how to get to valbona albania

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Most places know that youre possibly there to do the Valbona to Theth hike, so other than helping you to arrange your trip, they are also happy to store your luggage for a few nights. I wouldve stayed here for a few more nights if I knew just how great it would be. Hitchhiking. A taxi to Bajram Curri should cost 20-25. Great thanks. The two van rides cost 800 LEK (7 EUR) each and the ferry ride is 1000 LEK (8.75 EUR). Welcome to Albania!I am a Private Tour Guide in Albania. The Wi-Fi here worked great. What to Do with Your Extra Backpacks and Luggage? The bus from Tirana to Koman is a shared minibus, if you prefer a private transfer, then more information is below. Required fields are marked *, document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a56ba65efb83c84916cefb7d825a5abb" );document.getElementById("e68ba54615").setAttribute( "id", "comment" );Comment *. 3, Bathore, KamezTirana 1030,Albania+355 69 45 40 255contact@albaniatourguide.com. Since my backpack had split open, I could no longer frolic down the mountain like I wanted, but the views made it worth going slow. Navigating the trail is pretty easy and youll see red-and-white painted flag markers appearing every so often to reassure you. The Valbona Valley is one of rivers, spectacular waterfalls, and endless forests under the shade of the surrounding high peaks. They are the southernmost part of the Dinaric Alps and have 19 peaks that are higher than 2,400m (7874 ft). This is easy in the morning and you can even arrange a ride to entirely skip it if you want. Call me picky, but having to change buses 3 times to make a 2 hour trip sounds crazy to me. You wont save much money for the extra effort it takes to try and organize everything on your own. I am an Albania Tour Guide, who organizes 1-day, 2-day or multiple day private tours in Albania. I will discuss these questions in detail: -How to get from Tirana to Valbona by bus? (eek!). Where to Stay on the Valbona to Theth Hike? When we got off the ferry, we just told them we were with the hostel and they had a ride sorted for us. There will be some short flat sections before another steep one. Further down in the blog post, I have also answered some closely related questions: -How to get from Shkoder to Valbona?-How to get from Valbona to Shkoder?-How to get to Komani Lake from Tirana / from Shkoder? Or, if you dont fancy hiking the entire way due to time constraints or for other reasons, then you can just hike up to the highest point at 1759m and then back again. You have Successfully Subscribed! I will abstain from an answer, but lets just say a warm beer at the mountain pass brought me very little satisfaction. A taxi from Tirana to Valbona costs 180 euros per car. It is known to be a moderate hike and requires some level of fitness to complete. Some guesthouses may offer dinner, but ours didnt. STEP 4. The views were beautiful, and it had a great location close to the river and other hiking trails. I resent them because they tend to take reservations and then cancel at the last minute. Why should I go via Kosovo? The river originates from the mountains of Malsia e Madhe near the village of Rragam of Shala and passes after about two kilometers the border with the district of Tropoja. 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? Then we also checkthe airlines websites too for comparison. It leaves every day at approximately 7:00 am, and the ride takes about two hours. Based on our initial research, which was also confirmed after our visit, theres just a lot more to do in Theth. Get Your Free Albania Tourist Map!Enter your First Name and Email Address to get the Free Albania Tourist Map with the 78 Best Places to Visit in Albania! The last one is located closer to Theth and is called Bar Caf. By Bus. It costs 10 euros, or about 1200 lek for the three hour journey. To reach the official trailhead in Valbona, youll have to hike at least an hour through a riverbed. The ferry arrives in Fierze around noon and it departs from Fierze in the direction of Koman at 13:00 PM. Here is the timetable you will follow: Although your day starts early, you do have the advantage of then arriving in Valbone in the early afternoon. Almost at the finish line, though! Of course, it is absolutely worth visiting Valbona. Panoramic photo taken from the pass between Valbona and Thethi. From Rrogam to Theth it is about 9.5 km (6 miles) long, and from the centre of Valbona its about 12 to 15 km (7.5 9 miles). 8 hours The Valbona Guesthouse Tour Valbona, Kukaj, Maskollata, Dragobi, Livadhet e Gjarperit, Rrogam, Gjelaj i Rrogamit, erem, Theth 5 days, 6 nights The 8 Day* "Peaks of Valbona (N)" Tour Valbona, Quku i Valbons, Kukaj, Accursed Mountains, Dragobi, Rrogam, erem 8 days, 8 nights max Shop Latest from the Journal Kind regards, Manon. Check your email to download your free Albania Tour Guide! Many hikers want to hike onward from Valbone, so leaving a car behind in Valbone does not make sense for their trip. Phone reception. This next section of the hike will be just as steep, slowly zig-zagging up to Valbona Pass. Im not sure what your odds are of finding cheap public transportation to Valbone. THEN you have to walk from the Minibus station in Gjakova (in Mula Jusuf square, in a straight line from the Old Bazaar near the Catholic Church) to the proper bus station. Meals were also included and the price was 25 euros per night. The existing car road was actually only built in the 1970s, so theoretically the old road (horse track) still exists on the other side of the river, but last I heard its now blocked in Klysyr (nearer Bajram Curri). Luckily, you won't have to worry about altitude at this height. Just before you reach the next caf, the path will