( pick-up from hotel ) Here are all the extra services we offer. Push through for the final few kilometers and youll be rewarded with the wonderful views from the village of Theth. For now, heres the low down on Albanias best hike, the beautiful journey from Valbona to Theth. I brought less than two liters, but I knew that you could fill up on water about 1/4 of the way through the hike and 3/4 of the way through. I was wearing high speck, gripping hiking trainers and was struggling with slipping all along. From Theth, its a comparatively straightforward drive back to Shkoder. I found it so much better than just staying at a hotel or hostel. Recommended option Drive Drive from Shkodr to Theth 2h 20m $13 - $19 Quickest way to get there Cheapest option Distance between Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Albania But we will arrive in Tirana close to midnight, so we will stay there for one night to start our way to Theth the next morning. 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. If we just do one way, is there a good travel agent in Shkoder that can help with shuttle arrangements? It is also possible to hire a 44 private taxi if you dont fancy catching the shuttle bus. Thanks! It is possible to go with a private guide or as part of an organised tour, but its not necessary. You can get from Tirana to Theth by bus, by car or with a local driver/guide. Shkoder Hotels with Parking Shkoder Hotels with a Pool Pet Friendly Hotels in Shkoder. I have seen two other postings on this. Its a stunning panorama where you get vistas of the entire Valbona Valley and Theth Valley. Thanks for the detailed info regarding this trail. Have a fabulous time in Albania! The trek surpassed all my expectations and will go down as one of my top travel experiences in Albania. Note: Theth is very isolated and there are no ATMs in the village or Valbona. This was a brilliant idea. Last updated: February 28 | Data sourced from: ACAPS, OXFORD. Would you consider it dangerous to attempt with high chances of a storm? Heya Philipp, you can write us at welcome@zbulo.org for details, a 4x4 ride starts from 60 for the 3h drive to Shkoder. Qafe Thane (Macedonia) Elbasan Tirane Shkoder Theth. The airport is connected with direct lines and daily flights throughout Europe, operating both in summer and winter. There were plenty of hiking trails that you could connect to straight from the guesthouse. The three days that I spent in the Albanian Alps were far too short. Recommended Drive Drive from Theth to Shkodr 2h 20m $13 - $19 Quickest way to get there Cheapest option Distance between Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Albania It might be better to link up with other travellers the night before and set out together the next morning this should be fairly easy to do through your first guesthouse. Robert. Are you planning to do the trek? Hello emily. Qafe Morine (Kosovo) Kukes Milot Shkoder Theth. In addition, explore the Lock-In Tower in Theth. Stay overnight in Shkoder. After pickup from your accommodation in Tirana or Shkoder, travel via Jeep out of the city. A good place to camp is near the cafe above Theth. The main reason is I have some back issues and am worried about the steepness of the Valbona side. It costs 10 euros, or about 1200 lek for the three hour journey. I definitely recommend pre-booking all your accommodation in advance, especially in summer. Qafe Prush (Kosovo) Tropoje Koman (traveling by ferry through the lake of Koman) Shkoder Theth. This does vary year to year depending on the weather, so its a good idea to check with someone on the ground if possible. Find a guesthouse in Shkoder that will mind your big luggage if you book another night with them on the way back through. I recommend doing the reverse and trekking from Valbona to Theth. There isnt much of a town to Theth. 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). Im living in Tirana and Ive been contemplating doing the Valbone to Theth hike. There were about 3 times where there were 2 paths but luckily, I had maps.me downloaded on my phone to tell me which way was right. The Complete Travel Guide to Chacahua, Oaxaca | Mexico, The Best Party Destinations In Mexico | The Partying Traveler, The Complete Guide to Visiting Xochimilco | Mexico City, The Best Travel Destinations to Visit in Morocco | 2023, The Backpackers Travel Guide to Essaouira, Morocco | 2023, The Backpackers Travel Guide to Marrakech | Morocco, The Ultimate Backpackers Guide to Traveling in Georgia, The Backpackers Travel Guide to Barcelona, Spain | 2023, The Ultimate Guide to Nightlife in Prague | 2022, The Backpacker's Guide to Puerto Escondido, Mexico. