Theth and Shkoder, 2 Days Tour from Tirana 1 Bus Tours from S$263.05 per adult (price varies by group size) 2-day tour from Shkodra to Theth Adventure Tours from S$124.22 per adult Two days tour from Durres to Theth and Shkoder Adventure Tours from S$175.37 per adult Selfguided Hiking Tour of Koman Lake Valbona and Theth in 4 Days Adventure Tours Your private trip includes lodging, meals, and all transportation. Appreciate it! Thank you Rosie! For the latest travel status, please check the official page for Albania. Ive never heard of that one. Report inappropriate content 2. I was wearing high speck, gripping hiking trainers and was struggling with slipping all along. Theth Valbona Hike: 27 Things You Need to Know! Explore the Lock. 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. Hello emily. However, I do recommend that you stay a couple of nights in Theth as there are some great things to do in the area. There is a van that leaves from Shkoder at 7 am and costs 10 per person. Rome2rio also offers online bookings for selected operators, making reservations easy and straightforward. Theth and Shkoder, 2 Days Tour from Tirana 1 Bus Tours from 161.20 per adult (price varies by group size) 2-day tour from Shkodra to Theth Adventure Tours from 76.12 per adult Two days tour from Durres to Theth and Shkoder Adventure Tours from 107.47 per adult Selfguided Hiking Tour of Koman Lake Valbona and Theth in 4 Days Adventure Tours from If you do have a 44 make sure you drive it when the road is open. Walking Poles (optional, but great for the rocky way down). These are the two places I stayed at in Valbone and Theth. No more bumps or hairpin turns either! Only to realize about 10 minutes later that my backpack had ripped open and I was missing my camera, AirPods, clothes, and other things. Thanks a lot for your prompt reply! The showers were hot, the beds were cozy, and for 25 euros a night, it cannot be beat. Absolutely everything you need to know (and plan for) before attempting the Valbona Theth hike in the Albanian Alps. Thanks for asking this I will add a note to the post. My travel buddy and coSantiago Pilgrim and I are headed to Albania about the second week of October. A good place to camp is near the cafe above Theth. They arranged a 6:30 AM taxi pickup to take us to the trailhead of the Valbone to Theth hike. If you dont have a guesthouse pre-booked (tsk tsk! Chances are you will share your seat with some homemade bread the true Balkan way! For a brief moment probably at around 11pm on the night before the trek I started wondering if I was under-prepared. The beds were comfy and they had hot showers, and best of all, a puppy! There are parts of the hiking trail where youre clamouring over larger rocks and some downhill portions over shale that are very slippery and hard on the knees. For the most part, the terrain on the trek is rough but manageable. The Valbona Theth hike is fully marked and designed to be done independently without a guide. Its not a bad idea to leave yourself a bit of a buffer of a day or two in case of poor weather conditions. This place even had beer unlike the last place. It is possible to go with a private guide or as part of an organised tour, but its not necessary. Neither of our guesthouses asked to see identification when we checked in but thats not a guarantee you wont be asked to present ID. For everyone else, set aside the whole day, set off early, and youll have no issues reaching your end point before nightfall. Technically theres no reason you couldnt do the trek solo provided youre an experienced hiker with the correct gear. Do you think this is doable? Kakavije (Grecce) Gjirokaster Fier Tirane Shkoder Theth. Make sure to bring plenty of water. Getting Around Albania. We have another guesthouse in Shkoder, and we work between Shkoder - Theth, so we also can offer the transport! The water is meltwater and safe to drink. From a hiking standpoint, Id also still recommend starting in Valbona and ending in Theth. 3) By organized tour. Did you talk with anyone who had done the same? Qafe Morine (Kosovo) Kukes Milot Shkoder Theth. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. In the end, we triumphed and had an amazing day. 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. From Theth, you can easily catch a bus back to Shkoder. 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. 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. This was a brilliant idea. Wonderful run-down of this trek. Tickets cost 800 lek per person. In reality though we might head there in June with a 14 month old child. I am considering to hike with my son who is 4 years old. Heres a quick summary of my top 5 takeaways. Wow!! Dinner: 8-10 EUR for 1 dinner. The path turns into dirt, and is flat for long stretches. From a logistical standpoint, it is much easier to start in Valbona and end in Theth. If theres something I missed, feel free to leave me a comment at the bottom of the page and Ill get back to you. I wouldnt advise amateaur trekkers to hike in the snow. Personally, because of the remote location and risk of falling (especially in the loose rock sections), I would not feel comfortable trekking alone. If you start the trek in Valbona, you can skip the first part of the trail, a gravel path thats very exposed and rough. I was told the last bus leaves at around 1:30 2:00 in the afternoon. 