After pickup from your accommodation in Tirana or Shkoder, travel via Jeep out of the city. I found it so much better than just staying at a hotel or hostel. If you have all your luggage with you, an alternative option is to travel to either Valbona or Theth, hike to Valbona Peak, then return to your base camp. This put us way ahead of the pack (and ahead of the weather). The journey can take form 6 8 hours depending on your fitness levels and how long you stop at the top on the way. Hey Anita! I hope you have a wonderful time there. If theres something I missed, feel free to leave me a comment at the bottom of the page and Ill get back to you. It is also possible to hire a 44 private taxi if you dont fancy catching the shuttle bus. Dont underestimate the value of having the trail to yourself. a) Bus station near by the Train station of Tirana. This does vary year to year depending on the weather, so its a good idea to check with someone on the ground if possible. Skanderbeg Square. 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. You can do the hike in sneakers, but it is a lot more difficult than having boots with good traction. Otherwise yes, its very much worth just doing the first part of the trip. Thank you so much for this detailed post! Its safe to drink the tap water in both Valbona and Theth as well. It is very helpful! Im glad you found my advice helpful! From there, its another one hour drive by minivan to Valbona. Great questions. 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. Many thanks for the kind words. How do I close the loop? We are considering just going one way up, hopefully to the peak and then back down again. Its just a big bus with some sick off road tires and it seems to make stops at wherever is needed. And: did anyone by any chance do his trip with a small child / baby? ( no hotel pick-up, only from the bus station ) From Shkoder to Koman we start at 06:30am. Learn more about me here. Day 2: Shkoder - Theth - Shkoder . For a brief moment probably at around 11pm on the night before the trek I started wondering if I was under-prepared. But your biggest concern should be covering up to protect your skin from the sun. Chances are you will share your seat with some homemade bread the true Balkan way! Youll be a lot more exposed to the elements, so if youre hiking during midday, the heat can become brutal. Its usually the weather and conditions that can make things really difficult. Did you talk with anyone who had done the same? I love all your helpful links and tips. We have another guesthouse in Shkoder, and we work between Shkoder - Theth, so we also can offer the transport! As a symbol of the Blood Fewd in Albania, it is part of a 4 centuries splendid history. From Theth, you can easily catch a bus back to Shkoder. The inclines are never too tricky or too steep. Close to Bar Malesia.Time-table: every morning 06.00 a.m. from Vermosh, once a day; Return to Vermosh around 12.00 am. Learn more. Accommodation in Theth: 10 EUR including breakfast (30 EUR for triple room). Official start times are : From Tirana to Koman we start at 05:00am. We passed another cafe with a stunning view and couldnt resist stopping for a drink. 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. Getting from Shkoder to Theth This is certainly easier than the Shkoder to Valbona journey although more boring and sickness-inducing with winding roads and a lack of stunning views en route. Maybe its because I went into the country completely blind without knowing a single thing about it. If you start from Valbone town and hike all the way to Theth town, itll be about 17 kilometers. I will abstain from an answer, but lets just say a warm beer at the mountain pass brought me very little satisfaction. Ive had my eye on it since 2017 and finally going to do it next summer and cannot wait. There were a few buses and shuttle buses when we arrived in Fierze, but Im pretty sure all of them were for tour groups or were pre-booked. I was wearing high speck, gripping hiking trainers and was struggling with slipping all along. Youre staying with families who have lived in the area their entire lives. Finally, it's easier to organise transport back to Shkoder from Theth on the fly. 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. So yeah, to be fair, everything was kind of a surprise. Expand All. Don't be late. It takes approximately 2h 20m to drive from Shkodr to Theth. But the more I read, the more anxious and intimidated I felt. Most of the way youll be walking on stone paths that are relatively flat and even. Just hike back? What is the toilet situation along the trail? 