albanian alps where to stay

From the 5-days itinerary above, we can calculate the minimum amount of money you can expect to spend in the Albanian Alps as follows: Tips: There is no ATM in Theth and Valbona so be sure to take out enough cash in Shkodra before you start your journey. The journey will take 3 hours, 1.5 hours on a paved road to the viewpoint and another 1.5 hours on a mountainous road to Theth. If you stay at the Wanderers Hostel the staff will book transportation for you. This exodus was 10.5% higher than in 2021, with the majority, about 36,000, being young people, according to new data from the Albanian Institute . This will give you more time to experience both parks as well as see the incredible Shala River. Its just a few kilometres walk depending where your guesthouse is followed up by a quick jaunt through the woods. Walking in the Albanian Alps - Responsible Travel Day 6 will conclude your time in the Albanian Alps. I am also an advocate for the environment and do as much as I can to take care of our planet. You can book a stay with the Wanderers Hostel via Hostelworld or Booking.com. Difficulty: Moderate - Steep Climb at First but Easy towards the End Having a car will allow you to drive to the trailheads, pack more gear, and bring extra food. As youre walking in the forested section youll want to take a left to reach Xhema Lake. Most visitors follow the dirt road which leads left across the bridge in Theth and hugs the valley for quite a way. 16 Pro-Grade Lightroom Presets Now Available! At the port, there will be several buses waiting for you. Booking a tour takes away the stress and the unknown aspects of visiting the Alps. Taylor. Here's a winter packing guide to help you: Looking to travel the Balkans, check out all my articles about the region here: You can see all my Eastern Europe related articles on my. Temperatures will be quite high and Albania experiences minimal rain. This is a closed currency so youll need to wait until youre in Albania to exchange $. Valbona Valley, Albanian Alps: One of Europe's Most Beautiful Hikes For more detail and tips from our experts read on in our Albanian Alps guide. We spent 2 weeks in Albania exploring everything from the mountains and riviera to Ottoman-style towns and castle ruins. If you are coming from a place that doesn't have a low-cost direct flight to Tirana, it might be worthwhile to travel by land to a city that has one and fly from there instead of relying on expensive flights. A: Although travelling to the Alps is more expensive than travelling elsewhere in Albania, its dirt cheap compared to visiting mountainous regions in other countries. Albania has relatively little in the way of high-end accommodation communist-era behemoth hotels are still prevalent but things are changing. It's possible to access Prokletije National Park from both Albania, Montenegro, and Kosovo. Not many people visit the alps during winter because activity options are limited, theres a mass amount of snow, and the temperatures are freezing. A: Its what you make it! Copyright 2023 The Holistic Backpacker | All Rights Reserved, Recommended itinerary for the Albanian Alps, 18 Helpful Tips You Should Know BEFORE Travelling Albania, Backpackers Guide to the Best Hostels in Albania, 10 Reasons to Visit the Shala River aka the Thailand of Albania, 10 Reasons You Need to Visit the Shala River, multi-day trek through the Peaks of the Balkans, 18 Helpful Albania Travel Tips You Should Know BEFORE Visiting, 10 Things to do in Shkoder + 6 Day Shkoder/Alps Itinerary, 2 Day Guide to Vlora: Explore the Albanian Riviera, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kpo_OUpQ6M&t=14s. There is also plenty to do in and around the city. . Albania is a real backpackers paradise. 13 Best Winter Guesthouses in the Albanian Alps | Sondor Travel The hike ends in Denelle, a giant plain surrounded by mountains and in the midst of that, you will find a warm welcoming family of 5 and their settlement where you can refill your water enjoy the view with their lovely daughters. Ask the locals for trail information. When one thinks of Albania as a travel destination, it is hard to imagine that a place like the Albanian Alps existed. The city has a lively atmosphere and the CUTEST city centre I've seen in all of Albania. Besides the big day hikes in Valbona there are also quick walks from the village to smaller natural attractions like Xhema Lake and the Old Mill. When you arrive at your guesthouse you can grab some food, then take off and walk to Xhema Lake & the Old Mill. Difficulty: Easy - Mostly Flat But Long This is a long trek, especially