Theth to Valbona Hike: The Best Guide to Hiking Theth to Valbona (Updated 2025)

When we first visited Albania, we didn’t do much research, maybe a bit lazy, and the struggle to find good backpacking and travel tips for Albania was real. So, we kind of winged it, making the best of things, including the popular Theth to Valbona hike. 

Starting the hike in Albania was a puzzle, but we figured it out slowly. Honestly, it turned out to be the highlight of our trip. The hike was so much fun, the landscapes stunning, and finishing it brought pure satisfaction. 

Whether you’re a seasoned hiker or a newbie wanting to start, this hike is a must-try. It’s beginner-friendly and an absolute joy. So here is our full guide on the famous Theth to Valbona Hike in Albania.

1. What to expect on the Theth to Valbona hike?
2. Theth & How to get to Theth
3. Valbona
4. Theth to Valbona Hike
5. Komani Lake Ferry & How to get back from Valbona
6. Theth to Valbona Hike – What to pack
   1. Essential Packing List for Theth to Valbona Hike:
7. Theth to Valbona Hike – The best time to hike
8. Theth to Valbona Hike – Where to stay
   1. Best hotels in Theth
      1. Logu i Harushave
      2. Gurra Family Guesthouse
      3. Guest House Rrashkadoli
   2. Best hotels in Valbona
      1. Hotel Krojet e Rrogamit
      2. Guesthouse Natyra Balcony
9. Ultimate Guide – Theth to Valbona Hike – Final Words

What to Expect on the Theth to Valbona Hike?

This was easily one of our favorite experiences in Albania. The Theth to Valbona hike takes you straight through the heart of the Albanian Alps, a place that feels incredibly remote and untouched, with views that don’t even seem real half the time.

The trail stretches about 17 kilometers and connects Theth National Park to Valbona National Park, winding through forests, valleys, and high alpine passes.

We’d heard the hike described as “moderate,” which turned out to be pretty accurate. It’s not a technical trail, but it does take most of the day—around 8 to 10 hours depending on your pace and how often you stop (we stopped a lot… because, wow). There are a few steeper sections, especially near the top, but nothing too intense if you’re reasonably active.

One of the best parts for us is that the trail is really easy to follow. There are red-and-white painted trail markers all along the way, and during the summer months, you’ll pass a few small cafes where locals sell coffee, snacks, and cold drinks right on the trail.

We took our time, enjoyed the views, and honestly just soaked up how peaceful it all was. Even with other hikers around, it never felt crowded, just quiet mountain air and scenery that kept getting better with every step.

💡Heading to the Albanian Riviera soon? Make sure to visit the beautiful beaches of Ksamil.

Theth & How to Get to Theth

Our journey to Theth started in Shkoder, where we had our hostel arrange a van transfer. There is a public bus that runs from the main terminal in town, but booking through your accommodation is just easier. It’s a bit more comfortable, they’ll pick you up directly, and you don’t have to navigate the morning scramble for seats. In hindsight, I wouldn’t recommend doing it any other way.

We left our big backpacks behind at the hostel and brought just two daypacks for the hike, which made a huge difference. The drive into the mountains is beautiful, but it’s full of tight curves and steep drop-offs and after a couple of hours of winding roads, I was feeling pretty nauseous. About ten minutes before we reached our guesthouse, I asked the driver to let me out so I could walk the rest of the way. It was raining lightly, but honestly, the fresh air felt like the better option at that point.

What we hadn’t realized when we booked our stay just by browsing Google Maps, was that it was perched high above the main part of the village. It looked close on the map, but the walk took nearly an hour uphill. The views from the top were incredible, but that first night made us rethink our dinner plans. After hiking down to eat, we ended up hitchhiking back up with a friendly local who took pity on us.

Theth itself is tiny—more of a scattered village than a town—but it’s set in one of the most beautiful valleys I’ve ever seen. Mountains all around, a river running through, just really peaceful and quiet. There’s not a ton to do in the village, but that’s kind of the point. You come here for the nature and the stillness before the big hike.

Tip: If you’re curious about where to stay in Shkoder, check out our comprehensive guide! We’ve got you covered with all the insider tips and personal recommendations on hotels and areas.

