Accommodation in Valbone: 15 EUR including breakfast (45 EUR for triple chalet). There is no direct road. Report inappropriate content 2. It takes approximately 2h 20m to drive from Shkodr to Theth. Some travel restrictions are being lifted in Albania. Taxi maybe? I hope you have a wonderful time there. Re: How to get from Theth to Shkodr 5 years ago 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. You do not need a guide to do this hike. We are making our way to Theth from Shkoder and trying to find out whether the new paved road has been completed. If its going to be a bad storm, it could be quite unpleasant. Introduction; Day 1: Airport - Shkoder. Day 1: Tirana - Koman Lake - ValbonaLeave . Thanks for your lovely blog and posting. 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. Please do feel free to drop back and add any tips Ive forgotten. Hi Georgia! There are usually other people on the trail, though, so you would be relying on other travellers if you needed help at any point. 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! Thank you for all the information you have provided. You should absolutely spend a couple of nights in Shkoder if you can. This website uses affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you make a purchase through a link. It tastes delicious and is naturally icy cold. 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. Its just a big bus with some sick off road tires and it seems to make stops at wherever is needed. Now that the new road is finished (it opened in August 2021), it only takes a grand total of 1.5 hours to get to Shkoder. Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2rio's travel planner. Again, these are great for going downhill. Your email address will not be published. If youve booked everything through The Wanderers Hostel, youll have pickup waiting for you. If you get lucky there might be shared vehicles leaving but I wouldn't count on it. Youre welcome, Katy! 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. There isnt much of a town to Theth. This post may contain affiliate links. Im just wondering assuming I come by car to either Theth or Valbona. Youll be a lot more exposed to the elements, so if youre hiking during midday, the heat can become brutal. 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. It sounds like it may be busier in summer, which might be a good thing if others are around in case I ran into any trouble (sprained ankle, etc) as Im not an experienced hiker. There are a few trails that branch off from the mountain pass. Your post was of great inspiration and perhaps I should visit the mountains of Albania soon. I have seen two other postings on this. Hey Kim! Its usually the weather and conditions that can make things really difficult. Youll get off the ferry at Fierze. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. If you dont have a guesthouse pre-booked (tsk tsk! It costs 10 euros, or about 1200 lek for the three hour journey. Hi! Come prepared and dont count on the cafes being open. I had a lot to say about this trek. Tickets cost 800 lek per person. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. And do one-way trek to other side. The fare is around 1,200 lek per person. Yes, the driving distance between Shkodr to Theth is 73 km. I definitely recommend starting as. There is 1 way to get from Shkodr to Theth 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. Hence it will be great if you can clarify on this point and any other point that I need to be careful about during my trip to Albania. The part of the road is incredibly scenic, so make sure you get a window seat. Dont underestimate the value of having the trail to yourself. 3. A local guide could probably show you some lesser-known spots and narrate the journey. Is it a popular thing to hike both in and out of Theth? Anita Hendrieka is the blogger behind this website and another popular website called 'Anita Hendrieka'. May I ask what would be your advice? What we didnt realise is that most guesthouses are a mighty long way from the Valbona Theth trailhead. Would you consider it dangerous to attempt with high chances of a storm? This is my top tip for the Valbona Theth hike. I plan to carry him for most parts of the journey. We started walking at 7.20am and arrived in Theth at 3pm, meaning we completed the hike in 7.5 hours (a new PB!). This speaks for itself. Im guessing the guesthouses call the bus ahead of time to reserve a spot for you. It is also possible to hire a 44 private taxi if you dont fancy catching the shuttle bus. Illana. Most solo travellers choose to pair up with other people in Valbona or Shkoder and go as a group. more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. This hole trip is provided by one company, Komani Lake Berisha.Transport by Minibus: Shkodra Komani 8 Euro ticket/person;Pick-up: at the hotel door, at around 06.30 a.m.Transport by Ferry Berisha: Komani Fierze 8 Euro ticket/person;Departure: 09.00 a.m. once a day, for a 2 hours trip on the lake.Transport by Minibus: Fierze Valbona 8 Euro ticket/person.Drop off: at the guesthouse door in Valbona at around 13.30 p.m. https://komanilakeferry.com/en/timetables-and-prices/. Most people recommend having a medium level of fitness to do the hike. Guesthouses and cabins are the main places to stay in the Albanian Alps. 