How to Visit Lumi i Shales (Shala River) in Albania
Are you planning to visit Lumi i Shales? This is an unmissable attraction that should be included in every Albania Itinerary.
The Shala River is also known as the ‘Thailand of Albania’ for its crystal clear turquoise waters and stunning green mountain scenery. Experience an unforgettable trip in Albania and enjoy the unique landscape.
This ultimate guide to the Shala River includes the best time to visit, how to get there, what to expect, and tips for visiting.
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Best Time to Visit Albania
Albania has a Mediterranean climate, with hot, dry summers and mild winters. The best time to visit Albania is from May to October. The hottest months are July and August. In summer, temperatures can reach up to 40°C.
The summer months are the peak season in Albania when hotel prices are higher and attractions are busier. In high season, we strongly recommend booking accommodation and tours in advance! We visited Lumi i Shales in early June. Although the weather was fantastic, it rained in the morning, and the sky was cloudy. However, we were lucky because the sun was shining when we arrived.
The Shala River boats do not operate all year round, so if you visit Albania during the low season, check the current boat schedule in advance.
Recommended post → Albania Itinerary for 2 Weeks
How to Get to Lumi i Shales
The Lumi i Shales, known as the Shala River, is a stunning river in northern Albania near the Komani Lake ferry terminal. It is only accessible by boat from Koman. You can get to the ferry terminal in about 3-3.5 hours from Tirana and 2 hours from Shkoder.
Although you can get to the Komani Lake ferry terminal by car, we do not recommend driving there due to the road conditions. Don’t drive through the tunnel! There is limited parking space at the end of the tunnel, and as it is difficult to turn around, it is easy to get stuck.
Avoid unnecessary stress and park in front of the tunnel for free. Then, you have to walk for about 10 minutes through the tunnel to reach the port.
TIP
You can book a minibus from Shkoder to Koman, which costs about 10 EUR.
Visit the hard-to-reach Shala River with ease on an organized tour from Tirana. Travel by boat across the lake and enjoy the views of the Albanian Alps. Group tours usually depart from Tirana between 05:45 and 06:30. The tour price includes hotel pick-up and drop-off, an English-speaking tour guide, boat ticket, and roundtrip transportation.
Book your day trip via Viator or GetYourGuide.
Alternatively, join a tour from Shkoder.
Car Rental in Albania
The best way to get around Albania is by car, as you can easily reach the best places and hidden gems. We did our Albania Itinerary by rental car and enjoyed exploring the sights at our own pace. Once you arrive at Tirana International Airport (airport code TIA), you can easily rent a car at the airport or pick up your pre-booked car. Another option is to rent a car in Shkoder.
Buy an eSIM and data package for Albania.
The car rental costs will be different when you travel to Albania in high season (June to September) or low season and rent a car in advance or at the last minute. You will spend around 30-50 EUR daily for a standard car with full coverage.
Book your car in advance to get the best price! Check car rental prices and availability HERE.
Shala River Tour Albania
We visited Lumi i Shales from Shkoder. We had booked our tour the day before, and then around 7:30 AM, we met at Hotel Rozafa in the city center. Since we didn’t have breakfast, we bought some snacks in the nearby shops.
It took about 2 hours to reach the port of Lake Komani, where the boats depart to Lumi i Shalës. The road was only partly paved, and it was very bumpy. We therefore recommend that you bring anti-nausea tablets with you.
Good to know
As there are no toilets on the boats, use the toilets in the harbor before the tour.
Keep reading → Valbona Pass Hike
This is one of the most difficult places to reach in Albania, and the boat tour to it makes it even more fun to visit. Many different boats are departing from the port, so make sure you find the right one. The scenic boat trip usually takes 1.5 hours.
The last sections of the tour are difficult to access, as these long boats are often unable to continue due to the water level. If the bottom of the boat reaches the river floor, it cannot go any further. Passengers are usually asked to sit in the front or to get off the boat.
We waited on the shore of the lake for about 30-40 minutes because they said that another boat would come to pick us up and it would be easier to cross the river. But in the end, we went on the same boat, so the wait was unnecessary.
The weather on the boat is usually windy, so bring a light jacket or sweater.
Lumi i Shales
When we finally thought we had reached our destination, our boat stopped again. Most boats could not get all the way to Lumi i Shalës. So all the passengers were dropped off the boat, and we had to walk in knee-deep cold water for the last section. The river bed is very rocky, so we recommend you bring water shoes.
The Lumi i Shales originate from the Theth River and flow into the Koman reservoir. The river was very cold, with a maximum temperature of 10°C.
After arriving, you can cross a wooden bridge to the other side. The bridge offers fantastic photo opportunities. You can spend about 3-3.5 hours at the river. During your visit, you can sunbathe, swim, rent a kayak, or go ziplining if you want a more adventurous activity. Then, take a break at one of the restaurants or bars and relax on the sun loungers. There was no charge for the sunbeds.
See also → Theth Mountain Village
In our opinion, the restaurants are a bit overpriced. If you want to save money, bring sandwiches, fruit, and snacks and have a picnic by the lake. There are some toilets near the restaurants.
Good to know
As the river is located in a deep mountain valley, we had no cell phone signal.
Lumi i Shales Boat Tour Cost
The boat tour costs 25 EUR per person. The tours can be booked online or at the harbor. Boats usually leave Koman once a day at 9:30 AM.
In Shkoder, we booked a group tour at our hotel for only 40 EUR per person, which included round trip transportation and boat tickets.
Lumi i Shales Hotel
Although it was not easy to get here, we had a great time and wished we could have stayed longer than a few hours. Most boat companies will depart back to Koman around 3 PM.
For the best experience, stay in one of the guest houses and enjoy this magical place without the crowds. Alternatively, stay in Shkoder. These are our recommendations.
Best hotels in Lumi i Shalës
- Mid-Range: Eagles Land
- Budget: Bee Eco Guest House or Guri i Lekës Guesthouse
Best hotels in Shkoder
- Mid-Range: The Red Bricks Hotel or Hotel Tradita
- Budget: Hotel Epoka or Hotel Kurtabeg
What to Pack for Visiting
- Osprey Small Backpack: A very lightweight, versatile, and durable backpack, perfect for day hikes.
- Sunscreen: You don’t have to worry about sun damage with this reef-friendly UVA/UVB sunscreen.
- Power bank: An essential accessory for anyone who needs reliable power on the go.
- Grayl Filtered Water Bottle: The Grayl filter removes viruses and bacteria and filters microplastics, chemicals, and heavy metals. Fill up your filtered water bottle anywhere and drink crystal-clear water wherever you go.
- Quick-dry towel
- Swimsuit
- Hat and sunglasses
- Flip-flops, Water shoes
- Mosquito repellent
- Camera gear
- GoPro or Waterproof phone bag
- Snacks
- Water
- Cash (Local money or EUR)
- Waterproof bag
Don’t forget to buy travel insurance! We always choose SafetyWing for our travels.
Lumi i Shales Map
We hope you found our guide to Lumi i Shales useful and will inspire you to visit. If you have any questions or thoughts, let us know in the comment below.
Travel Resources
Hotels – Booking.com
Car Rentals – Discover Cars
Flights – Skyscanner
eSIM – Airalo
Travel Insurance – SafetyWing
Tours & Attractions – GetYourGuide
Bus/Transfer – Bookaway
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