Via Egnatia

On the Via Egnatia Hiking Trail, you tread in the footsteps of Roman soldiers, crusaders, preachers and bandits, merchants and peasants, Ottoman tax collectors and diplomats, caravans with mules and donkeys loaded with all kinds of goods. You visit the cities where people of all creeds and cultures met each other in the cities and caravanserais: Greeks, Romans, Albanians, Slavs, Ottomans, Vlachs, Pomaks, Venetians, Egyptians, Roma, Jews, and many others.

Following the Roman route, the trail follows the valleys and crosses the plains.The vast majority of the trail follows unpaved roads and paths, except for original old stone pavement and only a few unavoidable tarmac sections. The scenery it passes through is a mix of fields, grazing land with sheep, hills and a few mountains, important excavation sites of ancient cities, quite a few lakes, streams, and rivers, many tiny villages, and, last but not least, the amazing cities with monuments of the Greek, Roman and Ottoman and – especially in Albania – the recent communist past. One could characterize the Via Egnatia Hiking Trail as both a nature walk and a historic and cultural experience.

Walking the ancient road, visiting the villages and cities and experiencing the traditional hospitality of the people gives you a glimpse into the amalgam of cultures that have become the Balkans. For the makers of the trail, this was a life-changing experience, and they hope to share this experience with you.

The best times of the year to hike the Via Egnatia Hiking Trail are between April and June and September and October. For those who don’t mind high temperatures, July and August are also good. However, you should have a strong hydration plan in place and all of your accommodations booked to be sure you don’t overheat.

Generally, the Via Egnatia is quite safe and only requires wearing good shoes. In spring, there may still be snow in the mountains. One section in Albania (second stage after Elbasan) may be challenging for people with a fear of heights. After rainfall, that section may be even really dangerous. This is described in the guidebook, and the section can easily be skipped.

Special care should be taken when crossing railroads and roads. People tend to drive fast in the region, even on secondary roads, and may not see you.

The few existing river crossings may be deeper than normal in early spring, and fording them may require taking off your pants. Be prepared for this!

Camping gear is not strictly necessary, but it will come in handy where accommodation is not available. You can do wild camping, camp for free near or even inside villages if you ask where to put your tent. Camping will also make your hike a lot cheaper.

Walking the Via Egnatia Hiking Trail is generally quite easy, with only a few steep ascents or narrow paths on steep slopes. Rainfall can change normally hard surfaces into soft mud that sticks to your shoes, making walking a lot harder.