Theth – Valbone – Shala River

Package Includes

• 3 Nights Accommodation (*shared)
• Guesthouse breakfast, dinner & picnic lunch
• Transportation and Logistics
• Certified Guide
• Tour dates:   TBA  (3 nights & 4 days)

*A minimum of 4 attendees are required for this tour to happen. Please WhatsApp to communicate with Tour Leader for an update. 

We offer an intimate experience of Albania by organizing ONLY small groups and we travel with a leisurely pace! 

Theth Valbone passage is the most iconic hikes of Albania. From Theth village (850m) to Valbone (995 m) we hike through Valbona pass (1795m) for about 14-kilometer. The route follows the path of an ancient mule track linking the tribal regions of Shala and Nikaj. The hike goes through a narrow crest that gives a view in both of the valleys. The Albanian Alps are one of the most impressive topographic features of Albania. The mountains are characterized by limestone and dolomite rocks and show major karst features.

THETH - Visiting Theth in the early 20th century, the traveler Edith Durham said: "I think no place where human beings live has given me such an impression of majestic isolation from all the world". Theth remains remote even today. The single road leading there from the village of Boga has been recently paved and upgraded but is still mostly impassable during the winter months until April.

VALBONA - the etymology of the word in Italian ‘Val-bona,’ means ‘the Good-valley’, is a name which describes the valley, its river, and the main village in the valley. The district, bordering with Kosovo to the northeast and Montenegro to the northwest, and Thethi National Park in the southwest, is part of the Accursed Mountains and the main point of connection of the cross-country trails, of the itinerary ‘Peaks of the Balkan’. Bjeshkët e Nemuna mean "the accursed (mountains)", possibly because they are perceived as insurmountable and wild. The mountain range is also known as the Alpet Shqiptare, meaning "Albanian Alps". The impressive Valbona River is the largest river within the Albanian Alps and originates from several karst springs south of Jezerca Peak and east of Valbona Pass.

KOMAN Lake & SHALA River - Lake Koman is surrounded by dense forested hills, vertical slopes, deep gorges, and a narrow valley, completely taken up by the river. Besides Drin River, it is fed by the Shala and Valbona Rivers. The lake stretches in an area of 34 km² (13 sq mi), its width being 400 m (0.25 mi). The narrowest gorge, which is surrounded by vertical canyon walls, is more than 50 m (0.031 mi) wide. The reservoir was constructed between 1979 and 1988 near the village of Koman with a height of 115 m (377 ft). Shala River is distinguished by its crystalline water, with an average annual flow of about 34 m³ / sec. Its source is in the Albanian Alps near the village of Theth. The cool blue color of the water is characteristic of this river. The steep cliffs that surround it make it seem like you could touch the sky with your hand.

Day ONE

• 08:00 - Depart from Tirana
• 10:30 - Shkoder to Theth Transfer
• 13:00 - Theth Guesthouse Check In & Lunch
• 16:00 - Hiking Ujevara Trail & Visit Village center (1.5 hrs)
• 19:00 - Dinner

Day TWO

•   7:00 - Breakfast (+ picnic lunch)
•   8:00 - Hiking Valbone Pass (6 + hrs)
•  13:00 - Picnic Lunch on the mountain
• 16:30 - Valbone Guesthouse Check In
• 19:00 - Dinner

Day THREE

•   7:00 - Breakfast  (+ picnic lunch)
•   8:00 - Hiking Ujevara  (2 hrs)
• 14:00 - Depart for Bajram Curri / Fierze
• 15:00 - Private Boat Ride to Shala River  (2.5 hrs)
• 17:30 - Shala River Guesthouse Check In
• 19:00 - Dinner

Day FOUR

• 08:00 - Breakfast
• 09:00 - River / Beach / Rest  (2 hrs)
• 12:00 - Boat ride to Koman
• 14:45 - Transfer Koman to Tirana
• 19:00 - Expected time of arrival

NOTE: Please inspect your hiking gear before departure and make sure it has the necessary endurance. We are going into a very remote area with no access to even shoe laces. Please bring warm layers for the evenings in the alps, wind and rain gear, hat, back pack and picnic lunch box, water bottles etc. You must be an experienced hiker to complete this tour and be able to hike from 6-8 hours (including breaks).

********************************************************************************************

Meeting Point:                              Sheshi Frederik Shopen (MAP HERE) 

Departure Time:                           8:00 am (please arrive 15 minutes prior)