High Scardus Ultra

High Scardus Ultra is a trail running weekend in the Sharr Mountains, the high range that straddles the border between Kosovo and North Macedonia. Runs begin from Prizren Fortress, which dates back to the 6th century and the Byzantine era, and climb onto rugged ridgelines and open alpine grassland.

The signature race is a cross-border ultra: it sets off from Hotel Scardus at Popova Šapka on the Macedonian side, crosses the range at altitude and finishes with a long, winding descent into Prizren. The skyrace heads for Oshlak peak, while the shorter courses loop around Prizren Fortress and the Popova Šapka viewpoint, almost all on mountain paths.

The event is put together by mountain guides, runners and community organisers from both sides of the border under Butterfly Outdoor Adventure and Shar Outdoors. The team includes Uta Ibrahimi, the first Albanian woman to climb Everest, and the organisers ask every runner to treat the mountains they call home with care.