My favourite resources and tools for planning a trip to Albania. Note: Theth is very isolated and there are no ATMs in the village or Valbona. Although keep in mind that it ends up right in front of the village. No. Learn more about me here. The ferry takes about three hours but it is one of the most stunning boat rides youll ever go on. The tour is around 65 per person. Hotels near Rozafa Castle Hotels near Shkodra Lake Hotels near Marubi National Museum of Photography Hotels near Venice Art Mask Factory Hotels near Mesi Bridge Hotels near Ebu Bekr Mosque Hotels near St Stephen's Catholic Cathedral (Shkoder Cathedral) Hotels near Rruga Kole Idromeno ( ) Hotels near Rental Car Shkodra Hotels near Site of Witness and Memory Optional private transport back to Theth (if you don't want to take the daily bus . Illana. Shkoder Ski Lodges Shkoder Pet Friendly Beach Hotels. If you can, its preferable to leave your car in Shkoder and do the ferry instead thats one of the highlights! Make sure to bring plenty of water. Well, he wasnt really a puppy anymore, but his name was Puppy (although they pronounced it like Poopy). Because we were travelling in Albania for more than a month, we bought a local sim card in Shkoder. The path is relatively easy to follow. Your email address will not be published. For a brief moment probably at around 11pm on the night before the trek I started wondering if I was under-prepared. Northern Albania has pronounced seasons its not possible to trek in the Albanian Alps in winter due to heavy snowfall. I know there is a furgon later during the day, but I am wondering is there also someone offering a private transport earlier? Me and my girlfriend also want to do a trip to Albania and visit Theth. A good place to camp is near the cafe above Theth. The distance between Shkodr and Theth is 42 km. As I understand it, there are no regulations on camping in this area, meaning you can pitch a tent anywhere you please along the trail. As another plus, guesthouses in Theth are closer to the trail. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Travelling Balkans Site Powered by Pix & Hue. Although it was about a 10-15 minute walk from the center of Valbone village, it was absolutely worth it for the location. The most popular way to get to Theth is from Shkoder, which is a city in the north of Albania, and a very beautiful one at that! Official Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information for Albania. 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. My adventures are entirely self-funded, so any show of support is greatly appreciated. Times are above. Aside from two quick stops at the villages of Berat and Gjirokaster, I was on a mission to get to the mountains. Both cafes I mentioned are located on the edge of a stream and have free water. c) Thethi vans station , vans of 8 to 10 places, in Rus area. The three days that I spent in the Albanian Alps were far too short. There is also the option to hire a mule to take it over to the other side for you. If you choose to drive and park your vehicle in Valbona then hike to Theth, your only option is to hike back (or travel by van-ferry-van in a big loop via Shkoder). The roads are extremely bumpy and theres a lot of steep and slippery parts to the road. I will abstain from an answer, but lets just say a warm beer at the mountain pass brought me very little satisfaction. Close to Bar Malesia.Time-table: every morning 06.00 a.m. from Vermosh, once a day; Return to Vermosh around 12.00 am. The entire area is otherworldly, and this amazing adventure belongs at the top of your Albania bucket list. What do you think ? Thank you Rosie! If youre hiking in the summer, youre in luck because the wildflowers are in bloom, adding an extra layer of beauty to the hike. Introduction; Day 1: Airport - Shkoder. Hi Emily. 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 . This is definitely up there with the best hikes in the Balkans, Im sure youll love it. Thanks for your lovely blog and posting. 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. As always when I write about Albania, I want to write about it not only to tell you my stories but to give you an insight into the practical steps of visiting Theth but most importantly, how to get from Shkoder to Theth in the first place! Im glad you found my advice helpful! No more bumps or hairpin turns either! But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Either way, your accommodation supplier will be able to organise it for you. 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. Again, I had no idea what this was going to be like before we arrived. My recommendation is to seal your important documents in a waterproof bag and keep them at the bottom of your day pack. 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. Beautiful hiking trails, a river to dive into, an endless views of the Albanian Alps everywhere you look. ( pick-up from hotel ) Here are all the extra services we offer. Hope that helps Anita. Did I regret it? Some international borders began to reopen in Albania from June 15. How do I buy a London Underground ticket? Incredible! If so, are they western style seated types? Enjoy scenic nature and Albanian hospitality alongside a personal guide. Where to stay in Shkoder Accommodation IN Shkoder The Wanderers Hostel - Shkoder As for trekking solo another option, although its less reliable of course, is to team up with some other hikers once you arrive. Skanderbeg Square. Getting Around Ask us about the schedule of vans or trucks from Shkoder to Theth. Your email address will not be published. There is a van that leaves from Shkoder at 7 am and costs 10 per person. Again, these are great for going downhill. Good Walking/Hiking shoesif(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,600],'thepartyingtraveler_com-leader-1','ezslot_15',136,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thepartyingtraveler_com-leader-1-0'); The downhill part after reaching the Valbone Pass is really the only place I struggled with the terrain. The downward sections are very slippery due to small rocks. It looks like a beautiful part of the world so Id hate to miss out on seeing it. Yes you would have to hike back or else return to Skhoder and repeat the first leg by public transport. You do not need a guide to do this hike. Im not planning to stay in Shkoder for a few weeks !! And hey, if this post helps you out, show some love and support for the blog and help keep my adventures going bybuying me a beer! Official start times are : From Tirana to Koman we start at 05:00am. The Valbona cafe was closed in June, and the Theth cafe only had limited food offerings. 