The Balkan 3 Peaks Challenge

This was an incredible trip. Our guides (Kreshnik and Noli) were brilliant, really pro and had a lot of experience in the mountains. The tough rating is very accurate, this is an endurance trip- with very high elevation gain and descents each day. Make sure your legs are strong, shoes are broken in (with appropriate socks and blister prevention) and cardio fitness is high. The heat (July) was very hot, so be aware and pack appropriately. Nice mix of hotels and guest houses and all good quality. Food was great, and as a veggie, I was easily accommodated for. Feel proud of completing all three summits, the views and hiking was spectacular. Each hike was different and I loved the multi day nature of it. I also really enjoyed the downtime of Friday (travelling back to Tirana via the Ferry and restaurant) to mix up from the hiking. There are long stretches of driving on day 1, day 2 and day 5 but I quite enjoyed seeing the country from the vans. Overall wonderful experience and group dynamics were brilliant. The contact with the team on the ground prior to flying out was very good. Tips for future guests: *Take way more sun cream than you think you will need - as typically reapplying every hour due to the sweat *electrolytes are a must to replace salt - take a full container of sport electrolytes *proper hiking sunhat with wide brim- the trail is exposed and shade is minimal- and a cap means the back of the neck is exposed *a sun hoodie may be a good idea, I wished I had one to give my skin a bit of a rest from the sunlight *take personal snacks (min 2 protein/trail bars per day) plus sugar snacks such as gummies. I was eating a family pack of gummy sweets each day as a little pick up. While lunch is good, it typically is a repeat of breakfast, so makes a nice change and bulks up food intake. For reference: I burnt 3000 calories from the hiking one day, not including the usual calorie burn of being alive! *take spare shoes- my hiking boots broke and thankfully I had good quality broken in trail runners as a back up, without these, I don’t know what I would have done, as limited opportunities to find alternatives. *in July, sleeping bag not required. All the guest houses had beds made. *take a cooling towel/bandana to soak in springs/ water and drape over neck, really makes a difference when cooling down *some of the roads are bumpy and hairpins, take sea bands if suffering from car sickness

Had a fantastic week with MBA, and it completely exceeded all expectations I had before arriving. The hikes, the food, the scenery - all absolutely incredible. Even being taught Albanian card games and a night out in Tirana made the trip very memorable - thank you Blendi and Dea!

As others have already said, the hikes are definitely challenged but also manageable. I had never used walking poles before, but they were very useful, and would definitely recommend for the more uneven terrain.

Would 100% recommend this trip - I’m already planning the next one!

Absolutely loved this trip. All the hikes were brilliant with spectacular scenery. All the accommodation was really good and much better than I had been expecting. Our guides, Kreshnik and Noli were great and kept everyone going. I would 100% recommend this trip! I was also really glad I had my walking poles!

Our first experience with MBA and we loved it. The hiking was TOUGH, especially the first day which was very hot with the threat of thunderstorms meaning we were under time pressure. I was glad that I had trained for it as the days were long and the ascents unforgiving. The hiking was so varied, lots of wild flowers, lakes, streams, wonderful views, varying terrain. It really had it all. Accommodation was also varied from a good standard hotel in a charming town to very simple mountain farm/guest house. The food was plentiful and good. Our hosts Blendi and Dea were organised and fun. The last day was such a lovely way to end the trip. I had high hopes of this trips but it was even better. The only negative is that the weather can really impact on opportunity to complete peaks. I had thought that late June would be fine ( after snow) but hadn’t factored in thunderstorms! Highly recommend it if you are looking for a challenge with fantastic scenery in a mostly untouched location.

Fantastic trip in amazing mountains with great company The arrangements were excellent -guides accommodation and food exceeded my expectations Will book further trips Thanks Richard

The trip with Zbulo adventures was excellent and very well organised. Had a great time! The hikes were beautiful and well planned, and our guides Deni and Noli were fantastic. They catered the pace and route to the group's needs and were always happy to share their knowledge on the area's flora, fauna, geology, and history. A personal highlight was swimming the lake on day 2 (bring suitable clothing!).

The back-to-back hikes make this a challenge, however it is very doable and enjoyable provided you have a good level of fitness and are comfortable hiking (both ascent and descent!) for 8+hours. There is a short scramble section on the final day which is around grade 1.

The accommodation throughout the trip was excellent and the food delicious and plentiful, plus dietary requirements were well catered for (vegetarian, no nuts). Alcoholic and soft drinks are not included so lake sure to take cash - euros and lek - in small denominations.

Overall a fantastic experience and I'll definitely be back to the Balkans!

The Balkan 3 Peaks surpassed expectations in all areas.

