Theth Valbona Hike via Koman Lake (4 Days, self-guided)

Discover Valbona Valley, Theth, Lake Koman, and much more on a 4-day hiking tour from Shkoder with optional extension to hike to the Blue Eye of Theth

Theth-Valbona-Hike, view from Valbona Pass

Start/End                                Shkodra

Duration                                 4 Days

Difficulty                                 Moderate

Best time                                 June -Oct.

per Person                              € 190,00

(min. 2 people)

Hiking Tour Highlights

Viewpoints – Experience breathtaking views of rocky valleys and forests from the Valbona Pass.

Shkodra – Walk through the picturesque city centre and experience local highlights such as the Marubi Photo Collection, Lake Shkodra and the viewfrom the Illyrian fortress of Rozafa.

Lake Koman – The drive across the Koman reservoir is one of the most unforgettable and scenic experiences of a trip to Albania.

Village of Theth – You will visit one of the most picturesque villages in Albania, located in the middle of the Theth National Park.

Culinary Experiences – Discover the unique cuisine of Albania and be impressed by the hospitality of the villagers in the mountains.

Valbona Theth Map

Optional extension (+1 day): Blue Eye and Grunas Waterfall – Experience the Blue Eye pool of Theth with turquoise waters fed by a cool mountain stream and the nearby Grunas Waterfall (30m) in a single day.

  • Blick von der Rozafa Festung ins Tal mit dem Shkodra See
  • Wander Tour Valbona nach Theth via Koman See
  • Marubi-Museum,Albanien-Reise_Abenteuer-Albanien_Wandern_Berge_Meer_Kultur_Kulinarik
  • Muzeu Kombëtar i Fotografisë Marubi
  • Kulinarisches, Albanien
  • gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==
  • Koman See Fähre
  • Theth Valbona Koman Wander-Tour Albanien
  • Wandern, Peaks of the Balkans
  • Blick aus einem steinernen Turm in Theth, Albanien, Albanische Alpen im Hintergrund
  • Dorf Theth vor riesigen Bergen
  • Pispili is an Albanian dish that consists of cornbread filled with leeks and feta cheese.
  • Lake Koman, Berge, Peaks of the Balkans Albanien
  • Albanische-Alpen,Blue-Eye Theth
  • Grunas Wasserfall
  • Shala River

Hiking Itinerary

Experience rural Albania on a 4-day self-guided tour from Shkodra. All transfers and accommodation and meals in guesthouses are included.

Make your way to Shkodra. Your double room at the guesthouse will be ready for you from 15:00. Use the day to visit the Marubi Photo Museum, explore the old town, climb the Rozafa Fortress or have dinner near Lake Shkodra enjoying the beautiful scenery.

your day starts with an early morning breakfast and pick-up at 6:30 from the guest house in Shkodra followed by a scenic drive to Lake Koman. There you will change to the ferry to Fierza, on the other side of the artificial lake. Enjoy the fantastic ride across the fjord-like reservoir through steep mountain slopes amidst the breathtaking landscape of northern Albania. From Fierza, the drive will continue to Valbona, passing through Bajram Curri. Arrival at the guesthouse. The old grain mill (Mulliri i Vjetër i Valbonës) right by the river is recommended for those who feel like a walk. Further recommendations are available at the guesthouse. Dinner and overnight in guest house.

You will already wake up in the Albanian Alps. After breakfast, you make your way over scree fields to the foot of the mountains and up to the Valbona Pass to Theth, following an old path that was once the only way to travel between Valbona and Shkoder.

You will pass through old villages where people still live in their 100+ year old stone towers. Enjoy spectacular views of the long, rocky valley and over quiet, restful forests, and stop for lunch at a traditional café of your choice.

Upon arrival in Theth, be amazed by the village’s unique nature, history, and traditions. Visit the Lock-in Tower of Theth and learn more about its exciting past. Dinner and overnight at the guesthouse.

Starts with breakfast at the guesthouse. You will then leave Theth behind you at 11:00 to embark on a 3-hour ride back to Shkoder via minibus. Serpentines and narrow mountain roads will allow wonderful views of the Albanian Alps. Arrival at Shkodra is around 14:00.

Shala River Lumi Shales

From the lake Koman, a branch leads into the Shala River. The shallow water takes on a beautiful turquoise colour here. The picturesque setting, reminiscent of Thailand, attracts many visitors to relax on the riverbank in summer. To experience Shala, take a slightly later transfer on Day 2, arriving around 11:30 in the upper area of the Shala River, followed by lunch. Relax by the river or take a mini hike to a higher viewpoint.

Sometimes the water level of the river is low, and the boat cannot go all the way to the end of the river, which means you have to trudge a few metres through the shallow water. You will spend the night right on the river, with dinner and breakfast included, making your way back to Valbona by boat the next day. Price: 100 EUR/person (in August very crowded, very hot, not recommended).

