Rugova Mountains

The Rugova Mountains  are in the north-western part of Kosovo. It is a region within Bjeshkët e Nemuna (the Cursed Mountains), also known as the Albanian Alps or the Accursed Mountains. It was proclaimed a national park in 2013.

The Rugova Mountains are ranked 45th in winter sports by the International Ski Federation. People also hike, mountaineer, paraglide, and have picnics in the area.

There are many caves, waterfalls, glacial lakes, high peaks and tunnels in Rugova. The highest peak is Hajla (2,403 m), with Volujaku almost as tall. There is a panorama of Peja from the top of "Qafa e Qyqes" (Cuchoo's Neck). Guri i Kuq (1,522 m) also offers tremendous panoramas.

Understand
Rugova is 93 km from Pristina. The Lumbardhi River splits the mountain in half, creating a valley and a canyon (Rugova Gorge).

85% of the territory is covered by forests, 15% by pasture. The terrain is rugged with limestones and bluff slopes and deep-narrow erosive gorges. Mountain sites are with a slope of 15°-30° but occasionally they reach 45°-90°. The terrain is composed of various forms of numerous karst such as caves, natural tunnels, waterfalls, glacial lakes etc.

Flora
Rugova region has a multitude of habitats such as meadows, pastures, bushes and shrubs, forests, foothills, holes, slopes, streams, gorges, river water, pond water, caves, karst pits, half-wet properties, almost dry properties and limestone, acids with red, purple and black colours, coastlines and valleys, massive rocks and shed stones.

This variety of habitats indicates high diversity of vegetation. Rugova's region vegetation is present as in central Europe altitudes, but it also grows plants that are characteristic of Balkans or only for this region. Rugova region distinguishes four areas of plants (beech, oaks, coniferous forests and alpine pastures)

Fauna
The region features a rich fauna both in diversity, spread or rare and endangered species. The most common mammals include hedgehogs, moles, shrews, squirrels, rabbits, bats, bears, and ungulates. Common birds include the golden eagle, the rock partridge, the griffon vulture, the European green woodpecker, and the Eurasian sparrowhawk. Several species of trout are found in the streams.



Climate
Rugova has wet continental climate with mountain influence, short and hot summers, but long and harsh winters. Spring is belated and the temperatures change within a day. Sunny hours are not very long. High level of precipitation is a result of clashes between hot/humid tropical and continental climates. Maximum precipitation is in December, and minimum in July.

Snow is present on the peaks until August, with a depth ranging from 30 cm to 2 m.

Average temperature during springtime fluctuates from 4.4°C to 7.5°C, during summer from 10.6°C to 17.2°C, during fall 5.2°C and in winter from -10°C to 15°C.

Get in
Many important roads pass through Rugova: Shkodra’s valley relates Rugova with Tropoja and Shkodra, Qafa e Çakorrit leads to Plave and Guci, Qafa e Dasmorëve relates Rozhaja and Qafa e Hajlës with Dacaj and Husaj.

Minibuses leave Peja at 08:00 (€3). It goes at each village and also came back in Peja. Also there are private taxis that can send a group of 10 persons and bring them back for €50.

Fees and permits
None.

Get around
The region of Rugova is divided into 13 villages (Shtupeqi i Vogël, Shtupeqi i Madh, Reka e Allagës, Drelaj, Pepiq, Malaj, Kuqishtë, Dugaivë, Haxhaj, Stankaj, Bogë, Shkrel dhe Koshutan) and five small neighbourhoods (Llaz, Bellopaq, Pecaj, Ujëmirë, Dreshaj). These villages are 2–7 km far from each-other. Roads are partially paved and can be blocked during winter.

Do
Due to the historical past, sports in Rugova started developing later than in other countries, although there are sufficient resources. Today Rugova has several ski areas (one of them is equipped with a telpher), trails for hiking, and a parachuting runway. Also climbing rocks and mountaineering are towards development.

Skiing
Up to 1974 skiing was a part of mountaineering. Rugova is known as a cradle of skiing in Kosovo and Balkans. “Rusolia” was the first club from which were formed three other groups: “Peja”, “Alpi” and “Rugova”. “Rusolia” club has participated in the Olympic Games too.

The most advanced track it is placed in Bogë, but it has many favorable tracks in other places too, for example: in Stankaj. In Bogë we can also find two skiing schools “Dardani” and “Ke Luani”.

Mountaineering
Mountaineering, unlike Alpinism (hiking), means walking on the ground and climbing in height without any tool until you encounter with difficulties of nature: high craggy rocks. Within the mountaineering group works the rescue group with the consisting of 30-40 people who help in cases of nature disasters.

Mountaineers march in four marching lines:
 * The southern side of the region (6 streets)
 * The western and northern side of the region (1 street)
 * From the centre to north (3 streets)
 * The northern side (2 streets)
 * The eastern side (1 street)



Eat

 * Restaurant “Mulliri”- Drelaj
 * Restaurant “Rugova Camp” - Shtupeq i Madh
 * Guest House " Ariu" - Reka e Allages
 * Guest House " Ariu" - Reka e Allages

Sleep



 * Hotel “Rudi” – Bogë
 * Resort “Berati” – Bogë
 * Hotel-Restaurant “Ke Luani”-Bogë.
 * Neighborhood “Hani” - Shtupeq i Madh
 * Villas “Kodra” –Bogë
 * Hotel “Rugova Relax” – Bogë

Household tourism
This tourism is represented from 6 home-hotels which offer place to stay as a guest house and where better than in any other place tourists set to know local traditions and the life of residents there. This tourism is developed from these resorts:


 * Villa Husaj, Shkrel - 1700m - +383 44 746 001
 * Shqiponja, Drelaj
 * Lagjja e Kaprojve, Reken e Allages
 * Hajla Hut, Pepaj
 * Llazi i Ujkut, Pepaj
 * Sali Jaha, Malaj
 * Ariu, Hokaj

Stay safe
Area is quite safe. Ask for help local villagers if in any trouble.

Go next

 * Peja - a city of Kosovo to which the region is linked.
 * Plav - a city of Montenegro with direct bus connection from Peja.
 * Rožaje- the nearest city of Montenegro with direct bus connection from Peja.