Goat trekking

Hi, I am Frederik

I will guide you together with our goats on a multi-day trek in the Korab mountains.

Yes, besides being a cozy guesthouse, The Golden Goat is also the only place in Europe where you can go hiking and camping in the wild with a herd of goats.

Read all about our goat treks and how you can join this unique experience!

Hike through the majestic Albanian mountain scenery and sleep under the stars together with your new furry friends

Book your goat trek

Multi-day
shepherd experience

A goat trek is an adventure so unusual and charming, that it instantly becomes the highlight of your trip.

Imagine setting off into the wild Albanian mountains, walking side by side with curious goats, hear their bells echo through the valleys, and experience life the way local shepherds always have.

A goat trek combines mountain adventure with authentic farm life. You walk alongside the animals, help care for them and experience the charm of exploring Albania’s wild landscapes in a way that no ordinary hike can offer.

But – spoiler alert – be prepared to also let our goats ruin your idyllic shepherd’s moments.

Taking care of goats often has many similarities with guiding a bunch of pubering teenagers, all with their own character. Pintxo always likes to take the lead, Hermine likes to nibble on your backpack, Beyonce prefers to chill out as much as possible and Zeze never wants to go to bed.

We created three different treks, each with a different hiking level, to meet anyone’s expectations and abilities.

All goat treks are multi-day hikes including camping. If you prefer day hikes while staying in the comfort of the village, read more about it on our guesthouse page.

Our goats aren’t just animals in the landscape, they are your hiking companions

Korab
mountains

Each goat trek leaves from our guesthouse in Ploshtan and will take you through the wonderful Korab-Koritnik Nature Park.

The Korab mountains have an alpine terrain, with valleys, rivers, glacial lakes, caves, canyons and dense forest. In this protected area, the last real shepherds live with their large flocks of sheep, next to wild animals such as wolves, bears, eagles and even the highly endangered Balkan lynx.

The Korab-Koritnik Nature Park has Albania’s highest mountain, Mt Korabi (2764m), and is the perfect region for a varied multi-day goat trek.

Your guide

Hi, I am Frederik and in a parallel universe I am a Belgian documentary photographer.

I dedicated part of my life to documenting people living in mountainous areas in Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia, Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan. I grew up in the city, but I have always been fascinated by these far-away worlds. Documenting life in remote natural environments gave me the chance to also experience this lifestyle myself.

Over the past 15 years the Korab mountains have become my second home. I spent a lot of my time hiking solo in this area and I learned how to be a mountain goat myself.

While many paths in these mountains are still quite unexplored and poorly marked, I have created my own itineraries through this mountain range, often with the help and directions of local shepherds.

It would be a pleasure for me to guide you through these mountains in the companionship of my favorite goats, and teach you some shepherd skills.

I’ve created several routes along my favourite spots in the Korab mountains

Who can join?

To find out if you are a match for our goat adventures, let me ask you these questions:

- Do you like mountains and being in touch with nature?
- Do you have a heart for animals?
- Do you have some basic hiking experience and a good physical fitness?
- Are you ready for a new and unique adventure?

Check, check, check and check?
Ok, let’s go then!!! ☺

A unique experience for all adventurous animal lovers out there

Hiking levels

A goat trek is a physically demanding activity and should be taken serious when joining. It requires a certain minimal fitness and the right hiking equipment. But don’t worry, we will help you prepare for the trek and provide a detailed packing list.

Choose your hiking level
There are three different multi-day goat treks: 3, 4 or 6 days. Each trek also has a different level of hiking: beginner (3 days), intermediate (4 days) or advanced (6 days) level. Each trek covers an average of 8–15 km per day with a daily elevation gain of 500–1,000 meters.

Our 3- and 4-day beginner and intermediate routes are suitable for hikers with little to moderate experience.

The 6-day advanced trek has much more challenging terrain and is only advised for people with good hiking and camping experience. Also, water is much scarcer sometimes, which means you must carry more water over longer distances (=more weight on your back!). And of course, a 6-day trek asks more endurance of your body than a 3- or 4-day trek.

Sleeping
For sleeping you need to be prepared to camp in tents at an altitude of 2000m-2400m every night, with cold temperatures. The sun can be extremely hot during the daytime, but nights can be very cold, even during the warm summer months.

Backpack
And don’t forget, you will have to carry your own backpack, about 15 kg, from start to end. But luckily the goats are there to entertain you as much as they can to enlighten the weight on your back ;)

If you doubt which level suits you, don’t hesitate to contact us and we will be happy to help you choose the right level for you.

We offer 3 treks with different hiking levels, so choose your challenge!

Equipment

If you decide to join one of our goat treks, prepare yourself for an adventure that includes wild camping, rough mountains, basic comfort and unpredictable weather conditions. So, it is important to have the right equipment.

What to bring
Some equipment will be provided by The Golden Goat (e.g. tents, gas canisters) but everyone needs to bring their own decent hiking clothing, backpack, sleeping bag, mattress and other necessary camping equipment.

A detailed checklist will be provided to all participants.

Food
For the first and last day of the trek, The Golden Goat will provide fresh food for you. For the other days during the goat trek, you will need to bring your own freeze-dried meals.

Are you a beginning hiker and don’t have all the equipment yet? Maybe you can borrow or rent it somewhere, or we can help you find the necessary items.

Great adventures start with good preparations!

Book your
goat trek

Combine a stay at our guesthouse with a multi-day goat trek adapted to your hiking level

There are two options to join a goat trek: book a private trek or book a spot in one of our group treks.

Book a private trek

Are you a group of people, family or friends looking for a personalized program, or you prefer a more intimate experience with just a few people? We can arrange a private trek that matches your hiking level and travel plans.

Private treks can be booked from mid May to mid June, and August to October. Prices depend on the number of people and the length of the trek.

So, contact us to plan your dream goat adventure!

Join a group trek

We organize 3 different group treks, each with a different hiking level. There is a beginner, intermediate and advanced level.

There is a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 8 people that can register per group.

Each of our group treks combines a multi-day goat trek (3, 4 or 6 days) with a stay of 4 additional days at our guesthouse in Ploshtan (2 before and 2 after the trek). Before the trek, we use this time to get to know the goats, learn about their care and handling, properly prepare your equipment, and be fully ready for the mountain trek. After the trek, we use these extra days to unwind in the tranquility of our village, enjoy delicious home-cooked meals, and say a warm goodbye to your new goat-friends.

Ready to challenge your inner mountain goat?