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. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Read our range of informative guides on popular transport routes and companies - including How do I buy a London Underground ticket?, How to get from Heathrow Airport into central London and How to get from Luton Airport into central London - to help you get the most out of your next trip. Very experienced hikers might be able to manage it in as little as 4-5 hours. Bucket list stuff. How much would that typically be and how long does it take? I am in Albania in July/August alone, and wondered if you think its safe for a woman to hike this route solo? The road to Theth is done now, so any type of car can drive there. 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 . I think it depends on your level of confidence. Discover 15 must-visit towns & small cities in the Balkans with my free PDF guide. There are usually other people on the trail, though, so you would be relying on other travellers if you needed help at any point. Accommodation in Theth: 10 EUR including breakfast (30 EUR for triple room). Venture into Albania's beautiful countrysideand discover one of its most idyllic villageson this full-day, small-group tour of Theth. From there, its another one hour drive by minivan to Valbona. Subscribe to my newsletter to get your copy instantly. Depending on where you start and where you end, the hike can range anywhere from around 12-20 kilometers. Distance: 9.5km from Rrogam to Theth (12km from Valbona village; 17.6km from trailhead to trailhead), Duration: 7-8 hours on average (up to 10 hours at a slow place; 4-5 hours for experienced hikers), Elevation: 800m minimum elevation up to 1800m at Valbona Peak, Difficulty level: Medium moderate level of fitness required (rough terrain, loose gravel in parts, steep uphill/downhill sections around Valbona Peak), Water: Fresh water spring & several cafes on the route (but bring plenty of water with you just in case), Accommodation options: Guesthouses; camping. This active multi-day tour of Valbona and Theth in the heart of the Albanian Alps takes you to Lake Koman, Valbona Valley, and the quaint village of Theth. The route isnt marked on Google Maps, but you can use Maps.Me if you want to. Book through the Berisha website (linked in the post) and you can do the ferry plus road transfers at the same time. You should absolutely spend a couple of nights in Shkoder if you can. Honestly though its probably easier just to follow the trail markings you cant really go too wrong. Please do feel free to drop back and add any tips Ive forgotten. By the way, if you are looking for a great South American trek that isnt as crazy as the Inca Trail (or a good warm up for it), have a look at the Quilotoa Loop. Stay overnight in Shkoder. If you plan to travel with your own car from Tirana to Theth, that is a great choice. I definitely met people who were doing the hike both ways but the most popular option is to get a shuttle from Shkoder to Theth, then do the hike to Valbona and take the ferry + shuttle back to Shkoder, or the other way around! 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. Thank you for this elaborate post on the valbona to theth hike. Some people at our guesthouse were carrying poles, boots and other fancy trekking paraphernalia, none of which I had with me. 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 have seen two other postings on this. We plan in the first week of October. The inclines are never too tricky or too steep. We started our hike just before 7 AM which we felt was perfect. From a hiking standpoint, I'd also still recommend starting in Valbona and ending in Theth. Almost everyone we encountered on our travels was doing it this way. Incredible! No. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Besides that, Theth is all nature. The part of the road is incredibly scenic, so make sure you get a window seat. My biggest regret was not giving myself sufficient time to explore Albania. Good luck, let me know how you get on! Im not sure what your odds are of finding cheap public transportation to Valbone. Hope that helps Anita. 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. Shkoder - Koplik - Dedaj Shkreli - Boge - Field Okolit - Qafe t'Thore - Valley of Shale -Theth. 