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. The hiking season typically starts in May and lasts until the end of October, with July and August being the most popular months. The night before we left Valbona, our hosts gave us the option of skipping breakfast and taking a packed lunch instead. My adventures are entirely self-funded, so any show of support is greatly appreciated. Im not planning to stay in Shkoder for a few weeks !! This website uses affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you make a purchase through a link. 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. Its a great city to chill out both pre and post-hike. Hi Andrea, thats great to hear! Hi Emily Just take your time and youll be okay. I am considering to hike with my son who is 4 years old. I did meet one person who said they got lost and took an hour detour which wouldnt be nice to do on an already long hike! There are a few cafes on the way where you can buy a drink and freshen up along the way. We were able to leave our guesthouse by 7am and after a short drive to the trailhead, we started walking at 7.20am. Family run guesthouses offer the best value for money, the heartiest meals, and hands-on staff who can help you with trekking and transport logistics. If you dont feel like spending the night in Theth, its possible for you to finish up early and then head straight back to Shkoder. Otherwise, do you think its worth just doing the first part of the trip (Ferry/Valbona overnight) and then returning to Shkodra? Thanks for this great guide ! I do have one question though. Hi John! per adult. Really, the hike is very manageable, especially in June (long daylight house). (check out the best hotels in Theth here), How to get from Shkoder to Theth, Albania (Thethi). Our accommodation, for example, was a full 9km from the start of the trail thats almost the same distance as the hike itself! ), head for Mini Market Jezerca where you can grab a drink and use the free WIFI to get your bearings. Thanks for the rest of the information which was very very useful. A transfer from your hotel in Shkoder to Koman ferry terminal costs an additional 700 lek. Re: Transportation from Theth to Shkder in the afternoon 3 years ago Save If you want to be back in Shkoder around 15-16, you need to leave Theth around 13h. The bottom line is that the trek can be as long or as short as you want. From Theth, you can easily catch a bus back to Shkoder. The owners were some of the kindest people Ive ever met. We had a few hours before it got too hot, and by the time the sun started beating down us, we were in the shady downhill stretch of the hike. Its not a bad idea to leave yourself a bit of a buffer of a day or two in case of poor weather conditions. 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. The only way to travel between Theth and Shoder is by shared minibus. I wore a long-sleeved skivvy, comfy exercise shorts and a light scarf. You MUST have a 44 to visit Theth, a normal car will not do. We started our hike just before 7 AM which we felt was perfect. Shkoder - Koplik - Dedaj Shkreli - Boge - Field Okolit - Qafe t'Thore - Valley of Shale -Theth. The views here are absolutely epic. Hi Eva, lets see if anyone who has done the hike with kids can weigh in. But wow, was it way better than I imagined. Trust me, Im as stubborn as it gets for doing everything on my own to save a little money. They have white on green road signs such as in Italy and other countries nearby. Make sure to bring plenty of water. Because we were travelling in Albania for more than a month, we bought a local sim card in Shkoder. Please take enough cash with you for the time you are staying there. If you start the trek in Valbona, you can skip the first part of the trail, a gravel path thats very exposed and rough. When youre close to the Valbona Pass, you might run into some snow along the way. They helped sort everything else out for us. Its narrow in parts, and its so nice not to have people breathing down your neck or needing to negotiate two lanes of traffic. This takes around 1.5 hours via a paved road. Add it to yours.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,100],'thepartyingtraveler_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_2',135,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thepartyingtraveler_com-large-leaderboard-2-0'); I honestly often go slower on downhills than I do uphills, and this was no different. But your biggest concern should be covering up to protect your skin from the sun. The first thing you need to consider when planning the Valbona Theth trek is what time of year to go. The beds were comfy and they had hot showers, and best of all, a puppy! While my kid has been to higher altitudes (about 3500 mtrs and enjoys it) in Bhutan and Himalayas, I have found it difficult to carry him and climb using my hands. I dont think its possible to sleep somewhere along the way, unless some purpose-built accommodations have popped up since I was there. The hikers' paradise - Valbona Valley National Park Pass to Theth National Park, Valbona Village Valley, Valbona River Spring