Introduction
I am sure you have heard of Ksamil in Albania, Berat and Gjirokastra, two Unesco Heritage cities, but have you heard about Albania’s amazing nature? Well, it is time to inform you about this unique Balkans region on the North Albania itinerary of three days.
It was May of 2018 when I first visited the Valbona Valley. I was shocked by the beauty of this place. I couldn’t believe that such places exist in Albania! Valbona planted on me the seeds of travelling the world. I love that place! Alket on the other side had visited Theth, and of course, he had amazing memories from the village too. Except for the road though. At that time it was a nightmare. Well, since then we knew we would return to North Albania and we did! Yeeee! It was the end of September last year when we went for it. What can I say? It was an unforgettable trip! The itinerary was filled with plenty of adventures and we couldn’t be more happy.
If you can’t wait to enjoy North Albania as we do, here we have written for you the North Albania Itinerary from when to visit, how to reach and what to do including plenty of tips to make the best of it.
Let’s dive in!
When to visit
The best time to travel in North Albania is May-June and September-October. These months are shoulder season and the best time to visit. Great weather, no crowds and good prices.
How to get to North Albania
Starting from the capital Tirana close to the airport, you can move around with public transportation or a car, yours or a rented one.
You start with the South and North Albania Bus Terminal in Tirana, where you can take the vans to Koman. The trip takes almost 3 hours and after reaching Koman you take the ferry to the Shala River. After finishing your visit there, the same ferry or boat will send you to Fierza. To go further in Valbona, it is important to book before head a van or car. Then, after the hike you arrive in Theth. Some vans take you to Shkoder and from there near to Democratia Square are the buses and vans for Tirana.
If you choose to travel with a car, the ferries in Komani Lake take the car for an extra fee.
Where to stay
In this itinerary, in Shala River, Valbona and Theth most of the accommodation types are guesthouses. They are basic but good. Usually, breakfast and dinner are included in the price. The price range varies from 50 -80 €/ night. Even though rare, in this part of the country are three and four-star hotels offering more services with a price range from 80-130 €/ night.
3 Day Itinerary
The North Albania Itinerary is designed for three days starting with Koman Lake. We travel to see lakes, rivers, waterfalls, the beautiful village of Theth and majestic views of Valbona- Theth trail peak.
Day 1 – Koman Lake, Shala River and Valbona Valley
There is no better to start than Komani Lake. The 2-hour ride at this lake through the beautiful mountains of Albania is undoubtedly a unique travel experience. The place is the continuous course of the Drin River, and from Koman to Fierza it is called Komani Lake.
A particularly beautiful finding of the area is the Shala River, which flows at the lake. At the river, in recent years, the facilities have been increased and you can even spend a night. You can enjoy the view, swim and even take the zipline for more adrenaline. To catch the full potential of the Shala River, visit the place in spring or early summer when the water level is high.
After spending time in Shala River, you can continue the itinerary towards Fierza. The ride from there to Valbone takes 1 hour.
I suggest you spend the afternoon in Valbona, exploring the park. The village is quite small and doesn’t take much time. The main attractions in Valbona National Park are Old Mill (Mulliri i Vjetër) and James Lake (Liqeni i Xhemës).
Day 2 – Hiking Valbona to Theth
The second day of the North Albania itinerary is the most challenging one. Here we are going to hike from Valbona to Theth and enjoy the beauty of the Albanian Alps. The trail we did was 18 km, depending on the starting point it can vary. The peak is at 1759 m. The trail is moderate but for your safety, we recommend booking a local guide. In the Albanian Alps hiking – Valbona Pass post you have everything you need for the trail from the best time to visit, how to go, what to pack, the hiking, where to start and the travel costs. We hope to help through our blog posts on your next visit to the mountains of Albania. Enjoy it and have fun!
Day 3 – Theth National Park and Shkoder, the end of the North Albania Itinerary
Oh, Theth! You are special! We kept going after the hike, exploring Theth. The group was of 5 young people, so why not?!
Theth village has a wider range of activities than Valbona. So, if you still have the strength you can start to move around the afternoon of the second day or if you choose to relax, then reserve the third day of the itinerary for this beauty!
The first thing is the symbol of Theth, its Church! I recommend taking some early morning photos since the place is great for photography. Other great places to visit near Theth are Blue Eye, Grunas Waterfall and Nderlysaj stone bathtubs. For sure you will not get bored in Theth. For a more detailed guide on things to do in Theth head to the Top things to do in Theth Albania post.
After saying goodbye to Theth, the road leads us to Shkoder, the largest city in North Albania. The city offers many things to do. Go for a visit to Rozafa Castle and the National Museum of Photography, Marubi. Still not convinced about Shkodra? Go to the lake just right at the edge of the city or the Buna River. Don’t know if the time is enough for all of the activities but you can choose as you like.
After the visit to Shkodra, it is time to take the van or bus towards Tirana. This means that the itinerary comes to an end.
We save this trip as one of the greatest and hope it will be for you too.
Happy travelling!
