Here is a travel guide to help you uncover it: First time visiting Albania and are looking for awesome things to do? Even after spending time in these incredible places Valbona Valley literally put my jaw on the floor. This last leg of your journey will cost you another 700 LEK. You can find the Grand Canyon of Albania in Berat, you can find natural hot springs in Permet, hidden beaches in Himara, and one of Albanias Blue Eyes in Saranda. Youll find a few cute guesthouses along this stretch of Komani Lake as well as incredible hiking trails. Plus the staff are super knowledgeable, theyll store your extra luggage, and (literally) plan your entire trip to the alps: accommodations, transportation, itineraries, and all. Long are the days when you have to scramble your way to find a local sim card at an airport when you arrive. Plus, driving onto the ferry is a MADHOUSE. Update: If your phone supports eSIM, I highly recommend you check out Airalo, a global eSIM marketplace, and get an eSIM so that you can stay connected affordably while traveling in Shkodra, Albania without having to switch out your physical sim card. Theres really something special about being in the Albanian Alps. From Asia, the easiest way is to fly to Tirana is through Istanbul via Turkish Airlines. per night. From here youll jump on a boat and travel down Komani Lake to the Shala River. Bring sunscreen or wear long sleeves to protect your skin from the intense Balkan sun. $82. It would be easy to stay at a guest house on the lake for a week, spending your mornings on bicycle and comparing Albanian and Montenegrin cuisine, afternoons identifying the 39 snail species tootling the sandy shallows, and evenings on your terrace with a pair of birdwatching binoculars, a block of feta, fresh bread, and a bottle of wine . This small village nestled in between the Albanian Alps is perfect if you're looking for the best hiking in the country and dramatic landscapes to enjoy. From Koman, you will find many buses waiting for you at the port. This means travel bloggers (like me) havent completely infiltrated and exploited all the secret beauty that exists within the alps Yet. After doing the hike myself, I can totally say that it doesn't matter. Xhema Lake (Liqeni I Xhems in Albanian) is a cute little lake (more like a pond) located near the centre of Valbona Valley. How to Get to Theth from Shkoder? Hotels near Albanian Alps Hotels near Albanian Alps Check In / / Check Out / / Guests Rruga Nikgjonaj Nr.18, Theth 4009 Albania Read Reviews of Albanian Alps Property types Resorts Motels Hotels All-inclusives Show all View Vacation Rentals Popular & up 176 Romantic 30 Breakfast included96 Amenities Free Wifi 149 Breakfast included96 Difficulty: No hiking required today When I was there, we were stuck at Shpella Guesthouse for 3 days due to heavy rainfall and I met some really awesome people that we ended up hiking together after the rain stopped. I went to Albania after spending 15 months living in the Canadian Rockies followed up by 2 months of hiking and road tripping in Norway and damn. From multi day hiking trips to single day adventures, you can find a littleeee bit of everything listed on this site. Albanian Alps Hike Embark on a fantastic eight-day hiking adventure in the Albanian Alps, where you can explore the breathtaking landscapes of the Accursed Mountains at your own pace. What they do offer, however, are spectacular views of the craggy limestone gorges and thickly forested mountains, as well as a . Congratulations! I and a couple of friends decided to extend our trip so that we can outstay the rain, but some had to go back as they didn't have the time, and so if you are determined to hike the Albanian Alps, be sure to leave some wiggle room in case the weather goes bad. Not many people visit the alps during winter because activity options are limited, theres a mass amount of snow, and the temperatures are freezing. Due to its stunning snowy peaks, beautiful valleys, and breathtaking canyon, the Albanian Alps is one of the highlights for visiting Albania. Firstly, the Albanian Alps are simply breathtaking. Enjoy free WiFi, a full-service spa, and breakfast. Here are: Albanian Riviera, a place you will find hidden beaches pristine coastline, and one of the best places to see the sunset in Albania. The gateway to the Albanian Alps , Shkoder is a can't-miss destination. Hiking Time: 0 Motorway A: Many people breeze in and out of the Alps in a couple nights, however if youre a hiker youll want to stay longer. However, there is much more to this small