Valbona & What to Expect

After nine hours on the trail, arriving in Valbona felt unreal. The landscape completely opened up as we descended: wide valleys, towering peaks, a few scattered homes, and cows just casually walking along the road with us. While the Theth side of the hike might be more dramatic, finally reaching Valbona felt like hitting the finish line. We were exhausted, covered in dust, and ridiculously proud of ourselves.

First mission: find a beer. And it was actually a bit harder than we expected. Because the town is so spread out, there are only a few places to eat and they come few and far between. Also, Oliver was a vegetarian at the time so we had to be a little more picky about where we stopped. But let me tell you, once we found a good place, that first sip might go down as one of the best of my life. We collapsed at a table outside and just sat there, sweaty and happy, staring out at the mountains like, did we actually just do that?

Now, full transparency, our guesthouse was far. Like… an extra hour of walking down a long gravel road far. That last stretch was rough, especially once our bodies had mentally clocked out. We also managed to get a little off track right at the end of the trail, but that was totally on us. The trail was clearly marked; we were just too busy chatting and not paying attention.

Still, once we made it and dropped our bags, everything felt worth it. Valbona’s not a big town, it’s just a handful of guesthouses stretched out along the road but it has a peaceful, quiet kind of charm. Perfect place to crash after a big day in the mountains.

Theth to Valbona Hike: Our Experience

We started the day early with a quick stop at Mini Market Jezerca, which is basically your last shot at snacks before hitting the trail. It’s overpriced (as expected—it’s the only market in Theth), but we grabbed a few essentials anyway: water, fruit, Snickers, and something sugary for backup energy. There are spots to stop along the hike, but we figured it was better to be over-prepared.

We ended up having breakfast at a homestay right by the trailhead and I really recommend this if you’re hotel doesn’t offer something. It was a full buffet for only a few dollars and it was exactly what we needed before setting off. Our actual guesthouse had been an hour’s walk away, and since we’d left before they started serving breakfast, this ended up being the perfect way to fuel up.

At the start, the trail was busier than I expected. A small crowd of hikers setting off around the same time. But once we got going—and thanks to Oliver’s long stride—we ended up on our own for most of the hike. We only had daypacks since we weren’t coming back to Theth, which made a big difference.

The views were incredible from the very beginning. Crisp air, cloudless skies, mountains everywhere. I remember feeling genuinely happy for most of it, not something I usually say about a full-day hike. A couple hours in, we stopped at one of the rest stops along the trail. I got an icy canned coffee (those are everywhere in Albania), and we took a break with some fruit and other hikers. The break was short, but it hit the spot.

The climb to the summit took around three hours. It’s a steady incline, nothing technical, but it does take some effort. The top is where most people gather again as it’s a natural pause point and an obvious photo opportunity. We went all the way up for the view, which was worth it, but the narrow ridge gets a little sketchy if you’re not into heights.

The descent into Valbona was the trickiest part. The path gets narrower, the ground looser, and there are a few sections where you’ll want to go slow and stay focused. I let Oliver take the lead and just moved at my own pace. It wasn’t difficult, just required a bit more attention.

Eventually, things flatten out and you hit the dry riverbed section. That’s when it starts to feel long, like, am I still hiking? kind of long. We ended up getting a bit lost near the end, mostly because we were distracted and not paying attention to the trail markers. That was totally on us. The trail’s marked well; just stay aware.

The whole hike took us about nine hours with a few breaks and some wandering. It was a long day, but honestly, it didn’t feel brutal until the very end.

💡Planning a full-on Albania roadtrip? We’ve been there and we put together a full itinerary with our favorite places to visit.

Komani Lake Ferry & How to get back from Valbona

You’re probably wondering how to get back to Shkoder after finishing this epic hike without having to overthink a million logistics. Here’s what we did—and honestly, we think it’s the smoothest, most scenic way to wrap up the Theth to Valbona trek.

The return route goes like this:

• Shuttle from your guesthouse in Valbona to Fierze
• Ferry across the stunning Lake Komani
• Another shuttle from Komani back to Shkoder

You can book this whole thing as one package online at komanilakeferry.com, and it makes the entire process way easier.

This is exactly how our return trip to Shokoder went.

After a cozy night in Valbona and one of the best breakfasts we had in Albania—homemade bread, soft cheeses, and local jam—we were feeling good about the day ahead. The plan was to head back to Shkoder via the Komani Lake ferry, something we’d been looking forward to since planning the hike. That said, getting there took a bit of patience.

