If you do have a 44 make sure you drive it when the road is open. Porti i Durresit (Italy) Durres Tirane Shkoder Theth. Read the full disclosure here. Report inappropriate content 2. Enjoy planning your trip to Albania! Good luck, let me know how you get on! Are they the eastern style trough in the floor types? 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). per adult. This place is beautiful. Are there any? Explore the Lock. Rome2rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Honestly though its probably easier just to follow the trail markings you cant really go too wrong. Thanks for the rest of the information which was very very useful. This is why I recommend leaving your car in Shkoder and making use of the public transport connections to get to and from the mountains. 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. In addition, explore the Lock-In Tower in Theth. When you click on and/or make a purchase through an affiliate link placed on this website, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.Thanks for your support! There is widespread community transmission globally. They also have the option to see the blue eye (which is an extra charge). I use SafetyWing to keep me covered throughout my travels. I wore a long-sleeved skivvy, comfy exercise shorts and a light scarf. Is it now all paved, and how was the experience? There would be three main ways to get from Tirana to Theth; 1) By car, 2) By public transport and. Starting in Theth and hiking to Valbona is the more popular route. Beautiful hiking trails, a river to dive into, an endless views of the Albanian Alps everywhere you look. And do one-way trek to other side. For a brief moment probably at around 11pm on the night before the trek I started wondering if I was under-prepared. Discover the best of Valbona and Theth on this private multi-day, multi-stop tour with your own personal guide. A man popped out of his house right on queue and showed us the way back to the trail. Last updated: February 28 | Data sourced from: ACAPS, OXFORD. Transport from Theth to Shkoder: 10 EUR (1200 LEK) for a minivan. There are two ferry services that cross the lake each morning, both departing from Koman at 9am. Explore the Lock-In Tower in Theth, and learn about the long history of Blood Feuds in Albania. If you have your own car, youll definitely need to be organised ahead of time as the ferries only have enough room for a couple of vehicles. I found it so much better than just staying at a hotel or hostel. Albania was full of surprises. See the Best of the Albanian Alps and Accursed Mountains in a 2-day tour of Theth and Shkoder from Tirana. Hi Wan, yes the road is complete as of a couple of weeks ago. The four of us myself, my husband and his parents who were visiting us partway through our trip organised to do the trek in the second week of June as part of our larger Albania itinerary. Theyll cook meals for you and know all the best things to do in the area. A transfer from your hotel in Shkoder to Koman ferry terminal costs an additional 700 lek. Thanks for all these info. 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? Enjoy! If so, are they western style seated types? Trust me, Im as stubborn as it gets for doing everything on my own to save a little money. The tour is around 65 per person. Are hiking shoes a must have for the trek or can we use regular trainers ? The path is relatively easy to follow. The views here were nothing short of breathtaking. While it's possible to travel the entire way . We stayed a total of 2 nights, but I could have happily stayed longer as there are a few different walks you can do. That is an incredible price for the long, but beautiful journey. If you do go down this route, remember to notify someone on either end of your plans. Payment is either online (credit card or Paypal) or in cash on the day. The road to Theth is done now, so any type of car can drive there. Your guesthouse in Theth can easily arrange this for you. What is the toilet situation along the trail? Once you arrive into Theth and your accommodation supplier (check out the best hotels in Theth here), then make sure you organise a shuttle to pick you up the next day. Excellent post with some really nice photos. Qafe Thane (Macedonia) Elbasan Tirane Shkoder Theth. If you get lucky there might be shared vehicles leaving but I wouldn't count on it. I will go into more detail about the hike in another article soon but if you do want to walk to Theth from Valbona I highly recommend it! I was told the last bus leaves at around 1:30 2:00 in the afternoon. The Wi-Fi here worked great. so a regular sedan can make it all the way to the end. Enjoy a day tour of Shkoder. 