Day 1, Saturday: Transfer from Skopje (North Macedonia) airport to Preval in Kosovo, to Hotel Krojet, which will serve as our base. The hotel is situated at an altitude of 1,500 meters and is an excellent starting point for many ski touring routes.

Day 2, Sunday: On the first ski day, we will do lift-assisted ski touring at the Brezovica resort, which is about a 30-minute drive away. Depending on the weather, Piribeg is an alternative location for lift-assisted skiing. Both locations offer excellent opportunities for diverse skiing and long runs.

Days 3-4, Monday and Tuesday: Ski touring days in Preval. We have several options to choose from near the peaks of Bistra, Guzh Baba, or Konjusha. We can start and end our tours directly from the accommodation. Daily ascents are around 1,100 meters. At the end of the fourth day, we will move to the Zaplluxhe area, where we will stay in the small Hotel N’Bjeshka. The hotel is at an altitude of 1,300 meters, providing nearly direct access to ski touring in the Scarpa Mountain area.

Days 5-6, Wednesday and Thursday: Skiing in the Zaplluxhe and Brod areas. The ascents to Scarpa are relatively easy, but from there, various skiing areas are accessible. Daily ascents are around 1,100-1,200 meters. During these days, there is also the option to ski in the Arxhena resort area if conditions there are better. At the end of Thursday, we will move to the beautiful town of Prizren, where we will enjoy dinner and visit local bars.

Day 7, Friday: During the day, we will transfer to Skopje, where we will have a city tour and dinner together in the evening.

Day 8, Saturday: Flight back to home.

Flights and ground transport

The trips are currently being sold without flights, as the airlines have not yet released all of their winter destinations. Our plan is for customers to fly into Skopje, North Macedonia, as connections there are currently much better and cheaper than to Pristina. We will make a decision about the flights together with the group as soon as we have enough participants for the week, which is eight people. The bus transfer from Skopje to Preval takes about 2.5 to 3 hours.

Passport and visa

A visa is not required for Finnish citizens to enter Kosovo. Check your country's visa requirements.

Difficulty level

You can ski in varying snow and terrain conditions, including deep snow outside of groomed slopes. You have the stamina for a five to six-hour backcountry tour. On tour days, you will ascend approximately 1,000-1,200 meters, and on lift-assisted days, around 400-500 meters.

Equipment

• Equipment that allows for muscle-powered ascents (skis with touring bindings, skins, snowshoes, or a splitboard). If needed, you can rent these, ask for more details!
• Ski crampons if you have them (you can also get boot crampons on-site if necessary).
• Avalanche safety equipment if you prefer to use your own; all necessary equipment is included in the package price.
• Off-piste/freeride insurance.

Other

The trips are currently being sold without flights, as the airlines have not yet released all of their winter destinations. As of the time of writing (June 1, 2024), for example, Lufthansa flights to Skopje for the relevant week cost around €240. Please note that ski transport is not free in the lowest travel class, and ski transport must be reserved when booking your flight.