Mali i Lunxhërisë
2,155 m
Albania
Also known as Lunxhëria-Berg, Maja e Lalucit, +1Also known as
Lunxhëria-Berg · Maja e Lalucit · Люнджерисе
- Elevation
- 2,155 m
- Prominence
- 1,308 m
- Difficulty
- 3/10
- Mountain hike
- Best Season
- Sep–Oct
- Routes
- 1
Routes
1Sources differ: Very difficult / Difficult (Wikiloc track ratings (2021, 2026))
A steep, unmarked but clear path from the Lunxhëri village of Saraqinishtë (720 m), 13 km from Gjirokastër on a paved road: 2 km of dirt track, then a long zigzagging climb through oak forest and scree to the summit ridge and Maja e Lalucit (2,155 m). About 7.5 km and 1,450–1,550 m of ascent one way; about 4 hours up.
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- 7.2 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +1,449 m
- start → summit
- High Point
- 2,158 m
- Time Up
- 5h 44m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 3h 48m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
From Saraqinishtë (about 720 m) on the western slope of the Lunxhëri ridge, follow an easy dirt track north-east for about 2 km. Where it ends (about 930 m), look carefully for the path that climbs the slope; once found, it is easy to follow, zigzagging up through oak forest and open ground to a scree slope below the ridge, which is reached at about 2,000 m north-west of the summit. A short walk along the flat, karstic ridge leads to the top. Allow about 4 hours for the 7.5 km. A second path (the south trail) also links the village with the summit and makes a loop possible; one party used it to avoid hard snow on the descent. The upper slopes are steep, with loose scree where the snow has melted: keep spacing between hikers. The view takes in the Dhëmbel–Nemërçka ridge to the east and Mali i Gjerë above Gjirokastër to the west; the east side of the ridge drops steeply to the Zagoria valley. In winter and spring the slope below the summit carries snow and becomes committing; parties in April 2021 and February 2026 needed an ice axe and careful zigzagging, and hard snow forced one group off the path. Carry plenty of water.
Start
Saraqinishtë709 m
- Buses run from Tirana to Gjirokastër; take a taxi for the 13 km to Saraqinishtë. Hitching back from the villages is reported to be easy.
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saraqinishtë → Maja e Lalucit | 7.2 | 1,449 | 0 | 5h 44m |
Waypoints
- Trailhead: Saraqinishtë709 m
- Feature: End of track above Saraqinishtë928 m
About 2 km from the village; look for the path climbing the slope; elevation from EU-DEM
- Shoulder: Lunxhëri ridge2,051 m
Elevation from EU-DEM, approximate
- Summit: Maja e Lalucit2,155 m
Key Passages
- Finding the path where the track ends, about 2 km above the village
- Steep scree slope below the summit ridge (snow-covered in spring)
Equipment
0/7 packedDownloads
Route confidence 55%Overview
The limestone ridge east of Gjirokastër, about 25 km long, rising to 2,155 m at Maja e Lalucit (Maja e Spilesë). From the Drino valley it looks like a huge loaf of bread; a steep, clear path from the village of Saraqinishtë reaches the top in about 4 hours.
Mali i Lunxhërisë is part of the Shëndelli–Lunxhëri–Bureto chain in southern Albania, running about 25 km north-west to south-east from the Këlcyrë gorge to the Selckë gorge, between the Drino valley and Gjirokastër to the west and the Zagoria valley to the east. It is an anticline of limestone with some flysch. The watershed ridge is broad and flat, with karst features; the western slope is long and gentle with many karst springs and villages up to about 900 m, while the eastern side is steeper, with traces of Quaternary glaciation, cliffs and deep ravines towards Zagoria.
The highest point, Maja e Lalucit (also Maja e Spilesë), stands at 2,155 m with about 1,308 m of prominence. Forest is scarce above the villages; the upper ridge is summer pasture. Other tops include Maja e Lepushës (about 2,045 m) and Maja e Strakovecit (1,956 m), the northern summit, which can be reached from Labova e Madhe on a road climbing to about 1,300 m.
The usual ascent starts in Saraqinishtë, one of the Lunxhëri villages 13 km from Gjirokastër, and climbs about 1,450–1,550 m on a steep but clear path. From the top the view spans the Nemërçka ridge to the east and Mali i Gjerë above Gjirokastër to the west.
Climbing Notes
A steep, sustained day hike (T3 estimate): about 1,500 m of ascent in 7.5 km, roughly 4 hours up and 7–8 hours for the round trip with stops. The path is unmarked in places, especially where it leaves the track above Saraqinishtë, so carry a GPS track. Stay in Gjirokastër and start early; the west-facing slope is hot in summer and water is scarce.
From December to April snow covers the upper slope, which then becomes committing, with slip risk on hard or soft snow and loose scree where it has melted; bring an ice axe and crampons and turn back if conditions are poor. The east side above Zagoria is steep and not a normal route.
Season
Best Sep–Oct- January: Not advisable
- February: Possible
- March: Possible
- April: Possible
- May: Good
- June: Best
- July: Good
- August: Good
- September: Best (best window)
- October: Best (best window)
- November: Possible
- December: Not advisable
- Jan
- Snow on the upper slopes
- Feb
- Snow; winter ascent recorded in 2026 but serious
- Mar
- Snow on the upper slope; ice axe needed
- Apr
- Hard snow near the summit; ice axe needed
- May
- Mostly clear; flowers on the lower slopes
- Jun
- Good conditions; start early
- Jul
- Hot and dry; little water
- Aug
- Hot and dry; little water
- Sep
- Good conditions
- Oct
- Cooler, clear days
- Nov
- Rain; first snow possible
- Dec
- Winter conditions
Access & Permits
- Hut Booking
- No huts. Stay in Gjirokastër, 13 km from the trailhead.
- Getting There
Gjirokastër
Tirana International Airport (TIA); Ioannina (IOA) or Corfu (CFU) across the Greek border
- By car: from Gjirokastër 13 km on a paved road to Saraqinishtë
- By public transport: buses from Tirana to Gjirokastër, then taxi to Saraqinishtë; hitching back from the villages is reported to be easy
Hazards
- Avalanche
- Rockfall
- Weather