PiedmontValle Maira
An Occitan-speaking valley in the province of Cuneo, threaded by the Percorsi Occitani walking circuit, with inns serving ravioles and polenta.
Drawer: Villages
High Villages and Slow Valleys
Settlements that grew where roads came late. Each one asks for a little effort and gives back mornings of birdsong, home cooking and paths you walk almost alone.
The Altitude Advantage
Mountains filter visitors naturally. A winding road, a single daily minibus or a two-hour walk is enough to turn most day-trippers back. What remains are villages where livelihoods still revolve around livestock, hay and the guesthouse table, and where your stay makes a real difference to whether the next generation can afford to remain.
The villages here span three continents but share a few traits: a living community, accommodation run by local families and walking routes that begin at the front door.
Caucasus · Georgia
Ushguli: Towers Below Shkhara
Ushguli is a cluster of four hamlets at about 2,100 metres in Upper Svaneti, often described as one of the highest continuously inhabited settlements in Europe. Its medieval stone towers, built by Svan families for defence against raiders and feuds, stand against the glacier of Shkhara, Georgia's highest mountain. Upper Svaneti is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Most travellers arrive via Mestia, a long day's journey from Tbilisi or a short flight on a small propeller plane when weather allows. From Mestia, a four-day trek passes through Zhabeshi, Adishi and Iprari to Ushguli, sleeping in family guesthouses. Visit the Lamaria church above the village and try kubdari, a spiced meat pie.
Balkans · Albania
Theth: A Valley in the Accursed Mountains
Theth lies deep in the Albanian Alps, known locally as Bjeshkët e Nemuna, the Accursed Mountains. Its landmark is the kulla, or lock-in tower, where men caught up in the blood feuds of the old Kanun code could shelter. Today the tower is a small museum and the valley a walking base.
The classic route crosses the Valbona Pass on foot between Theth and Valbona, typically from June to September. Detour to the Blue Eye of Theth, a glacial pool reached through beech forest, and to the Grunas waterfall. The road from Shkodër is now paved, so arrive mid-week to keep the valley quiet.
Epirus · Greece
Zagori: Stone Bridges and the Vikos Gorge
North of Ioannina, the Zagori region holds more than forty villages built entirely in grey stone, linked by cobbled kalderimi paths and arched bridges such as the triple-arched Plakida. The Zagori cultural landscape was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2023.
Walk the Vikos Gorge from Monodendri to Vikos village, then rest in the twin villages of Megalo and Mikro Papingo beneath the Astraka towers. Late May and October bring wildflowers or beech-gold slopes without summer heat.
Three Gentler Climbs
Not every high village demands a pass crossing. These three combine easier access with the same unhurried rhythm.
Piedmont
Bernese OberlandGimmelwald
A car-free farming hamlet reached by cable car from Stechelberg, a quieter neighbour of Mürren with honesty-box cheese stalls.
AnnapurnaGhandruk
A Gurung village of slate roofs facing Annapurna South and Machapuchare, a few days' walk or a jeep ride from Pokhara.
Mountain Manners
- Close every gate you open; livestock wander roads and paths.
- Ask before photographing people, homes or religious sites, especially in Svaneti and the Himalaya.
- Pack out all rubbish, including organic scraps that do not decompose quickly at altitude.
- Respect seasons: many guesthouses close from November to April and roads may be impassable.
- Acclimatise gently. Above 2,500 metres, ascend slowly and drink plenty of water.
For exact months and a numbered packing list for high-altitude trips, open our planning drawer.