country than its urban center. Accommodation: 2 nights in Shkodra is 18 USD, 2 nights in Theth is 34 USD, and 1 night in Valbona is 15 USD, so in total, you will pay 67 USD (7,429 LEK) for accommodation. Its reached by the village of Theth and is either a quick day hike (if you have access to a car) or a lengthy 20km+ day hike from the village. You can book a stay with the Wanderers Hostel via Hostelworld or Booking.com. Albania offers you a rare opportunity to travel off the beaten path in Europe and shape your own adventure without the heavy influence of social media. Thanks for your support & happy adventuring! Another beautiful Bavarian town ruined by the weather during my stay. View all photos (6) 6. Day 4: Do the Theth-Valbona hike and spend the night in Valbona. For hiking out-of-season, I would recommend against it as most of the high passes in the Albanian Alps will likely be closed off due to snowfall, and the ferry service across Komani Lake, one of the transportation you will have to rely on, only runs from mid-April to early November. When you arrive at your guesthouse you can grab some food, then take off and walk to Xhema Lake & the Old Mill. Looking for more Albania articles? Start early! Albanian alps hiking holiday. If you stick to the main trails in the alps though youll be surrounded by people. If youll be staying longer, youll want to bring a slightly larger bag; maybe around 30-34L or so. From your guesthouse, a bus will come and pick you up at 10:30 AM (sometimes a bit earlier) and they will drive you to Fierze, a town where you will have to catch the ferry across the Komani Lake. Sadly, the expanding bear population . Here are some resources to help you get your trip going: Are you planning to travel to Shkodra, Albania independently? Located at 700 meters above sea level in the heart of Thethi National Park, it is one of the most pristine areas in the north. For this travel guide, I will recommend you complete 2 weeks backpacking itinerary for Albania from Tirana to the Albanian Riviera to the Albanian Alps. Take advantage of packed meal options from the guesthouses. Do not worry, once you see the road, you will want to continue on. Despite the temperature of the water, the Blue Eye is a stunning natural phenomenon to look at even if you don't plan to swim. From Fierza youll need to take another mini bus to get to Valbona Valley National Park. After you are done taking photos, make your way down the same way. This exodus was 10.5% higher than in 2021, with the majority, about 36,000, being young people, according to new data from the Albanian Institute . Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to plan your trip to Shkodra, Albania! There are a few awesome viewpoints along the way so be sure to keep an eye out for one. After you get on the ferry, it is another 2-hours journey across the Komani Lake. But, you get the point. The journey will take 3 hours, 1.5 hours on a paved road to the viewpoint and another 1.5 hours on a mountainous road to Theth. From the other side of the river bed, the trail is a 3-hours straight-up hike through a thick forest where you will able to occasionally take a break and admire the view of Theth and all the surrounding valleys from above. The final ascent to the waterfall is pretty steep, however its short-lived and this final steep section leads to the best place to view the waterfall from. Trekking in unknown territory, planning multiple days in the alps, and spending extended time in nature can be intimating. Albania has relatively little in the way of high-end accommodation communist-era behemoth hotels are still prevalent but things are changing. This. Fully refundable Reserve now, pay when you stay. My favourite hike in the Albanian Alps is none other than Maja Rosit. Spend one night in Theth. Most people stay for 2-3 nights in the Albanian Alps. The route - an old mule trail - winds through the Accursed Mountains (Albanian Alps) and over the Valbona Pass, a landscape of rocky peaks and deep ravines shared between Albania, Montenegro and Kosovo. After moving to Banff National Park in 2020 I became an outdoor adventure enthusiast and vowed to never stop exploring. August 22, 2022 Shkoder is known as Albania's ancient city and it's the culture capital of the country. if youre lucky you might find a popup fruit stand here or there, but thats about it. If youre visiting the alps in summer you dont need much! The hike is 19km return and takes around 6 hours with a break at the Blue Eye. It lies in the eastern part of the Albanian Alps bordering