Do You Need Insurance for the Peaks of the Balkans? Yes — Here's Why

The Peaks of the Balkans trail is a 192-kilometre loop through Albania, Kosovo, and Montenegro. It takes most hikers 8–12 days, crosses altitudes above 2,500 metres, and passes through valleys where mobile signal disappears for hours at a time.

If something goes wrong up there — a twisted ankle on a scree slope, altitude sickness above Valbona Pass, or a storm that pins you down overnight — you need to get rescued. And rescue in the Accursed Mountains is not free.

The Real Risk: Search & Rescue Is Expensive

Most hikers assume that mountain rescue works like it does in Western Europe — government-funded, free at the point of use. In Albania, Kosovo, and Montenegro, that is not the case.

Helicopter evacuations from the Prokletije range can cost €3,000–€8,000 depending on location and weather conditions. Ground-based search and rescue operations involving professional mountain guides and local teams typically run €1,000–€3,000. If you need to be transferred to a hospital in Tirana, Pristina, or Podgorica, add another €1,000–€5,000 for medical repatriation.

Most budget travel insurance policies exclude all of this. The fine print usually says something like "excludes search and rescue," "excludes mountaineering above 2,000m," or "excludes activities requiring specialist equipment."

What Standard Travel Insurance Won't Cover

Here is what a typical €20–€40 travel insurance policy from a comparison website actually excludes on the Peaks of the Balkans:

• Mountain Search & Rescue: Explicitly excluded or capped at a token amount
• Emergency evacuation from altitudes above 2,000–3,000m: Most policies set an altitude limit
• Multi-country trekking: Some policies only cover one destination country
• Hiking on unmarked or poorly marked trails: Parts of the PoB are waymarked with paint, not official signage
• Activities classified as "hazardous sports": Trekking above certain altitudes qualifies

You could buy that cheap policy, have a fall on the Valbona Pass, and discover that your insurer won't pay for the helicopter.

What Adventure Insurance From Store & Go Covers

Our Adventure Insurance is specifically designed for routes like the Peaks of the Balkans. It is underwritten by SIGAL Insurance Group, the largest non-life insurer in Albania, and covers:

All three countries on the Peaks of the Balkans route — Albania, Kosovo, and Montenegro — are covered under a single policy. You do not need to buy separate insurance for each country.

Which Tier Should You Pick?

We offer three cover styles:

Essential

Basic medical cover up to €10,000. Does not include Search & Rescue or Emergency Evacuation. We do not recommend this for the Peaks of the Balkans — it is designed for low-risk day trips and ferry travel.

Adventure (Most Popular)

The core policy with full Search & Rescue, Medical Evacuation, and priority trip support. This is what most Peaks of the Balkans hikers choose.

Adventure+

Same underlying insurance policy as Adventure, with an enhanced service package including faster response coordination and additional trip support.

How to Get Covered

1. Go to our Adventure Insurance quote builder
2. Select "Peaks of the Balkans" as your route (it auto-selects Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro)
3. Set your travel dates and number of travellers
4. Choose Adventure or Adventure+ as your cover style
5. Continue on WhatsApp or email to finalise your policy

The policy is issued before your trip starts — you will receive your documents digitally and can access them offline on the trail.

Don't Leave Shkodër Without It

The Peaks of the Balkans is one of Europe's greatest long-distance trails. But it is also genuinely remote. Mobile signal drops out for hours. The nearest hospital to Theth is a 3-hour drive away. Mountain rescue teams need to be coordinated across national borders.

Having the right insurance is not optional gear — it is essential gear. Build your quote now →