View towards Karanfili mountain
We were based in the little lovely town of Plav dominated by its beautiful lake and nearby mountains when decided to make a hike in Grbaja valley which is very close from the town and connected by an asphalted road.
Plav Lake
Closer to the lake
Even closer
This loop hike starts at the mountaineering hut in Grbaja valley. Initially, it travels in the forest and then fantastic views towards Karanfil and other dramatic grey mountains of Prokletje open at after the fores exit. From the first summit where the best views of Karanfil mountain can be seen, the trail follows the ridge for climbing Taljanka peak and then descending into Albanian territory at the Vajushes (widow in Albanian) summer pasture where only one shepherd hut is located. From Vajushes, the trail enters the Montenegrin territory for descending in Grbaja valley. At the pass, after Taljanka peak, the trail markings will take you to the beautiful village of Lepushe in Kelmendi region.
The trail is well marked to the summit but one has to stay close to the coordinates for a round trip as described here.
The first part of the hike is through a beautiful forest
After forest exit the view with beautiful meadows and sharp peaks open. Photo courtesy of Klaus Wanger.
Ricardo and me. Photo courtesy of Klaus Wanger.
- View towards Karanfil mountain
Taking a break surrounded by stunning views
Peaks after another. Photo courtesy of Klaus Wanger.
Stani i Vajushes (in Albanian: summer pasture of the widow)
Sheep in Grbaja
The route
Maximum altitude: 2070 meter
Minimum altitude: 1105 meter
Cumulative height: 1030 meter
Cumulative length: 11.61 kilometer roundtrip
Difficulty moderate
Time: 6 hour
Date of this record September 2013
Download GPS info: Taljanka
Hi. I’m very inspired by your photos! We are travelling with little baby, so we can’t gain too much altitude with her on the back, not more than 400 meters up. How much is altitude difference from the place we can leeve car in the forest and the point view of Karanfili mountains? then we will go back the same way
Hello Veronika, I have missed your message, sorry. For the first view (Maja e Can) one should climb about 700m from Grbaja Valley. I hope you did it up there. Otherwise there is offroad access to Popadija katun and from there you would need to climb about 500 m to the viewpoints.
[…] first day we did a long loop hike to the peak of Tilijanka mountain. We went up to the peak and came back the same way; you can also continue down the backside of the […]