and Waterfall, and Theth Village. From there, its a few hours to get to where youll take the ferry. Definitely one of the best Ive come across for this trek. Thank you Ashley Exploring the city of Shkoder and the nature of Theth is one of the most popular activities in Albania. Instead of walking from your guesthouse, you can organise for a driver to take you to Rrogam, the small village where the trail starts. These are the two places I stayed at in Valbone and Theth. Are you going to trek from Valbona to Theth or try the reverse route? So lets take a virtual tour to Theth for any of the options: Traveling by car. And: did anyone by any chance do his trip with a small child / baby? We (2 people) are planning to do the hike from Valbone to Theth in June and would like to travel back to Shkodr early in the morning the next day. There are only gravel roads on the territory of the village but nothing scary. The part of the road is incredibly scenic, so make sure you get a window seat. Walking Poles (optional, but great for the rocky way down). ( pick-up from hotel ) From Valbone to Fierze we start at 10:30am. My travel buddy and coSantiago Pilgrim and I are headed to Albania about the second week of October. Some travel restrictions are being lifted in Albania. I would recommend leaving at the latest 8 am, otherwise if you do take a lot of breaks you may be walking to Valbona in the dark which can be a little scary. Do you think this is doable? It cost 16 euros for all of that. That is an incredible price for the long, but beautiful journey. There's a lot more to do in this village compared to Valbone. Are hiking shoes a must have for the trek or can we use regular trainers ? Free cancellation. Hey Kim! The road distance is 72.6 km. For a 44 the road is great fun! There are brown bears, wolves and lynx in the area another reason why you should stick to the marked trail. Seriously, its so much easier. Finally, its easier to organise transport back to Shkoder from Theth on the fly. What is the Valbona Theth trek actually like on the ground? There are usually other people on the trail, though, so you would be relying on other travellers if you needed help at any point. Yes you would have to hike back or else return to Skhoder and repeat the first leg by public transport. It allows me to keep providing free travel guides and creating travel content to help you all travel the world.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,100],'thepartyingtraveler_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_9',118,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thepartyingtraveler_com-medrectangle-3-0'); I hiked from Valbone (or Valbona) to Theth. Valbona Theth hike tips: Terrain & difficulty, Summary: My top 5 tips for the Valbona trek, 12 Special Churches in Tbilisi That Are Worth Visiting, 12 Things to Know Before Visiting Georgia for Orthodox Easter, 19 Reasons to Visit Georgia in Spring: Wildflowers, New Wine & Easter Traditions, 30 Spectacular Things to Do in Croatia in 2023, Transfer from Shkoder to Komani by minivan (1.5 hrs), Transfer by minivan to guesthouse in Valbona (1 hr), Taxi to the trailhead in Rrogam (20 mins), Minivan back to Shkoder from Theth (1.5 hrs via a new road). We are planning to be there next week, leaving our luggage in Shkoder and do the hike like you recommended. Many thanks for the kind words. Source? Self-Guided Tour: Hiking of Komani Lake, Valbona Valley & Theth in 3 Days. Anything you can do to maximise your time in that area. This is fabulous! There are 93+ hotels available in Theth. Wow!! For the latest travel status, please check the official page for Albania. Your private trip includes lodging, meals, and all transportation. 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. It was great for us to see it done as we went with normal car, so we were not sure if we can reach Theth based on the info we found on internet. Seems like you experienced it? 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. This put us way ahead of the pack (and ahead of the weather). Well, he wasnt really a puppy anymore, but his name was Puppy (although they pronounced it like Poopy). After asking and reading around, we figured it could take anywhere between 5 and 10 hours to complete the 9.5 km hike from Rroga to Theth village. The views here were nothing short of breathtaking. The Highways in Albania are the central state and main transport network in Albania.The motorways and expressways are both part of the national road network. I recommend leaving your luggage in Shkoder as you have to pass through there to get the ferry anyway. Trip duration: 2,5 hours one wayMinibus Ticket Price: 15 Eur/ Person one way, English Speaking Phone 00355 69 60 15 771, Thethi Guide and Albanian Alps tour information 2023. 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. 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