Overview of the Valbonë to Theth Hike
If there’s one thing we can wholeheartedly recommend doing in Albania, it’s the Valbonë to Theth Hike – you absolutely will not regret it! The Valbonë to Theth hike in Albania is full of absolutely stunning views, no matter which direction you look. The hiking route takes you from one small Albanian village to another through the gorgeous Albanian Alps, (referred to as the “Accursed Mountains”). The hike takes you up to 1800 meters but you’ll see other snow-capped peaks much higher than this. If you haven’t done anything like this before, don’t be intimidated, neither have most of the people doing this hike! While it was hard at points, this is easily one of our favorite things we’ve done while traveling. Check out this video of our time in Valbonë and Theth for more insights!
The hike is amazing, but if you can’t do it for physical or time reasons, make sure to at least visit one of the amazing towns!
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How Long Does the Valbonë to Theth Hike Take?
Depending on where you start, the hike will be around 7.5-9.3 miles (12-15 kilometers) and will take between 6-8 hours. If you are in good shape and you don’t make too many stops, you can probably do this in 4.5 hours. If you prefer to relax, stop at all the cafés, hang out at the peak, this can take around 9-10 hours. You’ll obviously be slower the heavier your pack is, so pack light!
Where is the Start of the Valbonë to Theth Hike?
If you are starting from Valbonë, the trailhead is technically here but unless you are able to score a ride in a 4×4, you’ll likely start here. If you are starting in Theth, the trailhead is here. The closer to the trailheads you stay, the easier your hike will be, but the further you are from the towns. We recommend downloading the Valbonë Valley on Google Maps or using AllTrails for the Valbonë to Theth Hike (also may be called Valbonë Valley Hike).
How Difficult is the Valbonë to Theth Hike?
The Valbonë to Theth Hike has about 1.5 hours of intense uphill, but other than that, it was fairly easy! Hikers experience slow and steady elevation gains leading up to the steep area, which is around the Valbonë Peak. You’ll be exposed to the sun around the Valbonë peak, but around 50% of the hike is through shaded alpine forests.
What to Pack For the Valbonë to Theth Hike
If you’re doing this trek round trip from Shkodër, we highly recommend leaving your bigger bags with your hotel/hostel host or a luggage storage service and only taking a day bag with things you absolutely need. This is super common for people to do, so just ask whatever place you’re staying at if they offer this service (they likely will for free!).
- Water: You should bring a water bottle or two. While the water is potable in Valbonë Valley, we used our Larq water bottle, which kills any bacteria that may have been in the water! You can also buy bottled water in Valbonë and Theth.
- Sunscreen: The hike is partly in the woods and partly in the open sun. Our favorite is the La Roche Posay Face Sunscreen.
- Albanian Lek: Theth and Valbonë do not have ATMs. Bring Euros as a back up, but really try to have enough in Lek, as that’s generally easier for the people there.
- Only the Clothes You Need: We saw lots of people struggling with their really big backpacks. For a three night trip, I’d recommend two pairs of hiking clothes, one pair of travel clothes, one pair of pajamas, and a jacket/sweater for when it’s chilly at night.
- Good Hiking Shoes: For women we recommend this pair of Jack Wolfskins and for men we like this pair of Salomons.
- Hiking Poles: Hiking poles were the 40+ crowds’ biggest friend, but if we had them, we would absolutely be using them!
- Snacks: High protein snacks for the hike are definitely recommended!
- Toiletries: Bring some travel sized bottles of shampoo and conditioner as well as a bar of soap, as your accommodations may not supply those for you (and you will absolutely want them after a long day of hiking).
Transportation for the Valbonë to Theth Hike
We used Komani Lake Ferry for all our transportation. If you’re planning on booking a ferry ticket with Komani Lake Ferry to get to or from Valbonë, you can book all the other transportation you’ll need for this trip at the same time (read on for how to do this). The only cheaper option would be to hitchhike and try paying for a boat in Koman that is not the Komani Lake Ferry. The ferry has some amazing views; transport to/from Valbonë is definitely an experience in itself! While the Komani Lake Ferry operates the transportation, their booking process is not straightforward, so it’s much easier to book with Gjirafa.
Check Transportation Prices and Book Your Trip with Gjirafa Travel
How to Get to Valbonë
From Skhodër, you will need to take a bus to Koman at 6:45 am, then ferry to Fierze, and a bus from Fierze to Valbonë. This costs $26 one way and takes about 6 hours (from 6:45 am to 1 pm).
From Tirana, you can take a bus to Koman at 5:30 am, then ferry to Fierze, and a bus from Fierze to Valbonë. This costs $31 one way and takes about 7.5 hours (from 5:30 am to 1 pm). The easiest way to book this transportation is with Gjirafa, but if you want to book directly, follow the instructions below.