open up again. Bus, Ferry, Taxi, Road If you are wondering how to get from Shkoder to Valbona, this blog post will help you plan your trip. I will give you timetables, ticket prices, travel routes, and more! In general, its polite to offer the driver 200 lek which he will probably refuse, but you can say Please drink a coffee! and then hell take it most likely. You can normally get an earlier breakfast, or ask the host if you can take it away instead if you want to leave early. However, it would be very monotonous and exposed to the heat in the afternoon if you were coming from Theth. After one night in Berat, I drove south towards the Albanian coast to enjoy beaches and sea. Hike across the Valbona Pass (1800 m) Stay in the remote, mountain villages of Theth and Valbona. Let us get some reference points: * Shkoder-Valbone: To go from Shkodra to Valbone you can go by car, this road is a bit long and tedious. My biggest regret was not giving myself sufficient time to explore Albania. The bus from Tirana to Koman departs once a day at 5 AM in the morning. This is so-not Albanian behavior. 1. The only two places with toilets are the two cafes along the route. Youve probably guessed that the busiest months are going to be July and August due to the summer holidays. We heard from a few hikers who did it a few weeks prior that it was quite dangerous. Your guesthouse in Theth can easily arrange this for you. Foreign Currency:Whenever we can we prefer to pay in local currency and for that we always use ourWise card. Book your Albania Planning Session via Skype now, by using my online scheduler. The path turns into dirt, and is flat for long stretches. Although, we read that some hosts might offer you a ride to the trailhead for an additional cost. Dont worry though because there are slightly more food options in the town. A seat on the shared minibus costs 7 euros. Luckily you dont need to carry your big backpack or roll your wheelie suitcase across the Valbona Pass. Youll have uphill, downhill and flat sections no matter which way you do it. Again, I had no idea what this was going to be like before we arrived. How to get from Shkoder to Valbona Booking it all in one go Getting from Shkoder to Theth Hiking stats (Valbona to Theth or reverse) How difficult is the Valbona to Theth hike? So yeah, to be fair, everything was kind of a surprise. Good Walking/Hiking shoesif(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'thepartyingtraveler_com-leader-1','ezslot_8',136,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thepartyingtraveler_com-leader-1-0'); The downhill part after reaching the Valbone Pass is really the only place I struggled with the terrain. Take the daily bus from Valbona -> Bajram Curri, and then take a taxi (maybe 5 maybe 10?) The Lake Koman Ferry departed from 9:00 AM in Koman and around 11:30 AM, you will arrive in Fierze. Lets discuss that option below. Youll pass the first caf called Bar & Restaurant Emanueli. The view will slowly get better and better as you hike further up. If you dont feel like spending the night in Theth, its possible for you to finish up early and then head straight back to Shkoder. Unfortunately, you wont have much signal along the trail or even in Valbona or Theth. The Backpackers Crash Course Guide to Albania, It is a source of inspiration at a time when Albania is becoming a more sought-after destination. Book your freeAlbania Planning Session via Skype now, by using my online scheduler to find a time thats convenient for you. However, the ferry boat trip on Koman Lake is so beautiful, that tourists from all over the world came to visit this spot. If you start your journey from Tirana, you must leave Tirana at 5 AM. How Easy Is It To Get Cocaine in Colombia? (Via the Lake Koman Ferry)-How to get from Tirana to Valbona by taxi? It's a place of natural beauty, with crystal-clear rivers, towering mountains, and scenic hiking trails. You can get from Koman to Tirana by a shared minibus. Bradt Travel Guides describes the boat trip as one of the Worlds Greatest Boat trips. Last bus leaves at 17:00. If you check the reverse-direction trip (Valbona to Prizren) youll see it doesnt really work very well so reversing it doesnt make much sense. It wasnt until I had already spent a few days in Albania that I even found out that Albania had mountains, let alone an entire region known as the Albanian Alps. If you're planning a visit to Valbona, here are some of the must-see attractions in the area. The inclines are never too tricky or too steep. Privacy Policy Albania Tour Guide. You can drive from Tirana to Valbona, and there are 3 x different routes to choose from: Before discussing how you drive from Tirana to Valbone, it is worth considering if you need a car when you get to Valbone? The trail gets quite narrow here so be careful. The highest point along the trail is Valbona Pass at 1,795 m (5,889 ft). They also booked our place for us in Theth, and called the owner so he would meet us at the end of the hike and take us directly to our cabin. Your average Albanian would carry you on their back if they have to, if they told you theyd take you, so this cancelling-at-the-last-minute-thing offends my sense of inherited national pride. So you will be in Shkoder around 17:30 PM or 18:00 PM. But you can also buy the total transportation package from Tirana via Lake Koman to Valbona, this costs 24 euros per person. Some might find the uphill more challenging than the downhill or vice versa. Get a 39-page PDF guide about the hidden gems of Albania, including a Google Map you can add to your phone! I am a Private Tour Guide in Albania. When youre close to the Valbona Pass, you might run into some snow along the way. In terms of footwear, its important to wear supportive shoes. Prices were similar in the