Valbona Pass: How to Hike from Valbona to Theth (+Map)
The Valbona Pass is located in northern Albania in the Valbona Valley National Park. It is a perfect place for hiking and nature lovers. Explore Albania’s most beautiful remote mountain villages and enjoy unparalleled views while hiking between Valbona and Theth.
Hiking from Valbona to Theth is the most beautiful and popular hike in the Accursed Mountains (Albanian Alps), as the two mountain villages are not connected by road.
This ultimate guide to the Valbona Pass includes the best time to visit, how to reach the stunning viewpoint, what to expect on the hike, and practical information.
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Valbona – Theth Hiking Trail Details
Hike Distance: 17 km
Duration: 7-8 hours
Hike Difficulty: Moderate
Ascent: ↑ 812 m
Descent: ↓ 1045 m
How to Get from Shkoder to Valbona
To get to Valbona, you must first travel by minibus from Shkoder to the port of Lake Komani, which takes about 2 hours. The minibus leaves once a day from Hotel Rozafa at 6:45 AM. You must arrive at least 30 minutes before departure.
The ferries depart from Koman every day at 9 AM, and travel time to Fierze is approximately 2.5-3 hours. Once you arrive in Fierze, it is only a 1-hour drive to Valbona. The shuttle driver will drop you off directly at your hotel. You can enjoy fantastic views on the way.
We did a Lumi i Shales tour the day before and recommend not to miss it if you are in Shkoder, then travel to Valbona the next day.
- Minibus from Shkoder to Koman Ferry Terminal – 800 LEK (8 EUR) per person
- Ferry from Koman to Fierze – 1000 LEK (10 EUR) per person
- Minibus from Fierze to Valbona (any accommodation) – 800 LEK (8 EUR) per person
You can easily book your minibus/ferry tickets through Komani Lake Ferry Berisha.
The Komani Lake Ferry Berisha also transports cars. But in the high season, the car spaces are limited, so book in advance!
Don’t take unnecessary things to Valbona and leave your suitcase in Shkoder! We stored our luggage at the Hotel Kurtaberg for 2 euros a day and collected it when we returned from Theth.
Spend at least 1 night in Valbona and rest, then start the Valbona Pass hike the next day. The whole hike takes one day.
Alternatively, book an organized tour to explore Komani Lake, Valbona, and Theth. Experience an unforgettable 3-day trip from Tirana in the heart of the Albanian Alps.
Book this excellent tour via Viator or GetYourGuide.
Best Time to Visit Valbona
Albania has a Mediterranean climate, with hot, dry summers and mild winters. The best time to visit Valbona Valley National Park is from May to October. The weather is sunny and dry during these months, perfect for hiking and exploring the nearby attractions. The hottest months are July and August.
The Valbona Valley is situated at an altitude of about 980 m above sea level. Therefore, it is much cooler here than in other parts of Albania, so pack warmer clothes.
When is the Valbona Pass Open?
The Valbona Pass is only open from June to October. We did this hike in the first week of June, and the weather was fantastic, and there was no snow on the trail.
Weather conditions may vary throughout the year, so check the weather forecast before visiting Valbona. Roads and hiking trails may be covered in snow, making Valbona inaccessible.
Although you can hike at your own risk in mid-May, we don’t recommend it as it is dangerous! Ask the locals or your accommodation when the trail opens.
Don’t forget to buy travel insurance! We always choose SafetyWing for our travels.
Where to Stay in Valbona
Valbona Valley National Park is a beautiful and unique destination in Albania. A perfect place to relax and unwind for a few days. However, the accommodation options in Valbona are limited, so we recommend booking in advance! These are our recommendations.
Best hotels in Valbonë
- Mid-Range: Valbona Resort & Spa or Villas Jezerca
- Budget: Hotel Margjeka or Guesthouse Drinos Valbone
Valbona Pass Hike
We started our hike at 6 AM to avoid hikers and the hot sun on the hiking trail. Since we left our accommodation too early, they packed us small breakfast. As we stayed at the Bujtina Arturi in Valbona, we had to walk an extra 30 minutes on the paved road to the starting point of the hike.
From the beginning of the hike, you can enjoy the beautiful mountain views. It reminded us a lot of the Italian Dolomites.
Avoid unnecessary walking and stay in the nearest hotel to the trailhead, like Hotel Margjeka.
The weather was quite chilly in the early morning. However, we enjoyed the cozy rural atmosphere of Valbona. Once we reached the trailhead, we could start hiking towards the Valbona Peak.
According to the trail sign, it takes 6 hours and 40 minutes to reach Theth.
Rragam
Then, the trail continued towards Rragam (40 minutes) in a dry riverbed, which was not very challenging and lasted for a few kilometers. However, wear suitable hiking shoes or boots as the trail is very rocky and the terrain is uneven.
