The hike itself isnt too challenging. We met some people who were doing just that ferry then overnighting in Valbona. That extra stability when you find yourself sliding or losing your footing on some loose rock is crucial. Our plan would basically be to go by shuttle/Komani Ferry from Tirana to Valbona, spend the night there, make the hike to Teth on the next morning, have a meal in Teth and return to Valbona on the same evening. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Did I regret it? I loaded up Google Maps before we left and took a few cursory glances throughout the day mainly to monitor our progress. There would be three main ways to get from Tirana to Theth; 1) By car, 2) By public transport and. (check out the best hotels in Theth here), How to get from Shkoder to Theth, Albania (Thethi). A man popped out of his house right on queue and showed us the way back to the trail. Subscribe to my newsletter to get your copy instantly. From a logistical standpoint, it is much easier to start in Valbona and end in Theth. Bookings can be made through the official website, Komani Lake Ferry Berisha. As you descend into Theth, it might not be immediately obvious where your guesthouse is located. If youve booked everything through The Wanderers Hostel, youll have pickup waiting for you. While it's possible to travel the entire way . Theres a great tour that you can do from Shkoder that takes you to the village of Theth and tour of the church, blood tower, the canyon and Waterfall of Grunasi. We are considering just going one way up, hopefully to the peak and then back down again. It wasnt until I had already spent a few days in Albania that I even found out that Albania had mountains, let alone an entire region known as the Albanian Alps. The road to Theth is done now, so any type of car can drive there. In the lead up, I sifted through a lot of inspirational content about the Valbona Theth hike. In addition, explore the Lock-In Tower in Theth. Learn more about me here. Youll get off the ferry at Fierze. For a 44 the road is great fun! Taking rain equipment might add to our small bag is there really a need for that? Im breaking the ferry ride from Komani to Valbona in two by staying overnight at a guesthouse on Lake Shala. This put us way ahead of the pack (and ahead of the weather). I highly recommend hiking to the blue eye (3 hours one way) and the Theth waterfall which is around 45mins-1 hour walk from Theth. The terrain is quite challenging in parts and there are lots of sheer drop-offs along the trail, so I would be cautious about bringing young kids on this hike. If youre hiking in the summer, youre in luck because the wildflowers are in bloom, adding an extra layer of beauty to the hike. Hi Wan, yes the road is complete as of a couple of weeks ago. Mid to late June through to September is a safe bet. Okay, lets get down, lets get down to business. Here are few contacts: Gjin +355685656797 , Besnik +355673031234, Lush +355693231884. Where: Pick up at the hotel door in Shkodra, or any common place to be specified.Time-table: every morning at 07.00 a.m. from Shkodra, once a day; every afternoon at 11.00 a.m. from Thethi, once a day.Trip duration: around 2 hours one wayMinibus Ticket Price: 10 Eur/ Person one wayPick-up: is offered from the hotel door in Shkodra, at around 07.00 a.m. Booking: Ask the hotel/guesthouse manager to book the seats for you or contact directly one of them. Youve inspired me to try it. Taxi maybe? That included around 45 minutes break at the cafe, 45 minutes at Valbona Peak, and various other rest stops along the way. The bottom line is that the trek can be as long or as short as you want. We were lucky we had that packed lunch, otherwise we would have gone hungry. The downward sections are very slippery due to small rocks. Make sure to bring plenty of water. If youre not a huge hiker, it is possible to still enjoy Theth. As another plus, guesthouses in Theth are closer to the trail. Find a guesthouse in Shkoder that will mind your big luggage if you book another night with them on the way back through. While its possible to travel the entire way by road (around 5-6 hours of rough driving), the better option is to take the ferry across Koman Lake. There arent really any places to swim on the route, so dont bother wearing bathers (although you might want to pack them if youre going to the Blue Eye in Theth). Again, many people were dressed in proper hiking gear when something comfortable and cool would have done the job just as well. Thanks for your lovely blog and posting. Almost at the finish line, though! Hence it will be great if you can clarify on this point and any other point that I need to be careful about during my trip to Albania. I would hate to have to walk this bit in the afternoon sun, which would be the case if youre coming the opposite way. The bus from Shkoder to Lake Komani picks up from Shkoder town around 6:30-7 AM, give or take a few minutes. (Note that WIFI is standard in guesthouses in both villages.). And damn, they did not disappoint. Vans can be booked through your accommodation in Theth or Shkoder. The guesthouse fed us three meals a day, so we never really had to go into town except for beer.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'thepartyingtraveler_com-box-4','ezslot_11',119,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thepartyingtraveler_com-box-4-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'thepartyingtraveler_com-box-4','ezslot_12',119,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thepartyingtraveler_com-box-4-0_1'); .box-4-multi-119{border:none !important;display:block !important;float:none !important;line-height:0px;margin-bottom:7px !important;margin-left:auto !important;margin-right:auto !important;margin-top:7px !important;max-width:100% !important;min-height:250px;padding:0;text-align:center !important;}. The roads are extremely bumpy and theres a lot of steep and slippery parts to the road. The only difference was that this one cost about $8, and the fjord tour was about $250. The first thing you need to consider when planning the Valbona Theth trek is what time of year to go. Accommodation in Valbone: 15 EUR including breakfast (45 EUR for triple chalet). We spent 2 nights in Shkoder, a lovely city on the edge of Lake Skadar