restaurants in Theth). Albanian Alps Trip Itinerary and Map (route Shkoder-Valbona-Theth-Shkoder) STEP 2. STEP 3. I have no idea what their price is, because they annoy me. How can I help you? You can book a spot for your car on the website of Komani Lake Ferry here -> https://komanilakeferry.com/en/buy-a-ticket/. And a private taxi from Fierze to Valbona costs 60 euros. You'll have to cross into the neighboring country of Montenegro and follow P9 for a stretch of time and turn onto PL01. From there, its a few hours to get to where youll take the ferry. Any additional fees and food costs. Thank you! Youll see a sign indicating that youre basically at the top from where its straight downhill. If you prefer a shorter journey, you can leave from Shkodra and move directly towards Albania. The path is generally wide, although theres a section just before and after youve reached the highest point which is quite narrow. Wed been on the road for about 9 months at the time, backpacking through Mexico and South America before heading to Montenegro, Albania then Turkey. Of course, there are also campsites where you can stay for the night. DOWNLOAD MY FREE ALBANIA TOUR GUIDE! Feasible, but not reliable (in the sense that it could take a while, depending on the time of year). You may or may not be asked for proof of identity at the guesthouse. Whereas you can just organise a minivan ride back from Theth to Shkoder. The Valbona to Theth hike is a point to point hike. Bus, Car, Ferry, Taxi, (via Lake Koman / via Kosovo / via Albania skipping Koman). Otherwise, from Bajram Curri you can catch one of the buses to Tirana. The views here were nothing short of breathtaking. How to get from Tirana to Valbona? Its called Rinas Express. . Whether you travel by bus, by car, by ferry, by taxi or with a rental car - this transportation guide will get you to the most beautiful places in Albania. The views here are absolutely gorgeous. Visit the Blue Eye of Theth and the waterfall of Theth. This can vary though depending on where you are staying in both Theth and Valbona. 1. In this blog, I will describe how to get from Tirana to Valbona by bus, ferry, taxi, or by car. Take it slow! Trust me. Its a great city to chill out both pre and post-hike. So even if you book a taxi, you must wake up early. Although there is a distance of 260km between the two villages, the hiking trail stretched about 17km or 10.5 miles. An important thing to mention is phone reception. So making this boat trip is a long day with an early start, but very well worth it! A bus ticket from Tirana to Komani Lake costs 10 euros per person. Your average Albanian still gets around by minibus, and also sends post that way. It just seemed easier to get the more complicated travel day out of the way first. After hiking all day, your legs will be pretty tired and that makes this last part even worse. Bus, Car, Ferry, Taxi If you are planning to travel from Tirana to Valbona, you might be wondering what is the best way to get there. You have the following options for car ferries: Alpin (Gigantic) Car Ferry. So you will need to take the car back from Valbone to Tirana, the way you came. How to get to Valbona Valley Reaching Valbona is not at all difficult if you have a car or any other means. Instead of taking the shared mini-bus from Tirana to Koman, you can also book a private taxi. If you dont want to take the Lake Koman Ferry, you can also drive from Tirana to Valbone via Kosovo. A taxi costs 180 EUR. Basically, you will have 3-4 hours off at the Shala River to relax and enjoy the beauty of the Shala River. From Valbona to the pass there is a difference in altitude of 764 meters, and about 1000 meters more needs to be descent in order to get to Thethi. We recommend packing some flip-flops that you can change into after your hike for around the guesthouses. A couple of years ago there did seem to be one guy driving around giving people lifts and then announcing he was a taxi and asking for 10, but I think he gave up on that after people simply refused to pay him. 3) In general, minibuses leave villages in the morning to travel to urban centers (possibly just bigger villages) and return the other direction in the afternoon/evening. Hiking Theth Albania to Valbona takes you over a magnificent mountain pass, through some stunning mountains and connects two amazing small mountain villages. You can see the location of Hotel Rilindja in Valbona on a Google Map here: https://goo.gl/maps/Hc1RBp3PbKW9P9mf8, .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; } Just after the caf youll reach a beautiful clearing marked as the Window on the mountains on Google Maps. Least favorite because they are prone to cancelling at the last minute if they feel there are not enough reservations to justify the expense, and since they are the last departing ferry from Koman (at 12:00) if they pull this stunt youre stuck there until the next day, on a rock sticking out in the middle of the lake, with 7 hour drive across Albania and through Kosova as your only option. Pretty much any hotel or hostel will arrange this transfer for you, so you just have to tell them when you want to go and they will arrange a seat for you. Clicking these links wont cost you anything, but it will help us to keep this site up and running! So that, you get to experience the most beautiful places in Albania! Its a fantastic viewpoint where, if you havent felt like youre in the Swiss Alps yet, you definitely will at this point. So your car will come back dirty and it wont be a very comfortable car ride. You can see the location of the Gazheli Petrol station in Tirana on a Google Map here: You can book the bus transfers and the Lake Koman ferry ticket on the website of Koman Lake Ferry here ->.

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