Valbona Valley & The Great Trek

Valbona Valley

The Valbona Valley on the eastern side of the Albanian Alps is the counterpart to Theth — and at least as spectacular. The wide glacial valley with the meandering Valbona River is framed by the most rugged peaks of the entire Prokletije range: Maja e Jezercës (2,694 m) and Maja e Boshit (2,600 m) rise like teeth into the sky. The village of Valbona itself consists of scattered homesteads along the valley, surrounded by alpine meadows and forests.

The journey to Valbona leads via Fierza on Lake Koman — the dramatic ferry ride across the lake (2.5h) is one of the most spectacular boat trips in Europe (see below). From Fierza, it's another 30 km of gravel road to the valley. Accommodations: Guesthouses with half-board, similar to Theth (25–40€ per person).

The Theth-Valbona Trek

The path from Theth to Valbona (or vice versa) over the Qafa e Valbonës Pass (1,795 m) is Albania's most famous trek and one of the best day hikes in Europe. The route:

• Distance: about 13 km (depending on the variant)
• Duration: 6–8 hours (pure walking time)
• Difficulty: Medium to challenging. Good fitness and surefootedness required. The path is marked, but there are steep sections and snowfields in early summer.
• Best time: July to September (before that, the pass may still be snow-covered)
• Elevation profile: Ascent from Theth (750 m) to the pass (1,795 m), then descent to Valbona (900 m). Around 1,000 meters up and 900 down.

The path leads through beech forests, across alpine meadows, and along glacial streams up to the pass, where a magnificent panorama of both valleys opens up. On the pass, there is a small hut in summer selling coffee and snacks. The descent to Valbona is steeper and more technical than the ascent from Theth — most hikers go from Theth to Valbona and not the other way around.

Lake Koman — The Most Beautiful Ferry Ride in Europe

The Lake Koman (Liqeni i Komanit) is a 34 km long reservoir in the Northern Albanian mountains, whose steep, forested banks resemble a Norwegian fjord. The ferry ride from Koman to Fierza (2.5h, 700 Lek / 7€) is one of the most spectacular boat trips in Europe — the boat travels through narrow canyons framed by rock walls, past waterfalls and isolated homesteads. Departure: daily at 9:00 am from Koman, return from Fierza also at 9:00 am. Reservation recommended, especially in summer.