if you plan to stop at the waterfall and canyon. It is quite crowded for my liking though but it was still quite a nice view to see. Day 5: Travel back to Shkodra and spend the night there. Otherwise, the bus will stop at a viewpoint halfway to Theth so you can buy some snacks and coffee from there as well. It should be another 2 hours before you arrive back in Theth. If you think this view is nice, I would recommend you go up first and come back down to this same spot on your way down a few hours before the sunset. That said, if you want to choose the most optimal ways for you, there are a few things to consider: One, there are more hiking trails to do in Theth and so if you are the type of hikers who prefer doing small hikes before doing a longer hike, go from Theth to Valbona. From the trailhead, it is a 3-hours steep climb that goes straight-up to Valbona Pass, the highest point of the trail. Hitchhiking is super common here and youll have zero issues catching a ride around the park! It would be easy to stay at a guest house on the lake for a week, spending your mornings on bicycle and comparing Albanian and Montenegrin cuisine, afternoons identifying the 39 snail species tootling the sandy shallows, and evenings on your terrace with a pair of birdwatching binoculars, a block of feta, fresh bread, and a bottle of wine . Am Viktoriabrunnen 2, Coburg, BY. For the Albanian Alps, you do not have to carry every thing with you during the hike. Youll have to wait until you are physically in the alps in order to talk to the locals who know about the trails in the area. View all photos (6) 6. Albanian Alps - Wikitravel Trekking in unknown territory, planning multiple days in the alps, and spending extended time in nature can be intimating. After doing the hike myself, I can totally say that it doesn't matter. $82. Most people bypass the Shala River which, in my opinion, is a huge mistake! I highly recommend the dinner at Shpella Guesthouse. After 2 hours on the ferry, you should arrive at the port in Koman around 4 PM. From the stunning peaks of the Albanian Alps to the pristine beaches of the Albanian Riviera, we are going to uncover one of the best hidden gems left in Europe together. Located in southern Europe, in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula, Albania is a reasonably small country that boasts some of the most spectacular peaks in Europe. **previously you had to take a 44 vehicle into Theth recently the road has been paved and you can now drive a regular vehicle to the park.**. The hike is more fun with people, especially if you get stuck in the mountain due to rain as I did. Once you reach the end of the lake youll find the Shala River which has crystal clear blue water originating from Theth. The water is extremely clear and the fact that it is tucked away in a lush green forest, the Blue Eye is one hell of a photogenic place. Similar for how youd get to Theth, youll first need to book a minibus to get to Valbona. Two hours before sunset, start making your way to the castle and when you are there, do not enter the castle (it is probably closed by then anyway) but climb up the hill to the side of the castle instead and watch the sunset from outside the castle wall. Join over 3,000 readers and get a free Lightroom preset on us as well as travel news, updates, and great travel stories from around the world. Now, time for some popular tours in the Albanian Alps! If you like to DIY things I explain the transportation/booking situation more in depth next. After an epic feast, be sure to go out into the night and check out the night sky before you end the day. Looking for a complete backpacking itinerary for Europe? Youll find a few cute guesthouses along this stretch of Komani Lake as well as incredible hiking trails. hidden gem. A comfy/sleeping outfit for when youre not hiking. At the bottom of this post I answer this question more in depth and create multiple itineraries based on what type of trip to the alps youre after. You've come to the right blog! Its reached by the village of Theth and is either a quick day hike (if you have access to a car) or a lengthy 20km+ day hike from the village. Berat, the city with a thousand windows, and even more cool things to do. This way you can start hiking early in the morning, but still have access to food. There are quite a few of them hidden away along the road here. Hiking Time: 5 hours Ill be coming out with a complete trail guide for this hike soon (stay tuned), however for now the following tip is the most important: hike from Valbona to Theth. The bus journey from Valbona to Fierze is about an hour and