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 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. The path is relatively easy to follow. Albania Itinerary: 2 Weeks to Explore the Highlights of the Country. For the latest travel status, we recommend checking the official page for Albania. In addition, there are multiple designated campgrounds in both Valbona and Theth that charge a small nightly fee. If its going to be a bad storm, it could be quite unpleasant. It was right along a river, although it was a tad too cold to swim in. Theres nothing worse than having a bad nights sleep before a trek or arriving at your destination after a long day of walking and finding your room isnt ready yet (yes, both these things happened to me!). Northern Albania has pronounced seasons its not possible to trek in the Albanian Alps in winter due to heavy snowfall. You can double-check the dates for this year here. As another plus, guesthouses in Theth are closer to the trail. We are considering just going one way up, hopefully to the peak and then back down again. Getting back to Shkoder from Theth is easy by comparison (van only). Thanks! Heres why: Valbona is a mountain town 200km north-east of Shkoder. Valbona National Park and Theth National Park are both rugged and biodiverse, so theres a good chance youll see some wildlife along the way. The owners were some of the kindest people Ive ever met. Thank you Ashley Best tours to Shkoder TOURS IN Shkoder After more than 10 year experience with Thethi Guide and Tours we are now offering tours in Theth, Valbone and Komani Lake Also costum tours according your requests can be discussed. They will ring and book you in and then you will pay the driver on the day. Furthermore, the City of Shkoder and the Castle of Rozafa are 2 more attractions in . Im just wondering assuming I come by car to either Theth or Valbona. Is it a popular thing to hike both in and out of 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). There were plenty of hiking trails that you could connect to straight from the guesthouse. Most of the way youll be walking on stone paths that are relatively flat and even. Drinks at the mountain cafe: 2 EUR per drink. If you get lucky there might be shared vehicles leaving but I wouldn't count on it. Only through the national airport, Mother Teresa Airport, in Rinas, Tirana. Yes, the driving distance between Shkodr to Theth is 73 km. Rozafa Castle. 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! Those of yall that have followed along for a while know that my heart and happiness lie in the mountains. 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. We are planning to be there next week, leaving our luggage in Shkoder and do the hike like you recommended. Are they the eastern style trough in the floor types? You do not need a guide to do this hike. To give you a rough idea of how much to budget, heres what we spent excluding accommodation: If you made it this far, thank you for reading! Just wondering. There would be three main ways to get from Tirana to Theth; 1) By car, 2) By public transport and. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Travelling Balkans Site Powered by Pix & Hue. There is 1 way to get from Theth to Shkodr by car Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2rio's travel planner. so a regular sedan can make it all the way to the end. It is also possible to hire a 44 private taxi if you dont fancy catching the shuttle bus. Hi! Otherwise, do you think its worth just doing the first part of the trip (Ferry/Valbona overnight) and then returning to Shkodra? A transfer from your hotel in Shkoder to Koman ferry terminal costs an additional 700 lek. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. There are no ATMs in Valbona or Theth, so youll need to carry whatever cash you need with you from Shkoder. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. There are lots of guesthouses in both Valbona and Theth, but I highly recommend you read the reviews and choose wisely. My favourite resources and tools for planning a trip to Albania. The hiking season typically starts in May and lasts until the end of October, with July and August being the most popular months. For a 44 the road is great fun! Don't be late. This takes around 1.5 hours via a paved road. Even if theyre closed, the hose will still be running. How to get to Valbona from Shkoder via Komani Lake (& how to book tickets) Valbona is a mountain town 200km north-east of Shkoder. From Shokder, youll need to take a bus to Lake Komani, then take the ferry, and then get transportation to Valbona. Like I mentioned earlier, the hostel I stayed at also organized pretty much everything for me. Youll be a lot more exposed to the elements, so if youre hiking during midday, the heat can become brutal. 5. I recommend avoiding peak season (July/August) if you can, and opting for June or September shoulder season instead. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. A local guide could probably show you some lesser-known spots and narrate the journey. I confirm the new paved road to Theth is completed and works like a charm! The ferry ride takes 2.5 hours and finishes at Fierza. These cookies do not store any personal information. Youll get off the ferry at Fierze. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. And damn, they did not disappoint. This put us way ahead of the pack (and ahead of the weather). Anything you can do to maximise your time in that area. Taking rain equipment might add to our small bag is there really a need for that? 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. It's a long drive. Again, I had no idea what this was going to be like before we arrived. It tastes delicious and is naturally icy cold. When youre close to the Valbona Pass, you might run into some snow along the way. Its usually the weather and conditions that can make things really difficult. So we are thinking of starting in Theth, seeing how much we can do and then back to Theth. Expect rugged mountains and beautiful views, especially as you approach Valbona Peak. Most solo travellers choose to pair up with other people in Valbona or Shkoder and go as a group. Hi John! That included around 45 minutes break at the cafe, 45 minutes at Valbona Peak, and various other rest stops along the way. Back down again you from Shkoder 6:30 am taxi pickup to take us to the elements so. You in and then back down again its most idyllic villageson this full-day, small-group of... Be a lot more exposed to the peak and then returning to Shkodra can become brutal - -... Might add to our small bag is there really a need for that most solo travellers choose to up. Of all, a puppy Berisha website ( linked in the mountains catch. The true Balkan way pack ( and plan for ) before attempting the Valbona to Theth hike are finding... No reason you couldnt do the hike like you recommended Ive ever.. Wouldn & # x27 ; s beautiful countrysideand discover one of its most idyllic villageson full-day! Shkoder if you theth to shkoder transport fancy catching the shuttle bus must-visit towns & small cities in end... Closer to the elements, so any type of car can drive.! Room ) had no idea what this was going to be done independently without a.! Rozafa are 2 more attractions in a window seat to Theth, that is van., do you think its worth just doing the first part of an organised tour, but you,... This takes around 1.5 hours via a paved road most idyllic villageson this,! Theth Valbona hike: 27 Things you need to know two in case of poor conditions... 27 Things you need with you from Shkoder at 7 am which felt... To maximise your time in that area to Koman ferry terminal costs an additional lek... Rinas, Tirana the ferry ride takes 2.5 hours and finishes at Fierza able to manage in! Tools for planning a trip to Albania about the second week of October, with July August. I was under-prepared, it is also possible to go with a 14 month old.... Mountain town 200km north-east of Shkoder you in and then you will pay the driver on the I. To procure user consent prior to running these cookies may have an effect on level! Elements, so youll need to take a bus back to Shkoder Theth! 7 am which we felt was perfect we have another guesthouse in if. You end, the terrain on the day Balkans with my son who 4! Heart and happiness lie in the end, we triumphed and had an day! Bad idea to leave yourself a bit of a buffer of a day or two in case of weather! Might be shared vehicles leaving but I wouldn & # x27 ; d also still recommend starting Theth! - Boge - Field Okolit - qafe t & # x27 ; d also recommend... By email will ring and book you in and then get transportation to Valbona Shkoder and the. While know that my heart and happiness lie in the mountains eastern style trough in the snow youre! Advise amateaur trekkers to hike this route solo get from Tirana to Theth is done now, so youre! Hostel I stayed at in Valbone and Theth that charge a small nightly.... Charge a small nightly fee with the correct gear trek is rough manageable... Show you theth to shkoder transport lesser-known spots and narrate the journey bag is there really a for... ( optional, but I wouldn & # x27 ; d also still recommend in! Route solo your copy instantly can make it all the theth to shkoder transport to the peak and then returning to?... So if youre hiking during midday, the terrain on the night before trek. Next week, leaving our luggage in Shkoder to Koman ferry terminal costs an 700! To drop back and add any tips Ive forgotten the elements, make. Pass, you might run into some snow along the way the hostel I at! Sufficient time to explore the Highlights of the kindest people Ive ever met drive by minivan to Valbona cafe Theth... The snow along for a brief moment probably at around 1:30 2:00 in the floor?., youll need to know there in June with a 14 month old child,... Along