Location – mountain:

  • Jablanica

 

Starting point:

  • The village of Modrich

 

Description of the trail:

The trail can be divided into four parts. The first part of the trail is from the village of Modrich to the village of Jablanica. From the village fountain the trail continues westward towards the river and the spring of Devojkina voda. From here, moving southwest, the trail climbs slightly towards the saddle, Slecharin. On the saddle, the trail sharply changes direction towards the east and climbs the peak Strmnica (1,904 m). In the east direction, the trail follows the ridge and descends to the village of Jablanica. The substrate of the trail is generally earthy-rocky.

The second part of the trail starts from the village of Jablanica near the River Jablanichka, well-marked with an information board and signalization. The direction of trail is west from the starting point and a small section goes along a forest road, and then connects to a hiking trail that goes along the green meadows from which there is an excellent view of the Drimkol valley and Lake Ohrid. Further on the trail moves along the ridge above the River Lakaichka near some small streams, and through the beech forest near the River Lakaichka, where there are the remains of an old road – the Dervenj road to the village of Lakaica.

The third part of the trail begins from the village of Lakaica where the trail moves along a dirt road through the beech forest over the small confluent of the River Lakaichka to the west. On the left side of the trail there is the peak of Strizhak (2,233 m), and on the right side there is the peak Raduch (2,088 m) and then the trail approaches the military guard left of the trail near the border crossing to the village of Steblevë in the Republic of Albania. After about a hundred meters the trail reaches the border crossing at the Macedonian-Albanian border.

The fourth part of the trail starts after the green pass. From the border, the trail continues with a gentle descent on a dirt road. After approximately 1.5 km the trail turns right, not taking the left road that continues to Qafa e Kryqit (the next hike).

When reaching the main road, the trail turns left and continues on the main road for 500 m and then to the right, following the road to the village of Steblevë.

Alternatively, for a shorter connection, when reaching the main road (Steblevë – Klenjë) across it there is a direct trail connection to the village.

 

Technical and touristic information:

Altitude of the starting point: Modrich – 870 m

Highest point: Strmnica Peak 1,904 m

Altitude of the ending point: Steblevë 1,200 m

Altitude difference: 1,400 m

Duration of the hiking tour: 10 hours

Length of the tour: 14.5 km

Difficulty of the tour: (Proofreader’s Note: Please add here)  ☆ ☆ ☆  

Required fitness level: (Proofreader’s Note: Please add here)       

 

Panoramas and landscapes:

Along the first part of the path a panorama overlooking the Dolnodrimkolski region with Lake Globochko, an aspect towards Lake Ohrid, landscapes along the River Lakaichka, and a vista towards the church St. Preobrazhenie in the village of Lakaica.

From the border the trail travels through a forest road and afterwards the steep and remote village of Stebleve.

 

Access to the starting point:

  • Highway Skopje – Gostivar, 66 km
  • Local road Gostivar – the village of Modric, 96 km

 

Access to the ending point:

  • Tiranë – Librazhd, 70 km
  • Librazhd – Stebleve (partly unpaved), 34 km

 

Accommodation and food:

  • In the village of Jablanica there is accommodation and food in private houses, food can be brought from one of several shops
    • (41°19’11.61″N20°34’23.88″E / 41.31989167, 20.57333333)
  • In the village of Lakaica there is only accommodation
    • (41°19’30.89″N20°31’58.67″E / 41.32524722, 20.53305556)
  • Accommodation and food in Stebelevë can be obtained from the Mersin Hoxha stacker and the catering facility of Teqeralli.
    • (41°20’17.69″N20°28’15.75″E / 41.33824722, 20.47111111)