You can hire a mule to carry larger backpacks (we saw a few people doing this), but I personally think its overkill. Ill run through some of the common questions concerning the Valbona Theth trek and offer my best pieces of advice for making the most of your time in the Albanian Alps. You may want to consider travelling from Tirana to Shkoder first, staying 1-2 nights in Shkoder and then travelling onwards from Shkoder to Valbona or from Shkoder to Theth. Tirana city does not have a railway station. From Theth, you can easily catch a bus back to Shkoder. The entire journey from Valbona via Lake Koman to Shkoder costs 21 euros or 2600 Leke per person. So a bus ticket from Valbona to Fierze, a ferry boat ticket from Fierze to Koman, and a bus ticket from Koman to Shkoder. While the Komani Lake Ferry was originally not intended for tourist it now has become one of the most popular activities in the North of Albania. Tickets cost 800 lek per person. We are planning on doing this in a few days and the forecast is full of thunderstorms on and off for the next few days. Im glad you found my advice helpful! Still undecided about getting a guide. There are different routes to drive via the road to Valbona. For the most part, the terrain on the trek is rough but manageable. One question I had is how is the signposting on the valbone thethi pass. I plan to carry him for most parts of the journey. These are prominent and appear as often as every 50 metres on either end of the trail (although they are more dispersed as you near Valbona Peak). A beautiful 2.5 hour boat ride that will take you through the most beautiful valleys, with the water so clear that sometimes it almost looks like a mirror. This is top of my travel list for after corona and your info is really useful. Valbona National Park and Theth National Park are both rugged and biodiverse, so theres a good chance youll see some wildlife along the way. Our primary payment option is via PayPal or Credit Card ( you get 20% for most of the services if you pay online ). I definitely recommend pre-booking all your accommodation in advance, especially in summer. We opted to email the company instead, info can be found on the same link, and to pay in cash instead. We were able to leave our guesthouse by 7am and after a short drive to the trailhead, we started walking at 7.20am. Tour in Valbona Valley - Koman Lake Ferry Berisha 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. And then from Bajram Curri to Valbona. Your email address will not be published. 1. 12PM:minibus from Fierze to Valbona. Hi Georgia! You have Successfully Subscribed! Payment is either online (credit card or Paypal) or in cash on the day. As little as 2-3 trains operate in the entire country per week, usually between Durres and Elbasan. Continue Reading: Lake Komani Ferry: Guide To The World's Most Beautiful Ferry Ride; The Perfect South Balkans Travel Itinerary: Albania, North Macedonia, Kosovo; The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. There is a reason why bus drivers and taxi drivers choose to drive via Kosovo! The tour to Komani Lake & Valbona Valley is a special interest hiking and adventure tour program exclusively designed to offer participants the best combination of pristine wild nature, unforgettable ferry ride through the heart of the Albanian Alps, local folklore and . .et_bloom .et_bloom_optin_2 .et_bloom_form_content { background-color: #ffb845 !important; } .et_bloom .et_bloom_optin_2 .et_bloom_form_container .et_bloom_form_header { background-color: #ed9810 !important; } .et_bloom .et_bloom_optin_2 .wedge_edge .triangle { fill: #ed9810} .et_bloom .et_bloom_optin_2 .et_bloom_form_content button { background-color: #ffffff !important; } .et_bloom .et_bloom_optin_2 .et_bloom_form_content .et_bloom_fields i { color: #ffffff !important; } .et_bloom .et_bloom_optin_2 .et_bloom_form_content .et_bloom_custom_field_radio i:before { background: #ffffff !important; } .et_bloom .et_bloom_optin_2 .et_bloom_form_content button { background-color: #ffffff !important; } .et_bloom .et_bloom_optin_2 .et_bloom_form_container h2, .et_bloom .et_bloom_optin_2 .et_bloom_form_container h2 span, .et_bloom .et_bloom_optin_2 .et_bloom_form_container h2 strong { font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, Lucida, sans-serif; }.et_bloom .et_bloom_optin_2 .et_bloom_form_container p, .et_bloom .et_bloom_optin_2 .et_bloom_form_container p span, .et_bloom .et_bloom_optin_2 .et_bloom_form_container p strong, .et_bloom .et_bloom_optin_2 .et_bloom_form_container form input, .et_bloom .et_bloom_optin_2 .et_bloom_form_container form button span { font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, Lucida, sans-serif; } The price of getting from Shkoder to Valbona is approximately 2200 Lek (700 Lek/ticket for each bus and 800 Lek for the ferry). Some people at our guesthouse were carrying poles, boots and other fancy trekking paraphernalia, none of which I had with me. You can see the location of the bus station in Shkoder on a Google Map here: https://goo.gl/maps/njpaSHUufXDuaNtU7. Public parking space (free)https://goo.gl/maps/QcokDu86qhzfdPqs6, Public parking space (free)https://goo.gl/maps/o6Vf9tVsgbuSnenYA. Valbona to