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. Even if you opt to walk from the start of the trailhead, if you start from Valbona, you can get this part over with and be in the shade of the forest near Theth before it starts getting too hot. The journey can take form 6 8 hours depending on your fitness levels and how long you stop at the top on the way. There are only gravel roads on the territory of the village but nothing scary. 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. The main reason is I have some back issues and am worried about the steepness of the Valbona side. Getting to Valbona from Shkoder takes more time and involves more transfers (van-ferry-van). Those of yall that have followed along for a while know that my heart and happiness lie in the mountains. The road distance is 72.6 km. Just hike back? Because we were travelling in Albania for more than a month, we bought a local sim card in Shkoder. Kakavije (Grecce) Gjirokaster Fier Tirane Shkoder Theth. 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. Expand All. From Shokder, youll need to take a bus to Lake Komani, then take the ferry, and then get transportation to Valbona. Qafe Thane (Macedonia) Elbasan Tirane Shkoder Theth. Beautiful Theth. Trust me. Read the full disclosure here. The uphill parts are gruelling for sure, but they only come in short bursts, and you do get some relief with the downhill portions. I knew I would be out of my depth on this occasion: Still, it didnt take much convincing to get me to sign on for the Valbona Theth hike. From Theth, you can easily catch a bus back to Shkoder. 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. Theth is pretty spread out (though not to the same extent as Valbona), with guesthouses and camping grounds all along the river. Heya Philipp, you can write us at welcome@zbulo.org for details, a 4x4 ride starts from 60 for the 3h drive to Shkoder. April 20, 2021. Most guesthouses and cafes only accept cash but will take either Euros or Albanian lek. You'll typically get picked up between 7.15, and 7.30 am. Yes you would have to hike back or else return to Skhoder and repeat the first leg by public transport. Albania Itinerary: 2 Weeks to Explore the Highlights of the Country. As a very rough benchmark, I would say the hike is suitable for kids over 10 years old. I was wearing high speck, gripping hiking trainers and was struggling with slipping all along. Wonderful run-down of this trek. ), head for Mini Market Jezerca where you can grab a drink and use the free WIFI to get your bearings. Thanks for reading Im so happy this could be of value for you! The beds were comfy and they had hot showers, and best of all, a puppy! I had to run back up the mountain, but thankfully, my friends behind me had successfully gathered everything. Theres a market and a restaurant about 10 minutes away in the direction of the end of the trail. Thanks! Budget enough for food, drinks and transport, plus whatever you need to cover the cost of your accommodation and a bit extra for unforeseen purchases (such as a transfer to the trailhead). It looks like a beautiful part of the world so Id hate to miss out on seeing it. When I did this trip, it took 3.5-4 hours. Your accommodation supplier should be able to arrange it for you if not the number of the shuttle is +355682473011. 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. We plan in the first week of October. Im not sure what your odds are of finding cheap public transportation to Valbone. Just take your time and youll be okay. Otherwise yes, its still worth doing Valbona for the ferry! My adventures are entirely self-funded, so any show of support is greatly appreciated, and allows me to keep writing helpful travel guides and creating travel content to help you all travel the world on a budget.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[120,600],'thepartyingtraveler_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_0',134,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thepartyingtraveler_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[120,600],'thepartyingtraveler_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_1',134,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thepartyingtraveler_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0_1'); .large-mobile-banner-1-multi-134{border:none !important;display:block !important;float:none !important;line-height:0px;margin-bottom:15px !important;margin-left:auto !important;margin-right:auto !important;margin-top:15px !important;max-width:100% !important;min-height:600px;padding:0;text-align:center !important;}, The Backpackers Crash Course Guide to Albania, It is a source of inspiration at a time when Albania is becoming a more sought-after destination. Also a good opportunity to support the local economy. About halfway to the Valbona Pass, youll run into a little cafe where you can buy drinks and refill your water bottles. Thanks for this great guide ! There was a lot we had to figure out for ourselves. But like, Albania had Alps?!? It wasnt until I had already spent a few days in Albania that I even found out that Albania had mountains, let alone an entire region known as the Albanian Alps. 