Albania has it all. Crystal Clear Waters, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and Bustling Cities. But, take a trip up North and you will get to experience the stunning mountain landscapes this country has to offer. They aren't called the "Albanian Alps" for nothing.
All of the planning for your trek from Valbona to Theth begins in Shkodra at Wanderers Hostel. They do it ALL for you. This is exactly what your experience will look like as planned by Wanderers!
Day Zero: Arriving in Shkodra & Checking into Wanderers
Before the trek, you will want to spend a night (or 2) at Wanderers Hostel. When you check in, you will ask reception about the hike. They will ask you when you want to go and make your life very easy from there!
Reception will book you two guesthouses, one in Valbona and one in Theth, arrange all of your transportation, and will explain every step of the upcoming journey with you.
Spend the day in Shkodra before the journey renting a bike from the hostel and riding to the nearby lake or simply going for a walk around town.
Day One: Journey from Shkodra to Valbona
Your day will begin with an early wakeup call around 6am at Wanderers where you will be provided with a free buffet style breakfast.
You and your fellow hikers will be picked up in a van right outside of the hostel where you will drive for about 2 hours to reach the next leg of your journey, the ferry.
The ferry takes around 3.5 hours, but don’t worry, it’s the best part! The views are absolutely stunning and the will fly by and leave you wishing for more.
When you leave the ferry you will be picked up by a driver who will take you the rest of the way to your first guesthouse. This should take about an hour (however, Albanian transportation is always unpredictable and if your driver is like mine, may decide to grocery shop and pick up a hitchhiker, or two, along the way).
*Wanders provides you will all the tickets you need for this transportation. Take a picture as backup and be sure to keep them somewhere safe!
You will arrive at your guesthouse in Valbona sometime in the afternoon and will have the rest of the day free to relax or begin exploring the area.
Day Two: Hiking Day–Valbona to Theth
You will wake up in the morning at your guesthouse in Valbona where you will be provided with a free breakfast. You will also be given tin foil that you can use to wrap up food to bring with you on the hike to eat for lunch and snacks.
*Tip: Get started early! The later you get started the hotter and more crowded the trail will be. My group left around 8am and I found that to be the perfect time.
Your guesthouse in Valbona will help you arrange transportation to the trailhead (just ask them!)
*Tip: Having small bills or coins will help you here as you will likely split the cost of transportation with other travelers from your guesthouse.
When you arrive to the trailhead, your hike will begin. The hike generally takes around 6 hours — more or less obviously depending on your speed and how frequently you stop for breaks. It is a well trodden path and therefore nearly impossible to get lost.
*Tip: Don’t rush it! My group and I took frequent breaks to take in the immense beauty that surrounded us and to take plenty of pictures. There are also a few small cafes scattered along the way where you can grab some coffee, tea, or a small bite to eat.
You will complete the hike when you arrive to Theth. In town there is a small grocery store (think small snacks and drinks) and a few restaurants. It is a good place to spend a bit of time before making your way to your new guesthouse for the night.
If you begin the hike around 8am as I suggest, you will arrive to Theth sometime in the early to mid afternoon. This gives you plenty of time to explore and relax in the beauty that is Theth National Park. There are several trails in the area that I recommend looking for on the app, Alltrails, if you’re up to doing some more hiking this day.
Day Three: Theth back to Shkodra
You will wake up on the last morning to another buffet style breakfast at your guesthouse.
While you may want to take after a long day of hiking the day before, I recommend hiking to the nearby Grunasi Waterfall.
*It takes around 30 minutes by foot to reach the waterfall (dependent on where your guesthouse is located), so you need to factor in about an hour of transportation time in addition to time spent at the falls.
The waterfall is an amazing place to relax before heading back to Shkodra!
Transportation will arrive at your guesthouse sometime between 11am and 12pm. It will take about 2 hours to make it back to Shkodra.
Extension Day Four: Blue Eye
If you’re looking to extend your stay in Theth, you will have plenty to do!
One of the most popular options is to hike to the Blue Eye. This hike takes between 3-4 hours each way depending on your pace.
*Tip: If you don’t have time to make it to the Blue Eye in Theth, be sure to go to the Blue Eye in Sarandä in the South of Albania.
Additional Tips:
Bring more money than you think you’ll need!!
There are no ATMs and you will likely have to pay with cash in both Valbona and Theth.
Pack Light (and smart)
You do not want to have to carry a heavy pack all day… only pack the minimal essentials. It can get a bit chilly at night, so consider bringing light layers. Anticipate rain! (you will not regret bringing that rain jacket)