you should arrive in time for the 1 PM ferry to Koman. Travel to Albania - What you need to know before your trip! The hike to Denelle is moderate to hard but tomorrow, we will be doing an easier hike to the Blue Eye that consisted of 90% flat trails and only 10% steep climbs. All in all, you will be spending 1200 LEK for your Theth to Valbona journey, 2,200 LEK for your Valbona back to Shkodra journey and you arrive back in Shkodra by 6 PM. Ask in the comment section below! After moving to Banff National Park in 2020 I became an outdoor adventure enthusiast and vowed to never stop exploring. Your Albanian Alps adventures will always start in Albanias ancient city, Shkoder. Tips: To stay connected with your loved ones at home, be sure to have a VPN service like NordVPN installed before traveling so that you can bypass whatever local Internet censorship you might run into while in Albania. While one of Albania's larger cities, it maintains a small town vibe in the historic . Instantly turn your travel photos into beautiful work of art in one click. If you stick to the main trails in the alps though youll be surrounded by people. They will prepare around 5 - 6 local dishes where you can eat as much as you want. My name is Pete R., and I am an avid solo traveler, travel blogger, and photographer of over 10 years and I'm here to help you make your trip come true. Yup, the only way to get from one park to the next is via hiking! My words are not convincing you about traveling to Albania? For some reason, Shpella Guesthouse attracts the best people! The park lies about 22 km from the alpine city of Bajram Curri. Albanian Alps | Explorer Tour in Albania&Balkan You can obviously do this on a much cheaper or more expensive budget depending on your travel style, however generally this is what people spend. There are 13 buses running every day between the 2 cities from 7 AM to 5 PM, running almost every hour. After a hike, congratulate yourself with a feast worthy of a champion. The final ascent to the waterfall is pretty steep, however its short-lived and this final steep section leads to the best place to view the waterfall from. You wont come up short by finishing your hike at the pass. Id love to explain what that something is, but its more of a feeling and something that cant be put into words. (dont forget to also check out Grunas Canyon which is located just around the corner). 12 reviews #2 of 2 B&Bs / Inns in Grub am Forst. Keep in mind that you might have to change airports if you are switching from a regular carrier to a low-cost carrier in Istanbul. However, if you stay at the guesthouses I recommended, they do have reliable WIFI in the common area that you can stay connected. Youll have to experience it for yourself! Hey! From the other side of the river bed, the trail is a 3-hours straight-up hike through a thick forest where you will able to occasionally take a break and admire the view of Theth and all the surrounding valleys from above. Where to Stay: Shpella Guesthouse Theth (Budget) - 17 USD/Night (Dorm) | 33 USD/Night (Twin Room with Private Bathroom). There are no ATMs once you reach the mountains and no one accepts card payment. The waterfall is popular so Id recommend hiking to it early in the morning before crowds show up. A hike I would recommend you do is the Denelle Trail which will take you up a mountain allowing you to see the other side of the valley. I went hiking in the Albanian Alps in July and temperatures still reached 35 degrees (at elevation) during the day. Why? This means youll either have to do the hike between parks twice to retrieve your car OR return to either Theth or Valbona again via public transit. We are tackling the famous Theth-Valbona hike that will take you through some of the most stunning trails in the area. I spent 1.5 months travelling in Albania and I can confidently say I've seen all the country's highlights. The trailhead doesn't begin until you are in Theth which is still quite far away from Shkodra. Service. Enjoy free WiFi, a full-service spa, and breakfast. What to do when you see a bear - BBC Future These are some of the prettiest structures you will find in Shkodra. The gateway to the Albanian Alps , Shkoder is a can't-miss destination. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google From the Albanian Alps to the beaches along the Albanian Riviera and everywhere in between. