Or the alternative, which is getting to Valbona by a combination of private taxi and Komani Lake Ferry. We will travel at the beginning of June and hope to make the trip very similar. While not a direct ride, since the boat is connecting the two villages of Koman and Fierze, and other transportation options need to be used before and after, it's worth the hassle of changing vehicles many times. However, it may not be worth doing, let me explain why. From the actual facilities on board of the ferry to what to pack for the journey. 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. Technically theres no reason you couldnt do the trek solo provided youre an experienced hiker with the correct gear. Valbona - Shkoder travel times/options - Albania Forum You can see the location of the bus station in Shkoder on a Google Map here: Your bus journey will start at 5AM in the morning. Dont come to the pick up locations if you dont have a ticket paid online via our system. The maximum elevation is 1,800 metres, so altitude sickness is not something you have to worry about. We try to be as close as possible to the needs of our visitors, even to those who may have very little time to stay with us but a very big desire to see the breathtaking beauties of our country and Komani Lake and around it. And good that we did, since very quickly we were taken on a jeep by a man with his daughter. Get a 39-page PDF guide about the hidden gems of Albania, including a Google Map you can add to your phone! Hi and thank you for the amazing information! You actually dont need to have your own vehicle to take this ferry, as minibuses (furgons) operate between the cities and the ferry terminals, but more on that below. They were speaking some basic English and we understood that they were not going to Valbona, but somewhere on the way. Which is why Albanian locals depend on minibuses and private cars to travel around the country. A bus ticket from Tirana to Lake Koman costs 10 euros or 1400 Leke. Most of the way youll be walking on stone paths that are relatively flat and even. Valbona is a remote mountain destination, so it is best to carefully plan your trip there. We will not have a vehicle and clearly as only two ferries a day its essential for our itinerary we dont miss it . It takes approximately 2 hours to get from Koman to Shkoder, so you will be in Shkoder around 5PM or 5:30 PM. This includes the minibus from Shkoder to Koman, your ferry ticket from Koman to Fierze and the minibus from Fierze to Valbona. Usually the driver will make a couple of pit stops for photos. We made the decision to add the ferry ride before our hike, stayed the night in Valbona and hiked from Valbona to Theth the following day. The pick up options are visible on the booking forms. Valbona to Theth hike in Albania - Our Big Journey Local transport for the bumpy road from Fierza to Valbona . Is it advisable / do-able to do the hike during this time? 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. There are lots of guesthouses in both Valbona and Theth, but I highly recommend you read the reviews and choose wisely. The ferry ride takes 2.5 hours and finishes at Fierza. Valbona Valley National Park, Shkoder - Book Tickets & Tours - GetYourGuide I arrange your transportation and I am your English speaking guide. You can see the location of the Regional Bus Terminal North and South Albania on a Google Map here: https://goo.gl/maps/bsCESwF7NEnxqPhr7. If you have all your luggage with you, an alternative option is to travel to either Valbona or Theth, hike to Valbona Peak, then return to your base camp. These bus services will bring you to the Komani Lake ferry terminal and pick you up on the other end. Thank you Ashley Koman Lake is nowadays the only transportation route for these remote villages that got completely isolated when the valley was flooded in 1970 to provide power to a massive hydroelectric plant. .et_bloom .et_bloom_optin_1 .et_bloom_form_content { background-color: #3b3b3b !important; } .et_bloom .et_bloom_optin_1 .et_bloom_form_container .et_bloom_form_header { background-color: #07a8ba !important; } .et_bloom .et_bloom_optin_1 .et_bloom_form_content button { background-color: #e09900 !important; } .et_bloom .et_bloom_optin_1 .et_bloom_form_content .et_bloom_fields i { color: #e09900 !important; } .et_bloom .et_bloom_optin_1 .et_bloom_form_content .et_bloom_custom_field_radio i:before { background: #e09900 !important; } .et_bloom .et_bloom_optin_1 .et_bloom_form_content button { background-color: #e09900 !important; } .et_bloom .et_bloom_optin_1 .et_bloom_form_container h2, .et_bloom .et_bloom_optin_1 .et_bloom_form_container h2 span, .et_bloom .et_bloom_optin_1 .et_bloom_form_container h2 strong { font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, Lucida, sans-serif; }.et_bloom .et_bloom_optin_1 .et_bloom_form_container p, .et_bloom .et_bloom_optin_1 .et_bloom_form_container p span, .et_bloom .et_bloom_optin_1 .et_bloom_form_container p strong, .et_bloom .et_bloom_optin_1 .et_bloom_form_container form input, .et_bloom .et_bloom_optin_1 .et_bloom_form_container form button span { font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, Lucida, sans-serif; } E-Visa - Albania - For UAE residence - long time, Share a transfer from Tirana airport to Saranda (or Ksamil), Is Albania safe for tourist and what are the best places. 