stretch to your guesthouse in Vusanje, just across the Montenegrin side of the valley. Crossing here counts as an international border crossing even on foot. Travelers walking the full Peaks of the Balkans trail typically pay a small permit fee, collected by local guides or trail authorities, so confirm the current amount with your tour operator before departure. Dinner and a mountain view close out the day.

Day 4: Vusanje to Theth via Peja Pass: The morning drive covers the Grebaje Valley to the trailhead, then the walk follows the roughest section of the Prokletije range, with steep peaks closing in from both sides for most of the route. This stretch of trail was a restricted military zone during the Communist era, and the evidence has not been cleared away. A border post, a concrete bunker, and the old pyramid shaped crossing marker still stand near the path. The walk ends in Theth, a village built around stone tower houses on the edge of Theth National Park.

Day 5: Theth's natural wonders: A full day in Theth National Park covers the waterfall, the canyon, and the natural swimming pools at the Blue Eye of Theth, where the water holds a shade of blue that photographs never quite capture. Lunch is a picnic beside the pools. In the afternoon, walk into the village to see the centuries old tower house and the well preserved stone church. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included.

Day 6: Theth to Valbona: The crossing from Theth to Valbona is the most walked stretch of the Peaks of the Balkans trail, well marked enough for families and casual hikers, not just serious trekkers. Count on roughly 8 hours across the Accursed Mountains into Valbone Valley National Park, with regular stops to eat, rest, and photograph the scenery.The route is widely considered one of the best adventure experiences in Albania for hikers exploring the Albanian Alps.

Day 7: Valbona to Tirana via Koman Lake: Morning in Valbona means one last look at the valley floor ringed by high peaks. Explore the village of Kukaj or spend a final hour in Valbona Valley before the drive to Fierza Dam. From there, a boat crosses Koman Lake, a reservoir threaded between steep green hills often ranked among the more scenic short boat rides in Europe. The transfer continues to Tirana, where you check into your hotel and the loop closes.

Good to know before you cross into Montenegro

The Vusanje crossing on Day 3 is a pedestrian border crossing inside Prokletije National Park, not a road crossing for vehicles. If your trip also includes time on the road, whether a rental car, a transfer, or a bus, the vehicle border rules work differently from the walking permit above.

Three vehicle crossings connect Albania and Montenegro:

• Hani i Hotit / Bozaj, the busiest of the three, on the route along Lake Shkodra near Shkoder

• Muriqan / Sukobin, on the coastal route closer to Ulcinj

• Cijevna / Grabon, the smallest and quietest crossing

All three operate 24 hours a day. Queues tend to build at Hani i Hotit / Bozaj on summer weekend afternoons, so crossing earlier in the day or in the evening is typically faster, though timing varies with local traffic and season.

The Green Card, officially the International Motor Insurance Certificate, is issued through insurers under the Council of Bureaux system, which has coordinated cross border motor insurance across Europe since 1949. Electronic or PDF copies are increasingly accepted at land borders in the region, though acceptance can vary by checkpoint and by insurer, so a printed copy is still worth carrying as a backup.

Planning a self drive leg from Tirana

A growing number of travelers pair the trek with a self drive stretch through the Albanian Riviera or north along the coast into Montenegro's Bay of Kotor. Before setting off, book a rental car in Albania that suits your route and travel plans. The Bay of Kotor is home to the Natural and Culturo-Historical Region of Kotor, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. Coastal towns such as Budva and Sveti Stefan sit along the same route, and Kruje makes an easy addition if you have an extra day before or after the loop.

Not every rental car is approved to cross the border, so confirm cross border permission in writing when you book and review the essentials of driving a rental car in Albania before your trip, since terms vary by supplier.

Tirana International Airport handled 11.6 million passengers in 2025, according to the airport's own traffic figures, making it the busiest airport in the Western Balkans region, so summer pickup slots for cross border cars are worth securing well ahead of travel.

Cross border checklist

Before you leave Tirana with a vehicle bound for Montenegro, confirm you have:

• A passport valid for the full length of your trip

• A driving licence accepted in both Albania and Montenegro

• A rental agreement showing written cross border permission

• A Green Card or International Motor Insurance Certificate for the vehicle

• A printed backup of any digital insurance documents

• Confirmation of which border crossing your rental company allows

Albania to Montenegro Frequently asked questions

Can I drive a rental car from Albania into Montenegro?

In most cases yes, provided the rental company confirms cross border permission in writing before pickup. Rules vary by supplier, so this is worth confirming at the time of booking rather than assuming it is included.

Do all car rental companies allow crossing into Montenegro?

No. Some companies limit travel to inside Albania, and terms vary by supplier. Confirming permission early avoids being turned away at the border with a car that is not authorized to leave the country.

How much does cross border insurance cost?

Pricing for the Green Card and any cross border authorization fee varies by supplier and by trip length, so it is best confirmed directly with your rental company at booking rather than estimated in advance.

Can I pick up a car in Tirana and drop it off in Montenegro?

One way drop offs between the two countries are possible with some suppliers, though they typically carry a higher fee than a round trip rental. For many travelers, picking up and returning the car in Tirana works out more cost effective, even with an extra day or two added to the itinerary.

Is a day trip from Tirana to Montenegro realistic by car?

It depends on the destination. A single stop such as Ulcinj is realistic, while destinations further up the coast like Kotor make for a longer day. The drive from Tirana to Podgorica covers roughly 100 miles, or 160 kilometers, in around three hours before the border, according to Google Maps, so build in extra time rather than an ambitious loop in a single day.

Whether the plan is a full week on the Peaks of the Balkans trail or a shorter loop that mixes hiking with time behind the wheel, the trip starts the same way: touching down in Tirana and planning your route through some of the best car rental destinations in Albania before the mountains take over.

About the Author

Final Rentals Editorial Team

The Final Rentals Editorial Team is a group of travel researchers, destination specialists, and mobility experts dedicated to creating accurate, practical, and up-to-date travel content for drivers worldwide.

Our articles are developed using official tourism resources, aviation guidance, local driving regulations, and destination research to help travellers make informed decisions. We regularly review and update our content to reflect changes in travel advisories, transportation networks, and tourism information so readers can plan their journeys with confidence.