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Highlights: The Albanian Alps, Tirana, Lake Koman, UNESCO World Heritage sites. If you want to discover more of the Shala River (which I totally think you should! Very good. Albanian alps hiking holiday. Sunscreen or long sleeves for sun protection. Also, be sure to keep an eye out for a few of the 170,000 bunkers that scattered throughout the country in Valbona. Stay with highlanders in stunning Albanian Alps Valleys. Continue walking a bit further into the plain and you will see a small camp where the warm-welcoming family of 5 awaits you. Summer is also a nice time of year to visit if youre okay with high temperatures and more people around. Getting to Theth via public transportation is super easy, especially if you stay with Wanderers Hostel they book the bus for you! If you are traveling in Albania for only 2 weeks or less, I would recommend you get the 14-days validity Vodafone Tourist sim that gives you 10 GB of data and 500 mins of calls for 1300 LEK. If you are looking to buy a local sim card anyway, you can buy one in Shkodra. Available for both mobile and PC. 10 Things to do in Shkoder + 6 Day Shkoder/Alps Itinerary The buses connecting these 2 cities run from 5 AM to 10 PM. There are two hikes you must do while visiting Theth. From Shkodra, you will first have to travel by bus on a winding road for 3 hours before you arrive in Theth. The beautiful town of Coburg, Bavaria, Germany. - YouTube Theres really something special about being in the Albanian Alps. A: Food is quite limited in the Albanian Alps, however you neednt worry at all about going hungry. When it comes to finding hiking trails for the alps online, youre not gonna find anything. It's mostly flat and well marked with two possible routes. If you have more time, I would recommend you spend at least 4 full days (5 nights) with 2 nights in Shkodra, 2 nights in Theth, and one night in Valbona, so you will have more time to do some epic side trips in Theth. I can 100% guarantee that driving into Valbona Valley en route from Komani Lake will legitimately blow your mind. Bring an international travel adapter, and notify your bank before travelling. Hotels near Ebersdorf Station, Grub am Forst on Tripadvisor: Find 1,694 traveler reviews, 18 candid photos, and prices for 603 hotels near Ebersdorf Station in Grub am Forst, Germany. If you want to keep with the Hostel vibe, but Wanderers is full, check out Shkodra Backpackers. A place you have to watch out the most is at the viewpoint of the Valbona Pass, which is a narrow, rocky trail full of slippery small gravel. I always started my Albanian Alps hiking adventures at 5am to avoid the midday sun. From 1100 to 1450 . Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to plan your trip to Shkodra, Albania! You have 2 options for accessing the Albanian Alps: Shkoder to Theth, or Shkoder to Valbona. You can summit Maja Rosit, however I opted not to because the daytime temperatures were absolutely brutal. The hostel fills up quickly. NOTE if youre taking your car to Valbona, book your ferry ticket in advance. If you are looking to socialize in Theth, the Shpella Guesthouse dinner table is a great place to start . A trip to the Albanian Alps wouldnt be complete without seeing a waterfall! Good to know. Go there! I hiked from Valbone (or Valbona) to Theth. Outdoor adventure enthusiast and environmental devotee. Travel Insurance: ALWAYS purchase reliable insurance prior to your trip. The fresh water sources in the Albanian Alps are drinkable. The combined cost for the ferry and buses will be approximately 2000LEK / 20 euros. Youll need: If youre only visiting the Alps for a couple nights in summer you should be able to pack up all your belongings in a small bag (24L ish). Climate: Mediterranean (mild winters, hot summers). Breakfasts are included in the accommodations recommended here so for 5 days, you will spend around 4,000 LEK for food. Albania offers you a rare opportunity to travel off the beaten path in Europe and shape your own adventure without the heavy influence of social media. It is an easy stroll from here on out but it is still quite a long way to go until you arrive in Valbona. I'd recommend doing it this way because this is the one that I can give you the details for, and the route that can be organized entirely by The Wanderer's Hostel in Shkoder. After 3 hours of climbing, you should arrive at Valbona Pass where you can continue to climb up further to an actually viewpoint to get that epic panorama shot. Thanks for your support & happy adventuring! I asked my hostel to prepare my breakfast for the trip so you can do that too. A: Ill get into all the nitty gritty details for how to plan a trip to the Albanian Alps in this post. Valbona is especially beautiful in the morning and so if you sleep in the day before, be sure to wake up