Hiking
The area's attractions are many. Crystal-clear streams run through sheer canyons and gorges slicing through the landscape. Small stone Ottoman-era bridges still arch over gullies, untouched for centuries.
At sunset, shepherds drive their flocks through the fields to small corrals for milking. And like everything in the Balkans, the region is steeped in history.
– Associated Press on Nivica
The village
Nivica sits opposite Camp Nivica, divided by a deep canyon. Dating back 2400 years the village was once contained inside the fortress of the Camp Nivica site. The only castle-town in the region of upper Kurvelesh, the village thrived as the only Illyrian city in the area. In 1913, during the Balkan war the village was destroyed and has never fully recovered. In 2016 a government project to connect the rural communities to the Albanian coastline was initiated in Nivica.
The first phase of this project was to restore the oldest of Nivica’s buildings and the main square of the village. In 2017 the discovery of the rare Egyptian vulture in the are, the mapping of hiking trails by Czech volunteers and exploration of the Nivica Canyons by mountaineers has created a growing number of visitors to Nivica.
the hiking
The area around Camp Nivica offers great opportunities for hikes, from easy to more difficult walks. We organize guided hikes together with local and English-speaking guides. We also offer pick up and drop off services and lunch arrangements for our guests.
Nivica is at the center of an intricate network of pathways used by local shepherds herding goats. Historically Nivica village was a crossroads for Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman pathways connecting the mountains to the Ionian coastline of the Mediterranean. Since 2017 some 40 volunteers from Všechny tváře Albánie (VTA - All faces of Albania) have been mapping the trails around Nivica and marking the its hikes with the Czech Hiking Markers System. In 2018, more than 60 km of these tracks were connected.
Here are some of our favourites!
TEPELENË - BËNÇ - NIVICË
Recommended time: 1 day - Distance: 20 km / 12.4 miles
Beautiful trail leading to Nivica through the magnificent canyons. It used to be the main path (until 1960's) connecting it to center of the region, the city of Tepelenë. There is a plenty of water (drinkable right from the river) and the famous aqueduct of Ali Pasha of Tepelenë can be seen from the trail shortly after leaving the town. There is a lack of mobile phone signal in the canyon.
MOUNT KËNDREVICA - HIKE TO THE SUMMIT
Recommended time: 14 hours - Distance: 17,6 km / 10,9 miles + 2x 4,7 km / 2,9 miles (climb and descent, approx. 1200 height meters)
Hike to the summit of Mount Këndrevica (Maja e Këndrevicës, 2102 m), which is the highest mountain in the surrounding area. Set off early in the morning from Nivica to be able to reach the top and return before sundown. In good weather, the Ionian sea can be see from the summit. Water source is available not far from the place, where the climb starts.
NIVICA CANYON ROUND TOUR
Recommended time: 4 hours - Distance: 6,9 km / 4.2 miles
A circle trail that leads through the Nivica canyon. Explore the ruins of Nivica's castle and descend below to several waterfalls, with continuation around an ancient shrine in the oak forest, which is still being used by the locals.
The nivica corridor
The mountain canyons are pristine ground for experienced adventurers and photographers to explore. The most striking canyon in the area is nicknamed the ‘Nivica corridor’ or the ”Infinite Corridor”.
It has been describes as Albania’s longest and most beautiful canyon ‘by far’ and some explorers claim it could be longest canyon in Europe. A climb through ‘the corridor’ includes waterfall abseiling, canyon hiking and swimming.
As canyoning is an emerging tourism activity in Albania we at Camp Nivica do not, at this point in time, organize guided tours through the Infinite Corridor. However, this is something we look forward to doing in the future. For now, we can bring guests to viewing points for a glimpse of the corridor.
