Overview of Qafshtama
“Qafshtama” is a Natural Park north of the capital Tirana. It is located in the northeast of the historic city of Kruja, almost 25km from there. We find here vast wooded areas with a rich variety of trees. The park is notable for its forests dominated by Black Pine and Beech at altitudes above 800-900m or with oaks and hemlocks below these altitudes. In Qafshtamë there are also several springs with cold water and rare beauty, the only thing left to do is to enjoy it! Nature here is at its full strength, giving us breathtaking landscapes.
We´re going to get back to these features of the National Park as we go through the post.
The topics included in this Travel Guide are as follows:
- When to visit
- How to go there?
- What to do?
- What to eat?
- Last remarks
When to visit?
We´ll focus on the beauty that happens only in autumn, thus the best time to visit will be the month of October. This time will be good also if want to do sports, hike, explore the woods, mountain biking or take colourful photos, the weather is mostly clear and sunny. Lastly, whenever you go there, it´s sure you´ll have a wonderful time exploring this unique Natural Park. There you´ll find reasonable prices and no big crowds as the Park has space for all its visitors.
How to go there?
Qafshtama is 50km north of Tirana and circa 25km east of Krujë. The road is of a good standard, only the segment from Krujë to Qafshtama is difficult and should be driven carefully. But at least the views along the road are fabulous. An overview of possible connections is as follows:
- By taking the bus from Tirana to Krujë, consulting the information from the new public transport platform etransport.al. From Krujë to Qafshtama you´ll need to take a car. As far as we know, there aren´t buses available, but just to be sure, ask the locals in Krujë.
- You can consult the website etransport.al if you start the journey from another city or location.
- You can take a car in Tirana and from here head directly to Qafshtama Natural Park. In this case, you´ll need a car also for the way back.
- tours organized by different tourist operators in Tirana. Reserve ahead of time with them to ensure a smooth experience. Usually, the tours are for just 1 day and comprise also activities, not just transportation.
- A car rental is also an option, you can book one in Tirana and all other important cities in Albania. This can be a practical choice if you want to carry a bicycle or camping tools with you etc.
What to do
- Hiking – there you´ll find a lot of trails right in the middle of the woods, ending with charming views from the upper fields. Of course, make sure to have all the necessary things with you.
- Visit the famous Queen Mother’s Fountain (Kroi i Nënës Mbretëreshë). According to some sources, it´s the oldest water spring in Albania. It was first put in use around 90 years ago during the Monarchy in Albania and has been since honoured in the name of the Queen Mother of those times. The Fountain is located at an altitude of almost 1100m, the water has curative properties and is rich in magnesium and other minerals. This Fountain is listed as a Natural Monument in Albania.
- Observe the enchanting autumn foliage right in the middle of the woods. The colours of this phenomenon will leave you stunned and mesmerized.
- Play sports like football, volleyball, mountain biking etc. In the Park there´s space to engage fully in sports, so don´t skip this opportunity!
- A short stop at the legendary Gorge of Mourning or The Girls´ Stone (Gryka e Vajës, Shkëmbi i Vashave). Here is the place where more than 5 centuries ago 90 Krutan young women decided to sacrifice themselves to avoid falling into the hands of the Ottomans. There´s a memorial there written only in Albanian, with a striking panorama.
- Of course, taking beautiful photos of the unique Nature that Qafshtama has to offer is a must-do activity!
What to eat?
The obvious choice is to try the local food and drinks. Here you can taste traditional dishes of Albania like tavë me patate dhe mish (casserole with potatoes and meat), tavë me qofte (casserole with meatballs), mish në hell (meat on a rotating skewer), sallatë me perime të freskëta të zonës (salads with local fresh vegetables), fasule (beans), the popular Byrek (a pie made with filo pastry and different kinds of fillings like cheese, meat, vegetables, gjizë) etc. More local dishes would be dishes from Krujë, part of the Krutan cuisine.
For desserts, typical Albanian ones are very tasty such as bakllava (layered pastry pie filled with walnuts), sultiash (dessert with rice and milk), Ashure (a type of pudding made from a mixture of grain wheat, dried fruits, sweetened with sugar and on top of it sprinkled with cinnamon powder) etc.
To drink you have a big offer of traditional ones:
- dhallë (soft drink made of yoghurt, water and salt) is very popular in all of Albania and goes well with the dishes.
- local beer made in Albania or wines.
- the famous rakia. It´s a very popular alcoholic drink in Albania, you must try it!
- enjoy a cup of coffee and tea made in the local style.
The selection of dishes is easily reachable at the local restaurants. Another way to enjoy eating in the Natural Park is to pack one of the recipes above and eat it in middle of the nature, with a quick picnic with other fellow adventurers. You can also make a little grill of local products in the allowed areas of the Natural Park. As for us, we tried and enjoyed eating in nature. Lastly, the best way to get the dish that you like is to ask the locals.
Last remarks
Qafshtama is one of the most visited Natural Parks in Albania. Mother Nature has been generous there, nothing is missing: mountains, valleys, water springs with curative features, unique views and history. Take the time you need to experience and discover as much as possible in the Park.
We hope that our guidance will be helpful during your adventures in the wild nature. If you have any questions, drop them in the comments below and we’ll be more than happy to answer! Happy Exploring!
