Peja · about 1 hour 20 minutes from the hotel
Peja and Rugova Canyon: a day between town and mountain
This is the longest day out from the hotel and, for many guests, the most beautiful: an old town at the foot of the Accursed Mountains and a canyon that begins where the town ends.
Hotel & Restaurant HAREA · October 10, 2026 · 4 min read
Peja: the bazaar and the Patriarchate
Leave early so there is time for both. Peja’s long bazaar is where the first coffee is drunk and where handmade goods are still sold. On the edge of town, at the mouth of the canyon, stands the Patriarchate of Peja, a complex of medieval churches with frescoes that is part of UNESCO World Heritage. The visit requires appropriate dress and an identity document.
Rugova Canyon
Right after the Patriarchate the road enters the canyon. The cliffs rise sheer above the Lumbardh of Peja, and the view changes after every bend. Those who want activity will find a via ferrata and a zip line; those who want quiet need only stop at one of the roadside rest spots and walk a little along the river.
Higher up, the villages of Rugova serve lunch from local produce: flija, cheese and roast meat are as much a part of the experience as the landscape.
What to bring
Even in summer the canyon is cooler than the town, so bring an extra layer. Comfortable shoes are enough for short walks; for the long mountain trails a local guide is recommended.
Back through Deçan or Gjakova
For the return you can take the road through Deçan and Gjakova, which passes Deçan Monastery, also on the UNESCO list. In the evening the hotel restaurant is ready with dinner, so there is no need to stop on the way.