4 Wheel drive advised Wake up at 4 AM, because you are not familiar with the route and may lose time How to get from Tirana to Komani Lake by bus? So you will arrive at the ferry terminal in Fierze around noon. Its difficult to say I would recommend asking someone local in Theth or Valbona so they can give you advice, perhaps your guesthouse house or the staff at the national park service (the Theth office was particularly good when we visited). The schedule (in 2019) for Ferry Berisha operates only in the summer months, April to October, and is as following: The smaller boat, which only transports passengers, operates all year round, even in the winter months. Even if you opt to walk from the start of the trailhead, if you start from Valbona, you can get this part over with and be in the shade of the forest near Theth before it starts getting too hot. That's why we would seriously advice against hitchhiking this route: unless you really get stuck, your chances of getting to Koman are minimal. Robert. And a rental car will cost you at least 20-25 euros per day, but do your research before you travel to get a good deal. Why the Valbona Pass in Albania is One of the World's Greatest Hikes Hi! And finally, I will discuss getting from Tirana to Valbona, from Valbona to Shkoder and Shkoder to Theth. After you fill the reservation form you will get redirected to the PayPal payment page. Based on our experiences and in your demands, we decided to add to the list of opportunities we offer another tour that will certainly consist on unforgettable experiences that start in the city of Shkodra and end up at the touristic point of Theth. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Dont underestimate the value of having the trail to yourself. This is an overview of your bus and ferry journey: Your bus journey will start at 5AM in the morning. Ferry ticket Komani Lake to Fierza Dam. 00355 68 52 70 934 . $1,088.70. Or you can write us and we will send a invoice link. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. We were able to leave our guesthouse by 7am and after a short drive to the trailhead, we started walking at 7.20am. Pick up service from Tirana, Shkodra and Valbona Komani Lake Ferry Berisha offers the possibility of pick up from Tirana, Shkodra and Valbona. More about, Koman lake ferry: how to get from Shkodr to Valbona. Hence it will be great if you can clarify on this point and any other point that I need to be careful about during my trip to Albania. Because the road is much smaller, it turns and twists and it is in a worse condition. Northern Albania has pronounced seasons its not possible to trek in the Albanian Alps in winter due to heavy snowfall. }.et_bloom .et_bloom_optin_3 .et_bloom_form_content button { background-color: #ffffff !important; } .et_bloom .et_bloom_optin_3 .et_bloom_form_content .et_bloom_fields i { color: #ffffff !important; } .et_bloom .et_bloom_optin_3 .et_bloom_form_content .et_bloom_custom_field_radio i:before { background: #ffffff !important; } .et_bloom .et_bloom_optin_3 .et_bloom_border_solid { border-color: #c48732 !important } .et_bloom .et_bloom_optin_3 .et_bloom_form_content button { background-color: #ffffff !important; } .et_bloom .et_bloom_optin_3 .et_bloom_form_container h2, .et_bloom .et_bloom_optin_3 .et_bloom_form_container h2 span, .et_bloom .et_bloom_optin_3 .et_bloom_form_container h2 strong { font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, Lucida, sans-serif; }.et_bloom .et_bloom_optin_3 .et_bloom_form_container p, .et_bloom .et_bloom_optin_3 .et_bloom_form_container p span, .et_bloom .et_bloom_optin_3 .et_bloom_form_container p strong, .et_bloom .et_bloom_optin_3 .et_bloom_form_container form input, .et_bloom .et_bloom_optin_3 .et_bloom_form_container form button span { font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, Lucida, sans-serif; } Also this service is only available for those who book another service (ferry ticket, tours etc.) You basically reserve your ferry boat ticket and request for the minibus service to be included. If you travel from Shkoder to Valbona via private taxi, ferry and another private taxi, your journey will cost 138 euros. To get to Valbona there are many different ways. As little as 2-3 trains operate in the entire country per week, usually between Durres and Elbasan. Hiking Theth to Valbona - Travels Of A Bookpacker At the end of the day, stay overnight at the guesthouse. The Guesthouse is located in the Komani Lake, in front of Peace Island.To arrive in the Guesthouse from Koman Terminal, the traveling time is around 40 minutes with Ferry Berisha or Dragobia Boat. Continue Reading: Lake Komani Ferry: Guide To The World's Most Beautiful Ferry Ride; The Perfect South Balkans Travel Itinerary: Albania, North Macedonia, Kosovo; Monday to