Kukës

In the fortification system of the White Drini River, along the ancient route of Gabuleo Theranda is located one of the most important centres of antiques, Pece, which originated in 6th and 5th centuries BC. The settlement was surrounded by walls in 4th to 2nd centuries BC, which are characteristic of these towns in this period, bringing simultaneously together with Rosuja (Tropoje) the first centres that were simultaneously associated in time with the Dardan Kingdom. While at the end of the 3rd century and the beginning of the 4th century. Pece is refortified again, but with a larger surface area, winning an important strategic and military role in the basin of White Drini River - a thing that begins to lose later in the 9th to 11th centuries. Over the 4th to 6th centuries. Peca was completed with dwellings, towers, various terraces, a church, etc. The surrounding walls include a circumference of 445 m with an area of 1 ha. It is believed that the Castle of Pece can be identified with the name of a castle rebuilt by Emperor Justinian in Dardani, called Pentza.

Vana’s Gorge is a deep gorge between Koritnik Mountain and Gjallica Mountain in Kukës, created by the erosion of rocks from Lumë, part of the Korab-Koritnik National Park.

The canyon, known by the very interesting name, ‘The Bad Staris’ is a true wonder of nature and can be found near the village of Bicaj in Kukës, around a 30-minute car drive, or 3 hours hike. This canyon is a unique natural monument, with a 1,000-m depth and 3-m width. It can be seen with the naked eyes from the city centre and is one of the most sought-after tourist attractions that should definitely not be missed.

The Gjallica Mountain, around 2.489 m above sea level, offers an exceptionally stunning view, sitting stoically and watching over the entire city of Kukës. This mountain is so grand that it can be seen from anywhere in the city. It is the highest in the Kukës region and belongs to the Dinaric Alps. The limestone mountain is engulfed in forests and vegetation, mainly pines and beech. Gjallica is increasingly famous amongst alpinists but to organize a climbing or hiking trip, you need the help of local groups of experts and professionals.

This sandy-rock formation, found in southern Shishtavec is on the list of Albanian natural monuments. This stone, easily visible on the horizon, used to be a reference point since antiquity and the reason behind the name is the fact that during sunrise, the sun's rays create a crown around the structure. It is found at a 1,900 m asl. For quite some time now, it has turned into a must for visitors coming from all over the world. Horse riding has been a widely practised activity in this area since a long time ago and it continues to this day.

The Lumes River gorge divides Mt. Gjallica from Mt. Koritnik, and may offer some of the best overall rock climbing in all of Albania. This gorge offers a tremendous amount of rock climbing in all classes of difficulty and in all grades between I & IV. The climbing possibilities arise from the multiple ridges of limestone and faces formed between and on the sides of these ridges, rising in fins, pinnacles, and crags. The single largest formation is the ridge of Koritnik, running 1,000 m up to a 1,352-m subsidiary peak called Koritnik Peak.

8 km south of Kukës on the road to Peshkopi, a sharp gorge following the Tershanes creek cuts dramatically through the lower south shoulder of Mt. Gjallica just above the Town of Bicaj. Behind the two-story white school building, a road lead ½ km to the hamlet of Mustafe. Very steep lines run up both sides of the sharp keyhole cut in the side of the mountain, while above longer and steeper lines run 150 m or more up the limestone ridge behind the keyhole entrance to the gorge and in the amphitheatre cut into the side of Gjallica behind.

Throughout this area, the climbing can excellent. The vast scars caused by the faces of Kolosjan Crags 1 & 2 offer routes along both sides, as well as overhang crack and boulder problems of all sizes, while the south side of both crags offer multi-pitch ascents of varying fifth-class difficulty. Kolosjan Crag 3 drops to the side of the hill to Lusen, where a series of difficult and steep faces rise right from the road cut, with a palisade of varying limestone pillars rising above. The main path of ascent is a striking 5.5 route that begins at the detached pillars to the right of these slabs by following the main angular cut in the face from right to left, following that forming some five pitches, and finishing with a harrowing traverse over a sluice gulley of shattered overhanging limestone at the top of the crag. Left of this, several fourth class options follow right of the shattered gully, and to the right, a manifold of moderate and difficult fifth class routes are evident beyond the two pillars at the base of the first scree piles.

Especially beautiful in June (depending on the length of the winter) many colorful flowers will spring up and bloom. But not just the flowers are worthwhile the trail, but the impressive views of Mt. Korab and the walk across the vastest meadow of Europa.
There is a convenient hostel (Bujtina Musaj Cajë) with 9 beds in the nearby village of Matrans.

Lusen and Fshat are connected by a 2-hr goat trail leading along the base of the main Fshat wall, and providing a convenient means of descent from the crags all along the 4-km walk up the Bustrice gorge to Fshat. The rock in this gorge is of mixed quality, with the most noteworthy feature being the large funnel, chimney and crack systems that make great incisions down the overhanging limestone faces.

A pleasant hike from a campsite at 1,700 m altitude to the summit of Gjallica - the imposing and most prominent mountain near Kukës.