early and walk around the town at sunrise before your departure. Here is a collection of articles about Albania that will help you with your trip planning: Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. From Fierza youll need to take another mini bus to get to Valbona Valley National Park. Prokletije National Park, Montenegro - Moon & Honey Travel I find the hiking trails in the Albanian Alps to be quite long, however the terrain is easily navigable. The Northern Albanian Alps (aka the Accursed Mountains) are the highest section of the Dinaric Alps which stretch all the way from Albania to Kosovo and even eastern Montenegro. In general, the hike to the Blue Eye itself is very easy and not very demanding but the trail is long and you will be hiking for about 6 hours in total for the hike so do prepare your gear accordingly. Spend one night in Theth. The Alps were the thing that *caught my eye* about Albania. On the ferry, you can buy water, soft drinks, and some light snacks in case you run out during the hike. Depending on where you are coming from, the trip from Tirana to Shkodra should not take longer than 2 hours and so you should have some time on your arrival day to prepare yourself for the hikes and see some of the cool sights in Shkodra. If you organize your trip with your hostel/hotel in Shkodra, the bus should come pick you up and your accommodation at around 7:20 AM. Rozafa Castle, located 1.5 km south from Shkodra City Center, is one of the best places to do that. Get Your Guide offers TONS of diverse excursions to the Albanian Alps. I and a couple of friends decided to extend our trip so that we can outstay the rain, but some had to go back as they didn't have the time, and so if you are determined to hike the Albanian Alps, be sure to leave some wiggle room in case the weather goes bad. If youll be staying longer, youll want to bring a slightly larger bag; maybe around 30-34L or so. Instead I hiked to a pass that actually ended up in Montenegro! The Village of Theth Best place for hiking and adventure lovers Theth might just be the most peaceful place to visit in Albania. DAY: KSAMIL BLUE EYE GJIROKASTER Where To Stay In Gjirokaster: My TOP TIPS for Accommodation 6. Ill be posting a complete trail guide for Maja Rosit (soon) however for now you can refer to this Alltrails map. Due to its popularity, you can expect many more people doing this hike than the one I recommended the day before. Buses are very cheap here, but unreliable. The trail at the beginning is mostly exposed but 30 minutes in and you should be in a forest which should help you with the heat. At Fierze, they will drop you off right at the port where there is a restaurant you can sit in and wait for the ferry. The Backpacker's Complete Guide to Shkoder, Albania From Theth to Valbona Pass, it is a 3-hours steep climb straight-up which is perfect for those who like to do the hard part first when you have the energy and relax for the rest of the trail. It is a long strenuous hike so take it slow and take a break often if you have to. THE 10 CLOSEST Hotels to Albanian Alps, Theth - Tripadvisor Its an Old Mill situated next to the bright blue Valbona River. For only 2 euros, you can get yourself a glass of their delicious ice coffee, a beer or raki if you need a shot of that to wake you up . But, you get the point. After a 3 hours journey from Shkodra, you should arrive in Theth by 11 AM which should give you ample time to do some hikes before the sunset. Im sure if this is your first time visiting the Albanian Alps you have TONS of questions. Your accommodation supplier in Shkoder should be able to book the bus for you, however if for some reason they cant, you can book via this number +35568247301. I cant wait to share my adventures with you! 1) Albanian people dont like putting stuff on the internet and 2) Albania is an up & coming travel destination. Looking for a great place to watch the sunset? Thethi is a small village in the northern Albanian Alps. Thethi is one of the most sought out alpine areas in Albania. For hiking out-of-season, I would recommend against it as most of the high passes in the Albanian Alps will likely be closed off due to snowfall, and the ferry service across Komani Lake, one of the transportation you will have to rely on, only runs from mid-April to early November. You can check out. 102, dated 15.01.1996, with an area of . They will drop you off at Sheshi Demonkracia roundabout located in the city center so you should have no trouble walking to your hostel/hotel. Aside from the guesthouses you may be lucky enough to find a few popup fruit stands here and there, but