Theth National Park

The Theth Valley in the heart of the Albanian Alps is one of those places that feels like time has stood still. A narrow valley surrounded by 2,500-meter-high limestone peaks, traversed by a crystal-clear mountain river, populated by a few dozen stone houses — that's Theth. Until 2010, the village was cut off from the outside world for months in winter, and even today, the access via an adventurous gravel road (2–3 hours from Shkodra) is an experience.

Sights in Theth

• Grunas Waterfall: A 30-meter-high waterfall plunging from a rock face into a natural pool. The short hiking trail (20 min. from the village) leads through dense forest. In summer, you can swim in the icy pool — refreshing after a hike.
• Blue Eye (Syri i Kaltër i Thethit): Not to be confused with the famous Blue Eye near Saranda — Theth also has its own "Blue Eye": an emerald glacier spring in the middle of the forest. Hike: about 2 hours from the village.
• Lock-in Tower (Kulla e Ngujimit): A 19th-century stone tower that served as a "blood feud tower" — men involved in a blood feud could lock themselves in here and were protected by the Kanun (customary law). A fascinating, albeit grim, relic of Albanian tribal culture.
• Church of Theth: The small Catholic stone church (Theth is one of the few Catholic regions in Albania) against the backdrop of the mountains is one of the most photographed subjects in the country.

Hikes from Theth

Theth is a hiker's paradise. Besides the major trek to Valbona (see below), there are shorter routes: to Grunas Waterfall (1h round trip), to the Blue Eye (4h), on the Shala River (Albania's "Thailand": an emerald canyon accessible only by boat or on foot, 3–4h) and to the pasture Qafa e Pejës (6h, with views of Montenegro).