Brekije to Bicaj, a beautiful hike between villages

· updated · 2 min read
A hiker descends a rocky path beside a cliff above the valley on the Brekije to Bicaj hike in Albania
Brekije to Bicaj, Albania
Distance
18.0 km
Ascent
+820 m
Descent
−1,543 m
High point
1,738 m
Season
Late spring to autumn
Water
Water sources along the trailcarry around 1.5 litres

The route

Brekije to Bicaj, on the map

From my own GPX track. Move along the elevation profile or along the line on the map: both show the same point.

Distance18.0km
Ascent+820m
Descent−1,543m
High point1,738m

Walking time at your paceAn estimate without breaks, worked out from the distance and the climb.

  • Relaxed10 h 5 min
  • Average8 h 5 min
  • Fast6 h 25 min

Elevation

Elevation profile of Brekije to Bicaj, a beautiful hike between villagesStarts at 1,210 m, climbs 820 m in total to a high point of 1,729 m after 3.5 km, and finishes at 551 m; 14.7 km in all.500 m1,000 m1,500 m0 km2 km4 km6 km8 km10 km12 km14 kmBrekijeHigh point · 1,729 mBicaj

How steep

  • 5.2 kmUnder 8%
  • 4.1 km8 to 15%
  • 4.3 km15 to 25%
  • 1.1 kmOver 25%

In two parts

Download the GPXPrint for the trailDirections to the start

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Paste this into your page or post (in WordPress: a Custom HTML block). The map stays up to date with the guide, and the link under it leads your readers to the full guide.

What to pack12 things, for a long day

Every hike

For a long day

The light for photographs

Today at the high point: sunrise 06:09, sunset 16:33.

Today at the high point: sunrise 06:09, sunset 16:33.

At the high point, 1,729 m, in local time (Europe/Tirane), with an open horizon: the mountains around can hide the sun sooner.

In short

This 18 km hike goes from Brekije to Bicaj in Albania, passing fields, forests and Bicaj Canyon. It reaches 1,738 m, with 820 m of ascent and 1,543 m of descent. Water sources are along the trail; carry around 1.5 L. The best season is late spring to autumn.

Brekije to Bicaj is a very beautiful day hike between villages, and through the Bicaj Canyon. There are so beautiful views from this trail, starting from green fields, isolated villages, the high mountain of Gjallica, and the Canyon of Bicaj.

A hiker descends a rocky path beside a cliff above the valley on the Brekije to Bicaj hike in Albania

How to get to Brekije

The village of Brekije is located around 25 km from the city of Kukës, and around 60 km from the city of Prizren, Kosovo. Getting there is easy if you have a car, but, by public transport, I am not sure if there is any possibility.

Follow the road from Kukës to Shishtavec, and then turn right to the village of Topojan. From there, you will face an unpaved road, and with small cars, I wouldn’t prefer going further than Topojan.

The distance of the unpaved road is around 3.5 km, so I would suggest walking it. Brekije is the starting point for this hike.

About the Brekije to Bicaj hike

A hiker follows a grassy ridge on the Brekije to Bicaj hike, with a wooden fence and mountain views
In the village of Brekije, you start ascending and passing the village through some beautiful fields. After the fields, you will go into a forest, where the trail is quite visible. When passing the trail, some mountain huts will be there, which are used by local shepherds during the summertime. From there, you can see the beautiful ridge of the Gjallica mountain standing in front of you. From there you will start descending, and then you will get into another forest. After that, you will reach the village of Tershene, one of the most isolated villages in Albania. From there you can see some beautiful views of the Drin river, the city of Kukës, and Gjallica mountain on your right. The last part is through some rocky trail, and you arrive in Bicaj. There are some water sources during the trail, so take around 1.5 liters of water with yourself.

The time when you can hike this mountain is late Spring until Autumn, but for the bravest, you can go during wintertime as well, just make sure you have some extra layers and proper winter types of equipment.

Points of interest: 

Starting point: Brekije, Kukës

Starting altitude: 1’200 m/alt

Highest altitude: 1,738 m/alt

Elevation gain: 820 m

Elevation loss: 1,543 m

Total distance: 18 km

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Granit Temaj

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