Stand anywhere in Kosovo and you will feel the pull of the
mountains. This small, diamond-shaped country is almost completely surrounded
by majestic peaks, making it perhaps one of Europe’s most surprising adventure
sports destinations. Whether you prefer to take in the scenery while gripping
the handlebars of a bike, or while zipping through the air high above a canyon
or galloping through a lush mountain clearing, there’s plenty to offer even the
most daring outdoors enthusiasts.
In spite of the growing variety of ways to experience Kosovo's natural beauty,
the promotion efforts of its adventure industry have been largely of the
word-of-mouth variety until recently. While those in the know might be happy to
keep the unspoiled magic of Kosovo’s countryside a secret, we just had to
share. Consider this your guide to thrill-seeking in Europe’s youngest country.
Hiking
For most of the people who have walked Kosovo’s craggy perimeter over the
centuries, climbing mountains has been an essential way of life, whether that
was to reach new plains of grass for animal feed or to trade with a
neighbouring village. Thanks to its location along increasingly prominent
mega-hiking trails – like the seven-country, 2000km
Via Dinarica
and the German-backed
Peaks of the
Balkans trail – a growing number of visitors to Kosovo have also
started to claim its multitude of 2500m-plus peaks.
Biking
What better way to descend from your rocky heights than at the helm of a bike? While you can get your mountain biking fix on a visit to the capital Pristina
and its 62km
Germia Park, you must go further afield to western Kosovo to experience the
country’s most heart-pounding routes. Although it’s becoming easier to find
marked biking trails, you will likely need the guidance of local experts to find
your way as a short-term visitor.
Other mountain adventures
Italian for ‘iron road’, the via ferrata mountaineering technique is best known
for its use by soldiers crossing the Alps during WWI. Today, it is an
increasingly popular way to reach some of Kosovo’s most splendid views from the
top of Rugova Canyon outside the western city of
Peja (Peć). The
municipality brought in Italian experts to help design the country’s first via
ferrata, which built demand for a second in the canyon – as well as its newest
attraction: a zipline.
Horseback riding
Not all of Kosovo’s best outdoor attractions are out west. For those drawn to
adventures of the equestrian variety, the eastern municipality of Gjilan
(Gnjilane) is home to a fully fledged dude ranch: the aptly named Vali Ranch (
vali-ranch.com). Catering
to various levels of ability, the ranch offers lessons in its arena, as well as
longer rides out through the neighbouring wooded hills. With three restaurants,
a petting zoo, a spa and a (fairly kitsch) hotel on site, Vali Ranch is a
family-friendly escape for all ages.
Snow sports
With its ring of mountains, Kosovo enjoys fairly regular snowfall in the
winter. Though a €400 million deal to renovate the aging ski resort of
Brezovica (
brezovica-ski.com) seems
to have stalled for the time being, it is still the country’s best option for
carving fresh powder when the temperatures drop. The resort usually only has
one operational lift, but – for the more adventurous – ski touring opens up
endless possibilities to explore the exceptional untouched terrain in this part
of the Sharr (Šar) Mountains.
Make it happen
Kosovo is easily accessible by plane, with daily direct flights connecting
Pristina to
Istanbul
and several major Western European cities. Buses are the best option both for
getting around Kosovo and for reaching it from neighbouring Balkan capitals
like
Skopje
and
Tirana. What comes up must come down.