Peja sits right on the edge of the Rugova Canyon in western Kosovo. It’s a stunning bit of nature and is filled with amazing hikes. Further west of the city, you’ll even find the popular Peaks of the Balkans Trail which takes visitors on a multi day trek through the mountains of Kosovo, Montenegro, and Albania.
For those looking for something less strenuous and less time consuming, consider the Livadhi Sakes Trail. Located near the city of Peja, it’s a great trail to experience the scenery and it’s even accessible for those traveling Kosovo without a car.
Hiking the Livadhi Sakes Trail
How your hike starts depends on your mode of transportation. If you have a rental car, you can drive to the start of the trail and park near the Te Sharra Restaurant. If you are traveling on foot (like me), you’ll need to walk from town. It’s about a two mile walk from town (depending where you start, of course) and mostly flat. The only thing to note is that there is not a sidewalk for the entire route, so you’ll be sharing the road with cars. Most drivers were courteous and gave me plenty of room, but you still need to pay attention.
Now that you’ve reached the trailhead, you can actually start your hike. It starts along a paved path, but it doesn’t last for long. Keep an eye out for signs, or follow the trail on AllTrails. The first turn is very easy to miss. It’s a sharp, 90 degree turn off the paved path into the forest that comes not too long after you’ve left the trailhead.
For the next mile and a half, you’ll be walking through the forest. It’s not a super exciting hike, but the benefit of doing it this way is that you get the less impressive scenery out of the way first.
I should also mention that once you enter the forest, you’ll start to climb. It’s been pretty flat up to this point (if you walked from town), but now it’s time to get all of your elevation gain in. You’ll gain about 1,200 feet of elevation (nearly 400 meters) over this mile and a half stretch. While it’s not the steepest hike I’ve ever done, I’m not going to say it was easy. I’d call it a strong moderate. It’s very steady.
In general, I found the trail pretty easy to follow and there were typically plenty of signs or trail markers to tell you where you need to go. That said, if you have something like AllTrails, it’s a really good idea to keep an eye on that. There was one section where I missed a turn and had to backtrack. Not a huge deal, but it’s always frustrating when you do a bit of extra climbing that you didn’t need to.
Finally, you’ll reach an open area with a great view of the surrounding mountains. Grab a picnic table or a spot on the grass and enjoy the view. It’s a great place to stop for a break and drink some water or eat a snack. When I hiked this trail, I sat here for an hour and only had one other person walk through during that entire time. It was lovely.
To get back to the start, you can either go back the way you came or continue on the loop. If you continue on the loop, not only will you get different scenery, but you’ll also a few more views of the mountains. Watch your step though as this terrain felt a bit more difficult than what was in the forest.
After about 1.7 miles, you’ll reach a fork in the road. To the left takes you on pavement back to the starting point, but if you head right, you’ll continue into town. Obviously if you have a car, you’ll need to return to wherever your car is parked, but those who walked from town can jump on this path and follow it into Peja. You’ll eventually reach proper streets and can then use GoogleMaps to navigate you to your hotel.
And that is how you hike the Livadhi Sakes Trail.
Livadhi Sakes Trail Stats
I walked from town, so I started my tracker as I left my hostel. These stats represent that.
Distance: 6.65 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,404 feet
Time: 3 hours (excluding my hour break)
If you aren’t starting from town and instead want to start at the trailhead, You can take off two to three miles. The exact amount is difficult to say based on my data since I didn’t hike the full loop and continued into town instead of going back to the trailhead.
Do You Need a Car to Reach the Livadhi Sakes Trailhead?
You do not need a car to reach the Livadhi Sakes Trailhead. While so many of the hikes near Peja, Kosovo require a vehicle, this is a trailhead that can be accessed on foot.
I walked to the trailhead from the city of Peja, following the main road through the canyon. This allowed me to make the trail a loop and avoid walking the same stretch of trail. If you don’t want to walk alongside the road, you can easily turn this hike into an out and back trail by following the paved path out of town that starts here.
How to Get to Peja, Kosovo
If you have a rental car, it’s no problem. Just drive to the city of Peja. If you’re traveling without a car, you’ll find numerous bus connections. The website GjirafaTravel is the best place to look for these connections, but I wouldn’t buy your ticket online. Just use the site to find the timetables and buy your ticket on the bus like all of the locals.
There are buses nearly every 20 to 30 minutes between Peja and Pristina. Buses to Prizren are much less frequent, but there’s still a handful each day. Depending on your schedule, it may be easier to catch a bus to Pristina and then to Prizren.
More Things to Do in Peja, Kosovo
Most people who visit Peja are coming for the mountains surrounding the city, not for the city itself. That said, there are a few things that you can do if you have some extra time in Peja. Take a stroll through the city center and shop in the Old Bazaar. Visit one of the cities many mosques or the St. Catherine Catholic Church. Just outside of the city, you’ll find the monastery with the Orthodox Church of Patriarchate of Peja.
If you’re looking for outdoor activities, your options will depend on your mode of transportation. Those without a car can drive further into the Rugova Canyon to get more views and access to more hiking trails. Those without a car will either be limited by the distance they can cover on foot or will need to rely on the once daily shuttle.
There are several Via Ferratas in the area. If you’re experienced and just need equipment, head to the Tourist Office for affordable equipment rentals. If it’s your first time or if you feel more comfortable with a guide, check out BNAdventures for various guided opportunities
Final Thoughts
I really enjoyed my hike of the Livadhi Sakes Trail. The scenery was stunning and having the view to myself for nearly an hour was a fantastic way to spend a morning. So, whether you’re looking for something accessible from the city of Peja or just a nice hike to do in the region, don’t overlook the Livadhi Sakes Trail.