If you're up for a challenge and want to have an experience with tons of variety beyond just hiking, then this is the trip for you.

There were so many highlights but the main ones that stood out to me were:

• The scenery. The mountain ranges, lakes and meadows are stunning and varied. They are so untouched with little to no one else on the trails!
• The food. This was the biggest bit that blew our expectations away. The food was far better, far more varied and far more interesting than we anticipated. You get the best of Albanian cuisine. Homecooked feasts every night and then a show-stopper meal on the final day.
• The variety. No day is the same and each hike/peak is different with a nice relaxing final day with a lake crossing. You get to stay in a different place each night and each was unique in its own way. You get a night in Kosovo, 4 nights in different mountain towns and a night in Tirana.
• The guides. Blendi and Dea, our guides were extremely friendly, competent and fun - we even learned a new card game as a group!
• The authenticity of the trip. The whole time you felt like you were getting immersed in a local experience, from eating food that was either grown, cultivated or made on site of the accommodation, to the local guides giving you an insight into the history and all the friends Albanian hosts at each of the accommodation.

And finally, we lucked out with our group! A bunch of like-minded, interesting and positive people who knew how to have a good time.

The only thing to be mindful of is the fact you may not summit all 3 peaks, which is what we experienced. I naively came into it not even thinking this was a possibility given it's summer in Albania and I thought the weather would have been nice all the time! It was totally the right call from our guide to not do the final peak (a huge storm meant we had to miss the last peak).

Absolutely loved the Balkan 3 Peaks challenge with MBA. Everything surpassed our expectations - the food, accommodation, scenery, itinerary, group, guides etc.

The mountain trails we hiked were very remote untouched. The first two days we only saw two other small groups. Day 3 was a busier trail as it made up part of the ‘Peaks of the Balkan’s’ trail. The nature was a highlight of mine, real sensory immersion: vibrant wildflowers, chirpy birdsong, humidity haze, freshwater springs, crackling thunder, fragrant alpine & bear bell jingles.

All of our accommodation hosts were exceptionally friendly and welcoming (* except day 4 at the B&B in Cerem). Every night we feasted on extremely tasty local home cooked food. Breakfast was also pretty good. I ate 2-3x what I do in a normal week, partly because my body needed the carbs, and partly because the spreads were that delicious. The accommodation was all very nice, fairly rustic and simple but very comfortable!

Our guides were very knowledgeable, fun, easy going and made the right calls when we experienced adverse weather. They even took us on a night out in Tirana on the last night, cementing the bond of the group. Huge shout out to Blende and Dea!

A few notes of caution:

• We didn’t summit the final Peak (in Montenegro) due to thunderstorms. This was the right call as the lightening came in suffering and was quite scary. Apparently it’s quite common in the months outside of July and August that groups won’t summit all 3 peaks due to the weather for health and safety reasons, so be prepared for that
• I found the walk very physically demanding. In fairness, I didn’t train for it much, but am a fit person and have done plenty of hiking before. I climbed Kilimanjaro and personally found the B3P tougher. Part of the reason I found it hard was the speed at which we walked (was very fast), the short breaks and the nature of the hikes (3-4 days you are basically climbing up and down the mountain in one day, with no flat ground, so is very straining on your legs)
• The itinerary is packed so there isn’t much down time to chill, especially if you’re sharing rooms with group members you don’t know already
• Their packing list is pretty accurate, I would recommend poles (I don’t usually use them but found them very useful for the inclines/ declines)

This trip was amazing but definitely challenging. Some steep ascents and hairy descents at times. Every step you are surrounded by absolute beauty. The Balkans truly are amazing.

Our guides, Deni and Noli, were the best. They always made sure we were doing ok and taught us so much along the way. The guesthouses were very welcoming and comfortable and the food was delicious and plentiful.

Take the challenge seriously, we sometimes did slightly more mileage or ascent than was in the itinerary. I definitely could have trained a little more or been a bit fitter than I was.

Awesome trip with excellent guides (Deni and Noli) and a fun group! Challenging hike, good food, and comfortable accommodations.

The Balkans 3 Peaks Challenge is an experience of a lifetime. The guides are knowledgeable, friendly, and encouraging. We hike over mountains, through valleys, and past lakes. It is truly a beautiful experience. It is a physical challenge with much elevation gain each day on the hikes. Be prepared for the exercise.

Superb trip - would strongly recommend! The walks are challenging but achievable, and are worth it for the outstanding views and scenery. The local guides (Deni and Noli) could not have been better - friendly, conscientious and fun.

This trip was incredible. Our guides (Deni and Noli) were so knowledgeable, caring and entertaining. The itinerary was the perfect balance of hiking, exploring and cultural emersion as well. The accommodation was fantastic and all owners of the guesthouses made us feel so welcome. The food was outstanding with plenty of choice. It was overall a great trip, massively outliving my expectations!

