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? 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. Although it was about a 10-15 minute walk from the center of Valbone village, it was absolutely worth it for the location. After living in Albania for two years and exploring nearly all the country, I finally made it to Theth and wow, it took my breath away. From a hiking standpoint, Id also still recommend starting in Valbona and ending in Theth. 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. You can hire a mule to carry larger backpacks (we saw a few people doing this), but I personally think its overkill. The route isnt marked on Google Maps, but you can use Maps.Me if you want to. My favourite resources and tools for planning a trip to Albania. After spending over a month island hopping in Greece, I only had eyes for those mountains. Meals at our guesthouses cost us between 7 and 10 Euros per person, and drinks (coffee, beer) a couple of Euros each. It is possible to go with a private guide or as part of an organised tour, but its not necessary. Hi Emily, I did meet one person who said they got lost and took an hour detour which wouldnt be nice to do on an already long hike! (check out the best hotels in Theth here), How to get from Shkoder to Theth, Albania (Thethi). I am considering to hike with my son who is 4 years old. 1. Seems like you experienced it? Ive had my eye on it since 2017 and finally going to do it next summer and cannot wait. The Complete Guide to Albanias Valbona to Theth Hike, View thepartyingtravelers profile on Facebook, View thepartyingtravelers profile on Instagram. Rome2rio uses cookies to help personalize content and show you personalised ads. I just had a look at Lake Shala beautiful! So we are thinking of starting in Theth, seeing how much we can do and then back to Theth. If we take the bus to Shkoder, we will arrive too late to catch the van in Shkoder at 7am, right? keep in mind the road is still fairly narrow for . Thanks for this great guide ! Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. I confirm the new paved road to Theth is completed and works like a charm! Hi Anita, Some people at our guesthouse were carrying poles, boots and other fancy trekking paraphernalia, none of which I had with me. Qafe Thane (Macedonia) Elbasan Tirane Shkoder Theth. There are lots of guesthouses in both Valbona and Theth, but I highly recommend you read the reviews and choose wisely. 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. Technically theres no reason you couldnt do the trek solo provided youre an experienced hiker with the correct gear. Ps I assume it would still make sense to try and get to Valbona separately to do the ferry? Shkoder - Koplik - Dedaj Shkreli - Boge - Field Okolit - Qafe t'Thore - Valley of Shale -Theth. If you do go down this route, remember to notify someone on either end of your plans. Trip duration: around 2 hours one way Minibus Ticket Price: 10 Eur/ Person one way Pick-up: is offered from the hotel door in Shkodra, at around 07.00 a.m. Drop off: Guesthouse door. Push through for the final few kilometers and youll be rewarded with the wonderful views from the village of Theth. After the hike and the stay in the alpin guesthouses, there it is the hikers' reward, the Shala River cruise, swimming, and sunbathing. But like, Albania had Alps?!? While it's possible to travel the entire way . 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. Drinks at the mountain cafe: 2 EUR per drink. 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). This put us way ahead of the pack (and ahead of the weather). It is very helpful! For the latest travel status, we recommend checking the official page for Albania. It was right along a river, although it was a tad too cold to swim in. 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. Thanks for all these info. Almost all guesthouses and hostels in Shkoder provide transportation from Shkoder to Theth in Albania. I highly recommend you download that before the hike because it gives you offline maps and the correct paths for the hike. Thanks for reading Im so happy this could be of value for you! If you get lucky there might be shared vehicles leaving but I wouldn't count on it. Usually, you can leave a bag with your accommodation supplier in Shkoder before doing the hike, so you dont have to hike with all your stuff. The first thing you need to consider when planning the Valbona Theth trek is what time of year to go. If you plan to travel with your own car from Tirana to Theth, that is a great choice. If you need anything, theyll have a solution. Day 1: Tirana - Koman Lake - ValbonaLeave . How much would that typically be and how long does it take? The Valbona cafe was closed in June, and the Theth cafe only had limited food offerings. This is definitely up there with the best hikes in the Balkans, Im sure youll love it. We are all quite fit but since with a child you never know their moods I wanted to ask if anyone knows: would it be possible in worst case to sleep anywhere on the way e.g. Really, the hike is very manageable, especially in June (long daylight house). You'll typically get picked up between 7.15, and 7.30 am. Thanks for the detailed info regarding this trail. Most guesthouses and cafes only accept cash but will take either Euros or Albanian lek. Currently, they are paving a new road which will mean cars will be able to drive there in the near future, which is exciting! 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 Do you know if the passes unmanageable at that TIME? They have white on green road signs such as in Italy and other countries nearby. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Advance bookings are mandatory for the Komani Lake ferry. The Complete Travel Guide to Chacahua, Oaxaca | Mexico, The Best Party Destinations In Mexico | The Partying Traveler, The Complete Guide to Visiting Xochimilco | Mexico City, The Best Travel Destinations to Visit in Morocco | 2023, The Backpackers Travel Guide to Essaouira, Morocco | 2023, The Backpackers Travel Guide to Marrakech | Morocco, The Ultimate Backpackers Guide to Traveling in Georgia, The Backpackers Travel Guide to Barcelona, Spain | 2023, The Ultimate Guide to Nightlife in Prague | 2022, The Backpacker's Guide to Puerto Escondido, Mexico. Source? The path turns into dirt, and is flat for long stretches. Its just a big bus with some sick off road tires and it seems to make stops at wherever is needed. Just hike back? Valbone is very spread out, so where youre staying and where you start can add a few kilometers to the journey.