To book all of your transportation at once with Komani Lake Ferry, you’ll select Koman-Fierze Ferry (or Fierze-Koman if you’ll be leaving from Valbonë) on the home page. Once you’re on the reservation page, select “Add Service Pickup” on the bottom and select what you need. For example, if you’re planning on going Skhodër-Valbonë-Theth-Skhodër, you’ll want to add Skhodër-Koman and Fierze-Valbonë for the day of your ferry, and Theth-Skhodër for the day you plan to leave Theth (make sure the dates you fill in for these extra rides are correct!). This is the best way to arrange transportation to and from this area because everything will be in the same booking.
How to Get to Theth
From Skhodër, the bus to Theth costs around $14 and takes 2 hours. The bus leaves at 7 am so you’ll be in Theth by 9 am!
Which Direction is Better for the Valbonë to Theth Hike: Valbonë to Theth or Theth to Valbonë?
We recommend going from Valbonë to Theth. The Valbonë side is much sunnier than the Theth side so doing that in the morning is ideal. Also, since the transportation to and from Valbonë is so long, we recommend getting that long travel day out of the way at the beginning rather than having that to look forward to after days of hiking.
How Long to Spend in Valbonë and Theth
There’s not too much to do in Valbonë, so you really only need one night. If you’re starting in Valbonë, you’ll arrive in the village around 1 pm, so you’ll have plenty of time to explore and then get a good night of sleep before the hike to Theth.
We recommend staying at least two nights in Theth, as there’s a bit more to do there than in Valbonë. You’ll also likely arrive in the evening after the hike and likely won’t want to explore, so staying two nights gives you a full day to wander around the town and head to Theth’s famous Blue Eye.
Read all about our experience doing the Theth Blue Eye Hike
Where to Stay in Valbonë
Valbonë Accommodations
Where to Stay in Theth
Theth Accommodations
Cafés on the Valbonë to Theth Hike
There are a few different cafes along the trail from Valbonë to Theth if you’re needing refreshments!
Simoni Kafe is located here and has a plethora of beverages including ice cold beer, water, sodas, coffee, Rakia, mountain tea with honey (which we highly recommend), sheep yogurt with honey, and other small snacks. There’s also a small waterfall that you can drink from as well as a bathroom! This is closer to Valbonë.
Bar Kafe Zef Rrgalla is located here and has drinks and pastries with a beautiful view. Unfortunately many hikers have mixed reviews with the quality of the service here. This is closer to Theth.
Bar Kafe Gjoka is located here and has ice cold beer, water and soda! It doesn’t have the ambiance of the other cafés and isn’t always open. However, this can be a great place to enjoy a drink towards the end of your hike (if you’re coming from Valbonë). This is much closer to Theth and very close to the trailhead.
More Tips For the Valbonë to Theth Hike
- There are various clean freshwater sources on the hike, so bring a refillable water bottle!
- Leave your big bags in Shkodër and pack light in a day bag! We had such an easy time because we only packed a small backpack for the both of us.
- Watch your step! There are a few places where the two-way traffic means one person will be fairly close to the cliff’s edge.
- Do the Valbonë Peak. You will have the option to not climb the Valbonë peak and you will be tired. However, these were the most marvelous views we saw and it only takes an extra 20 minutes round-trip.
- If you’re leaving really early, skip breakfast and ask your host to pack a lunch. Many accommodations include breakfast and will pack a lunch for you instead.
Do You Need a Guide for the Valbona to Theth Hike?
You do not need a guide for the Valbona to Theth Hike, but it isn’t a bad idea to use one. Several tour operators offer guided tours that include transportations, meals and accommodations, which will take the stress out of planning your dream Albania vacation!
When is the Best Time to do the Valbonë to Theth Hike?
The best time to do this hike is in May, June or September, when it isn’t too hot, but isn’t to cold either. July and August are peak tourist season, and this hike can easily be ruined by massive crowds. This hike will make you SWEAT!! I (Cullen) did the entire hike with my shirt off and it was late June. We recommend getting started as early as possible in the morning so that you can go slower, beat the crowds, and fully enjoy the hike.
Our Favorite Travel Resources
Accommodations: We use Booking.com for hotels and HostelWorld for hostels. We also use VRBO or TrustedHousesitters for longer stays.
Flights: We recommend using Skyscanner to find the cheapest and best flights.
Ground Transport: We use 12Go and Omio for buses and private transfers, and rentalcars.com and Discover Cars for rental cars.
Activities: GetYourGuide and Viator are the best websites for booking organized tours.
International Medical Insurance: We highly recommend SafetyWing for Digital Nomads and HeyMondo for those not traveling full-time, or who frequently engage in higher-risk adventure activities.
eSIM: We recommend Airalo or Holafly for getting data internationally.
Check out our Travel Resources Page for more of our favorite travel-related products and services!