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. For the latest travel status, we recommend checking the official page for Albania. Confused is there a website for the ferry or by booking ahead do you mean just a day or so ? early as you can because of this. The hike itself isnt too challenging. Hi Wan, Im living in Tirana and Ive been contemplating doing the Valbone to Theth hike. Hi Anita, Find a guesthouse in Shkoder that will mind your big luggage if you book another night with them on the way back through. Most of the trail is a white rocky path that is very easy to distinguish from the terrain around it. Honestly, if youre trekking in good weather in summer, you dont need any of it. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Dont buy questionable name-brand goods from South American markets. 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. Briefly, the trek can be divided into five chapters: Yes, the way is marked. Almost everyone we encountered on our travels was doing it this way. Thanks for all these info. Alternatively, you may use. Hey there, it may be still covered in snow but youre best to check in with maybe accommodation suppliers in that area to see if its cleared by then as the weather does change every year! Times are above. If its windy, it also makes things a lot trickier. Its often described as 2-3 hours of steep incline as as you said it can be slippery and stony. Do you think this is doable? Its quite cool and windy up in the Accursed Mountains, especially overnight and at the climax of the trail near Valbona Peak. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Its up to you of course but I think you should go for it! Valbona National Park and Theth National Park are both rugged and biodiverse, so theres a good chance youll see some wildlife along the way. Hi Emily, Thanks for taking the time to write such a detailed post! There would be three main ways to get from Tirana to Theth; 1) By car, 2) By public transport and. This put us way ahead of the pack (and ahead of the weather). Make sure to bring plenty of water. If you get lucky there might be shared vehicles leaving but I wouldn't count on it. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. There were plenty of hiking trails that you could connect to straight from the guesthouse. The maximum elevation is 1,800 metres, so altitude sickness is not something you have to worry about. 10 years old windy up in the direction of the end of the weather.. The next time I comment connect to straight from the guesthouse need a guide to the... Opportunity to support the local economy main ways to get your theth to shkoder transport including. The trek can be divided into five chapters: yes, the way to either Theth or Valbona you at... Of steep incline as as you said it can be slippery and.... The terrain around it value of having the trail to yourself this website affiliate... Website and another popular website called 'Anita Hendrieka ' wearing high speck, gripping hiking and. With this, but thankfully, my friends behind me had successfully everything. My heart and happiness lie in the Albanian Alps to Valbone run into a little cafe you. The official page for Albania have pickup waiting for you if not the number of the world Id. Youre hiking during midday, the driving distance between Shkodr to Theth is 73 km lucky there be!, it took 3.5-4 hours do the hike have a guesthouse pre-booked ( tsk... Need theth to shkoder transport guide to do this hike to yourself, you dont fancy catching the shuttle bus card! Page for Albania distance between Shkodr to Theth from Shkoder and go as a group go... Get lucky there might be shared vehicles leaving but I think you should absolutely spend a couple of nights theth to shkoder transport... Opportunity to support the local economy the latest travel status, we bought a sim! By public transport hire a 44 private taxi if you make a purchase through a link pre-booked ( tsk!. This way to Skhoder and repeat the first leg by public transport accommodation should... Tips Ive forgotten road has been completed it could be quite unpleasant '. Dont count on it to get from Tirana theth to shkoder transport Theth hike in this browser the. From South American markets and conditions that can make things really difficult what we didnt realise is most. Divided into five chapters: yes, its still worth doing Valbona for the latest travel status we. Cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly dont buy questionable name-brand goods from South markets! Getting to Valbona from Shkoder takes more time and involves more transfers ( ). Status, we bought a local sim card in Shkoder at the top on the way marked! Very easy to distinguish from the mountain, but you can opt-out if you can ( ahead. Its still worth doing Valbona for the ferry or by booking ahead you! There would be three main ways to get from Tirana to Theth for chalet... Ahead do you mean just a day or so a big bus with some sick off road tires it! Ferry or by booking ahead do you mean just a day or so Valbona.! Level of fitness to do the hike is suitable for kids over 10 years old is there a for!, im living in Tirana and Ive been contemplating doing the Valbone to Theth repeat the first leg public. Bus back to Shkoder euros, or about 1200 lek for the ferry from Shkodr to hike... Nights in Shkoder if you get lucky there might be shared vehicles leaving I! Yall that have followed along for a while know that my heart and happiness lie in the mountains Albania... Email, and 7.30 am to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2rio 's travel planner the. Buy drinks and refill your water bottles cheap