Pllaja e Pusit
2,288 m
Albania
Also known as Maja e Pllajës së PusitAlso known as
Maja e Pllajës së Pusit
- Elevation
- 2,288 m
- Prominence
- 1,120 m
- Difficulty
- 2/10
- Hike
- Best Season
- Sep–Oct
- Routes
- 1
Routes
1Approximate line — not for navigation
An automated check found that parts of this line could not be matched to mapped trails, so it may stray far from the real route. Use it for planning only, with a map and a guidebook.
Why? 3 check notes
- danger scan: Alarup → Pllaja e Pusit: connector line 285 m (limit 200 m)
- last routed vertex 286 m from the summit (closed by connector)
- unresolved waypoints: Cerveni Well, Tree of life
Sources differ: easy (SummitPost trip report (Endri, 2012)) · difficult (length and stony terrain) (Nature Experience Albania guided tour)
A long, waterless climb of about 1,240 m from the village of Alarup above Lake Ohrid, through oak and hornbeam scrub and up open limestone pastures to the flat summit plateau of Mali i Thatë (the 'Dry Mountain'), with Lakes Ohrid and Prespa both in view.
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- ≈ 7.8 km
- one way
- Ascent
- ≈ +1,333 m
- −83 m lost on the way up
- High Point
- 2,288 m
- Time Up
- ≈ 5h 35m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- ≈ 3h 55m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
The route starts in Alarup (about 1,050 m), 20 km and roughly 30 minutes by asphalt road from Pogradec. Above the village several tracks cross; follow a GPS track until you are on the main path. About 2 km of oak and hornbeam scrub lead to the Cerveni Well area at about 1,500 m, where the open 'Dry Mountain' landscape begins. About 3.5 km further, at about 2,000 m in the pastures, a lone tree known locally as the 'tree of life' serves as a landmark (it is used for orientation in winter when the path is snow-covered). Old stone lines from communist-era pasture clearing and disused water reservoirs line the way. From here the ridge rises gently over grass and stones to the broad summit plateau, Pllaja e Pusit (2,288 m). The terrain is treeless and not steep, so you can also follow the ridge without a path; a shorter direct line from Alarup climbs pathless grassy slopes that are steep in places. Allow about 4.5 hours up and 7.5–9 hours for the round trip with breaks. There are no springs on the route: carry at least 1.5 litres of water, more in summer. The summit is often windy.
Start
Alarup1,038 m
- No direct public transport to Alarup is documented; take a taxi from Pogradec (20 km, about 30 minutes) or join a guided tour from Pogradec.
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alarup → Pllaja e Pusit | 7.8 | 1,333 | 83 | 5h 35m |
Waypoints
- Trailhead: Alarup1,038 m
- Summit: Pllaja e Pusit2,288 m
Key Passages
- Path junctions above Alarup
- Cerveni Well
- Tree of life pastures at about 2,000 m
Equipment
0/5 packedDownloads
Route confidence 65%Overview
The flat, treeless summit plateau (2,288 m) of Mali i Thatë, the 'Dry Mountain' between Lake Ohrid and Lake Prespa in south-east Albania, and the highest point of the Ohrid basin. A long, waterless but technically easy walk from the village of Alarup.
Pllaja e Pusit ('Well Plateau') is the highest point of Mali i Thatë, the limestone ridge that separates Lake Ohrid from the Prespa lakes on the Albanian side of the border with North Macedonia. The same ridge continues north into North Macedonia as Galičica, where most people climb it; by height, however, the range culminates on the Albanian side. From the broad summit you can see Lake Ohrid, Great Prespa and Small Prespa, and three protected areas: the Pogradec Protected Landscape, Prespa National Park in Albania and Galičica National Park in North Macedonia.
The name 'Dry Mountain' is apt: the karst limestone holds almost no surface water, and there are no springs on the ascent. Oak, holm oak and hornbeam scrub covers the lower slopes, giving way above about 1,500 m to open pastures grazed by sheep and goats in summer. The ridge acts as a wildlife corridor between the two national parks and is rich in endemic plants.
The usual ascent from Alarup, above Pogradec, gains about 1,240 m on paths and pathless grass. There is no technical difficulty, but the climb is long, stony in places, hot in summer and fully exposed to wind on top.
Climbing Notes
Suitable for fit hill walkers; the challenge is the 1,200 m-plus ascent without water or shade. Allow 4.5 hours up and 7.5–9 hours for the round trip including breaks, and start early. Carry at least 1.5 litres of water (more in summer), a windproof jacket, sun protection and a GPS track: paths are numerous near Alarup and waymarking is sparse. In poor visibility the open plateau is featureless. Local guides based in Pogradec run the hike as a day trip including transport. Base yourself in Pogradec, which has hotels and good road links to Korçë, Elbasan and the North Macedonian border.
Season
Best Sep–Oct- January: Not advisable
- February: Not advisable
- March: Not advisable
- April: Possible
- May: Best
- June: Good
- July: Possible
- August: Possible
- September: Best (best window)
- October: Best (best window)
- November: Possible
- December: Not advisable
- Jan
- Winter; the trail is snow-covered
- Feb
- Winter; the trail is snow-covered
- Mar
- Snow likely on the upper slopes
- Apr
- Possible late in the month; snow patches likely
- May
- Recommended season (spring); cool and green
- Jun
- Warm; start early and carry extra water
- Jul
- Hot and waterless; very early start needed
- Aug
- Hot and waterless; very early start needed
- Sep
- Recommended season (autumn)
- Oct
- Recommended season (autumn); shorter days
- Nov
- Possible in dry spells; early snow likely
- Dec
- Winter conditions
Access & Permits
- Fees
- Guided day trips from Pogradec are offered by local guides (about EUR 70 for the guide plus transport for a small group, per Nature Experience Albania)
- Getting There
Pogradec
Ohrid St. Paul the Apostle Airport (OHD), North Macedonia; Tirana International Airport (TIA)
- Car: Pogradec to Alarup, 20 km on an asphalt road (about 30 minutes)
- Pogradec is served by buses from Tirana, Elbasan and Korçë; from Pogradec take a taxi or arrange transport with a local guide
Hazards
- Weather