Private Prokletije Hiking Tour: Popadija, Talijanka and Volušnica

This is a hiking tour that offers an excellent view of the Prokletije massif. Prokletije are the largest mountain massif of the Balkans. They belong to the mountain range of Dinarides and they are the southernmost, highest and most impressive part. The Prokletije area is administratively divided between Albania, Serbia – Kosovo and Montenegro.

Highlights

• Access from Gusinje is bypassed by asphalt road to the Grebaje Valley.

• The trail starts from the Eco katun in Grebaje, then passes next to Suljo’s fountain, the Mountain Center ‘’Karanfil’’ and continues in the forest until the exit on the plateau (Ćafa) Volušnice, where there is a beautiful spring fountain.

• From the plateau of Volušnica the path goes to the top of Popadija, through which the ridge leads to the top of the Talijanka and Maja e Can. A short break is planned and stay on each top of ten minutes. From the tops of the Italian and Maja e Can, one of the most beautiful views is provided on the peaks of Karanfil, Očnjak, Maja e Bojs, Fortita, Vojuša, Karaula…

• The whole track is well marked. The source of drinking water is at the beginning of the path in Grebaje (Suljo’s fountain) and below the top of Popadija.

The Prokletije massif extends between the Skadar Lake and the Zeta Valley in the southwest, the Drim River in the east, Metohija and Mokra Gora in Metohija in the northeast and the Komovi in the West. Because of its imposing appearance and high sharp peaks, the term “Balkan Alps” is often used for the Prokletije. Prokletije or in Albanian Bjeshket e Nemuna etymologically means “damn mountains” which symbolizes the inaccessibility of this space. The first hiking trails in the “forbidden mountains” occurred only 20 years ago, because the historical circumstances until that time in Prokletije were such that it was dangerous and prohibited every access to the border region with Albania.