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. Re: How to get from Theth to Shkodr 6 years ago Save Heya Philipp, you can write us at welcome@zbulo.org for details, a 4x4 ride starts from 60 for the 3h drive to Shkoder. Still undecided about getting a guide. 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 new road makes it quick and easy to get there from Shkoder (even with your own car), and as Ive mentioned there are more opportunities for sightseeing and short hikes around Theth. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. It's a long drive. Because there is no phone reception, it would be difficult to get help in an emergency. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. And: did anyone by any chance do his trip with a small child / baby? For everyone else, set aside the whole day, set off early, and youll have no issues reaching your end point before nightfall. The stunning Valbone to Theth hike only left me wanting more, but I have no doubt that Ill be back in this region someday. 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. Im not much of a trekker (Ive never owned a pair of hiking boots in my life), but FOMO has caused me to volunteer for some intense outdoor experiences in the past, including a hike in Georgia and a multi-day trek in Myanmar. 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 The expressways are the secondary roads, also dual carriageways, but . Rome2rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. The most popular way to get to Theth is from Shkoder, which is a city in the north of Albania, and a very beautiful one at that! Kakavije (Grecce) Gjirokaster Fier Tirane Shkoder Theth. Is it a popular thing to hike both in and out of Theth? This post may contain affiliate links. If you plan to travel with your own car from Tirana to Theth, that is a great choice. If there is even a small chance of rain then I would take wet weather gear for sure. The cost-effective way to get from Shkodr to Theth is to drive, which costs Rp200000-Rp290000 and takes 2h 20m. In my opinion, Theth is a much nicer place to relax for a few days. I think the pass would still be manageable, but I would recommend getting in touch with someone on the ground to confirm. Theth is pretty spread out (though not to the same extent as Valbona), with guesthouses and camping grounds all along the river. It cost 16 euros for all of that. Qafe Morine (Kosovo) Kukes Milot Shkoder Theth. The beds were comfy and they had hot showers, and best of all, a puppy! By car, I recommend hiring a 4 x4 car for your safety. So lets take a virtual tour to Theth for any of the options: Traveling by car. The maximum elevation is 1,800 metres, so altitude sickness is not something you have to worry about. We paid 25 Euros for a car to take us to Rrogam, organised through our guesthouse the night before. Just check weather conditions for October as Im not 100% sure when the trail will close this year. Airport to Shkoder transport from . As a symbol of the Blood Fewd in Albania, it is part of a 4 centuries splendid history. Shkoder - Koplik - Dedaj Shkreli - Boge - Field Okolit - Qafe t'Thore - Valley of Shale -Theth. the road from Shkoder to Theth is newly paved as of last year. Your guesthouse in Theth can easily arrange this for you. English Speaking Phone 00355 69 60 15 771, Thethi Guide and Albanian Alps tour information 2023. They also have the option to see the blue eye (which is an extra charge). Hey Kim! When I did this trip, it took 3.5-4 hours. Im not sure what your odds are of finding cheap public transportation to Valbone. I was fully expecting to struggle with the trek, but it wasnt as difficult as I anticipated. Maybe its because I went into the country completely blind without knowing a single thing about it. Learn more. Really, the hike is very manageable, especially in June (long daylight house). They were reminiscent of my fjord tour in Norway. 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/. 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. We are located in the heart of trails cross of which you can visit the whole area of Albanian Alps. (Note that WIFI is standard in guesthouses in both villages.). I found it so much better than just staying at a hotel or hostel. If you need anything, theyll have a solution. How Easy Is It To Get Cocaine in Colombia? Thanks for the detailed info regarding this trail. For the latest travel status, we recommend checking the official page for Albania. Ive had my eye on it since 2017 and finally going to do it next summer and cannot wait. There is no direct road. Before I get into the nitty-gritty, here is an overview of our 5-day itinerary. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. 3. I visited in October when there was some rain and the road in places was mud. Thethi guide and Albanian hospitality alongside a personal guide the beds were comfy and they hot. Am and costs 10 per person its preferable to leave your car Shkoder! See theth to shkoder transport blue eye ( which is an overview of our 5-day.. Were comfy and they had hot showers, and best of all, a river to into! Tirana to Theth, that is a van that leaves from Shkoder to Theth for of... 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