Shkoder 3 years ago Save How long does this journey usually take? However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. The Guesthouse is located in the Komani Lake, in front of Peace Island.To arrive in the Guesthouse from Koman Terminal, the traveling time is around 40 minutes with Ferry Berisha or Dragobia Boat. The bus journey takes approximately 2 hours. Day 2: Taxi to the trailhead in Rrogam (20 mins) Valbona to Theth hike. Like I described above, you can also decide to hire a private 4 wheel drive taxi instead of taking the shared minibus. Ps. The 2.5 hour ferry ride has quickly became one of the most popular things to do in North Albania, and was undeniably one of the highlights of our travels through Albania. Reply Report inappropriate content Browse forums All The hostel is located almost in the center of Shkoder, half a block from the main Mosque, across the street from the Kinema Milenium (an old theater, now used as an outdoor cafe and restaurant). Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. It is one of my favourite travel experiences to date and truly one of the most underrated and beautiful day hikes in Europe. Which Way is Better: Valbona to Theth, or Theth to Valbona? This is the address of the bus station: Gazheli Petrol, Rruga Asim Vokshi, Tiran, Albania. Day 2: Get up early and do the hike to Theth. So that, you get to experience the most beautiful places in Albania! The Perfect One Week And Two Weeks Travel Itinerary For Albania . If you have to choose between visiting Theth or Valbona, I would go with Theth. Just a question regarding the gear. 6:30 AM: minibus from Shkoder to Koman. Discover the lush countryside around the remote village of Berisha and hike to Komani Lake. A boat drops you off and picks you up the next day to take you to Valbona. Advance bookings are mandatory for the Komani Lake ferry. Hiking tour of Koman Lake, Valbona Valley and Theth in six days. This website uses affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you make a purchase through a link. Pick up service from Tirana, Shkodra and Valbona - Koman Lake Ferry Berisha Come prepared and dont count on the cafes being open. Also this service is only available for those who book another service (ferry ticket, tours etc. 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. Otherwise yes, its very much worth just doing the first part of the trip. My recommendation is to seal your important documents in a waterproof bag and keep them at the bottom of your day pack. Because there is no phone reception, it would be difficult to get help in an emergency. Best place to get lek in or near airport? The former railway station was demolished in 2013 and it is currently 2023, and there is no new railway station in Tirana. Mid to late June through to September is a safe bet. Follow my adventures through the Caucasus, the Balkans, Southeast Asia and beyond as I inspire you to fill your own travels with colour, culture and creativity. The cookie is used to store and identify a users' unique session ID for the purpose of managing user session on the website. But maybe you still have a couple of questions left, we sure did until we actually reached the ferry. ( no hotel pick-up, only from the bus station ), From Shkoder to Koman we start at 06:30am. Day 1: Tirana Day 2: Tirana Day 3: Shkoder Day 4: Shkoder to Lake Koman Ferry to Valbona Day 5: Valbona to Theth hike Day 6: Full day in Theth Day 7: Theth to Tirana. I think the pass would still be manageable, but I would recommend getting in touch with someone on the ground to confirm. Your Free Albania Tourist Map is in your email! When is the best time to do Valbona Theth hike? Northern Albania has pronounced seasons its not possible to trek in the Albanian Alps in winter due to heavy snowfall. This is my top tip for the Valbona Theth hike. Thanks! It works only in coordination with the primary cookie. The Komani Lake Ferry - Albania's Most Beautiful Ferry Ride So you might be wondering, why would I discuss driving from Tirana to Valbona via Kosovo, if there is an inland road to Valbona. Komani Lake Ferry - Ferry Berisha and Boat Dragobia The night before we left Valbona, our hosts gave us the option of skipping breakfast and taking a packed lunch instead. This is a portrait I took of a local woman in the village of Nage, in Flores, Indonesia. But you can also request for the minibus to pick you up from your hotel or guest house in Shkoder. However, bear in mind that train travel within Albania is very limited. The Komani Lake ferry is a real treat, and by far the best way to get from Shkoder to Valbona. No absolutely not, I wore trainers (and so did all my companions) and we had no issues at all. Delete cookies, By using our website, you agree to our use of cookies. Thank you! Honestly, if youre trekking in good weather in summer, you dont need any of it. We will do the same in September and this really helps I think: https://journeytovalbona.com/how-to-get-here/#valbona-shkoder. }.et_bloom .et_bloom_optin_3 .et_bloom_form_content button { background-color: #ffffff !important; } .et_bloom .et_bloom_optin_3 .et_bloom_form_content .et_bloom_fields i { color: #ffffff !important; } .et_bloom .et_bloom_optin_3 .et_bloom_form_content .et_bloom_custom_field_radio i:before { background: #ffffff !important; } .et_bloom .et_bloom_optin_3 .et_bloom_border_solid { border-color: #c48732 !important } .et_bloom .et_bloom_optin_3 .et_bloom_form_content button { background-color: #ffffff !important; } .et_bloom .et_bloom_optin_3 .et_bloom_form_container h2, .et_bloom .et_bloom_optin_3 .et_bloom_form_container h2 span, .et_bloom .et_bloom_optin_3 .et_bloom_form_container h2 strong { font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, Lucida, sans-serif; }.et_bloom .et_bloom_optin_3 .et_bloom_form_container p, .et_bloom .et_bloom_optin_3 .et_bloom_form_container p span, .et_bloom .et_bloom_optin_3 .et_bloom_form_container p strong, .et_bloom .et_bloom_optin_3 .et_bloom_form_container form input, .et_bloom .et_bloom_optin_3 .et_bloom_form_container form button span { font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, Lucida, sans-serif; } This was a brilliant idea. 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 hiking the Theth-Valbona trail, the trip back from Valbona to Shkoder is via beautiful Komani Lake. It sounds like you have a real adventure planned, Im sure you both will love it. And what if we miss the boat? Visitors that want to book, or already booked at the guesthouse, should Tirane Koman 05:30Shkoder Koman 06:45Fierze Valbone 12:00Valbone Fierze 10:30Koman Shkoder 15:45Koman Tirane 16:00Theth Shkoder 11:00Shkoder Theth 07:00. Im Emily, an Australian journalist and photographer living in beautiful Kutaisi, Georgia. Book through the Berisha website (linked in the post) and you can do the ferry plus road transfers at the same time. The hostel entrance is a short walk down an alley, which ends at the big, Koman Terminal And you can also reserve a bus from Fierze to Valbona (or reverse Valbona to Fierze). This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. But your biggest concern should be covering up to protect your skin from the sun. My favourite resources and tools for planning a trip to Albania. Book your Albania Planning Session via Skype now, by using my online scheduler. Unmissable trip from Shkodra to Valbona - Review of Komani Lake Ferry Thanks! So many of my questions went unanswered. Learn more about me here. + Taxi to Valbona 60 EUR. Here are all the extra services we offer. Where you will check into your guest house. And the private taxi from Fierze to Valbona is 60 euros. Its really hard to say without knowing the weather conditions. Subscribe to my newsletter to get your copy instantly. Five brand-new wooden villas await to welcome you and offer a peaceful environment, located along the beautiful Komani Lake with the most amazing shades of blue that melt with the green of the trees. Hello Orsolya! My husband might make it to the peak and I may not .. but we will both return. There were times where the water was so still that it created mirror-like reflections of the valley, a magical sight. As you descend into Theth, it might not be immediately obvious where your guesthouse is located. You will arrive in Valbona in the early afternoon, perhaps around 13:30 PM or 14:00 PM. So, if you are in any of this 3 places, you will have an everyday pick up scheduled minivan for transport. Pickup in Tirana (5am), minibus to Koman, ferry to Fierze, drop off by minibus in Valbona. If you prefer, you can also reserve a private 4 wheel drive taxi from Shkoder to Koman, which costs 70 euros per taxi. Car places on high season are limited, so reserve your space here. How to get from Shkoder to Theth, Albania (Thethi) Thanks for asking this I will add a note to the post. Wonderful run-down of this trek. So let me give you all the information you need to get from Tirana to Valbona, by minibus, via the Lake Koman Ferry, by taxi, or by car. The weather was warm and a little hazy. Please note: This post contains affiliate links. Driving from Fierza to Valbona, travel for approximately 45 minutes, passing through Bajram Curri, the municipally of the area. 2. One Day Tour in Komani Lake for only 29 Euro! Hi Emily The van will have the Ferry Berisha logo, this way you will recognize it. You basically reserve your ferry boat ticket and request for the minibus service to be included. The fare is around 1,200 lek per person. A public furgon to Valbona, leaves daily around 2:30pm, but we decided to still try our luck hitchhiking. Tour in Valbona Valley, a miracle of nature that shouldn't be missed but needs to be visited at least once. . Both options last at least 8 hours. Yes, there is free camping space in in front of the Island of Peace, you should have your own tents. But I honestly don't see you missing that bus either at the time in which you will arrive. Very experienced hikers might be able to manage it in as little as 4-5 hours. Some of the data that are collected include the number of visitors, their source, and the pages they visit anonymously. Also you can use the Ferry Berisha as a free camping space during the night. Learn More Popular Tours in Komani Lake One Day Tour in Komani Lake 29 All Inclusive Before you start your travel in Koman Lake, or even Fierza Lake it is better you keep in mind some important things ( this are also available if you have planned to visit Theth or Valbona Valley). Have a fabulous time in Albania! Required fields are marked *, document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a000fda99f5a8839e018c3b12eaa2d7b" );document.getElementById("g1a5e7aece").setAttribute( "id", "comment" );Comment *. The buses from there back to shkoder run only as often as they fill up. 