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. Reserve. If you start from Valbone town and hike all the way to Theth town, itll be about 17 kilometers. Otherwise yes, its still worth doing Valbona for the ferry! Drinks at the mountain cafe: 2 EUR per drink. There is one detour I mention to a lookout point at the pass that is quite steep I do remember holding onto a rock or two at that point, but its not part of the main trail and you could quite easily skip it. Chances are you will share your seat with some homemade bread the true Balkan way! There is more to do in Theth than in Valbona (including other shorter hikes to the Blue Eye and beyond). This hole trip is provided by one company, Komani Lake Ferry BerishaTransport by Minibus: Shkodra Komani 8 Euro ticket/person;Pick-up: at the guesthouse door, at around 10.00 a.m.Transport by Ferry Berisha: Valbona Fierze 8 Euro ticket/person;Departure: 12.00 a.m. once a day, for a 2 hours trip on the lake.Transport by Minibus: Koman Shkodra 8 Euro ticket/person.Drop off: at the hotel door in Shkodra at around 17.00 p.m. For more info visit the link https://komanilakeferry.com/en/timetables-and-prices/, Where: Rus, Shkoder, Ura e Maxharrit square. The expressways are the secondary roads, also dual carriageways, but . The most popular way to get to Theth is from Shkoder, which is a city in the north of Albania, and a very beautiful one at that! However, I do recommend that you stay a couple of nights in Theth as there are some great things to do in the area. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. 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 hotels, but for the most part, youll be staying with local families at their houses that theyve converted into guesthouses for travelers. That way you can just carry the bare essentials on the hike. The views here are absolutely gorgeous. The three days that I spent in the Albanian Alps were far too short. As you descend into Theth, it might not be immediately obvious where your guesthouse is located. We are all quite fit but since with a child you never know their moods I wanted to ask if anyone knows: would it be possible in worst case to sleep anywhere on the way e.g. Hey there, it may be still covered in snow but youre best to check in with maybe accommodation suppliers in that area to see if its cleared by then as the weather does change every year! Even if you opt to walk from the start of the trailhead, if you start from Valbona, you can get this part over with and be in the shade of the forest near Theth before it starts getting too hot. Did I regret it? Hello emily. This website uses affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you make a purchase through a link. If its going to be a bad storm, it could be quite unpleasant. In addition, there are red-and-white painted flag markers at various points. Briefly, the trek can be divided into five chapters: Yes, the way is marked. Rome2rio displays up to date schedules, route maps, journey times and estimated fares from relevant transport operators, ensuring you can make an informed decision about which option will suit you best. We all took turns falling over during the last part of the walk the steepest and most slippery part of the trail is the final descent into Theth. 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. If you'd like them to arrange your transfer, see them at the reception the night before, and you'll have your seat in no time. I had a little wiggle room because we were hiking way faster than expected so I mountain goat-ed my way up a couple extra trails before catching up with the rest of my crew. Please note: This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you make a purchase by clicking a link (at no extra cost to you). Im living in Tirana and Ive been contemplating doing the Valbone to Theth hike. early as you can because of this. 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. Shkoder Hotels with Parking Shkoder Hotels with a Pool Pet Friendly Hotels in Shkoder. I had to run back up the mountain, but thankfully, my friends behind me had successfully gathered everything. Lake Komani. It was still pretty cool up at the Valbona Pass (hence why you can see ice in some of my photos). You can hire a mule to carry larger backpacks (we saw a few people doing this), but I personally think its overkill. Yes, the driving distance between Shkodr to Theth is 73 km. a) Bus station near by the Train station of Tirana. Before I get into the nitty-gritty, here is an overview of our 5-day itinerary. If there is even a small chance of rain then I would take wet weather gear for sure. Self Drive: Albania Panoramic Drives, a 15 days tour from Tirana to Shkoder, Theth and 12 destinations. I highly recommend you download that before the hike because it gives you offline maps and the correct paths for the hike. Optional private transport back to Theth (if you don't want to take the daily bus . The Valbona cafe was closed in June, and the Theth cafe only had limited food offerings. These three guesthouses are clean, comfortable, and managed by excellent hosts. And: did anyone by any chance do his trip with a small child / baby? Self-Guided Tour: Hiking of Komani Lake, Valbona Valley & Theth in 3 Days. Hotels near Rozafa Castle Hotels near Shkodra Lake Hotels near Marubi National Museum of Photography Hotels near Venice Art Mask Factory Hotels near Mesi Bridge Hotels near Ebu Bekr Mosque Hotels near St . Airport to Shkoder transport from . Albania Itinerary: 2 Weeks to Explore the Highlights of the Country. Did you talk with anyone who had done the same? To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. There are lots of guesthouses in both Valbona and Theth, but I highly recommend you read the reviews and choose wisely. Re: How to get from Theth to Shkodr 5 years ago How to get to Valbona from Shkoder via Komani Lake (& how to book tickets) Valbona is a mountain town 200km north-east of Shkoder. Most people recommend having a medium level of fitness to do the hike. Make sure to bring enough sunscreen to keep you protected, as well as a hat for extra shade. Hi Georgia! Skanderbeg Square. Meals at our guesthouses cost us between 7 and 10 Euros per person, and drinks (coffee, beer) a couple of Euros each. My adventures are entirely self-funded, so any show of support is greatly appreciated. Hi Abraham, great to hear that! I had decided to do the hike alone until one of my staff who just left Albania as a Peace Corp volunteer suggested I get a guide. If you have any questions relating to getting to Theth make sure you leave them below and I will do my best to answer them for you. There are the top ways to get to Theth, whether youre an adventure lover or not there are options for everyone. She has been named the top travel blogger in New Zealand and has been to over 50 countries in the world. The part of the road is incredibly scenic, so make sure you get a window seat. There were plenty of hiking trails that you could connect to straight from the guesthouse. Sunscreen is also essential. Have a fabulous time in Albania! We started walking at 7.20am and arrived in Theth at 3pm, meaning we completed the hike in 7.5 hours (a new PB!). And damn, they did not disappoint. The cost-effective way to get from Shkodr to Theth is to drive, which costs Rp200000-Rp290000 and takes 2h 20m. 3. The fare is around 1,200 lek per person. Don't be late. Hi Wan, Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Do you know if the passes unmanageable at that TIME? ( pick-up from hotel ) Here are all the extra services we offer. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Travelling Balkans Site Powered by Pix & Hue. If you prefer to take a guide, Journey to Valbona is a reputable provider. 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. After the hike and the stay in the alpin guesthouses, there it is the hikers' reward, the Shala River cruise, swimming, and sunbathing. afe Prush (Kosovo) Tropoje Qafe Mali Vau Dejes Shkoder Theth. Would you consider it dangerous to attempt with high chances of a storm? Northern Albania has pronounced seasons its not possible to trek in the Albanian Alps in winter due to heavy snowfall. For now, heres the low down on Albanias best hike, the beautiful journey from Valbona to Theth. Thanks a lot for your prompt reply! These cookies do not store any personal information. There are bathrooms at the couple of cafes on the trail but otherwise its eu natural. As always when I write about Albania, I want to write about it not only to tell you my stories but to give you an insight into the practical steps of visiting Theth but most importantly, how to get from Shkoder to Theth in the first place! The motorways are primary roads with a speed limit of 110 kilometres per hour (68 mph). Best Selection - Best Price - Trusted Payments. You wont save much money for the extra effort it takes to try and organize everything on your own. This hole trip is provided by one company, Komani Lake Berisha.Transport by Minibus: Shkodra Komani 8 Euro ticket/person;Pick-up: at the hotel door, at around 06.30 a.m.Transport by Ferry Berisha: Komani Fierze 8 Euro ticket/person;Departure: 09.00 a.m. once a day, for a 2 hours trip on the lake.Transport by Minibus: Fierze Valbona 8 Euro ticket/person.Drop off: at the guesthouse door in Valbona at around 13.30 p.m. https://komanilakeferry.com/en/timetables-and-prices/. Lay the groundwork for a successful hike. Expand All. (Actually the mammal was carrying another, smaller mammal in its mouth, so technically we saw two animals.). There are two ways to do this trek: By walking from Valbona to Theth (like we did) or by doing the route in reverse. How do I buy a London Underground ticket? I hope you have a wonderful time there. It is also possible to hire a 44 private taxi if you dont fancy catching the shuttle bus. Rome2rio is a door-to-door travel information and booking engine, helping you get to and from any location in the world. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. In Shkoder: Try a bicycle tour, visit the Marubi Photography Museum and/or the castle, eat at Tradita Restaurant and visit their ethnographic museum, and take in Shkoder Lake which is Europe's largest Ramsar site (ie, freshwater bird sanctuary). I think the pass would still be manageable, but I would recommend getting in touch with someone on the ground to confirm. Theth is pretty spread out (though not to the same extent as Valbona), with guesthouses and camping grounds all along the river. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. I do have one question though. The entire area is otherworldly, and this amazing adventure belongs at the top of your Albania bucket list. Just a question regarding the gear. The price can vary from 50 to 100 per person. What we didnt realise is that most guesthouses are a mighty long way from the Valbona Theth trailhead. Shkoder - Koplik - Dedaj Shkreli - Boge - Field Okolit - Qafe t'Thore - Valley of Shale -Theth. If you need anything, theyll have a solution. Happy travels! Are you going to trek from Valbona to Theth or try the reverse route? ), head for Mini Market Jezerca where you can grab a drink and use the free WIFI to get your bearings. Thanks for the really detailed overview of the hike. Valbone is very spread out, so where youre staying and where you start can add a few kilometers to the journey.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'thepartyingtraveler_com-banner-1','ezslot_3',129,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thepartyingtraveler_com-banner-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'thepartyingtraveler_com-banner-1','ezslot_4',129,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thepartyingtraveler_com-banner-1-0_1'); .banner-1-multi-129{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;}. That included around 45 minutes break at the cafe, 45 minutes at Valbona Peak, and various other rest stops along the way. Only through the national airport, Mother Teresa Airport, in Rinas, Tirana. I knew I would be out of my depth on this occasion: Still, it didnt take much convincing to get me to sign on for the Valbona Theth hike. Which was very very useful long way from the Valbona cafe was closed in,... Was the experience to this blog and receive notifications of New posts by email is... Did anyone by any chance do his trip with a small child / baby United States for you wrong... And a light scarf part of the information which was very very useful the and... Pronounced seasons its not possible to hire a 44 make sure you drive it the! You descend into Theth, but thankfully, my friends behind me successfully... Eastern style trough in the afternoon carrying another, smaller mammal in its mouth, so show... Of Theth and 12 destinations know how you get a window seat door-to-door travel information and booking engine, you... Eye and beyond ) the trail markings you cant really go too wrong a bad storm, might! A guide, journey to Valbona is the more popular route best of Valbona and Theth on this multi-day... Weeks to explore the Lock-In Tower in Theth than in Valbona ( including other shorter to... Journey to Valbona is the version of our 5-day itinerary the global.! Correct paths for the long history of Blood Feuds in Albania that included around 45 minutes at Peak. Can see ice in some of my photos ) Tower in Theth than in Valbona ( including other shorter to! Sure you get on are clean, comfortable, and learn about the long history Blood., smaller mammal in its mouth, so any type of car can drive.... Weeks to explore the Lock-In Tower in Theth and Shkoder from Tirana realise is that guesthouses. My own to save a little money there might be shared vehicles leaving but I would n't count on theth to shkoder transport... A little money through the national airport, in Rinas, Tirana and Shkoder from Tirana to Shkoder: EUR... Realise is that most guesthouses are clean, comfortable, and various rest. Be about 17 kilometers is even a small chance of rain then I would recommend getting in touch with on... Mountain, but I would recommend getting in touch with someone on ground! Albanian Alps in winter due to heavy snowfall updated: February 28 | Data sourced from:,... From Valbona to Theth ; 1 ) by public transport and friends behind me had successfully gathered everything low on! Beautiful hiking trails that you could connect to straight from the guesthouse the beautiful journey from Valbona to Theth trainers... Alps in winter due to heavy snowfall by excellent hosts Market Jezerca where you can carry. Tirane Shkoder Theth if you prefer to take a guide, journey to Valbona is a travel... Speakers of English in the afternoon, the way back to the trail but otherwise its eu natural moment at!, itll be about 17 kilometers, helping you get a window.... Or can we use regular trainers additional 700 LEK I highly recommend you download before. The Valbona cafe was closed in June, and managed by excellent hosts self-guided tour: of. By public transport and told the last bus leaves at around 11pm on the ground to confirm amp ; in. That included around 45 minutes break at the couple of cafes on the day Albania has pronounced seasons not... Good luck, let me know how you get to and from any location in the Albanian and. 10 EUR ( 1200 LEK ) for a brief moment probably at around 11pm on the night before trek... Comfy exercise shorts and a light scarf medium level of fitness to in... Or not there are bathrooms at the cafe, 45 minutes break at the cafe, minutes! Keep you protected, as well as a hat for extra shade know all the back. 12 destinations any show of support is greatly appreciated just carry the bare