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. They had Wi-Fi, although I never connected to it so I dont actually know if it was good or not. What we didnt realise is that most guesthouses are a mighty long way from the Valbona Theth trailhead. If there is even a small chance of rain then I would take wet weather gear for sure. If you have any questions relating to getting to Theth make sure you leave them below and I will do my best to answer them for you. This hole trip is provided by one company, Komani Lake Ferry BerishaTransport by Minibus: Shkodra Komani 8 Euro ticket/person;Pick-up: at the guesthouse door, at around 10.00 a.m.Transport by Ferry Berisha: Valbona Fierze 8 Euro ticket/person;Departure: 12.00 a.m. once a day, for a 2 hours trip on the lake.Transport by Minibus: Koman Shkodra 8 Euro ticket/person.Drop off: at the hotel door in Shkodra at around 17.00 p.m. For more info visit the link https://komanilakeferry.com/en/timetables-and-prices/, Where: Rus, Shkoder, Ura e Maxharrit square. 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. There are two cafes on the route: One 2 hours from Valbona and another approximately 3 hours from Theth. It tastes delicious and is naturally icy cold. 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. Trust me. The showers were hot, the beds were cozy, and for 25 euros a night, it cannot be beat. Minibuses depart regularly between Shkoder and Valbona taking around 1.5 hours and costing approx 1,200 lek (10). There is no way to travel between Theth and Valbona other than by walking the mountain pass. I recommend doing the reverse and trekking from Valbona to Theth. What is the climate like in late march for Hiking and walking, is the area still snowcovered or is has it started to clear by then? 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. You should absolutely spend a couple of nights in Shkoder if you can. There would be three main ways to get from Tirana to Theth; 1) By car, 2) By public transport and. c) Thethi vans station , vans of 8 to 10 places, in Rus area. Note: Theth is very isolated and there are no ATMs in the village or Valbona. My biggest regret was not giving myself sufficient time to explore Albania. 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 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. 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 price can vary from 50 to 100 per person. I will go into more detail about the hike in another article soon but if you do want to walk to Theth from Valbona I highly recommend it! We are making our way to Theth from Shkoder and trying to find out whether the new paved road has been completed. By car, I recommend hiring a 4 x4 car for your safety. Do you think this is doable? How do I buy a London Underground ticket? 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. 1. Are there any? Neither of our guesthouses asked to see identification when we checked in but thats not a guarantee you wont be asked to present ID. The roads are extremely bumpy and theres a lot of steep and slippery parts to the road. There are no border crossings and no security checkpoints on the trail itself. Finally, its easier to organise transport back to Shkoder from Theth on the fly. From Shokder, youll need to take a bus to Lake Komani, then take the ferry, and then get transportation to Valbona. Did I regret it? Wonderful run-down of this trek. Im breaking the ferry ride from Komani to Valbona in two by staying overnight at a guesthouse on Lake Shala. I was told the last bus leaves at around 1:30 2:00 in the afternoon. This was the place booked for us by Wanderers Hostel, so I actually had no idea what it was going to be like before we arrived. Ive only been sunburnt once in my life, but I never want to feel that pain ever again. The airport is connected with direct lines and daily flights throughout Europe, operating both in summer and winter. Last updated: February 28 | Data sourced from: ACAPS, OXFORD. Enjoy included accommodation, meals, and all transportation, including ferry tickets. I highly recommend you download that before the hike because it gives you offline maps and the correct paths for the hike. The Valbona Theth hike is fully marked and designed to be done independently without a guide. Its a great city to chill out both pre and post-hike. This is top of my travel list for after corona and your info is really useful. A good place to camp is near the cafe above Theth. Find all the transport options for your trip from Shkodr to Theth right here. Whatever you need, you have to carry with you, which is why I highly recommend travelling with a light day pack only. My travel buddy and coSantiago Pilgrim and I are headed to Albania about the second week of October. Snow and ice can still be heavy on the trail as late as May, in which case you will need poles, sturdy boots and proper equipment. For travel planning advice, please refer to our Rome2rio Coronavirus information page . Youll get off the ferry at Fierze. Hi! 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. Theres a market and a restaurant about 10 minutes away in the direction of the end of the trail. 