An Albanian Ultra – Mali i Çikës
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 4.23 mi
- Elevation gain
- 3,967 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Moderate
- Elevation loss
- 620 ft
- Max elevation
- 6,647 ft
- TrailRank
-
69
4.7
- Min elevation
- 3,301 ft
- Trail type
- One Way
- Time
- 5 hours 31 minutes
- Coordinates
- 488
- Uploaded
- September 18, 2013
- Recorded
- September 2013
near Palasë, Vlorë (Albania)
Viewed 15874 times, downloaded 447 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
An ultra-prominent peak, or Ultra in short, is a mountain with a topographic prominence of 1,500 meters or more. In order to climb a higher peak, you first have to descend at least 1500 meter. Prominence – at least for the mountaineer - is a measurement for the subjective significance of a summit regardless of its actual height.
There are 119 Ultras in Europe. If you think of Switzerland as the motherland of European mountains, think again. Switzerland has only eight Ultras. Many of the highest peaks of the European Alps are connected by high passes, and they do not “stand out” as an Ultra would do.
Albania has six Ultras and Mali i Çikës is one of them. It has an official height of 2044 Meter, and a prominence 1563 Meter. But this aside, when you stand on its top, you have an unobstructed view 2044 Meter right down to the sparkling blue Ionian Sea.
Mali i Çikës is an ultra-desirable mountain for many reasons. It has a very alpine feel to it, with sheer drops, cliffs, distant views and a 3.5 kilometer long exhilarating summit ridge. There is no shortcut. And unless you decide to transverse Mali i Çikës (which would be at least two day hike without any water source along the way – see Endrit’s trail on wikiloc #3308119), you have to go back the way you came. This makes for 14.5 kilometers out and back, a cumulative climb of more than 1400 Meter, and a very long day.
Being out on a limb on the long summit ridge, with few opportunities for a retreat means that you don’t want to be caught by thunder and lightning. Unfortunately, at the edge of the Mediterranean, weather conditions around the mountain can change rapidly, and one is advised to clear the summit by noon time. It took us 5.5 hours to reach the summit, and we were glad to have started from the Llogara pass at 7 am. In summer, you may consider starting even earlier.
The route itself is not difficult to follow, and there is a faint mule-trail to and across the summit of Cika. Still, there is an advantage in carrying a GPS to see where you veer off the trail and to not waste too much time looking for the right way. The trail leads sometimes to the east and sometimes to the west of the actual ridge, avoiding some of the higher bumps along the way.
By the time you reach waypoint 5, you can relax – that is until you glimpse the narrow ridge that separates the false summit from the real one by 50 Meters or so.
For those not sure whether you want to make it across the long summit ridge and back, you may climb Qorres (Wikiloc #2635588) instead, and still have a fantastic outing.
There are 119 Ultras in Europe. If you think of Switzerland as the motherland of European mountains, think again. Switzerland has only eight Ultras. Many of the highest peaks of the European Alps are connected by high passes, and they do not “stand out” as an Ultra would do.
Albania has six Ultras and Mali i Çikës is one of them. It has an official height of 2044 Meter, and a prominence 1563 Meter. But this aside, when you stand on its top, you have an unobstructed view 2044 Meter right down to the sparkling blue Ionian Sea.
Mali i Çikës is an ultra-desirable mountain for many reasons. It has a very alpine feel to it, with sheer drops, cliffs, distant views and a 3.5 kilometer long exhilarating summit ridge. There is no shortcut. And unless you decide to transverse Mali i Çikës (which would be at least two day hike without any water source along the way – see Endrit’s trail on wikiloc #3308119), you have to go back the way you came. This makes for 14.5 kilometers out and back, a cumulative climb of more than 1400 Meter, and a very long day.
Being out on a limb on the long summit ridge, with few opportunities for a retreat means that you don’t want to be caught by thunder and lightning. Unfortunately, at the edge of the Mediterranean, weather conditions around the mountain can change rapidly, and one is advised to clear the summit by noon time. It took us 5.5 hours to reach the summit, and we were glad to have started from the Llogara pass at 7 am. In summer, you may consider starting even earlier.
The route itself is not difficult to follow, and there is a faint mule-trail to and across the summit of Cika. Still, there is an advantage in carrying a GPS to see where you veer off the trail and to not waste too much time looking for the right way. The trail leads sometimes to the east and sometimes to the west of the actual ridge, avoiding some of the higher bumps along the way.
By the time you reach waypoint 5, you can relax – that is until you glimpse the narrow ridge that separates the false summit from the real one by 50 Meters or so.