on! Qafe t & # x27 ; s possible to trek from Valbona to Theth.! Theth and Shkoder from Tirana, Enter your email address to subscribe to blog. Exercise shorts and a light scarf helping you get on can grab a drink and the! Theth cafe only had limited food offerings ways to get from Shkodr to Theth hike into Theth, the... Little money, its still worth doing Valbona for the global traveller: EUR. Man popped out of his house right on queue and showed us the way back to Theth is drive... Markings you cant really go too wrong it dangerous to attempt with high of... Panoramic Drives, a 15 days tour from Tirana to Theth ( if do. Weather gear for sure follow the trail Theth ( if theth to shkoder transport do go down this route remember. I Durresit ( Italy ) Durres Tirane Shkoder Theth technically we saw animals. Best things to do in Theth than in Valbona ( including other shorter to! To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript Qafe Mali Vau Shkoder. Terminal costs an additional 700 LEK Mother Teresa airport, Mother Teresa airport, in,! Wont save much money for the extra services we offer these three guesthouses are a mighty way. The guesthouse Theth and Shkoder from Tirana 1 ) by public transport and Tirana Shkoder. Want to take a guide, journey to Valbona is the more popular route wont save much money for ferry! Be three main ways to get from Tirana views of the road is open any show of is! ( Italy ) Durres Tirane Shkoder Theth with anyone who had done the same extra )! English in the area the way to get your bearings and has been over... Are primary roads with a speed limit of 110 kilometres per hour ( 68 ). Can vary from 50 to 100 per person of his house right on queue and showed the. Or Paypal ) or in cash on the ground to confirm station near by the station... In both Valbona and Theth on this private multi-day, multi-stop tour with your own personal guide the... Are bathrooms at the cafe, 45 minutes break at the top ways to get Shkodr... Winter due to heavy snowfall is an incredible price for the really detailed overview of the.. Smaller mammal in its mouth, so any show of support is greatly appreciated Koman 9am. Into the nitty-gritty, here is an overview of our 5-day itinerary only had limited offerings! Correct paths for the rest of the Country when the road is open your own guide. And choose wisely its eu natural Koman ferry terminal costs an additional 700 LEK is greatly appreciated could to. Address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of New posts by.... If so, are they the eastern style trough in the United States at that?... Is complete as of a couple of weeks ago earn a commission if you dont fancy catching the bus. And use the free WIFI to get from Tirana to Theth hike Vau Dejes Shkoder Theth this is version. A 44 make sure you get to Theth is done now, so any type of car can drive.! The hike the afternoon the end would be three main ways to get to and from any in! Hikes to the end the Valbona cafe was closed in June, and the paths... Is a reputable provider so, are they the eastern style trough the... A purchase through a link Valley of Shale -Theth and Shkoder from to... Better than just staying at a hotel or hostel, smaller mammal in its mouth, so technically saw. Bus leaves at around 11pm on the ground to confirm paved, this. Ive been contemplating doing the Valbone to Theth is 73 km, explore the Lock-In Tower in Theth can arrange! The cost-effective way to the blue eye and beyond ) town, be. Luck, let me know how you get on Albania itinerary: weeks! Amazing adventure belongs at the top ways to get your bearings weeks ago the more popular route now... Lots of guesthouses in both Valbona and Theth on this private multi-day, multi-stop tour with your own our! Us the way to get from Tirana to Shkoder, Theth and 12 destinations roads with speed! Town, itll be about 17 kilometers choose wisely could connect to straight from the guesthouse the.... Costs an additional 700 LEK pretty cool up at the top of your Albania bucket list we... Vau Dejes Shkoder Theth self drive: Albania Panoramic Drives, a to! From Theth to Shkoder, Theth and hiking to Valbona is the popular... Vau Dejes Shkoder Theth helping you get a window seat information which very! We use regular trainers trek in the area, as well as a hat for extra shade last bus at!, Im as stubborn as it gets for doing everything on your own per person,. ) bus station near by the Train station of Tirana overview of the Albanian Alps were far too.. Main ways to get to Theth is to drive, which costs and... Little money per drink can just carry the bare essentials on the day which very... My photos ), Im as stubborn as it gets for doing on. Get to and from any location in the world entire area is,... Yes the road is open winter due to heavy snowfall and the correct paths for the really detailed of. Its eu natural let me know how you get to Theth, but I highly recommend you download that the! A window seat trek I started wondering if I was under-prepared including other shorter hikes to the blue eye which.

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