Overview of Theth
If you’ve made it this far, you’ve certainly heard of Albania. One of the top things to do when visiting the Balkan country is exploring Theth village. The place is a perfect getaway for nature lovers. Theth is located in North Albania and is part of Theth National Park. The village is a year-round destination but our hint would be shoulder season, spring or autumn as the best time to explore.
Below we have listed the top things to do in Theth Albania. In addition to avoiding the crowds and high prices, you can have a fuller and better experience overall. For example, as our guide referred to us, when visiting the Reconciliation Tower in summer, because of the high number of tourists and the limitation of time some parts of the story told by the guide at the Tower are cut off. Instead in shoulder season, you can fully enjoy what Theth has to offer.
Theth Albania is a must-see destination for outdoor travellers. Here you will find top things to do in Theth Albania.
There are two ways to visit Theth, by yourself or by booking a tour. Exploring the village you don’t need a guide but if you want to do hikes as we did then it is recommendable to hire a tour guide. We booked one of the tours of Komani Lake Ferry Berisha agency and the trip went very well. The cost of travelling in Theth is 50-70 Euro/day including transportation, accommodation, eating and activities.
After landing in Tirana International Airport and accomodating yourself in the capital of Albania, you can start your journey towards Theth. The drive takes almost 3 hours without taking into account the crazy traffic at the segment Tirana-Shkoder. You can drive all by yourself or take a minivan from Tirana. Shkoder- Theth road is recently renovated and therefore in good condition. Keep in mind though that the cross section of the road is not wide enough for big vehicles and the last 20 km are at an average altitude of over 1200 m with sharp curves. Other ways to reach Theth are from neighbouring countries such as Kosovo and Montenegro. You can use the airports in their capitals if flying or coming with a vehicle from the land. After passing the customs, you enter Albania.
Below we have listed the top things to do in Theth Albania. We recommend two days is more than enough to explore the village but if you want to go on longer hikes in the area, then you will need more than that. You choose your base but we highly recommend not missing either of the activities below.
This guide to top things to do in Theth Albania includes unique natural places such as Blue Eye, Nderlysaj stone bathtubs, Grunas Canyon and Waterfall. In addition are also authentic buildings that reflect the life of people in North Albania as the Church of Theth and Reconciliation Tower. Lastly, Stargazing is a beautiful phenomenon and Theth offers good conditions to enjoy.
In recent years, the number of tourists in the north of Albania has increased leading to the growing number of accommodations. Almost all of them are guesthouses equipped with the needed facilities. This kind of accommodation offers delicious local food. If you don’t want to eat in the guesthouses, then many bars and restaurants are in Theth from which you can choose. After having an overview of the village on the things you need to know before exploring Theth, let’s go more in-depth about the places to visit in the most beautiful village in Albania.
Blue Eye
Blue Eye is a 2-and-a-half-hour one-way hike from Theth and is quite easy. The place is a photogenic point that attracts many tourists. You can swim at Blue Eye if the water temperature around 10 degrees Celsius is not freezing for you. We thought it better to continue the rest of the trip without getting a cold. But I should admit, it was quite tempting. You can enjoy also a beautiful aerial view of the place.
Nderlysaj stone bathtubs
On the way to Blue Eye, close to Nderlysaj, are gorgeous stone bathtubs. This place is pretty unique and together with Blue Eye are great locations for photographers. Unfortunately during the autumn this year, water quantity decreased and maybe it was not the perfect time to visit. Anyway, Nderlysaj stone bathtubs have something to offer in any season.
Grunas Canyon
Grunas Canyon was a hidden gem of Theth and a treat for us from our guide. Generally, the place is not included in the guides program but we had some time left that day and we went to admire this beautiful canyon. The place is directly on the side of the main road of Theth. From the bridge, you can enjoy the beauty of this place for a few minutes. Visiting Grunas Canyon doesn’t require any effort and is a little surprise to visit.
The Church of Theth
This one is now a symbol of Theth anywhere on the internet. Fortunately, we were accommodated in one of the guesthouses close to the church and photographed it during the day and the night. The church of Theth is recently renovated and with its authentic architecture is a hotspot in Theth. A very interesting fact about the church is that it once served as a school to learn the Albanian language. The priest Shtjefen Gjecovi opened it in February 1917. Even though the Albanian language is one of the oldest in Europe, it started relatively late to be written.
Grunas Waterfall
Grunas Waterfall is almost 45 minutes hike from Theth village. The last 10 minutes is a narrow path through some stones so be careful. At the end, you arrive at this gorgeous waterfall. Try to visit this place early in the morning because later it becomes crowded. Swimming is allowed at the pool that creates the waterfall. Keep in mind it is freezing. In addition, you have free wifi at Grunas Waterfall. Not bad, right?
Reconciliation Tower
Reconciliation Tower is a unique building related to the customs and life of people in North Albania until a century ago. Nowadays the tower is used only for tourism. I am not telling here the story because you have no surprises when visiting it, but I stress is a must-visit. The stone building is a highlight in Theth and welcomes a high number of visitors from Albania, Europe and the rest of the world.
Stargazing
National Parks are in general ideal places for stargazing. The Theth village located in the National Park of the same name offers a good view of the stars. I would say not a perfect one because of the light pollution from guesthouses but it should be enjoyed. You can go outside to enjoy the sky full of stars on a clear night or just from the window of your place.
We enjoyed our trip to Theth very much even after the long hike. The weather was perfect and the village has all the needed facilities to make the visit easier. Not to mention the nature of the Albanian Alps. One last hint for you. Take suncream with you because the sun in Theth Valley is crazy. Imagine we were at the end of September and it was 30 degrees Celsius. Happy Travelling!