For those not sure whether you want to make it across the long summit ridge and back, you may climb Qorres (Wikiloc #2635588) instead, and still have a fantastic outing.
Waypoints
Car park
Intersection
Waypoint
5,922 ft
05-lowpoint on ridge
15-SEP-13 13:49:24
Summit
Comments (25)
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This trail conveys a sense of more achievement than many, even higher targets. The Qorres ascent seems easy, to find the turnoff to the right along the exposed faint path would be a guess without the GPS co-ordinates.
Reaching the first ridge plateau with its watering holes feels like a world apart. To imagine that this is hardly half the way asks for determination in particular, if the ridge line is shrouded in clouds...
Wow! So much snow... seems so unexpected! https://www.wikiloc.com/outdoor-trails/an-albanian-ultra-mali-i-cikes-5274716#wp-5274717/photo-2744489
Spectacular.. https://www.wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/an-albanian-ultra-mali-i-cikes-5274716/photo-2744422
This is definitely on my to-do list now because of the prominence, sea views and alpine feel - you've completely sold me!
Have also definitely learnt something new regarding prominence - and Albania as a true hiking destination!
Hi
Thanks for this trail. Me and my friends did it and it was very accurate.
I have followed this trail View more
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A very accurate trail.
Glad you liked it!
Hi there, thanks so much for all this useful info. We're planning on hiking this route in early September in a group of five. We're looking to take off from Llogara pass around 6:30am. just wondering how much water you brought with you during this hike considering that there are no water sources once you leave Llogara Pass.
We carried 2 litres per person and used it all. Enjoy Cikes!
That's what we were planning to bring along as well.
Thank you
This looks like an excellent hike and I would love to do it. I'm not in Albania yet. Do you know if it's possible to get to the pass without a car?
There are busses connecting Vlore with Dhermi or Himare, and you could check whether they can drop you off at the Llogara pass. Or try hitchhiking.
Its a great hike.
Good luck
Sounds pretty easy. Look forward to summiting this beast!
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Nice expirance.
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Nous n'avons que la première partie de la randonnée, vers le premier sommet.
Déjà difficile.
Mais le panorama est exceptionnel ! Très belle randonnée !
Do u think its safe to hike it alone ?
This depends on your experience. If you have done hikes of similar altitude and length, it should be fine. There are no real difficulties - accordind to intl hiking grading i would rate it T3. I understand that the trail is now marked, but in any case the risk of losing orientation is low. Biggest risk is the weather - you must definitely avoid being caught by thunderstorm! When there are sheep on the mountain, dogs could be problem. People are friendly.
I guess my main problem will be dogs if they are still there 😅 Thanks for the advices
Hello I'm Italian, my wife and I next week we would like to climb this magnificent mountain, and then we will go to Macedonia, I ask for advice, I have read that there are many dogs that defend the flocks, how do you defend yourself from dogs? We are very intimidated from this danger, if someone gives us some advice I am grateful. Thanks Patrizio.
Hi Patrizio,
the best is to meet the shepherd before you meet the dog. However, this is not always possible.
When you see a herd of sheep or cows, try to circumvent as wide as possible. Also this is not always possible, especially where the terrainis steep.
Stay together as a group (even if you are only two people). Should a dog come towards you, call for the shepherd, they are usually not far. Shout at the dog, tell him to go away. Pick up some rocks from the ground and pretend to throw them after the dog (this is also what the shepherds do).
We also carried dog spray. In 6 years and more than 150 mountains climbed in Albania, we used it only once, and it was very effective.
On Cikes, the dogs on the mountain should be now be accustomed to hikers.
Be mindful of the weather, as it can change quickly on Cikes, being close to the sea. Start early and turn around at midday, no matter whether you reached the summit or not.
Have a wonderful hike!
Thanks you are very kind, which spray do you use? Are there any other beautiful trips above the sea to be climbed beyond Mali I Cikes? thanks and sorry for the trouble.
@patritzio - any anti-dog spray/pepper spray/self defense spray will be fine. There are some that spray on a distance of 5 Meters.
Cikes is probably the best of the close-to-the-sea mountains. Note that before you reach Cikes, you will reach Qorres, which is a summit by itself, and good for those who may not have the energy to continue to Cikes.
For other 'sea mountains', check Mile (near Butrint) and Veles (Near Lezha), especially the Veles Traverse. In Montenegro, Rumija is also good, and fairly easy.
Thanks!
Hello sorry for the inconvenience, I'm going to Macedonia after Albania, could you give me some information on the most beautiful tours in Macedonia? Maybe above the Prespa lakes, and the Ohrid lake. I ask you why I saw that you are a super expert on the Balkans. Thank you and excuse me. Patrizio