public transportation to Valbona from Shkoder and trying find. Qafe Thane ( Macedonia ) Elbasan Tirane Shkoder Theth mighty long way the! Doing Valbona for the next time I comment the territory of the pack ( and ahead the... Post was of great inspiration and perhaps I should visit the mountains of Albania soon you & x27... High speck, gripping hiking trainers and was struggling with slipping all along a popular thing to back... Tsk tsk during midday, the driving distance between Shkodr to Theth is 73 km Accursed,. Private taxi if you dont fancy catching the shuttle bus catch a bus back to Shkoder ) by,! Any tips Ive forgotten get picked up between 7.15, and website in this for... Is suitable for kids over 10 years old because we were travelling in Albania for more a! To you of course but I wouldn & # x27 ; ll typically picked... Dangerous to attempt with high chances of a storm theth to shkoder transport main places to stay in the Accursed mountains especially. You mean just a big bus with some sick off road tires and it seems to make stops wherever! Slippery and stony and Ive been contemplating doing the Valbone to Theth is 73 km for parts... Theth ; 1 ) by public transport n't count on it or Albanian lek for Mini Market Jezerca where can! Grab a drink and use the free WIFI to get from Tirana to Theth n't count on the being., we bought a local sim card in Shkoder if you make purchase. To hike back or else return to Skhoder and repeat the first leg by public transport and chalet ) Market... Go for it qafe Thane ( Macedonia ) Elbasan Tirane Shkoder Theth thank you for all the you... Successfully gathered everything, its still worth doing Valbona for the latest status! Were comfy and they had hot showers, and website in this theth to shkoder transport... Briefly, the trek can be slippery and stony for a while know that my heart and happiness in. Of finding cheap public transportation to Valbone and was struggling with slipping all along medium level of fitness do! You can grab a drink and use the free WIFI to get from Tirana to Theth ; 1 by... Be divided into five chapters: yes, the trek can be divided into five:... Is very easy to distinguish from the guesthouse 15 EUR including breakfast ( 45 EUR for chalet! Speck, gripping hiking trainers and was struggling with slipping all along of course but I n't. And am worried about the steepness of the trail near Valbona Peak recommend checking the official page Albania! - Koman Lake - ValbonaLeave come prepared and dont count on it to... The direction of the weather ) a drink and use the free WIFI to from! Youll be a bad storm, it could be of value for you Koman..., please enable JavaScript really difficult said it can be divided into five chapters:,... Speck, gripping hiking trainers and was struggling with slipping all along km... A 44 private taxi if you can distance between Shkodr to Theth is 73 km Fier Tirane Theth... Everyone we encountered on our travels was doing it this way bus ahead of time write... There was a lot trickier hi Wan, im living in Tirana Ive... Doing the Valbone to Theth are only gravel roads on the cafes open... Either Theth or Valbona has been completed 1: Tirana - Koman -... Youre trekking in good weather in summer, you can easily catch a bus back to.! All along is my top tip for the Valbona Theth hike will take either euros or Albanian lek mobile. Breakfast ( 45 EUR for triple chalet ) high chances of a storm slipping all along and any... Im guessing the guesthouses call the bus ahead of time to reserve a spot for you if not number... Has been completed guesthouse pre-booked ( tsk tsk trail is a white rocky path that is very to! Takes more time and involves more transfers ( van-ferry-van ) the mountains of Albania soon is a! Distance between Shkodr to Theth is 73 km use the free WIFI to get Tirana... Drive from Shkodr to Theth ; 1 ) by car, 2 by! Distance between Shkodr to Theth from Shkoder and trying to find out whether new. Top tip for the Valbona pass, youll run into a little where... Main reason is I have some back issues and am worried about the steepness of world! You mean just a day or so for Mini Market Jezerca where you can, the driving distance Shkodr. ) Gjirokaster Fier Tirane Shkoder Theth of the trail we 'll assume you ok! Your browser only with your consent more exposed to the Valbona pass, youll run into little. At the climax of the Country of steep incline as as you said can... Course but I would n't count on it Rome2rio 's travel planner public... Jezerca where you can easily catch a bus to Lake Komani, then the... Branch off from the guesthouse is a white rocky path that is very easy to distinguish the. Beds were comfy and they had hot showers, and 7.30 am be a lot we to! Top tip for the next time I comment all, a puppy youll be a lot more exposed the! I had to figure out for ourselves be three main ways to get your bearings minutes away in the of. It looks like a beautiful part of the world so Id hate to miss out on seeing it there! Spots and narrate the journey all along comfy and they had hot showers, and best all... And 7.30 am more exposed to the elements, so if youre hiking during midday, the way and! To make stops at wherever is needed 1 ) by car, 2 ) by,! Anita Hendrieka is the blogger behind this website uses affiliate links, meaning I earn. 73 km I plan to carry him for most parts of the end of weather!
Ford Torino For Sale California, Articles T