Treat yourself to another day in the mountains to relax or take a short hike to explore the mysterious Blue Eye (Syri i Kalter), a natural pool of water located about 10 kilometers Theth. The 5-meter-deep and ice-cold (5°C) waters of the Blue Eye were formed by rock erosion caused by water falling from the mountains. Enjoy a picnic lunch at the Blue Eye and return to the guest house in the afternoon. On the way back, a short detour to Grunas Waterfall is recommended. Price: 45 EUR/person

Included

✓ 1 overnight stay: Guest house in a double room in Shkoder

✓ 2 nights: Guesthouse in double room / shared room in Valbona and Theth (subject to availability on arrival – see FAQs at the bottom for more details).

✓ All transfers in shared minibus

✓ Lake Koman ferry crossing

✓ Meals:

3×breakfast, 1×lunch (packed lunch for the hike over the pass), 2×dinner (in Valbona and Theth).

Packing

What you should bring

Good to know

  • This tour is suitable only for people with good physical condition.
  • The distance between Valbona and Theth is 16 kilometres. The maximum difference in altitude for the hike on day 3 is 1,000 metres.

Guest Houses

  • Gästehaus in Shkoder Nordalbanien
  • Unterkuenfte Theth Valbona - Gästehaus
  • Unterkuenfte Theth Valbona
  • Unterkuenfte Theth Valbona
  • Unterkuenfte Theth Valbona
  • Unterkuenfte Theth Valbona
  • Unterkuenfte Theth Valbona
  • Unterkuenfte Theth Valbona
  • Unterkuenfte Theth Valbona
  • Shala River - Lumi Shales
  • Verpflegung auf der Wanderung Theth-Valbona
  • Abendessen im Gästehaus in Teth auf der Wanderung Theth-Valbona

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Your travel expert
Your travel expertDirk Pohlers
Call us / WhatsApp us
+49 1578 1908495

Frequently asked questions

How long is the Theth Valbona hike?

We recommend planning around 6-7 hours of walking, plus stops. The hiking trail distance from Valbona to Theth is about 16 km with 1000 m maximum elevation gain.

The hikes usually take between six and eight hours per day, so previous hiking experience is an advantage, but not necessary for those who are in very good shape. During the hikes, participants must carry their own daypack.

The tour starts for you at the guesthouse in the center of Shkodra. The transfer to the mountains takes place the following day from the guesthouse. The tour ends after the return from Theth at the roundabout near the central mosque. From here, various buses depart for the onward journey.

From the north/south bus terminal in Tirana, buses run hourly to the north, the last one around 18:00, journey time approx. 2-3 hours. Just be at the bus terminal about 15 minutes before and get on, you pay later inside the bus.

You can leave any luggage you don’t need during the tour in the guest house in Shkoder and pick it up upon your return on the last day.

This hiking trail is characterized by many descents and ascents. The route leads over a relief that represents alpine terrain with steep slopes, river valleys carved into the mountain, rocky peaks, mountain pine belts, etc. However, the chosen paths are mostly passable and safe.

Unfortunately no. The guest houses in the mountains do not accept bookings for fixed rooms. Rooms are allocated on arrival. So if you arrive earlier, you tend to have a better chance of getting a separate room if available. Nevertheless, you should accept that you are likely to share a room with other hikers.

The food in this part of the world is something you will look forward to at the end of each day. Meals are freshly prepared in the traditional way and has a mix of Balkan, Turkish, and European influences. In the guesthouses, breakfast includes simple homemade bread with locally grown vegetables, dairy products, and eggs. For dinner, there are salads, traditional soups, meat dishes, vegetables, and pies. The guesthouses will also provide you with a packed lunch, which often includes a sandwich with cheese and vegetables. Vegetarians and diets are not a problem as the host families can provide alternatives. Remember to take your water bottle with you to refill it along the way. You can get water from springs along the way or from the taps in the guesthouses, as this is also drinkable water. However, if you are concerned about drinking untreated water, we recommend that you take water purification tablets or filters with you.

German, Swiss, and Austrian citizens can enter Albania without a visa. You only need an identity card or a passport that is valid for at least 3 months.

Neighboring countries: Currently, all neighboring countries require proof of vaccination or recovery and a negative PCR test not older than 72 hours or a negative antigen test not older than 48 hours.

For arrivals from other countries, please check with your local Foreign Office.

All persons entering Albania must have proof of vaccination, a negative test result (PCR test not older than 72 hours or antigen test not older than 48 hours) or proof of recovery (not older than 6 months). Children under 6 years of age are exempt from the obligation to provide proof.

The obligation to wear a mouth-nose protection applies indoors and in public transport.

The novel „Broken April“ by Ismail Kadare is set in these mountains. Reading it before the trip will enhance your experience of the journey.