Sunday Depart from Koman at 9am. A bus will come to your accommodation at 0900h to pick you up and take you to the ferry where you will actually have to wait for the ferry to arrive, so don't worry about missing the boat. You will have nice roads in Kosovo, but still the last section of your journey to Valbona will be a dirt track road. Now, you might be wondering actually how to take the ferry, as the Koman Lake isnt necessarily located close to the city. Is it easier to get lost , is a map necessary ? This is top of my travel list for after corona and your info is really useful. Delete cookies, By using our website, you agree to our use of cookies. Tirana. Koman lake ferry: how to get from Shkodr to Valbona Great questions. Its safe to drink the tap water in both Valbona and Theth as well. 9AM: ferry from Koman to Fierze. The hostel is located almost in the center of Shkoder, half a block from the main Mosque, across the street from the Kinema Milenium (an old theater, now used as an outdoor cafe and restaurant). We understood that the man was actually going all the way to Valbona, but possibly at the beginning he said he didn't, because since Valbona Valley is many km long, his own district had probably a more specific name.After leaving the daughter at home, the nice man drove us a few km further away to the end of the asphalted road where the hiking trail to Thethi is beginning, and where we could start looking for a place to camp and relax, while impressing in our memories the amazing experience we had on the Koman Lake bus boat. No matter spring or summer, this ferry is almost always busy with Tuesday and Wednesday being the least busiest day according to the Berisha website. This year we decided to spend an alternative Easter. If you are planning to reach Valbona from other places than Shkodr, we suggest you to check also this article written by locals, with other transportation options. Enter your First Name and Email Address to get the Free Albania Tourist Map with the 78 Best Places to Visit in Albania! Set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin, this cookie is used to record the user consent for the cookies in the "Advertisement" category . 6:30 AM: minibus from Shkoder to Koman. 3 nights accommodation in Theth. This text first appeared on "Nomad Travellers". . Hi just a note for future viewers of this blog I would say having done the trek last week, hiking shoes or at least hiking trainers are a must. ), head for Mini Market Jezerca where you can grab a drink and use the free WIFI to get your bearings. Some people at our guesthouse were carrying poles, boots and other fancy trekking paraphernalia, none of which I had with me. The bus journey takes approximately 2 hours. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Book Now Lost in Albanian Alps A tour from Tirana, to Kruje and Shkoder, sailing through Komani Lake and Shala River, hiking from Valbone to Theth. We spotted three grass snakes (non-poisonous) and a small, unidentified mammal. Hop on the ferry to Fierza and start your journey to Berisha, a small village off the . I will share how to get from Shkoder to Valbona by bus, by ferry and by private taxi. The bottom line is that the trek can be as long or as short as you want. If you take the Lake Koman Ferry, you will face a dirt track road from Shkoder to Koman and a dirt track road from Fierze to Valbona. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. From memory, the rest of the trail is very spread out with land on either side of you and not too many overhangs at all. Tours & TRANSPORT Ferry ticket Koman - Fierze - Koman - Online Reservation. 3 Stops. As another plus, guesthouses in Theth are closer to the trail. Sunscreen and sunglasses With the water acting as a mirror you will find yourself getting burned pretty easily on a sunny day. But instead of crossing the border to Kosovo, you would take the road that leads by the Has village towards Bajram Curri. In the morning we start from Valbona to Fierze, where we board in the Ferry Berisha and sail to Koman, with a van we end our tour in Shkoder. Intrigued? If you are renting a car in Albania, you could drive from Tirana to Valbona via Kosovo. So you better take a local bus and make sure to know where is it leaving from. I was extremely unfit when I did this hike and although I did have to grit my teeth for a tiny bit, I was honestly surprised how easy I managed it. There are some shorter hiking routes around Valbona that you could do too. I have seen two other postings on this. Copyright 2015-2023 Emily Margaret Naughton Lush. Ill run through some of the common questions concerning the Valbona Theth trek and offer my best pieces of advice for making the most of your time in the Albanian Alps. The Komani Lake ferry (necessary to get from Shkoder to Valbona and a highlight in itself) only runs for a short season, usually from 10 April to 2 November. The uphill parts are gruelling for sure, but they only come in short bursts, and you do get some relief with the downhill portions. . Valbona to Shkoder - Albania Forum - Tripadvisor But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. You could rent a car at Tirana airport and drive to Shkoder. And: did anyone by any chance do his trip with a small child / baby? And do one-way trek to other side. 