Valbona Valley National Park in North Albania
Valbona Valley National Park is located in the Albanian Alps in North Albania. The Valbona Valley National Park also includes the Accursed Mountains that extends across the borders of Northern Albania to Montenegro, and Kosovo, with Valbona Valley being one of the most accessible and popular areas within the Albanian portion of the range
Valbona Valley National Park is a protected area known for its stunning alpine scenery, including some of the most dramatic and rugged peaks in the range.
The national park is famous for its hiking trails including the Valbona Pass, the iconic trail connecting Valbona to Theth and offering stunning views of the Albanian Alps. Tourism in Albania has been rapidly growing, with visitors increasingly drawn to its stunning natural landscapes such as this.
We spent about 4 days in Valbona Valley National Park while visiting Albania recently, completing the Valbona Hike trail from Theth to Valbona and visiting the Blue Eye. The below guide is based on my own incredible time visiting and staying at the Valbona Valley National Park.
How do I get to Valbona National Park?
Before you booking transport to Valbona National Park, I recommend considering the main activities you want to do in the National Park as this may determine which route / bus to take. There are two main villages in Valbona National Park – Theth and Valbona.
I recommend traveling to from Schkoder to Theth as this is a shorter commute to get to Valbona National Park. From here a lot of tourists choose the complete the Theth to Valbona pass hiking trail. The alternative is the complete teh trail from Valbona to Theth, however this requires a longer commute to the start point from Valbona.
Minibus (Furgon) from Shkodër to Theth
Bus leaves from the Shkodër city center, in the main central bus station
How to book: Arrange directly with your hotel in Shkoder as they will arrange the booking for you as well as offer a hotel pickup. Furgons usually depart early in the morning between 6am to 8am to make the most of daylight for the journey.
- Duration: The journey takes about 2.5 to 3 hours, depending on road conditions.
- Cost: Approximately 10 – 12 Euros per person (1,200-1,500 ALL)
- Booking: You can book a seat in a Furgon through your accommodation in Shkodër or directly at the bus station. It’s advisable to book a day in advance, especially during the peak season (summer).
Private Taxi from Schkoder to Theth
A private taxi from Schkoder to Theth can typcially be organised by your hotel or through one of the popular Albanian taxi services noted further below.
- Duration: Similar to the Furgon, the drive takes about 2.5 to 3 hours.
- Cost: A private taxi from Shkodër to Theth typically costs around 5,000-8,000 ALL (€40-€65), depending on your negotiation and the season.
Return from Valbona to Schkoder
There are 2 main options to return from Valbona National Park to Schkoder.
1. Valbona to Schkoder via Bus + Koman Lake Ferry + Bus
If you have a day to spare and prefer to include a ferry ride – we recommend Bus from Valbona to Fierze + Ferry to Firenze, Ferry on Koman Lake to Koman + Bus from Koman to Schkoder. This journey starts at 10am in Valbona with bus pick up typically directly from your guesthouse. You are then taken to the ferry terminal, the daily ferry departure, at the time of this blog being written, was once a day at 1.30pm. The ferry takes about 2 hours to Koman. In Koman you will take the 3pm bus to Schkoder, arriving in Shkoder by 5pm.
- Duration: 7 hours
- Cost:
- Valbona to Fierze bus: 8 Euros per person
- Fierze to Koman Ferry: 8.80 Euros online or 10 Euros in cash
- Bus from Koman to Schkoder: 7 Euros per person
2. Private Taxi from Valbona to Schkoder
If you are looking for a faster option that does not take up the full day, consider a direct car transfer. We decided to opt for this option so we could reach Schkoder by 1pm and make our way down to the Albanian Riviera later that same day as this is where our accommodation was booked.
We got picked up directly from our hotel in Valbona by the driver and driven to Schkoder, our journey took a total of 5 hours.
