Maja e Kokërhanes (2,495 m) rises within the Accursed Mountains (Bjeshkët e Nemuna / Prokletije), the wildest and least explored mountain range in the Balkans, straddling Albania, Kosovo and Montenegro. It's a destination for hikers seeking raw, untamed terrain far from the crowds, surrounded by limestone ridges, glacial valleys and alpine pastures.

The Accursed Mountains are famous for their jagged peaks, steep rock walls and dramatic glacial troughs carved during the Pleistocene. In summer the slopes burst with alpine flora, including rare arctic-alpine relict species found almost nowhere else in Europe; in winter, snow can linger even into the warmer months at higher elevations. The range remains sparsely populated, with shepherds still grazing flocks on remote highland pastures, giving the whole area a raw, timeless atmosphere.

How to reach the summit

• Approach from a valley base in the Albanian or Kosovan side of the Accursed Mountains — demanding route, rugged terrain with limited waymarking in places
• Alternatively, reach it as part of longer multi-day treks crossing the massif, such as the Peaks of the Balkans Trail

Practical information

• The region sits on the border of Albania, Kosovo and Montenegro — some routes may cross international borders, so check requirements in advance
• Large parts of the range remain unmapped and trail-less, so mountain navigation experience is recommended
• Numerous glacial lakes and deep canyons typical of the range can be found nearby

The Accursed Mountains are one of Europe's richest areas for alpine flora and butterflies, and local legend says the range earned its name after the devil carved its jagged karst peaks in a single day.