and the departure point for the Accursed Mountains, before we set out. Id recommend doing it this way because this is the one that I can give you the details for, and the route that can be organized entirely by The Wanderers Hostel in Shkoder. Planning to do the trek in June 2020, after discovering last year it was closed in April. A boat drops you off and picks you up the next day to take you to Valbona. Find all the transport options for your trip from Shkodr to Theth right here. For the latest travel status, please check the official page for Albania. The views here were nothing short of breathtaking. First, you take a minivan from your accommodation in Shkoder to the ferry terminal at Koman. Its really hard to say without knowing the weather conditions. I have a fair amount of trekking and mountaineering experience. When youre close to the Valbona Pass, you might run into some snow along the way. Good Walking/Hiking shoesif(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,600],'thepartyingtraveler_com-leader-1','ezslot_15',136,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thepartyingtraveler_com-leader-1-0'); The downhill part after reaching the Valbone Pass is really the only place I struggled with the terrain. There are some tricky downhill parts to the hike where the trail is super rocky and unstable. If you can, its preferable to leave your car in Shkoder and do the ferry instead thats one of the highlights! Im not much of a trekker (Ive never owned a pair of hiking boots in my life), but FOMO has caused me to volunteer for some intense outdoor experiences in the past, including a hike in Georgia and a multi-day trek in Myanmar. Most solo travellers choose to pair up with other people in Valbona or Shkoder and go as a group. They will ring and book you in and then you will pay the driver on the day. Hey Anita! Make sure to bring enough sunscreen to keep you protected, as well as a hat for extra shade. ( pick-up from hotel ) Here are all the extra services we offer. We are making our way to Theth from Shkoder and trying to find out whether the new paved road has been completed. Hi Emily, Times are above. Only through the national airport, Mother Teresa Airport, in Rinas, Tirana. Those of yall that have followed along for a while know that my heart and happiness lie in the mountains. You can hire a mule to carry larger backpacks (we saw a few people doing this), but I personally think its overkill. Theres a market and a restaurant about 10 minutes away in the direction of the end of the trail. Also a good opportunity to support the local economy. Its a personal preference, but dont feel like you need to buy a special outfit for the hike. I was fully expecting to struggle with the trek, but it wasnt as difficult as I anticipated. Your guesthouse in Theth can easily arrange this for you. Some travel restrictions are being lifted in Albania. Its just a big bus with some sick off road tires and it seems to make stops at wherever is needed. The only way to travel between Theth and Shoder is by shared minibus. Where to stay in Shkoder Accommodation IN Shkoder The Wanderers Hostel - Shkoder Youll be a lot more exposed to the elements, so if youre hiking during midday, the heat can become brutal. Thank you, A good place to camp is near the cafe above Theth. Since my backpack had split open, I could no longer frolic down the mountain like I wanted, but the views made it worth going slow. We heard from a few hikers who did it a few weeks prior that it was quite dangerous. Again, these are great for going downhill. I recommend you get an early start, make lots of short stops along the way, and most important of all use the shortcut method I suggested to reach the trailhead. Figure out the rough location of your place before you leave and pin it on Google Maps so you know where youre headed and at what point you need to turn off the track. Albania was full of surprises. There are a few cafes on the way where you can buy a drink and freshen up along the way. Anita Hendrieka is the blogger behind this website and another popular website called 'Anita Hendrieka'. The airport is connected with direct lines and daily flights throughout Europe, operating both in summer and winter. Getting back to Shkoder from Theth is easy by comparison (van only). Upon arrival, admire the village's mountain scenery, see its famed tower, discover the 100-foot (30-meter) Grunas Waterfall, and venture on an optional hike to . You can lower the cost by carpooling with other travellers. As a symbol of the Blood Fewd in Albania, it is part of a 4 centuries splendid history. in one of the coffee places or any other weather protected place? Minibuses depart regularly between Shkoder and Valbona taking around 1.5 hours and costing approx 1,200 lek (10). Youll be walking along rocky terrain but the trail is well worn and clearly marked. Snow and ice can still be heavy on the trail as late as May, in which case you will need poles, sturdy boots and proper equipment. Do you know if there is a quick way to get back to Valbona from Theth on the same day we get there at the end of the trail? Qafe Prush (Kosovo) Tropoje Koman (traveling by ferry through the lake of Koman) Shkoder Theth. I recommend leaving your luggage in Shkoder as you have to pass through there to get the ferry anyway. This is my top tip for the Valbona Theth hike. Its about a 3-hour drive from Shkoder to Theth and be warned the road is windy and bumpy so if you are carsick you may want to look into taking some tablets beforehand. You will need to book the night before as a furgon will pick you up from your hotel or hostel. It's a long drive. Im just wondering assuming I come by car to either Theth or Valbona. We are located in the heart of trails cross of which you can visit the whole area of Albanian Alps. Definitely one of the best Ive come across for this trek. We didnt see any other person on the trail not one single soul until we reached the Vabona Pass. , How to get your copy instantly local economy might not be obvious. If youre not a huge hiker, it is possible to still enjoy Theth couple of weeks ago,! 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Most solo travellers choose to pair up with other travellers knowing the weather..
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