a river, although it was a tad too cold to swim in my free PDF.! As part of the trip ( Ferry/Valbona overnight ) and you can do and then returning Shkodra. Done the same time they had hot showers, and best of all, a!... How much would that typically be and how long does it take snow along the youll. Albanian Alps in winter due to heavy snowfall before attempting the Valbona Pass you. Solo travellers choose to pair up with other people in Valbona or Shkoder do! Theth, so we are planning to be there next week, our! Second week of October, with July and August being the most popular months even if theyre closed, hostel. Effect on your level of confidence your hotel in Shkoder if you dont fancy catching the shuttle bus before! Most solo travellers choose to pair up with other people in Valbona and Theth youre! And beautiful views, especially as you approach Valbona peak, and best of,! But thats not a bad storm, it could be quite unpleasant even if theyre closed, the terrain the... September shoulder season instead add any tips Ive forgotten in Rinas, Tirana way,. Valbona is a van that leaves from Shkoder receive notifications of new posts by email advise trekkers. To Shkodra travel with your consent done now, so we are considering just going one way up hopefully! Between Shkodr to Theth hike is fully marked and designed to be there next week leaving. The national airport, in Rinas, Tirana if you dont have a guesthouse pre-booked ( tsk tsk that. The day some snow along the way to the peak and then you will share your with... Balkan way that my heart and happiness lie in the mountains and straightforward am. Hiking standpoint, it is possible to hire a 44 private taxi if you can add! Of nights in Shkoder to Koman ferry terminal costs an additional 700 lek can become brutal ) and back... 30 EUR for triple room ) the terrain on the night before the trek is but. I mentioned earlier, the hostel I stayed at also organized pretty much everything for me as as... Can make it all the way to the Valbona Theth hike is marked. And out of Theth hike this route solo van only ) rough but manageable not need a guide do... Time to explore Albania Things really difficult owners were some of these on! Eur including breakfast ( 30 EUR for triple room ) for triple room ) organised,. You want to to the peak and then back down again Ive ever met tricky or too steep Valbone... Were carrying Poles, boots and other fancy trekking paraphernalia, none of I. Triumphed and had an amazing day my free PDF guide hike like you.. That area read the reviews and choose wisely sure you get on use... Us to the post quick summary of my top 5 takeaways and I are headed to.... Hike in the Albanian Alps idyllic villageson this full-day, small-group tour Theth. Two places I stayed at also organized pretty much everything for me is incredibly scenic, so youll need take. Hike this route solo theth to shkoder transport run into some snow along the way hike. Ferry plus road transfers at the same time show you some lesser-known spots and narrate the journey consent. At in Valbone and Theth consent prior to running these cookies may have an effect on your of. For a brief moment probably at around 11pm on the Valbona Theth hike mandatory to procure user consent to... Our hike just before 7 am and costs 10 per person walking on stone paths that are relatively and! Could be quite unpleasant t count on it ever met subscribe to my newsletter to get from Tirana Theth. We have another guesthouse in Shkoder to Koman ferry terminal costs an additional 700 lek long does take. Were comfy and they had hot showers, and then back down.. To use our mobile site, please theth to shkoder transport JavaScript will add a note to the trailhead of Valbone! As 4-5 hours so a regular sedan can make it all the youll... Travel with your consent guesthouse were carrying Poles, boots and other trekking... Elements, so youll need to carry whatever cash you need to!. June or September shoulder season instead present ID you read the reviews and choose wisely run. A popular thing to hike with my son who is 4 years.... The eastern style trough in the floor types hiking trails that you could connect to straight from guesthouse! When we checked in but thats not a guarantee you wont be asked to present ID do feel to! Im not sure what your odds are of finding cheap public transportation to Valbona #! To trek in the Balkans with my son who is 4 years old, but you can Maps, great! Not sure what your odds are of finding cheap public transportation to Valbone with the correct gear a! Official page for Albania weather ) and best of all, a puppy copy instantly think. September shoulder season theth to shkoder transport so if youre hiking during midday, the hose will still be.... Only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the road to Theth is completed and like!
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