- Duration: 5 hours
- Cost: 200 Euros, although this is expensive, with 4 people our cost was EUR 50pp. Considering we needed to get to Seranda later that day, this was an option I do not regret taking as it saved us a lot of time in the end allowing us to maximize the day.
Taxis in Albania
Taxi companies offering this transfer – as at the time of writing this post, the following taxi companies were a popular choice –
Speed taxi – Popular taxi service offering inter city trips
Patoko – The Patoko app offers private transportation services across Albania
Merr Taxi Albania – A popular but slightly more expensive taxi option
Valbona Valley National Park Map
Staying in Valbona Valley National Park
Guesthouses are the most common form of accommodation in Valbona Valley National Park. These are most commonly small and family run and operated offering a small selection of rooms.
Valbona Valley National Park Hotel and Gueshouses
Most guesthouses in Valbona are built in a traditional Albanian style and the amenities , though relatively basic, cover everything you will need for your stay – hot water, heating, and Wi-Fi. One of the best parts about staying in these guesthouses, were actually the home cooked meals you get!
All the food is freshly made by the owners and honestly, it was some of the best, authentic food I ate during my trip to Albania! Especially after a long day of hiking!
Top tip: A lot of Guesthouses offer a packed lunch service for a small additional charge. Even if this is not advertised,this is something worth inquiring about. Given a lot of places/ hiking routes in the National park, we may not necessarily have food accessible nearby, it was such a savior for us having our packed sandwiches and snacks on us when we headed out for the day.
We stayed in Bujtina Kometa in Theth and Guesthouse Drinos in Valbona. Both places were very comfortable and clean with extremely hospitable hosts.
For the best selection of guest houses available, I would recommend booking as early as possible during peak season where vacancy in some locations may get filled up quickly.
Camping in Valbona Valley National Park
Camping is a viable option in Vabona National Park. Most sites have basic facilities with toilets, and showers for a small fee for camping.
For those who prefer to be closer to nature, there are several campgrounds in Valbona where you can set up your own tent. These are typically basic sites, offering stunning views and direct access to trails.
Wild camping is allowed in Valbona National Park, if you’re looking for the ultimate outdoor experience. Campers are advised to follow Leave No Trace principles and camp at least 100 meters away from any water resources.
Tip: Be prepared for varying weather conditions in Valbon National Park, and bring all necessary supplies, as facilities can be limited.
Amenities in Valbona Valley National Park
- Tourist Information Centers: There are a few small information points where visitors can get maps, brochures, and advice on exploring the park. These are often located in guesthouses or central points in the village of Valbona.
- Trail Information: Detailed maps and advice on hiking routes are available at guesthouses and small visitor centers.
- Convenience Stores: There are a few small local shops in the Valbona area, mostly near guesthouses and villages/ bus stops in Valbona and Rrogam. These shops usually offer basic necessities such as snacks, bottled water, toiletries, and some limited grocery supplies.
Valbona Valley National Park Things to do
The best things to do in Valbona Valley National Park are –
1. Hiking the Valbona Pass
This is the most iconic trail in Valbona Valley, connecting it with Theth National Park. The hike takes you through breathtaking alpine scenery, offering panoramic views of the Albanian Alps. It’s a challenging trek, typically taking 6-8 hours, but it’s a must-do for any serious hiker visiting the area.
2. Visiting the Blue Eye of Valbona
The Blue Eye also known as Syri i Kalter’ in Albanian is a stunning natural spring located near Valbona. The water is incredibly vibrant shades of blue, and it’s a great spot for a refreshing dip and a picnic in the beautiful surroundings. The Blue Eye is accessible via a short hike from Theth of 3.5 to 4 km (2.2 – 2.5 miles) one way and is a highly popular activity.
3. Hiking to the Valbona Waterfalls
The short hike to the Valbona Waterfalls is a favorite among visitors and day trippers. The waterfall is particularly impressive after rainfall, and the surrounding nature is perfect for a picnic, or a stop enroute other hiking routes.