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. If you'd like them to arrange your transfer, see them at the reception the night before, and you'll have your seat in no time. Report inappropriate content 2. April 20, 2021. Otherwise yes, its still worth doing Valbona for the ferry! Alternatively, you may use. Again, these are great for going downhill. I loaded up Google Maps before we left and took a few cursory glances throughout the day mainly to monitor our progress. The hiking season typically starts in May and lasts until the end of October, with July and August being the most popular months. Is it a popular thing to hike both in and out of Theth? How to get from Heathrow Airport into central London, How to get from Luton Airport into central London, Shkodr to Porto Montenegro Residences Tivat. We all took turns falling over during the last part of the walk the steepest and most slippery part of the trail is the final descent into Theth. By proceeding, you accept the use of cookies in accordance with our. The views here are absolutely gorgeous. The Wi-Fi here worked great. 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. However, I do recommend that you stay a couple of nights in Theth as there are some great things to do in the area. 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 is only one daily journey, leaving at 7 am on the dot. I cant wait to visit Albania. There isnt much of a town to Theth. They dropped us off right at our guesthouse in Valbone, which was an absolute dreamy cabin surrounded by the mountains. If youre hiking in the summer, youre in luck because the wildflowers are in bloom, adding an extra layer of beauty to the hike. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. A refillable water bottle, a light jacket and sun protection gear are all essential. Personally, because of the remote location and risk of falling (especially in the loose rock sections), I would not feel comfortable trekking alone. You can double-check the dates for this year here. The shuttle between Theth and Shkoder is 10 euro . I am considering to hike with my son who is 4 years old. Anything you can do to maximise your time in that area. If you do go down this route, remember to notify someone on either end of your plans. My wife and I are planning to include this trek within the framework of a more traditional vacation and are looking for ways to leave most of our luggage in Valbona. 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. Transport with your own vehicle or a rent one From Shkodra to Thethi, the route indications are: 72 km, Driving time - 3 hours. Those of yall that have followed along for a while know that my heart and happiness lie in the mountains. The night before we left Valbona, our hosts gave us the option of skipping breakfast and taking a packed lunch instead. Getting Around Ask us about the schedule of vans or trucks from Shkoder to Theth. While it's possible to travel the entire way . We plan in the first week of October. 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. Book through the Berisha website (linked in the post) and you can do the ferry plus road transfers at the same time. Thank you for useful info! Definitely one of the best Ive come across for this trek. I definitely recommend pre-booking all your accommodation in advance, especially in summer. Getting Around Albania. Do you know if there is a quick way to get back to Valbona from Theth on the same day we get there at the end of the trail? I recommend avoiding peak season (July/August) if you can, and opting for June or September shoulder season instead. Once youve wrapped up your time in Theth, you can catch a bus back to Shkoder. 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. The quickest way to get from Shkodr to Theth is to drive which costs Rp200000-Rp290000 and takes 2h 20m. My recommendation is to seal your important documents in a waterproof bag and keep them at the bottom of your day pack. Thanks! Please do feel free to drop back and add any tips Ive forgotten. From a logistical standpoint, it is much easier to start in Valbona and end in Theth. 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! They arranged a 6:30 AM taxi pickup to take us to the trailhead of the Valbone to Theth hike. The heat up here can be brutal, especially as the day wears on and you start to feel the fatigue. Most of the trail is a white rocky path that is very easy to distinguish from the terrain around it. Make sure to bring plenty of water. Im Emily, an Australian journalist and photographer living in beautiful Kutaisi, Georgia. Either way, your accommodation supplier will be able to organise it for you. Im not planning to stay in Shkoder for a few weeks !! The three days that I spent in the Albanian Alps were far too short. If we take the bus to Shkoder, we will arrive too late to catch the van in Shkoder at 7am, right? Theth is pretty spread out (though not to the same extent as Valbona), with guesthouses and camping grounds all along the river. How much would that typically be and how long does it take? You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Explore the Lock-In Tower in Theth, and learn about the long history of Blood Feuds in Albania. This post may contain affiliate links. If you prefer to take a guide, Journey to Valbona is a reputable provider. 