We waited outside our guesthouse for nearly an hour before the shuttle to the ferry finally rolled up. Honestly, we started wondering if we’d missed it or if it wasn’t coming at all. But this part of Albania isn’t known for strict schedules, and eventually, the van did arrive. If you’re doing this journey, don’t panic if it’s running late — it’s kind of normal. Just give yourself some buffer time and maybe don’t schedule anything important for later in the day.

The shuttle took us to Fierze, where we boarded the Komani Lake ferry. The ride is absolutely stunning. The lake winds through narrow canyons, with dramatic cliffs on either side and water that’s a surreal shade of green. We picked up some tomato chips and lemon drinks from the small onboard kiosk, then headed to the upper deck for the best views. If the weather’s good, I’d really recommend sitting outside, the fresh air and scenery make the whole trip.

The ferry takes about two hours, and while you can book tickets separately, I’d suggest booking the full shuttle–ferry–shuttle combo online in advance at komanilakeferry.com. It saves a ton of hassle, especially if you’re not fluent in Albanian or don’t want to coordinate multiple legs of the journey. The whole package is affordable (around $10–15 depending on the season), and it includes pickup from your accommodation in Valbona and drop-off back in Shkoder.

Once the ferry docked in Koman, we hopped into the last shuttle of the day, the road from there to Shkoder is incredibly scenic but very windy. I took a Dramamine and tried to sleep through most of it, which I’d recommend if you get carsick easily.

What to Pack for Hiking Theth to Valbona

Packing for the Theth to Valbona hike kind of depends on when you’re doing it, but after having done it ourselves in mid-summer, I can confidently say that less is more.

We left our big backpacks in Shkoder and just brought daypacks for the hike, which was one of the best decisions we made. Lugging around a suitcase or a heavy bag over the Valbona Pass is a hard no. Don’t do that to yourself. You really just need to plan for two nights out—one in Theth, one in Valbona—and keep things light and functional.

For us, shorts and a T-shirt worked great during the day, but it definitely got cooler in the early morning and once we reached the top of the pass. I had a light jacket and long sleeves stuffed in my bag and was very glad I did. The weather changes fast in the mountains, and the breeze at the peak is no joke.

If you’re doing the hike in spring or fall, you’ll want to bring warmer layers, temperatures can dip pretty quickly, especially up high. And the trail can be muddy and slick after rain, so sturdy boots are even more important. Honestly, this route is best tackled by experienced hikers during shoulder season.

We don’t recommend doing the hike in winter months. The trail’s usually closed, and even if it’s technically open, it’s not the kind of adventure that’s worth the risk.

Essential Packing List for Theth to Valbona Hike:

• Good Quality Hiking Boots or Trail Running Shoes: The terrain can be tricky, and having sturdy footwear is non-negotiable.
• Lightweight Backpack: Opt for something that won’t weigh you down but can still hold all your essentials.
• Water Bottle: Stay hydrated out there, you can refill at the guesthouses along the way & I love how cold the Owala keeps my water!
• Snacks/Energy Bars: Keep your energy up with some light snacks. Nuts, dried fruits, and energy bars are perfect.
• Lightweight Rain Jacket: Just in case you encounter some unexpected showers.
• Hat & Sunglasses: Protect yourself from the sun during those open stretches of the trail.
• Sunscreen: A must-have to keep your skin protected against UV rays.
• First Aid Kit: Include basics like band-aids, antiseptic wipes, and any personal medication.
• Light Clothing Layers: Be ready for varying temperatures, especially in the transitional months. A t-shirt, long sleeve, and a lightweight fleece should do the trick.
• Portable Charger: Keep your gadgets powered up for safety and those essential snapshots.
• Maps/GPS Device: While the trail is marked, it’s always good to have a backup. We also totally recommend downloading maps.me, which is a fantastic app for traveling and hiking.

The Best Time to Hike Theth to Valbona in Albania

The best time to hit up the Theth to Valbona Hike, and start the Valbona trail is smack in the summer months, from June to September. That’s when the trail’s wide open and ready to roll, with perfect hiking weather. But hey, it’s also the peak season, so brace yourself for a bit of crowds on the trail and at the guesthouses. 

Quick heads-up, we tackled the hike at the peak of high season and found it kinda busy in spots – especially around the peak where the Theth and Valbona hikers converge. Would’ve been cool to have a tad more elbow room, but honestly, it wasn’t all that bad.