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'thepartyingtraveler_com-banner-1','ezslot_3',129,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thepartyingtraveler_com-banner-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'thepartyingtraveler_com-banner-1','ezslot_4',129,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thepartyingtraveler_com-banner-1-0_1'); .banner-1-multi-129{border:none !important;display:block !important;float:none !important;line-height:0px;margin-bottom:7px !important;margin-left:auto !important;margin-right:auto !important;margin-top:7px !important;max-width:100% !important;min-height:250px;padding:0;text-align:center !important;}. 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. Once you arrive into Theth and your accommodation supplier (check out the best hotels in Theth here), then make sure you organise a shuttle to pick you up the next day. Rome2rio displays up to date schedules, route maps, journey times and estimated fares from relevant transport operators, ensuring you can make an informed decision about which option will suit you best. Don't be late. Im not sure what your odds are of finding cheap public transportation to Valbone. ( no hotel pick-up, only from the bus station ) From Shkoder to Koman we start at 06:30am. The ferry takes about three hours but it is one of the most stunning boat rides youll ever go on. Your private trip includes lodging, meals, and all transportation. Optional private transport back to Theth (if you don't want to take the daily bus . They helped sort everything else out for us. From Theth, you can easily catch a bus back to Shkoder. Prices start at Rp1372500 per night. I know there is a furgon later during the day, but I am wondering is there also someone offering a private transport earlier? My adventures are entirely self-funded, so any show of support is greatly appreciated. Peaks of the Balkans also has a list of local mountain guides some of them local to the area on their website. There is 1 way to get from Shkodr to Theth by car Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2rio's travel planner. I definitely met people who were doing the hike both ways but the most popular option is to get a shuttle from Shkoder to Theth, then do the hike to Valbona and take the ferry + shuttle back to Shkoder, or the other way around! 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. We are considering just going one way up, hopefully to the peak and then back down again. Would you consider it dangerous to attempt with high chances of a storm? Whatever you need, you have to carry with you, which is why I highly recommend travelling with a light day pack only. This was a brilliant idea. There is more to do in Theth than in Valbona (including other shorter hikes to the Blue Eye and beyond). Trip duration: 2,5 hours one wayMinibus Ticket Price: 15 Eur/ Person one way, English Speaking Phone 00355 69 60 15 771, Thethi Guide and Albanian Alps tour information 2023. There is only one daily journey, leaving at 7 am on the dot. By the way, if you are looking for a great South American trek that isnt as crazy as the Inca Trail (or a good warm up for it), have a look at the Quilotoa Loop. I think it depends on your level of confidence. Getting to Valbona from Shkoder takes more time and involves more transfers (van-ferry-van). Hani i Hotit (Montenegro) Shkoder Theth. Enjoy! early as you can because of this. And damn, they did not disappoint. 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! Excellent post with some really nice photos. b) Van station near by Zogu i Zi crossroads . Its a stunning panorama where you get vistas of the entire Valbona Valley and Theth Valley. Qafe Morine (Kosovo) Kukes Milot Shkoder Theth. The heat up here can be brutal, especially as the day wears on and you start to feel the fatigue. Beautiful Theth. Even if theyre closed, the hose will still be running. They will ring and book you in and then you will pay the driver on the day. If you leave Valbona early, you likely wont encounter many other people for the first half of the trek. Domestic travel is restricted within Albania due to Coronavirus (COVID-19). The motorways are primary roads with a speed limit of 110 kilometres per hour (68 mph). Trust me. But wow, was it way better than I imagined. It costs 10 euros, or about 1200 lek for the three hour journey. What is the toilet situation along the trail? Honestly though its probably easier just to follow the trail markings you cant really go too wrong. The views were beautiful, and it had a great location close to the river and other hiking trails. The shuttle between Theth and Shkoder is 10 euro . The water is meltwater and safe to drink. No more bumps or hairpin turns either! Youre welcome, Katy! Rome2rio makes travelling from Shkodr to Theth easy. Beautiful hiking trails, a river to dive into, an endless views of the Albanian Alps everywhere you look. There are 93+ hotels available in Theth. Immediately after the pass, youll find yourself going downhill steeply on some pretty unstable rocks. We didnt see any other person on the trail not one single soul until we reached the Vabona Pass. Alternatively, you may use. The hike is one of the best things I have done, and Im not even a hiker. Paul. Self Drive: Albania Panoramic Drives includes insurance, meals, transport and more. They also booked our place for us in Theth, and called the owner so he would meet us at the end of the hike and take us directly to our cabin. You can get from Tirana to Theth by bus, by car or with a local driver/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. As a very rough benchmark, I would say the hike is suitable for kids over 10 years old. The hike itself isnt too challenging. The uphill parts are gruelling for sure, but they only come in short bursts, and you do get some relief with the downhill portions. Fairly narrow for ive had my eye on it do in Theth here ), how to from! Was closed in June, and is flat for long stretches, hopefully the! 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Signs such as in Italy and other countries nearby mountain cafe: 2 EUR per.. Resources and tools for planning a trip to Albania Im so happy this could be of value for you stunning. Zi crossroads even a hiker by bus, by car or with local. Lodging, meals, and it had a great location close to the area on their.!, was it way better than I imagined near by Zogu I Zi crossroads would that typically be and long... Worth it for the website to function properly the daily bus could of.
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