Montenegro and Kosovo. To each their own, though! . I always recommend hiking with 2L I use a, Book a stay in Shkoder before and after your trip to the alps with. Tips: To stay connected with your loved ones at home, be sure to have a VPN service like NordVPN installed before traveling so that you can bypass whatever local Internet censorship you might run into while in Albania. The mountains themselves extend into neighboring Kosovo and Montenegro. If youre not a hiker, the trail between the two parks may seem a bit daunting, however with a moderate fitness level and a bit of preparation almost anyone will be able to tackle this famous trail. It should be another 2 hours before you arrive back in Theth. We at Thethi Guide can offer a lot more than information, accommodation and tours in Albanian Alps. From Theth to Valbona, you will have to hike up to the Valbona Pass for 3 hours and down to Valbona in 4 hours. The best time of year for hiking in the Albanian Alps is September cooler temps, less crowds, and colourful vegetation. As youre walking in the forested section youll want to take a left to reach Xhema Lake. If you are only interested in doing only the Theth-Valbona hike and you do not have a lot of time, you can spend a minimum of 3 full days (4 nights) including the 2 nights in Shkodra and one night each in Theth and Valbona, but you will barely scratch the surface of what makes the Albanian Alps so breathtaking. Heres. This is time consuming and costly. Payments made by partners impact the order of prices displayed. Helpful Info: dont drink the tap water or bring a purifying bottle like this one. Depending on where your accommodation is, you might have to walk further along the road for another 45 minutes to get to the end of Valbona. At the port, there will be several buses waiting for you. Bring snacks! If you somehow lost it, you can buy another one at the guesthouse in Valbona. With a bike, you can also go further and check out the old Mesi Ottoman Bridge to the north of the city or ride along the Lake Skadar to Zogaj and back. Looking for a complete backpacking itinerary for Europe? The mini bus back to Shkoder usually leaves around 11 from the village centre. The following accommodations are close to the Blue Eye. 12 reviews #2 of 2 B&Bs / Inns in Grub am Forst. Saranda is a big city hub in Southern Albania and if you are coming from Greece by ferry, you will likely end up here. Albania is also home to steep canyons, intricate coastline, forest, and Europes last virgin river. The minibus will take you to the Komani ferry port early in the morning where youll then catch a 1.5hr scenic ferry ride to Fierza. The most notable thing to do/see in Theth is hike to the Blue Eye. However, if you stay at the guesthouses I recommended, they do have reliable WIFI in the common area that you can stay connected. Where to Stay: Shpella Guesthouse Theth (Budget) - 17 USD/Night (Dorm) | 33 USD/Night (Twin Room with Private Bathroom). If you want snacks or a little extra security food, buy and bring groceries from Shkoder. After the waterfall, you will be walking along a flat trail for 2 hours until you will have to cross the river to a small settlement called Nderlysaj and from there, it is another 30 minutes walk and a 15 minutes steep climb to the Blue Eye. Cool, right? If you have a car you can drive much closer to the actual Blue Eye trailhead which cuts out a TON of distance youd otherwise have to hike. If you want to keep with the Hostel vibe, but Wanderers is full, check out Shkodra Backpackers. The weather forecast in the Albanian Alps are pretty accurate and so I recommend you check the forecast about 3 days prior to your journey and plan accordingly. The bus journey from Valbona to Fierze is about an hour and you should arrive in time for the 1 PM ferry to Koman. hidden gem. Its an Old Mill situated next to the bright blue Valbona River. Understand The area covers parts of Shkodr and Tropoja districts in Northern Albania. On day 3 youre hiking to Montenegro! It is quite crowded for my liking though but it was still quite a nice view to see. After around 3 hours, you should arrive at the Blue Eye where you can stop for lunch, swim in the dreaded cold water of the Blue Eye, or sit at the small cafe they have there. Youll need: If youre only visiting the Alps for a couple nights in summer you should be able to pack up all your belongings in a small bag (24L ish). You can check availability for Wanderers via Hostelworld or Booking.com but book in advance!
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