Our tip is if you’re starting the trail in high season, kick things off at the crack of dawn. Go for that sunrise start, and you’ll have the trail all to yourself, leaving the crowds in the dust.

For a super chill vibe, think about swinging by in late May or early October. Might be a bit cooler, but the scenery’s just as amazing. Just a heads-up, some guesthouses might be shut or have limited spots during the off-peak months.

Now, if you’re a seasoned hiker craving a challenge, think about tackling the trail in spring (April-May) or fall (October-November). These in-between months can dish out some wild weather and tougher hiking conditions, but they also bring a unique beauty and a more serene trail vibe. Just keep an eye on the forecast and hike smart.

Where to Stay on The Theth to Valbona Hike

Here’s something we wish we had known before our trip: book your accommodation early — and book it in the actual village.

We waited a little too long to book and ended up staying about an hours walk outside of both Theth and Valbona. While both guesthouses were beautiful and peaceful (we honestly loved them), they just weren’t convenient for hiking. That extra hour of walking makes for an even harder full day of trekking.

So here’s our advice:

• Book as early as you can, especially for summer. Theth and Valbona are small, and places fill up fast during peak season (June to September).
• Check the exact location on a map. Sometimes places will say they’re in Theth or Valbona, but they’re actually a decent drive out. If you can’t tell, message the host to confirm & read reviews!!!
• Look for guesthouses that include dinner and breakfast. Most of them do, and it makes everything way easier when you’re in the middle of the mountains with limited food options.

To save you from the same last-minute scramble, we’ve included our top recommendations below — all of them are well-located, well-reviewed, and ideal for hikers.

Best hotels in Theth

As mentioned earlier, it’s crucial to stay near the beginning of the Theth Valbona trail close to Mini Market Jezerca. Otherwise, you might end up adding an extra hour of walking to your hike. Here are our top recommendations on where to stay in Theth:

Logu i Harushave

These Albanian huts are an absolute must-stay for their unique location and traditional charm. Each room is equipped with a private bathroom, and hey, breakfast is included! The hosts are some of the kindest and most welcoming people you’ll ever meet.

Check for availability & rates

Gurra Family Guesthouse

We loved this traditional-style guesthouse! The rooms are clean and comfortable, and you can choose to have breakfast and dinner with the family. They also offer pick-up services from Shkoder.

Check for availability & rates

Guest House Rrashkadoli

Great value for money! This guesthouse is simple but has everything you need for a good night’s rest. They also offer dinner and breakfast, plus pick-up services from Shkoder.

Check for availability & rates

Best hotels in Valbona

In Valbona, it’s essential to stay near the town entrance to be close to guesthouses, and restaurants, and avoid adding extra walking time to your hike. Here are our top recommendations for where to stay in Valbona:

Hotel Krojet e Rrogamit

This simple yet charming guesthouse is ideally located at the beginning of Valbona, right by the river. The cozy rooms have private bathrooms and offer breakfast and dinner.

Check for availability & rates

Guesthouse Natyra Balcony

A little more affordable, but still offers fantastic views of the surrounding mountains. The rooms have private bathrooms, and breakfast is included.

Check for availability & rates

Ultimate Guide – Theth to Valbona Hike – Final Words

Overall, the Theth to Valbona hike (or Valbona Theth hike) truly stood out as one of the highlights of our entire journey. The breathtaking views, warm locals, and the tough yet fulfilling trek combined to create an unforgettable adventure.

Exploring Albania’s natural beauty, accursed mountains, and countryside through this hike is truly remarkable. You’ll escape the hustle of beach towns and busy streets. While it might get a bit crowded during peak season, it’s nothing compared to the summer crowds in Greece or Italy.

If you’re someone who enjoys the outdoors and hiking or if you’re looking to venture into hiking, the Theth to Valbona Hike is ideal for you. It’s not overly challenging, but it certainly leaves you with a sense of accomplishment and joy at the end. 

Hopefully, our guide has sparked your interest in adding this hike to your travel bucket list and has equipped you with all the necessary tips and information for a successful journey. Especially after we struggled to find good information on this, we thought that such a detailed explanation about the Valbona Theth trailhead was necessary. And don’t forget, make sure to book your accommodation in advance!

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