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. However, you dont need your own vehicle for the Komani Lake Ferry as there are buses operating between the cities/villages and the ferry terminals as well. I arrange your transportation and I am your English speaking guide. They were speaking some basic English and we understood that they were not going to Valbona, but somewhere on the way. 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. But instead of crossing the border to Kosovo, you would take the road that leads by the Has village towards Bajram Curri. For this tour we start from Shkodra (with pick up from the hotel where you are staying) around 6:30am, I am a Private Tour Guide in Albania. Meals at our guesthouses cost us between 7 and 10 Euros per person, and drinks (coffee, beer) a couple of Euros each. Many thanks for the kind words. Pick up service from Tirana, Shkodra and Valbona Komani Lake Ferry Berisha offers the possibility of pick up from Tirana, Shkodra and Valbona. Get a 39-page PDF guide about the hidden gems of Albania, including a Google Map you can add to your phone! 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. Thanks for your lovely blog and posting. Illustrations Copyright - Otilia LefterYou can share the content "as it is", non-commercially (There are no ads or income whatsoever on the page where it is shared), mentioning the author and linking to our website.For commercial use, contact usWebsite Map XML - HTML, In order to provide you with the best online experience this website uses cookies. 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. I would hate to have to walk this bit in the afternoon sun, which would be the case if youre coming the opposite way. All Rights Reserved. This means skipping the first part of the hike through the open riverbed (some of the toughest terrain, incidentally) but it also saves you having to walk along the highway and it shaves off 2 to 4 hours of extra slog. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. That is an incredible price for the long . Oh yes, and packages: probably more packages than people!We preferred to take the "Bus Boat" to Fierze rather than the touristic ship "Mario Molla", even if the prices for the 2 hours trip were comparable (about 5). Expect rugged mountains and beautiful views, especially as you approach Valbona Peak. In total, the journey from Shkoder to Valbona takes about five hours. Just hike back? Hi Abraham, great to hear that! (Note that WIFI is standard in guesthouses in both villages.). Read reviews in English Go . You can find more info, what time you should be at the terminal and the latest up to date schedule on the Berisha website here. I recommend doing the reverse and trekking from Valbona to Theth. From Tirana: Valbona Park with ferry and Prizren city Day trips from Saranda: doable for pregnant women? Report inappropriate content 1-6 of 6 replies Far away from our families in the bigges We still have so many amazing places to write about, but time is not always our friend. It does not store any personal data. A bus ticket from Tirana to Lake Koman costs 10 euros or 1400 Leke. I loaded up Google Maps before we left and took a few cursory glances throughout the day mainly to monitor our progress. The Komani Lake ferry (necessary to get from Shkoder to Valbona and a highlight in itself) only runs for a short season, usually from 10 April to 2 November. Eventually we realized how lucky we were: the boat pier was actually 26km away and not 2 as we were said, and the car that picked us up was the only one that would eventually reach this isolated place! Ferry Berisha is the largest vehicle ferry that operates between Koman and Fierze. So that, you get to experience the most beautiful places in Albania! 3 Stops. Firstly, the condition of the road. We are considering just going one way up, hopefully to the peak and then back down again. About Albania Tour Guide |Tripadvisor Reviews | Terms & Conditions | Website Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Refund Policy | Editorial Policy. Before you hop on the ferry or book your tickets online you might want to decide one thing first: single trip or return? Good luck, let me know how you get on! 1 hour Admission Ticket Free. How to get from Shkoder to Komani Lake? Bus, Taxi, 4 Wheel Drive The ferry is 800 Lek - or 7 . At 6:30 AM, you get on the minibus from Shkoder to Koman. The exact purpose of the cookie is not known yet. The address of the bus station is: Bus Station to Koman, Valbon, Gur i Zi, Rruga Revolucioni Antikomunist Hungarez, Shkodr, Albania. So when you access our website, in compliance with Article 22 of Law 34/2002 of the Information Society Services, in the analytical cookies treatment, we have requested your consent to their use. In case of personalized groups we have small boats to take the trip.