The waterfalls are about 2-3 km (1.2 – 1.9 miles) from Valbona. In Valbona follow in main road in Valbona village, looking for for well-marked signs leading to the trail to the waterfalls
Valbona National Park Tours
Valbona Valley National Park can easily be accessed and explored without the need of guides or a guided tour. Nonetheless if you prefer to go with an organized group, there are some popular tours and activities to choose from from Viator and Get Your Guide.
Theth National Park also referred to as Thethi National Park
Theth National Park and Valbona Valley National Park are two distinct but neighboring national parks in the Albanian Alps.It is in the Shala Valley, in the northern part of the Albanian Alps, and is known for its rugged terrain.
The village of Theth is slightly closer to the city of Shkodër. Hence a lot of visitors that complete the Valbona Pass, complete the hike from Theth to Valbona as the starting point is quicker to reach from Schkoder, than Valbona. This is the way we also did it, and I would recommend doing it in this order to reduce travel time to the hike start point.
Valbona Valley National Park Hiking: Valbona to Theth Hike Trail
The good thing about this hike is that although it is challenging in places, it is completely doable. We encountered people of all abilities on this hike, from frequent hikers to people traveling with family and parents. The frequent rest stops which are small basic cafes/ cold drink stalls with benches make this hike doable at your own pace. We noted at least 4 such stops along the full route. The views along the hike, especially those at the top and those on the descent down to Valbona make the hike 100% worth it. Here are some basic details for the hike:
Valbona to Theth Hiking Trail
- Distance: 17 km from start to end, this does not include additional time spent traveling to and from your accommodation in Theth and Valbona to the start and end points of the hike.
- Duration: 5 – 9 hours. This is entirely dependent on your pace. We found going from Theth to Valbona better if you prefer a faster pace as there is less of a crowd going this way.
- Trail markings: The trail is relatively easy to follow with clear white and red stripe markings posted along the way. If traveling in July and August you will almost always have other hikers enroute, so it’s pretty hard to get lost on this hike.
- Rest stops: We encountered about 5 different cafes/ water stops along the route. So there are plenty of opportunities to fill up on water. One thing to note though, if you are starting your hike early in the morning, some of these may not be open until 9am or so, so ensure you have plenty of water for at least half the hike.
- Elevation: The hike ascends to a maximum elevation of 1800 meters. The ascend is shorter and more strenuous on the Theth to Valbona direction. The ascend is more gradual in the Valbona to Thether direction. However, we found the Theth to Valbona direction more rewarding. Although this is a slightly shorter, more strenuous climb, you are treated with spectacular views facing straight on as you descend down to Valbona.
Frequently Asked Questions about Valbona National Park
Are there bears in Valbona?
No, there is no fee to enter Valbona Valley National Park. The park is open to the public, and access to its trails, rivers, and natural attractions is free of charge.
Can you swim in the Valbona River?
Yes, you can swim in the Valbona River, although the water is typically very cold, even in the summer. This is due to the river’s waters being fed by mountain springs and snowmelt further up the mountain tops. You can spot this snow on the mountain peaks during the Valbona Pass hike, at the main pass vantage point during the hike.
Is there an entrance fee for Valbona Valley National Park?
Yes, there are bears in Valbona Valley National Park. The park is home to the Eurasian brown bear (Ursus arctos arctos), which is one of the most notable and significant species in the region. While the bears are present, they tend to avoid humans and therefore are rarely spotted by visitors. The bears typically reside in the more remote and dense forested areas of the park.
What animals are in Valbona Albania?
Valbona Valley National Park is rich in biodiversity, with a variety of animal species inhabiting its diverse ecosystems. Some of the key animals you might find in Valbona in addition to the bears are gray wolves,wild goats, lynx and various bird species.
Are you heading to Albania? Check out our other posts you may find useful
How To Get To The Blue Eye in Albania
Ultimate Guide to Visiting Schkoder Lake in Albania
