We will leave Tirana and drive about 45 minutes to the village of Pellumbas. After a coffee at a local bar (where you can also taste the locally produced liquour raki) we start walking along the 2 km trail that leads to “Shpella e Zeze” or “The Black Cave of Pellumbas”. The trail is safe for hikers as of 2010, when the entire path was repaired by the Outdoor Albania Association. The view from the trail is spectacular, with the mountainside dropping down into the Canyon of Erzen River.
The cave stands at an elevation of 350 meters and is said to be one of the earliest prehistoric settlements of the area. Tools and artifacts dating back to the Neolith, Bronze and Iron eras have been found there, as well as fossils attributed to the cave bears (ursus spelae) that lived in the cave more than 10,000 years ago.
You will enter the cave and observe the stalactites and stalagmites, and you might even be able to track a bat’s nest. Those who prefer to stay outside will have to wait for 15 minutes while enjoying the wonderful view. We will then walk back to Pellumbas village and enjoy a nice refreshing swim in the river. This is followed by a delicious light lunch of dishes that are typical to the area. After some relaxing and Turkish coffee in the garden, the group will take the local minibus back to Tirana.
