Kosovo might be the world’s youngest country but that doesn’t mean the tiny territory doesn’t pack as big a punch as its neighbors. Nestled between the Dinaric Alps and the Sharr Mountains, this Western Balkan adventure playground offers gorgeous landscapes, dense culture, and a lack of huge crowds or conveyor-belt tourist traps.
There are three unique aspects for travelers to consider when they visit Kosovo. First is the incredible access to nature. Second, the tangible living history that resides in towns and villages. Finally, these two aspects combine to form an old world community bond that still pervades many aspects of life here. The intersection of these traits is obvious in a city like Prizren, for instance, which is often referred to as the country’s cultural capital. It also happens to be at the center of some of the best hikes on the entire Balkan Peninsula.
Citizens—Kosovars—are hard-wired to be hospitable. This also holds true for tourism operators. A good example is Butterfly Outdoor Adventure, an adventure-travel company based in Pristina, the capital, and founded by Uta Ibrahimi. Ms. Ibrahimi has crafted each of the outfitter’s trips, listed below, to give an outsider the most extensive and participative visit possible.
Below are three different options for exploring Kosovo’s unending beauty.
1. Hike through History
Kosovo itself might only be eight years old, but the area has deep roots buried in Southeastern Europe’s Balkan Peninsula. And the best part: Instead of visiting a copy-paste museum with hours of staring at text hung next to exhibits, you can actually experience history here.
One way to get knee deep in history is to hike the Bistra Peak. Among the country’s highest summits, it can be found along the newly created, trans-Balkan Via Dinarica trail. This route to Bistra was once a footpath for trading between Skopje, Macedonia and Prizren, Kosovo.
Travelers will have the chance to trek the 9,000-foot peak, which sits in the central zone of the Sharr Mountains. Hikers pass through Prizren, the country’s second largest city, and the calm Lumbardhi River. The road to the summit is ranked as moderately intense—making it easy for almost anyone to see one of the most beautiful views in Kosovo and into neighboring Macedonia and Albania.
2. Learn the Local Ways
