The Ultimate Mount Korab Hike Guide – Hiking to Golem Korab

Your Mount Korab Hike will be as rewarding as it is challenging, offering spectacular panoramic views and a seemingly endless, relentless approach.

Situated within the scenic Mavrovo National Park in the western region of North Macedonia, Golem Korab is the highest peak of the Korab Mountain. Standing as the highest point in both Albania and Macedonia, Mount Korab reaches an elevation of 2,764 meters (9,068 feet) and claims the fourth-highest position among peaks in the Balkan Peninsula.

This post will look at the approach from the North Macedonian side, starting at Strezimir.

If looking to approach Korab from the Albanian side, there are a number of private hiking tours available from Tirana including these two day and three day tours

Mount Korab Facts

The hike itself takes around 6 hours for those with a good level of fitness taking in to account the usual drink/lunch breaks. For those with lower fitness levels or who enjoy a more leisurely pace, then allow up to 8 hours.

Although the route to the peak of Mount Korab is challenging due to the overall distance and duration of the hike, there is nothing too technical in the hike providing that there is no snow cover. It is for this reason that the hike is best undertaken between April-October. The hike itself is on quite a well established trail, which is well marked and there is no climbing or scrambling required to reach the summit.

As the hike is along the Macedonian/Albanian border, you need to ensure you carry your passport with you as you will pass border checkpoints and the outpost Strezimir where you may required to present these.

Mount Korab Tours & Activities

Things to know before your Mount Korab Hike

Be sure to buy your daily tickets for entrance to Mavrovo National Park before starting your Mount Korab hike, which can either be done in person in Mavrovi Anovi or online through their website. Tickets are priced at 30 MKD ($0.54 / £0.42 / €0.49)

Most common trails in North Macedonian are fairly well marked, with a mixture of posts and painted markings to reassure you that you are following the correct route. Although these may vary in shape and color, to signify different routes.

You may encounter herds of sheep during your hike, which will be guarded by shepherd dogs that are trained to protect the sheep from wolves and may therefore show signs of aggression to anyone that approaches. If you see any herds of sheep and hear dogs barking, it is advisable to wait where you are until the shepherds see you and can call off his dogs before waving you through.

When planning your Mount Korab hike, it is important to check that your travel insurance policy covers hiking and trekking activities. If you need to arrange insurance specifically for your trip to North Macedonia, then check out the Hiking and Trekking Travel Insurance policy offered by World Nomads.

Mount Korab Packing List

The list below is by no means exhaustive, but should be a good guide for considering what you may want to pack. You may wish to adapt this based on the season and weather on the day of the hike, but I would always suggest taking a waterproof layer

• Sun glasses / hat
• Warm hat / gloves
• Sunscreen
• Waterproof jacket
• Medical kit
• Hiking poles
• GPS or Phone for navigation
  (Get a North Macedonia SIM Card)
• Hiking trainers / shoes
• Additional layer
• 1 – 2 litres of water
• Enough food for the duration of the hike

Where to Stay before your Mount Korab Hike

If you are looking to hike to the peak of Mount Korab you have two options, either find a hotel that is sufficiently close to the starting point, or camping at the Strezimir outpost either before or after your hike.

It can take over an hour to get to Strezimir after turning off the main road near Trnica, so this should be considered along with the 6-8 hour hike when planning where you are going to base yourself.

It is possible to complete the hike without camping by getting an early start, which is easiest to do when staying either in Mavrovi Anovi or at Hotel Korab Trnica as would be our personal recommendation.

If staying in Mavrovo National Park for a few days, then check out the activities and tours that are available in the area.

Getting to Strezimir, the Mount Korab Hike Starting Point

If travelling from Mavrovi Anovi you will drive for around 7km towards Trnica, which has a hotel, restaurant, ATM and small grocery store should you need to pick up any last minute supplies. (There are no opportunities to buy food/drinks either on the approach to Strezimir, or during the hike)

After passing Trnica continue another 2km until taking a right turning on to Nicpur road, crossing a small bridge in the process. Although initially the road is asphalt, after a few kilometers this soon disappears and the remainder of the route is un-surfaced.

After around 8km you will pass the police/border patrol, which is a small group of buildings on either side of the road, usually with some police vehicles parked outside. Be prepared to stop, as the officers will likely inquire your business as this road approaches the Kosovan border, although a simple answer of ‘Korab’ is all that is required to be waved on your way. At this point you may also be asked to show your passport.

A further 3km along the road you will come to a steep left turning for Strezimir/Korab, and the final 2km approach to Strezimir.

It is possible to drive to the starting point in a regular car (such as the Fiat Tipo we used, pictured) but you will need to go slowly, taking care to avoid the worst parts of the road. However if you have access to a 4×4 vehicle, this would be the easier option.

You can choose to park at the side of the road just before the final corner to the Strezimir (as pictured above), or there is also plenty of space for parking opposite the outpost building too (see below).

The last thing to do before starting your hike is to check in with the border guard at the Strezimir outpost, so ensure you have your passport to hand again. Knock on the grey door (behind the yellow bin in the picture) and let the border guard know that you are going to ‘Korab’ and they may quickly review your passport, before waving you on your way.

Occasionally the outpost is left unmanned, so if no one answers the door after a few minutes, then you are free to get started with your hike.

Starting the Mount Korab Hike

After leaving Strezimir the Mount Korab Hike begins travelling through an open field, before winding up through a small area of woodland, beyond which there is no more ground cover.

You will then continue past a small shepherds hut, gaining around 900m elevation in the first 5km of the hike, after which the terrain flattens out for around 1km giving you chance to get your breath back and take in some of the incredible scenery.

After this short let up, the relentless uphill slog continues gaining another 400m in the last 2km to the summit, giving you incredible views of the Korab Massif on your ascent.

There can still be some patches of snow and ice even in the summer months, so extra care may be needed where this is the case. The pictures were taken during September and although there was no snow on the ground, the extra thermal layer was needed at the summit and during the descent.

After reaching the summit of Mount Korab, prepare to be captivated by the breathtaking panoramic views over both North Macedonia and Albania. On a crystal-clear day, the view stretches across the entirety of Albania, revealing the Ionian Sea beyond.

The sense of accomplishment at the peak is heightened by the awe-inspiring views that unfold before you, making the challenging hike well worth the effort.

After your Mount Korab Hike

As you conclude your rewarding hike and head back to your car, you don’t need to speak to the border guards at Strezimir, but you will be required to stop at the border checkpoint on your journey back towards Trnica. Be prepared for potential inquiries about your destination, but once again, simply saying ‘Korab’ and possibly showing your passports will be more than adequate.

If you are interested in seeing what else North Macedonia has to offer, then check out our travel guides to Skopje, Ohrid and Bitola.