VALBONA (ALBANIA) - ÇEREM (ALBANIA)
Trail distance: 19.8 kilometers
Elevation min: 670 meters max: 1,156 meters
Cumulative height uphill: 541 meters
downhill: 382 meters
Difficulty level: Easy
Time: 7 hours
Markings: White Red White
This itinerary involves the transfer from Valbone to Cerem village. To get to Cerem, one can either hire a taxi or hike along the gravel road for 20 kilometers from Fusha e Gjes Hotel (WP 12) to Cerem. The mule track – the shortest way – used to connect the two villages, but has been destroyed by erosion. There are no accommodation possibilities along this trail for separating the hike/ drive. People at Fusha e Gjes Hotel can help you find a taxi. Cerem is a small village, largely abandoned, located approx. 17 kilometers northeast of Valbone. At the moment it is populated only during the summer time by shepherds. The village is empty during the winter time due to poor weather conditions. The road which connects the village with Valbone and the city of Bajram Curri is blocked by snow during the winters.
The hike/drive starts at Hotel Fusha e Gjes (WP 12), located about 3.5 kilometers southwest of Valbone center. We follow northwest along the main (unpaved) road which connects Rragam with Valbone. Approx. 1 kilometer from the hotel, we cross a bridge (WP 1a). A few kilometers further on, we find the Tourist Info Center of Valbone (WP 2a) located next to the main road close to the village center (WP 3a). Most of the guesthouses and other facilities are located here. Take the main road and then, after approx. 7 kilometers, bear left at the junction (WP 4a) to Cerem village. By taking a right turn at this junction, the route takes you to Dragobi village and then on to Bajram Curri city. We take a left turn at the next junction (WP 5a) and follow the gravel road. After some kilometers, we cross a stream (WP 6a) flowing over the road. We follow the gravel road for 2 more kilometers and then cross the river and approach Cerem center (WP 7a). Cerem is a good option for staying overnight or taking a break at one of its hospitable alpine huts. We stayed at Hysen Sula’s guesthouse (WP 8a).
UTM waypoints:
12. 34 T 407097 4697679, 995 m, Fusha e Gjes Hotel
1a. 34 T 407468 4698259, 986 m, bridge
2a. 34 T 408260 4699582, 956 m, Valbone Tourist Info Center
3a. 34 T 408772 4700569, 935 m, Valbonecenter
4a. 34 T 414397 4699325, 672 m, take a left turn at the junction
5a. 34 T 413686 4700449, 798 m, take a left turn at the junction
6a. 34 T 414761 4703230, 1058 m, stream crossing
7a. 34 T 414611 4705051, 1139 m, Cerem center
8a. 34 T 414751 4705175, 1155 m, Hysen Sula guesthouse