compared to the rest of Albania the produce at these places will be limited and expensive. The Backpacker's Guide To Traveling Albania | 2022 About. Hiking Time: 7 hours Secondly, Albania and hiking the Alps is very affordable. The mini bus back to Shkoder usually leaves around 11 from the village centre. There are similar hotels available. Albania Road Trip Itinerary For 10 Days: Explore The Highlights However, there is much more to this small country than its urban center. Theth National Park is the most well known and one of the most beautiful National Parks in Albania. If you want to minimize cost, you can find a way to Turkey and then from there, you can fly with Pegasus Low-Cost Airline to Tirana. If you are only interested in doing only the Theth-Valbona hike and you do not have a lot of time, you can spend a minimum of 3 full days (4 nights) including the 2 nights in Shkodra and one night each in Theth and Valbona, but you will barely scratch the surface of what makes the Albanian Alps so breathtaking. The bus costs 700 LEK. Warm & welcoming people, yummy food, beautiful beaches, cheap everything. In fact, I spent 3 days hiking solo in the alps and felt perfectly safe. Helpful Info: dont drink the tap water or bring a purifying bottle like this one. The bus cost is 10 euros. After the 1.5hr scenic ferry ride youll hop on a mini bus and drive to Valbona. To prepare for the hike, you can refer to my Things to Prepare list above. Where to Stay in the Albanian Alps Shkodra Tours & Activities 5-Days Albanian Alps Hiking Itinerary Day 1: Prepare for the Hike in Shkodra Day 2: Travel from Shkodra to Theth and Hike to Denelle in Theth Day 3: Hike to the Blue Eye in Theth Day 4: Hike from Theth to Valbona Day 5: Travel from Valbona to Shkodra Why? Today is going to be a big day and probably one of the reasons why you are visiting the Albanian Alps in the first place. OH they also serve the yummiest (included) breakfast. A rain jacket you honestly probably wont need this, but its always good to have an extra layer in the mountains! Me and my friend Lindsay got lost quite a few times before we found ourselves on the right track. Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here. For accommodation in Theth and Valbona, you might be able to get by without booking during the shoulder seasons but if you are there in the mid-summer months, I highly recommend you book them before you embark on the journey. You can book your tickets for the Komani Lake ferry here. The rugged peaks, vibrant wildflowers, and crystal clear waterfalls are enough to ignite any travellers sense of adventure. Hiking season in the Albanian Alps runs from May to October, however in September temperatures are cooler, tourism is minimal, and youll get to see all the autumn colours changing. With a bike, you can also go further and check out the old Mesi Ottoman Bridge to the north of the city or ride along the Lake Skadar to Zogaj and back. Albanian Hike | Finalrentals For reference heres the Alltrails map for this trail. Let me know in the comments. From your guesthouse, a bus will come and pick you up at 10:30 AM (sometimes a bit earlier) and they will drive you to Fierze, a town where you will have to catch the ferry across the Komani Lake. Interested in discovering more of Albanias nature? This self-guided holiday takes you through the stunning Theth National Park and Peja Pass, over the iconic Valbona Pass (1,811m), and to the crystal-clear waters . The mountain view already makes you excited to leave. Food: Food in Shkodra cost around 500 LEK whereas, in both Theth and Valbona, you can expect to pay 500 LEK for lunch and 1,000 for dinner. Turn every which way and you've got yourself a postcard picture. This is a great photo-op for all the photographers out there and it makes for an easy walk if youre looking for something to do in the village of Valbona. If you click these links and make a purchase youre supporting The Holistic Backpacker. This gives travellers time to see Xhema Lake and the Old Mill in Valbona on night one followed up by the hike between national parks the next day. Now you can buy me a virtual teahere. Keep in mind that the weather in the Albanian Alps can change quite drastically at any moment even in the mid-summer months so be sure to check the weather forecast before you embark on the journey. Day 5 youre hiking to the Blue Eye of Theth. Seriously, Id never want to drive on the road leading to the ferry (poor road) or at the loading station. ^Book in advance though. It takes around 3.5 hours to reach Shkoder from Theth.
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