Mali i Gurit: A destination not to be missed

Mali i Gurit (Stone Mountain) is part of the Shebenik-Jabllanicë National Park, located in the eastern part of Albania between Librazhd and Dibër, bordering North Macedonia. Due to its remoteness, in the villages that stretch across this area, time seems to have stood still.

As a result of being an isolated border area with poor infrastructure during the communist regime, most Albanians knew little or nothing about the existence of this green beauty, which becomes even more magnificent in the presence of Lake Dragan. Traces of communist times remain scattered everywhere with numerous military border bunkers and pillboxes spread across its 35 hectares.

However, in recent years, the area has been experiencing rapid development. A series of guesthouses have been built, helping to revive this wonderful zone. Clean air, organic food, and the unparalleled hospitality found throughout Albania are compelling reasons to visit Shebenik-Jabllanicë National Park.

At the heart of the park lies Studeni Field (Cold Field), a toponym of Slavic origins for an area where one of Skanderbeg’s fiercest battles against the Ottoman Turks took place in 1448.

To reach the beautiful peak of Mali i Gurit, a good off-road vehicle is required. The old road, built almost a century ago and once traversed by caravans of horses, winds through endless meadows full of flowers and dense forests of beech. In the forests, wild animals such as bears and wolves roam, but this is also one of the last strongholds of the Balkan lynx. Over 180 medicinal plants and flowers thrive in this area, including orchids, valerian, and more. Along the way, there are several cold-water springs originating from the mountain.

In the area, you can find fresh local honey and many characteristic products of the region, such as potato pies or meat cooked in the traditional saç, Albania’s version of a tandoori oven.