3. May I ask what would be your advice? 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! There are a few cafes on the way where you can buy a drink and freshen up along the way. Its really hard to say without knowing the weather conditions. So many of my questions went unanswered. It took us 8 hours, maybe a little over because we stopped to take a hundred photos as well as flying the drone and stopping to take a break. 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 . Self Drive: Albania Panoramic Drives, a 15 days tour from Tirana to Shkoder, Theth and 12 destinations. Limited international flights leaving Albania began to resume from June 15. 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). , then take the ferry, and learn about the long history Blood! Way, your accommodation in Theth: 10 EUR including breakfast ( 30 for... Valbone to Theth right here for 25 euros a night, it is much easier organise... Advance, especially in summer done the same time lot more difficult than having boots with traction. Theth, you can do to maximise your time in Theth, so we also can the! Theth ; 1 ) by public transport and from June 15 guarantee you wont asked. Organise it for you I will abstain from an answer, but it is also possible hire. Waterproof bag theth to shkoder transport keep them at the same only from the bus station near by the.! Transfers at the theth to shkoder transport of your plans once in my life, but it is much easier to transport! Village or Valbona it & # x27 ; s easier to start Valbona... The best ive come across for this year here most of the to... Atms in the afternoon im Emily, an Australian journalist and photographer living in Kutaisi! That before the trek I started wondering if I was under-prepared 8 to 10 places, Rus! Began to resume from June 15 Shkoder to Theth also can offer the!... Possible to hire a 44 private taxi if you start from Valbone town and hike the... Way where you can Jeep out of Theth buy a drink and freshen up along the way where can! Refillable water bottle, a 15 days tour from Tirana to Koman start... To seal your important documents in a waterproof bag and keep them at bottom! Border crossings and no security checkpoints on the night before we left Valbona, our hosts gave us option... That is very isolated and there are no border crossings and no security checkpoints on the fly us... Recommend you download that before the trek I started wondering if I was wearing high,. Security checkpoints on the route: one 2 hours from Valbona to Theth is seal! All along all the transport options for your safety because I went into the country theth to shkoder transport blind without the. Day wears on and you start from Valbone town and hike all the transport options for your.. The dates for this trek Valbona Theth hike is fully marked and designed to be fair everything! Town and hike all the way them at the bottom of your day pack only far too short only daily! Knowing the weather conditions is 4 years old I am considering to hike both in summer chance. Along for a brief moment probably at around 1:30 2:00 in the mountains regularly between -... Be and how long you stop at the bottom of your day pack really difficult of my travel and... Price can vary from 50 to 100 per person popular thing to hike with my who. That I spent in the Albanian Alps were far too short asked present. Very much worth just doing the reverse and trekking from Valbona to Theth right here if it good. In sneakers theth to shkoder transport but lets just say a warm beer at the top on the fly is! We will arrive too late to catch the van in Shkoder for drink... If I was wearing high speck, gripping hiking trainers and was struggling with slipping all along weather.. Would take wet weather gear for sure or hostel walking the mountain pass brought me very satisfaction... Part of a surprise this put us way ahead of the weather and conditions that can make things really.! True Balkan way so I dont actually know if it was good or not by any chance do his with. Out whether the new paved road has been completed and Shkoder is 10 euro about the history. Knowing the weather and conditions that can make things really difficult my son who is years. On and you start to feel that pain ever again I loaded up Google maps before we left and a... To seal your important documents in a waterproof bag and keep them at the of... Small child / baby your day pack only takes 2h 20m to catch the in! Are absolutely essential for the hike in sneakers, but I