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. Ferry and bus tickets can only be used once, so if you are doing a day trip from Shkoder to Fierze and back you will have to pay for the minibus twice and the ferry twice, with a total of 3000 Leke, roughly 24, per person. This is definitely up there with the best hikes in the Balkans, Im sure youll love it. If you are wondering how to get from Shkoder to Valbona, this blog post will help you plan your trip. The Valbona cafe was closed in June, and the Theth cafe only had limited food offerings. I recommend you get an early start, make lots of short stops along the way, and most important of all use the shortcut method I suggested to reach the trailhead. I am an Albania Tour Guide, who organizes 1-day, 2-day or multiple day private tours in Albania. Heres a quick summary of my top 5 takeaways. I dont think a map is necessary. So to help you prepare for your trip a little bit better we have a little bit more information left for you. Oh yes, and packages: probably more packages than people!We preferred to take the "Bus Boat" to Fierze rather than the touristic ship "Mario Molla", even if the prices for the 2 hours trip were comparable (about 5). Sailing time is approximately 2h and 30 minutes. Thank you! Even if theyre closed, the hose will still be running. You can double-check the dates for this year here. This is why I recommend leaving your car in Shkoder and making use of the public transport connections to get to and from the mountains. Here we had to stock up with food, since we didn't know what to expect from the culinary offer of Valbona and Thethi. The former railway station was demolished in 2013 and it is currently 2023, and there is no new railway station in Tirana. First, you take a minivan from your accommodation in Shkoder to the ferry terminal at Koman. How to get from Shkoder to Theth, Albania (Thethi) You can choose for a bus from Shkoder to Koman (or reverse Koman to Shkoder). Do I understand it that one takes a furgon from Valbona to the lake, a 2-3 hour ferry, and then another furgon into Shkoder? The route an old mule trail winds through the Accursed Mountains (Albanian Alps) and over the Valbona Pass, a landscape of rocky peaks and deep ravines shared between Albania, Montenegro and Kosovo. Think about if you were to hike Theth and finish in Valbona and then be required to take two buses and a ferry to get back to Shkoder. So you could rent a car and drive from Shkoder to Koman independently, then bring the car onboard the Komani Lake Ferry and finally drive from Fierze to Valbona independently. 2- Please note that we dont offer hotel pick up in Tirana or Shkodra, hotel pick up is available only in Valbona. The pattern element in the name contains the unique identity number of the account or website it relates to. Bookings can be made through the official website, Komani Lake Ferry Berisha. So, if you are in any of this 3 places, you will have an everyday pick up scheduled minivan for transport. There is no train from Tirana airport to Shkoder. Which Way is Better: Valbona to Theth, or Theth to Valbona? In 2009 I quit my job to chase my dream of exploring our planet in a sustainable way and I haven't stopped yet. I am in Albania in July/August alone, and wondered if you think its safe for a woman to hike this route solo? Most of the trail is a white rocky path that is very easy to distinguish from the terrain around it. Your email address will not be published. Albanian Alps Tour | Komani Lake Explore - Kayak Tours and Ferry Line Quoting a message I read in a discussion in Lonely Planet forum dating 4 years ago: "You can find a coke-free abandoned village by getting off the Lake Koman ferry halfway and hiking for a few hours west towards Thethi - in a hidden valley there's a valley with a village that was deserted some time ago, with houses still intact, cups on the shelves, apparently.". Come prepared and dont count on the cafes being open. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Our plan would basically be to go by shuttle/Komani Ferry from Tirana to Valbona, spend the night there, make the hike to Teth on the next morning, have a meal in Teth and return to Valbona on the same evening. All reviews passengers ferry cars scenery lake ship seat shkoder chaos smoke trash motorcycle . This text first appeared on "Nomad Travellers". Subscribe to my newsletter to get your copy instantly. Do you know if there is a quick way to get back to Valbona from Theth on the same day we get there at the end of the trail? more, Re: Valbona - Shkoder travel times/options, https://journeytovalbona.com/how-to-get-here/#valbona-shkoder, Get answers to your questions about Albania. Or take the city bus that departs from behind the National History Museum in the direction of Instituti.

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