On the way, we passed some donkeys and horses, and they even accompanied us for a short while on the trail.
If you have a drone, bring it with you because the views from above are stunningly beautiful.
The trail is very well marked with red and white stripes, so follow the painted signs and pass the cottage. There is a small cafe (Kafe Lindi) where you can take a break, but as prices are a bit overpriced and you are still at the beginning of the hike, we suggest you continue.
If you have enough time and like a challenge, take a detour to Valbona Waterfall. We skipped this, so we don’t know how difficult this hike is or how long it takes.
Then, you can enjoy a delicious coffee, use the toilet, and refill your water bottle at Simoni Kafe. After the cafe, the trail gets steeper, and the views more stunning. Don’t forget to look back, because the scenery is spectacular.
You may encounter animals (dogs, horses) and locals on the way, so just let them pass.
From here, the most difficult part of the Valbona Pass started, with steep climbs to the Valbona Peak. We recommend taking several breaks during this section. On the way, there are some viewpoints from where you can enjoy the beautiful scenery and take some photos.
There are steel cables close to the cliffs that you can hold on to during the hike.
Valbona Peak
The Valbona Pass Peak stands at 1795 m above sea level and offers breathtaking views. You can reach the peak via a steep, slippery trail to enjoy the panoramic view, then continue the hike to Theth. If you don’t want to detour to the summit, you can start your descent right away.
We reached the top from our accommodation in Valbona in about 4.5 hours, including breaks and photo stops. After that, we had a snack and continued the hike.
According to the sign here, it will take approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes to reach Theth.
Hike to Theth
After that, the hike became easier as we were hiking in the forest where there was shade, and we only had to hike downhill. We met many tourists who came from the Theth side. But most people only hike to the peak of Valbona and do not complete the whole hike.
On the way, you will pass the last cafe, where we suggest you take a break and enjoy the beautiful scenery. The cafe has a toilet, but you can only use it if you buy something.
Alternatively, have a picnic in the flower-filled meadow. From here, it’s an easy hike to the mountain village of Theth.
The Valbona Pass is a moderate hike, and the total hike from the Valbona trailhead to Theth is 17 km.
The hike took us 8 hours, and we arrived in the center of Theth at 2 PM. It was an epic hike in the Albanian Alps that didn’t disappoint us.
You can also do the Valbona Pass hike from Theth to Valbona. However, the hike is much steeper from the Theth side, and the view is no better. We therefore recommend that you choose the hike from Valbona to Theth.
After finally arriving in Theth, reward yourself with a delicious pizza at Fast Food Pizzeri Jezerca.
Where to Stay in Theth
We recommend you spend at least 2 full days in Theth and visit the best attractions, such as the Grunas Waterfall, the Blue Eye, and the iconic church. Then, travel back to Shkoder by Berisha minibus.
There are many guesthouses, hotels, and campsites in Theth for all budgets. These are our recommendations.
Best hotels in Theth
- Mid-Range: Vidis Chalet Hotel
- Budget: Gurra Family Guesthouse or Logu i Harushave
What to Pack for Hiking
- Small backpack
- Hat and sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Mosquito repellent
- Light raincoat
- Hiking shoes or boots & socks
- Camera gear
- Snacks
- Extra water
- Personal medication
- Reusable water bottle
- Cash (Local money or EUR)
- Powerbank
Tips for the Valbona Pass Hike
- We recommend you start your hike as early as possible because it is incredibly hot in the midday hours.
- Don’t bring unnecessary things with you.
- As the hike will take at least 7-8 hours after you arrive in Theth, spend the day relaxing.
- Wear hiking shoes and lightweight, quick-dry clothes.
- Card payments are not accepted everywhere, so bring enough cash (LEK or EUR).
- If you have knee problems or usually use hiking poles, we recommend you take them with you.
- As unexpected rain can happen at any time, bring a light raincoat.
- Buy an eSIM and data package for Albania.
- You don’t need a guide on the Valbona Theth hike.
- Leave everything you don’t want to carry or don’t need at your hotel in Shkoder.
- Use an offline map like Maps.Me.
- Bring enough water or refill your water bottle at the cafe. At least 2 liters of water per person is recommended on this hike.
- Check the weather forecast before the hike, and don’t overdress.
- To reduce muscle pain the next day, hike to the Blue Eye Theth.
- Although you can do the Valbona Pass in either direction, we recommend hiking from Valbona to Theth.
- You can book a local transport to the trailhead from most guesthouses in Valbona.
- Although there are three cafes on the trail, the prices are a bit overpriced, so if you want to save money, bring enough snacks.
- Leave only footprints, so don’t litter!
Valbona Pass Map
We hope you found our guide to the Valbona Pass 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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