Plateau above the Valleye of Drin

The small town of Kukës, with a population of 16,000, lies on the shores of the Koman Reservoir, just 15 kilometers as the crow flies from Kosovo. During the Kosovo War in 1999, Kukës made headlines as tens of thousands of refugees crossed the border seeking refuge on the Albanian side. Once isolated in Albania's remote northern region, the town is now connected to the country's center via the new A1 motorway.
From Kukës, an exciting trail leads to the plateau east of the Drin Valley, traverses it, and eventually descends back into the Drin Valley. Following the signs for Shistavec, you head east from Kukës along the SH 5 main road into the mountains. After about 15 kilometers, a turnoff to the left marks the start of the road to Cernalevë, and the off-road adventure begins.
The well-graveled trail initially follows the contours of a steep hillside, offering sweeping views into the valley below. The narrow track demands focus and preferably no oncoming traffic. Shortly before reaching Shistavec, the route crosses the SH 26 main road before entering the village itself. From there, the trail gradually climbs, eventually reaching a wide plateau at around 1,780 meters in elevation.
From the plateau, a well-graveled path winds down in curves and switchbacks to Kolesjan, where asphalt roads resume.