Hiking Maja e Qores: Llogara National Park, Albania

Maja e Qores, or commonly known as Qorra Peak, is a stunningly beautiful hike located in Llogara National Park in southern Albania. While still relatively unknown, this peak is sure to gain in popularity, soon, as it provides excellent views of the Albanian Riviera, gorgeous mountain peaks and different climatic zones throughout. This Maja e Qores hiking guide will provide you with all the necessary details to complete the hike safely.

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Maja e Qorres Trail Information

• Distance: 9.4km
• Elevation Gain: 1000m
• Route: Out and Back
• Difficulty: Moderate/Hard
• Washrooms: none on route

Llogara Park Overview

Llogara National Park is in the southwestern corner of Albania and is around 18 hectares in size. It’s located 192km from the capital city of Tirana and 36km from Vlorë.

While this park is small, it features dense lush forests, the Ceraunian Mountains and coastal views of the Ionian Sea.

Hiking is a very popular activity in the park, as there are many different hiking routes, with varying difficulty levels. Maja e Çikës (pronounced “Cheeka”) is the highest mountain in the park and can be seen from the beaches of Dhermi.

Llogara Pass is a popular passage through the mountains and llogara National Park. The route sits at 1000m above sea level and begins in the Dukat Valley and connects with Himarë in the Riviera. This is one of the most scenic drives in Albania, as it ventures from deep forests, through mountain passes and descends to the coastal sea.

Best Time of Year to Hike Maja e Qores

Generally, it’s possible to visit Llogara and climb Maja e Qores between April and October. Daytime temperatures are warm, and you will have over 11 hours of sunlight throughout these months.

That being said, I visited Albania in mid April. There was a rare snowstorm a week previous, making the final ascent to the peak impassible. I was met with knee deep snow and had to turn back for safety concerns. While the temperatures were perfect for hiking (around 10 degrees), the added snow made for a more slippery and challenging climb.

The very best time of year to hike Qorra Peak is between late May to October. This will guarantee the best weather and avoid the snows.

Hiking Precautions on Maja e Qores

Weather: Mountains have their own climates, so check the weather before you leave and be prepared. Weather can change drastically and dramatically in a short period of time.

Terrain: The terrain can be rocky (or snowy in my experience), and steep. While most of the trail is a switch back, the final climb is straight up. Watch your footing and take it slow.

Getting to the Maja e Qores Trailhead

There is limited information regarding buses to and from Llogara National Park. There is a public bus that goes from Vlore to Dhermi, but no online information available. The buses also don’t run very frequently. For that reason, I would highly recommend driving to the trailhead, or staying in one of the nearby hotels in the park and walking.

While driving south on the SH8 through Llogara National Park, you will pass by a hotel (Hotel Keshtjella Llogara) that resembles a castle and the Panorama Bar Restaurant. The trailhead is located around 80m from the restaurant, on the left-hand side.

Driving directions from Vlore to Panorama Bar Restaurant here.

There is a yellow signpost, indicating Qorra Peak.

If spots are available, I’d recommend parking at one of the hotels or restaurants along the way. Parking along the street across from the trailhead is not recommended, as the road is narrow and very busy.

Having known the peak was inaccessible with snow and therefore shortening my hike, I walked from my hotel, which added an additional 3km each way.

Trail markers on Maja e Qores

Navigation to Qorra Peak is made easy with two sets of trail markers along the route. The first set of markers are the red and white strips. They are often painted on rocks and trees. The second set of markers are signs indicating the distance to the peak. They are spaced out evenly, however they tend to be sparser towards the final peak.

One important thing to note is the distance stated on the initial sign at the trailhead. The sign indicates it takes 3.5km (one way) to reach Maja e Qores. There is another sign a few meters into the trail, saying the trail takes 4.7km to reach the peak.

While this may seem confusing, there are two paths located at approximately 3km into the trail. Staying on the same path, the trail will continue to climb steadily to reach the peak. The trail on the right-hand side appears to be a slower approach to the summit.

I was unable to reach this portion of the trail due to the deep snow. Trails found in the Albania mountains can change due to erosion and weather conditions, sometimes often being washed away. I recommend following the path that has clear markers and is visible.

The Route to Maja e Qores

If you choose to walk to the trailhead from the nearby hotels, the route will begin on the SH8 road. The winding road can be busy at times, so take caution and stick to the shoulder, especially with larger trucks.

Llogara seems to have its own climate, making for a damp, cold walk in the morning. The temperature was colder at 1000m in the heart of the park, than near the peak.

The hike to Maja e Qores is a constant incline, gaining almost 1000m in elevation. While this may seem intense, a large portion of the trail is designed with switchbacks, making for a gradual incline. The final 1km climbs steadily, gaining over 300m in elevation.

The first section of the hike ventures through a thick forest with rocky terrain for about half a kilometer. This section should be free of snow, even if you attempt the ascent in early April as I did. The path at this point is easy to follow and both markers are spread frequently throughout this area.

Once through the forest, the path will continue along the ridge. This area provides excellent views of Maja e Çikës and Dhermi Beach.

Cell towers can also be seen towards the other direction, which provide service the area. You are unlikely to lose service while hiking to Maja e Qores. There are other hiking trails that venture near the cell towers, which provide beautiful views of the area.

The trail continues climbing through another ridge lined with trees. This area is rockier than the previous section and steeper. As you climb, views of Maja e Qores will come into view. At this point, the trail was covered with packing snow.

There will be a plateau at one point, before the final push to the peak. Here is a great chance to catch up on the views or head back the way you came (if the ascent or snow is too deep).

Unfortunately, I was only able to get an additional half kilometre up towards Maja e Qores from this point. The snow became too deep (almost thigh deep) and we did not come prepared with any winter gear. 

The trail markers disappeared and the mountainous weather changes in seconds. Conditions got drastically colder, windy, and the mist obstructed most of the views. I was lucky enough to capture one last photo before we turned around.

If you are lucky enough to visit when there is no snow, the final push to the peak is steep but worth it. You will be rewarded with more views of the mountains and beaches below.

If you have extra time, consider extending your hike towards the tallest mountain in this range, Maja e Çikës. This route will add an additional 3.7km each way to the trail.

Places to Stay in Llogara National Park

As mentioned, getting to Llogara National Park and the trailhead is not easy with public transit. There are many places in the park that are affordable and provide access to the surrounding areas with ease.

Hotel Alpin Llogara

The Chalet

I stayed at  Hotel Sofo. This beautiful hotel has rooms with en-suites, balconies, located close to trailheads and has an excellent onsite restaurant.