A most enjoyable experience. Exceeded my expectations. Great guides and manically mountains.

This was a fantastic trip, a fun challenge but definitely manageable if you’ve got some hiking experience. The 3 peaks are all different experiences and the days are varied. As a vegetarian who doesn’t eat eggs, food was plentiful. Our guides Blendi and Tesi were both lovely, they went above and beyond to ensure everyone had a great time. The ferry ride and lunch on the last day were both also above expectations and a brilliant way to finish the trip. 100% recommend.

We thoroughly enjoyed the trip. Both of the guides -Mirjeta and Albanor - were excellent. The group worked really well together and there was a great mix of looking out for each other and having fun. The landscapes were amazing and we felt lucky to have had the opportunity to see them. Mirjeta was really lovely and her enthusiasm for and love of the region was very infectious.

Had a fab time, would definitely recommend! Incredible views across all the days and the restaurant for lunch after the ferry ride was a particular highlight. I would encourage people to take the difficulty seriously whilst all of the group were able to complete all the climbs many were experienced runners, hikers or had good fitness levels. Additionally walking poles I would list as strongly recommended but not essential to help take the strain on some of the descents.

Beautiful mountains with a great group and a really knowledgeable guide.

Trip is face paced with a lot of transfers so bring lots of energy!

Amazing views all week - go while this area is still relatively quiet as it's developing quickly. Everything about the trip was good - the plan, the guides, the food and the different styles of accommodation.

A really great experience in a lesser travelled part of Europe. The nature, scenery and views were incredible. The hikes were physically demanding in parts with some steep ascents and descents, the hot weather in August also adding to the difficulty. But overall challenging but enjoyable 😊 We were well fed and looked after throughout the entire trip. Bring cash both Lek and Euros (the smaller the notes the better), as opportunities for ATMs and card payments are very limited.

This trip was amazing, I travel a lot and this was easily one of, if not the best trip I have been on. Our guides Mirjeta and Noli were amazing guides and even better people! I would 10/10 recommend people to explore the Balkans, the region is an underrated gem for any adventure lover - I hope to visit this region again someday!

We had a brilliant time! A holiday that exceeded our expectations in so many ways. Fabulous guides, lovely group, amazing routes and big delicious dinners in comfortable accommodation at the end of the day.

HIS TRIP IS AWESOME. I like to think of myself as quite a well seasoned hiker, I love hiking abroad and have been to the himalayas ect however this trip filled my mountain needs and hiking expectations perfectly! Just the right amount of challenging and what an experience to hike between 4 countries and 3 peaks! The views and scenery are unreal. Our local guides were amazing as was the accommodation and the food, both better than I expected! I can't complain about this trip! Amazing!

Fantastic trip is a fantastic location with fantastic guides! Each day's hike wasn't super strenuous, but when 4 days were done back to back and in the hot sun, it was a lot. Food was simple and delicious. The restaurants the last day were incredible.

I loved this trip! The scenery is absolutely stunning and virtually untouched. The accommodation in local guesthouses was very comfortable and the food provided was delicious. Our guides Deni and Adriatik were great, very knowledgeable about the local area and made sure everyone was catered for. They made this trip all the more special. Bring warm clothing for evenings as it can get chilly!

My first holiday with MBA and I'll definitely be doing more! This was a really great holiday. It was physically tough but not too tough - enough to feel tired at the end of the day but not completely exhausted. The mountains are absolutely stunning - the highlight for me was the view from the top of Montenegro - mountains forever! The food was good and lots of it (I'm vegetarian and this was fine) but definitely good to take snack bars from home as there's nowhere to buy stuff like that. The accommodation was all really nice and the guides were great. We had two guides which was good as previous reviews mentioned they only had one, but we definitely needed two due to large range of walking speed within the group. In summary, this is a great holiday if you like hiking in the mountains and fancy going somewhere a bit different. Great to see mountain life that hasn't changed for centuries and so much cheaper than the french/Swiss Alps etc.

Good discovery of the country but doing the different peaks (a good theme in itself) involves a bit too much travel by minivan to go from region to region

It was a nice challenge with the opportunity to hike on the different countries borders!

Completed Balkan Three Peaks in the end of August and it was one of the best trips for me so far. Great experience lead by fantastic guides Deni and Tesi. Challenging but certainly achievable. Unfortunately we couldn't reach the summit of the last peak due to the weather but plenty of other highlights along the way. Very well organised which must have been difficult due to the logistics. Can certainly recommend

Great trip; amazing views and lovely hikes (challenging but fun!).