We will arrive at Tirana international airport. From there we will take a private bus to the city of Shkodra, a drive of just under 2 hours, from where our adventure will start. 

Here we will have our briefing, and then have the rest of the day to explore the city, visit the ancient castle, and maybe even enjoy a swim in one of the largest lakes of the Balkans.

Overnight in Shkodra.

We will start our day early, and our first destination is the beautiful Komani lake. 

Here we board a ferry and our adventure really begins! The lake is surrounded by mountains..truly breathtaking.  We will eat a packed lunch during the boat ride of about 3 hours.

Once we reach our stop...we start with a short warm up hike to reach our guesthouse in beautiful Valbona- a perfect end to our day.

We will be hiking up Valbona national park, to a peak also known as "The Queen of the Mountains". From isolated shepherd huts, to lush meadows and jagged mountain peaks the scenery is simply amazing! After reaching the peak and taking a break in the remote and authentic mountain hut called "Rama's hut", we will try to push higher if you still have the energy to the border with Montenegro for more panoramic views.

Overnight in Valbona.

Today we will be crossing from Valbona to Theth natural reserve . This is another highlight of this trip. The highest point in the trek is reached today. We will be hiking next to mountain springs, through colorful meadows and taking breaks surrounded by breathtaking landscapes. The Valbona pass which is the mid point between the two valleys offers stunning panoramic views. 

Tonight we sleep in the beautiful village of Theth.

Today we have two options that you can choose from. Either hike the steep route to Peja Pass at the northern end of the Theth valley below the Matterhorn of Albania. This ancient caravan path is hidden in the sheer, 900 m drop below Mount Arapi and named after the Kosovarian city Peja, to where this path leads. 

On top is a little lake where you can cool down your feet. 

Another - and a little more relaxed hiking option-  would be the Denelli meadows trek which also provides amazing views of the Theth valley.

Overnight in Theth.

A walk through the village and green fields reveals the full beauty of Theth. Visit the iconic church and delve into the fascinating local history.

We will walk along water channels and through forest, to Thethi waterfall and to a cliff above the river where archeologists discovered stone aged terraces. 

We will stop for lunch at our beautiful guesthouse in Nyderlysaj.

The end of the day will be at another highlight of this trip which is the famous "Blue Eye". The bravest can take a dip in the icy cold, butterfly surrounded waters.

 It is a truly hidden gem and very relaxing place. Without mobile phone coverage, electricity and road access, busy everyday life feels completely forgotten.

Overnight Nyderlysaj.

We will depart around 10am towards Shkoder and onto Tirana. It is approximately a 5 hour bus ride. 

We will be stopping for lunch in a restaurant next to one of the beautiful beaches of Albania.

We have the rest of the late afternoon and evening to enjoy Albania's capital.

It was a blast Albania! Until next time!