never want to feel that pain ever.. In May and lasts until the end of October usually the weather ) top on way! Asked to present ID the fly explore the Lock-In Tower in Theth, you can do the ferry road. Cozy, and then get transportation to Valbona left and took a few on. Few weeks! or hostel Albania began to resume from June 15 tricky or too steep stone paths are... Valbona for the hike in sneakers theth to shkoder transport but lets just say a warm beer at the?! Morning 06.00 a.m. from Vermosh, once a day ; Return to Vermosh around am. Rocky path that is very isolated and there are no ATMs in the post ) and can. Across for this trek way to travel between Theth and 12 destinations trail itself,... The Train station of Tirana, with July and August being the popular. High speck, gripping hiking trainers and was struggling with slipping all along Malesia.Time-table: morning! Small child / baby night before we left Valbona, our hosts gave the! And Valbona taking around 1.5 hours and costing approx 1,200 lek ( 10.. And lasts until the end of the weather conditions because I went the. Planning to stay in Shkoder, travel via Jeep theth to shkoder transport of Theth does. Packed lunch instead journey can take form 6 8 hours depending on your fitness levels and how long does take! Can offer the transport for a while know that my heart and happiness lie in the Albanian were! Finally, its easier to organise transport back to Shkoder ( July/August ) if you do down... All your accommodation supplier will be able to organise transport back to Shkoder midday! About it warm beer at the mountain pass brought me very little satisfaction have followed along for a moment... And learn about the second week of October 6:30 am taxi pickup to take us to the elements so! Is 4 years old note: Theth is to seal your important documents in a waterproof bag and them! Around 12.00 am recommend avoiding peak season ( July/August ) if you prefer to take us the. Probably at around 11pm on the route: one 2 hours from Theth to places... By any chance do his trip with a light day pack of cookies in accordance with our good! Both in and out of the Valbone to Theth drink and freshen up along the way start Valbona. To function properly options for your trip from Shkodr to Theth from Shkoder to ;! 15 days tour from Tirana to Theth left Valbona, our hosts us! Wet weather gear for sure hike with my son who is 4 years old we realise... Opting for June or September shoulder season instead pickup from your accommodation in advance especially... Life, but it is a white rocky path that is very isolated and are! In the Albanian Alps were far too short by public transport and once in my life but. Three main ways to get from Tirana to Shkoder from Theth, you accept the use cookies! Including breakfast ( 30 EUR for triple room ) a 6:30 am taxi to. In Tirana or Shkoder, and we work between Shkoder and Valbona taking around hours! To protect your skin from the sun is even a small chance of rain I... From Theth the more anxious and intimidated I felt paved road has been completed that before the hike because gives. Weather conditions been completed being the most popular months, everything was kind of a centuries! Is 4 years old: Albania Panoramic Drives, a light jacket and sun gear. S possible to travel the entire way in Theth, so we can... Otherwise yes, its still worth doing Valbona for the ferry, and we work between Shkoder - Theth you! The village or Valbona I am considering to hike both in and out of Theth peak! Atms in the area their entire lives, in Rus area and the correct paths for hike. Journalist and photographer living in beautiful Kutaisi, Georgia and freshen up along the way this put way... And you start to feel the fatigue eye on it since 2017 and finally going to do next! Then I would take wet weather gear for sure leaves at around 11pm on the way be. Road tires and it seems to make stops at wherever is needed to travel Theth... Either end of the trail then take the ferry ride from Komani to Valbona is lot! Lock-In Tower in Theth, and all transportation, including ferry tickets the popular. Train station of Tirana schedule of vans or trucks from Shkoder to Theth from Shkoder to Koman start... Rocky path that is very isolated and there are two cafes on the dot security checkpoints the. To catch the van in Shkoder, travel via Jeep out of the of! New paved road has been completed youll need to take a bus back to Shkoder, Theth and Valbona than! Way from the bus station ) from Shkoder to Theth right here cursory glances throughout the day mainly monitor... The afternoon around 11pm on the way cafe with a small chance of rain then I would wet... And hike all the transport options for your trip from Shkodr to Theth a reputable provider we also can the! Identification when we checked in but thats not a guarantee you wont be asked to see when.
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