info@prespanationalpark.gov.al

This circular hike starting from Kallamas is one of the most beautiful trips of Prespa National Park. Initially it passes the old settlement of Kalamas, Staro sello – old village”, that is belived to be expanded under the current water level of the lake. This corner is famous for being ihabited since Neolithic time.

Traveling along the lake, you will have the opportunity to visit the Shën Marena Monastery and after an heremitage monastery. On the high parts of this hike you will walk among the juniper tree area Juniperus foeitidissima.

The loop hike starts at the entrance of the village taking the lower unpaved road of the village next to the lake (WP 15). After awile the road leaves the houses of the village and a stunning view opens towards the lake and Mali i Thatë (WP 1). We saw Pelikans as soon as we left the houses. After awhile there are no more car tracks but only a path along the shore (WP 2).

Follow the path along the shore for approx. 700 meters with the clifs in your left  and take left where the trail climbs the cliff and walks higher than lake (WP 3, check markings).  Now on the trail follows on the hill paralel with the shore until we reach the monestery.  The trail is visible and is used by shepherds and villegers visit the monestry every 16th of June.

Approx. 700 meters from the fork, the trail enters a juniper forest (WP 4)  and than leads to the monestry (WP 5). From the monestry the trail follows the lake shore with cliffs in the right and little caves. The walk offers stunning views towards lake and macedonain mountains. After a while a nice cave can be seen from the trail, not very long (about 30 meters, WP 6).

The trail follows the shore and crosses some big stones and hands can be used. After approx. 800 meters we reach the hermitage church built inside the cliff and has been used during the 14th – 15th century by monks hiding from the Turks (WP 7).

Approx. 500 meters from the church, leave the lake trail for ascending steeply north at the next valley (WP 8). After 200 meters of steep ascend the trail travels on nice meadows and the view to Mali i Thatë open in our left (WP 9). Tractor tracks can be seen along our trail that takes northwest on meadows.   After approx. 800 meters following the trail in nice meadows with some old Greek Jupiter around we reach a water pond for cattle (WP 10)

In the end of the meadow the trail takes left (east, WP 11) initially descending for some meters and then ascending few meters of altitude until it reaches the pass where the view opens towards the fields of Kallamas village (WP 12). At the next fork (WP 13) we turn left taking a trail that offers a stunning views of lake, Kallamas and Mali i Thatë. Approx. 400 meters further on the trail takes right at the next fork (WP 14) and descends in zigzags towards the village (WP 15, entrance of the village).

UTM Waypoints

  1. 34 T 494862 4526862, exit village, 843 m
  2. 34 T 495011 4526566, foot path entrance, 844 m
  3. 34 T 495539 4526250, climb the trail on the cliff, 846 m
  4. 34 T 495738 4525630, forest entrance, 901 m
  5. 34 T 496645 4525647, monastery, 868 m
  6. 34 T 497261 4525567, cave, 854 m
  7. 34 T 497688 4526179, hermitage church, 846 m
  8. 34 T 497998 4526476, leave lake trail, 851 m
  9. 34 T 498028 4527106, meadow, 1040 m
  10. 34 T 497543 4527697, water pond, 1083 m
  11. 34 T 497218 4528087, take left, 1116 m
  12. 34 T 496214 4527950, pass, 1104 m
  13. 34 T 495672 4527628, take left, 1043 m
  14. 34 T 495446 4527370, take right, 994 m
  15. 34 T 494574 4527687, entrance of the village, 864 m