7 Cave Hikes in Albania Worth Lacing Up For

1.Hiking to Pellumbas Cave & visiting the Canyon

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 17 reviews · 6 hours Our pick

Travel from Tirana to Pëllumbas with an English-speaking guide, hike about an hour to the Black Cave, explore its 70 to 80-meter tunnel by torchlight, then visit Erzeni Canyon or swim in the river from June to September.

“1. Our guide Antonio was, without a shadow of doubt, the best guide we could have. Knowledgeable, funny, and kind. He definitely upped the quality of the tour in its entirety! Antonio, thank you - we had a blast! 2. The cave was worth the trip, but the Erzen Canyon and its river took the spotlight. Tranquil and beautiful. Nature at its best. 3. The hiking trails, albeit a bit rough at times, were a joy to trek on. Bring decent sneakers or, if you don't mind your feet sweating, hiking shoes. It's beautiful from start to end.”

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2.Cave of Pellumbas, Canyons & Castles hiking tour includes lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 17 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $118

Leave Tirana for Pellumbas Cave, known as Black Cave, with headlamps, a local lunch, Erzen River Canyon, and Petrela Castle. Jimmy has helped hikers with bags and photo stops. Expect a full 10-hour day, moderate hiking, slippery ground, and a group of no more than four people.

“Troppo caldo! Per il periodo il tour è troppo faticoso, e poi non c’è stato il tempo per vedere i canyon! Guida empatica, disponibile, se non fosse stato per lui avremmo avuto grossi problemi! Era prevista una guida in inglese, ma parlava perfettamente italiano, fortunatamente!”

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3.Tirana Semi-Private Hiking Tour of Pellumbas Cave & Erzeni Canyon

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 16 reviews · 6 to 8 hours (approx.) · from $170

Leave Tirana at 9:00 for a guided hike to Pellumbas Cave, an ancient shelter above the Erzeni River. You get private transport, entry, hotel pickup on request, and a group capped at 15. Bring sturdy walking shoes, water, snacks, and lunch.

“It was great hiking with amazing views. The best part for me was the waterfall, as we were not expecting to see it. Ervin was very supportive and knowledgeable! Thank you for the great experience!”

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4.Tirana Adventure: Petrela Castle, Black Cave Hike & Zipline

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 10 reviews · 6h 30m · from $42Best value

Leave Tirana with an English-speaking guide such as Ani or Ramo for Petrela Castle, a moderate hike through Erzeni Canyon, and Pellumbas Cave. Add Albania’s largest zipline for €20, then stop in Pëllumbas for local food. Hotel pickup and cave gear are included.

“Hele leuke trip! We werden opgehaald bij ons hotel in Tirana en zijn daarna naar het Petrela-kasteel gegaan wat ongeveer een half uur rijden was. Het was heel schattig en hebben daar een koffietje gedronken met mooi uitzicht. Wij wilden graag de zipline doen, dat was optioneel. Let op: de prijs hiervoor zit niet bij de tour in inbegrepen, maar wel echt de moeite waard! Het is de langste zipline van Albanië en je hebt mooi uitzicht. Je betaald €20 pp extra. Daarna nog 30 min gereden naar de plek waar we gingen hiken. Het is een wandeltocht van een uur en dan kom je bij de super gave black…”

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5.Hiking to Pellumbas cave and Petrela Castle

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews · 6 hours · from $82

Travel 35 minutes from Tirana to Pellumbas, hike about an hour through mountain scenery, and explore the 70 to 80-meter Black Cave with a helmet and torch. Finish at Petrela Castle. English-speaking guides include Ervin, Klodi, Astrit, and Valter.

“Thank you to Astrit for giving us an incredible experience. He was very attentive and friendly.”

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6.Pëllumbas hiking & Cave exploration

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews · 5 hours · from $58

This five-hour trip takes you from Tirana to Pëllumbas by comfortable car, then along a beginner-friendly forest trail to an ancient cave. Guides Anest and Sejdi are praised for patient pacing and local insight. Bring sturdy shoes, and budget extra for coffee or lunch.

“Our hike to the Pellumbas Cave was one of the most memorable experiences of our trip to Albania - thanks to our incredible guide, Anest. From the very beginning, he impressed us with his warm personality and deep knowledge. Not only did he explain the details of the cave, but he also shared rich insights into Albania's history and the everyday life of its people. What truly set Anest apart was his attensiveness to every member of the vroup. He made sure everyone felt comfortable and included, adjusting the pace when needed and answering all our questions with patience and enthusiasm. Thank you, Anest - you made this trip truly…”

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7.Hiking to Pellumbas Cave & Erzeni Canyon

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · 7h 30m · from $82

Join an English-speaking guide such as Colin or Defrim for a 7.5-hour adventure from Tirana to Pellumbas Cave and Erzeni Canyon. Expect a 360-meter cave, steep trails, a cold river swim, a locally sourced lunch option, and a group limited to four people.

“What a great day, Defrim our guide was great, super informative and suggested a different canyon and wow, it was absolutely amazing, a decent walk into the canyon with amazing scenery and further in and you had to swim to make it to the next section, it was stunning and fun, lunch at the bar/cafe was delicious and then onto the cave, a proper hike to the cave entrance and then it’s 350m in, and what’s on offer inside is literally 1000’s of years old , absolutely amazing, it’s a must do if you’re into nature and don’t mind getting wet and sweaty 👌🏻👌🏻”

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