High Scardus – A Unique Mountain Experience
Stretching across 370 kilometers, five mountain ranges, and six protected areas in North Macedonia, Kosovo, and Albania, the High Scardus Trail is one of the most attractive tourism features of the country and the region. Each year, it draws an increasing number of visitors who describe it as a unique “exhibition” of breathtaking landscapes, rich natural and cultural heritage, and an irresistible route of delicious local cuisine.
The trail offers a total of 20 hiking routes, requiring roughly the same number of days to complete and experience the entire journey. It passes through the Sharr Mountains, Korab, Deshat, Jablanica, and Galicica. Hikers who choose to walk the full length of the trail will cross borders eight times through so-called “green crossings.” The adventure can begin from four cities—Tetovo and Ohrid in North Macedonia, Prizren in Kosovo, or Peshkopia in Albania.
The name Scardus comes from the Latin word meaning “colorful mountain,” and in 2022, the trail was awarded Best European Tourism Project by the British Travel Writers Guild.
A RESULT OF ENTHUSIASM, SUPPORT, AND PARTNERSHIP
The development of the High Scardus Trail began in 2017, driven by a group of mountain enthusiasts and nature lovers, with support from the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). Two of the four creators of the trail are from North Macedonia—Konstantin Ciri viri, President of the Macedonian Association of International Mountain Leaders, and Jovan Božinoski, President of the Mountaineering Club Ljuboten.
“This trail was fully created according to global standards for developing new tourism products. This includes building the necessary infrastructure on the ground—the trail itself and the accommodation points along its length—training professionals who will service the trail as guides and technical experts, creating promotional and informational materials, and the essential promotion and placement on the international market,” says Ciriviri.
According to him, High Scardus is the country’s first fully developed and internationally competitive tourism product, due to both its uniqueness and the comprehensive approach taken during its creation.
“The primary route is 370 kilometers long, and together with the so-called secondary routes—alternative or entry routes leading to the main trail—the total length reaches around 500 kilometers. This represents a massive infrastructural effort, especially considering that most of the trail sits above 2,000 meters in altitude. Over 90 percent of the trail lies within protected areas, which adds to its overall value,” Ciriviri explains.
Božinoski adds that one of the most positive developments is the consistent growth and strengthening of High Scardus as a tourism brand over the past eight years.
“In the past four years, High Scardus has become the most prominent and unique tourism offer on the Sharr Mountains and in the wider region. Its popularity increases every year, and so does the number of visitors—this year alone, I can confidently say it grew by 50 percent. The trail has also contributed to improving the services offered along its route—from accommodation and transportation to overall visitor experience,” says Božinoski.
One of the local residents who opened new accommodation facilities is Naser Dzemaili. He received a GIZ grant to improve the conditions of a mountain lodge near the peak of Kobilica on the Sharr Mountains.
“The support from GIZ motivated me to start working in tourism. This year, we hosted around 150 tourists, but interest is constantly growing. The trail is attractive, full of interesting spots, and as more people learn about it, more visitors come,” Dzemaili shares.
For more than 30 years, GIZ has been supporting rural, adventure, culinary, and ethno tourism across the Western Balkans. It supported the establishment and development of High Scardus through infrastructure improvements, trail marking and signage, training certified mountain leaders under the UIMLA international standard, grants for enhancing accommodation and hospitality services, and extensive promotion.
“GIZ helped transform this incredible tourism potential into a successful and sustainable story. The High Scardus Trail connects local communities and, by promoting sustainable tourism and supporting rural businesses, creates new opportunities and contributes to long-term regional development. We expect High Scardus to match—if not surpass—the success of Peaks of the Balkans, another transnational hiking trail (Albania-Kosovo-Montenegro) supported by GIZ, which annually registers around 43,000 tourists and generates revenues of more than 16 million euros,” says Anica Palazzo, GIZ Advisor.
High Scardus holds unlimited potential for further development, diversification of tourism offerings, and positioning North Macedonia and the region on the global map of mountain and adventure attractions. To fully unlock this potential, continuous investment, close monitoring of global tourism trends, and strong cooperation are essential—both among the three countries and among all stakeholders who can contribute to making High Scardus a recognized hallmark of the Western Balkans.
