Geography and geology Jun 6, 2014 | Thethi National Park Geography and geology The Dinaric Alps are a chain of mountains in southeast Europe that stretch the length of the Adriatic coast and reach both their highest point (Mt Jezerca, 2692 m) and greatest width in northern Albania. No other part of the Balkans offers high mountain scenery of such distinctively rugged and forbidding beauty. The barren karst landscape is a regular feature, since the rock here is predominantly limestone – indeed this is Europe’s largest region of karst topography. Thanks to its unique Geo-morphology and hydrology, the region has become the focus of important scientific karst research. Dolines (sinkholes), chasms and karst caverns are found wherever water penetrates the rock. These barren, rocky wildernesses can provide unusual attractive itineraries for hikers; until now, however, they have brought little in the way of economic development to the indigenous population. The valley of Theth was formed by the ice movements, especially on the northern side. Theth has mountains that are up to 2570 meters over the sea level. This height is reached at the top of Radohima. The inhabited area of Theth is positioned 600 to 1000 meters over the sea level. Theth is linked to some other areas through some strips that are up to 1600 meters over the sea level. In the territory of Theth and around it are located 170 caves and semi caves, from which ten are internationally known. The most beautiful and the most important are the cave of Rrathëve and the cave of Harapi. Contact us Would you like to visit this destination? We will find the perfect tour or create a custom tour so you can visit and enjoy this destination and more. Call now for the best offer English Speaking Phone 00355 69 60 15 771 Send us an email with your details Reserverations email info@thethi-guide.com FollowFollowFollowFollowFollow
Thethi religious feasts. Jun 6, 2014 | Cultural destinations Cultural destinations Thethi religious feasts. Thethi has 2 big religious feasts which are celebrated as per Albanian tradition (customs) 15 August is the feast of Assumption of Mary 15 August is the feast of Assumption of Mary and is celebrated with the daughters married away from the village, and on this date, they come back in the family where they grew up together with their children 26 December is the feast of Saint John 26 December is the feast of Saint John and is celebrated with villagers of Thethi and the people who come from other villages that have friendship between them. It is one of the most important feasts of Shala and is celebrated in a lovely way. Contact us Would you like to visit this destination? We will find the perfect tour or create a custom tour so you can visit and enjoy this destination and more. Call now for the best offer English Speaking Phone 00355 69 60 15 771 Send us an email with your details Reserverations email info@thethi-guide.com FollowFollowFollowFollowFollow
Customary laws, myths and legends Jun 5, 2014 | Cultural destinations, Destinations, Destinations in Theth Albania Cultural destinations Customary laws, myths, and legends Until recently the mountain regions of northern Albania were isolated not only in terms of geography and communication. In matters of jurisprudence, too, the region was literally a law to itself. Ottoman jurisdiction never prevailed here. Instead, the Code of Lekë Dukagjin was in general use, a set of traditional laws passed on from one generation to another and not codified, written down and printed until 1933. The laws of the ‘Kanun.’ The acts of the ‘Kanun’ of the mountains are still perpetuated and partially observed by the local populace today. The 12 chapters of the code cover all critical areas of life, including marriage, transfer of property, honor, and criminal law. The legal framework is based on the concepts of family honor and breaches thereof. The patriarchal social structure gives the head of the family extensive powers and authority that include the imposition of punishments. The Kanun reflects the stark, ethnic reality of the mountain dwellers, aspects of which are still occasionally visible to visitors even today. It is thought many customs possibly have pre-Christian roots, demonstrating the ancient origins of some elements of the Kanun. Myths and legends were once part of an oral tradition, performed by singers to the accompaniment of the lahuta, a one-stringed musical instrument, and adapted textually to suit the occasion. Although mostly unable to read or write, the singers could recite thousands of verses by heart. Perhaps the best known is the Këngë Kreshnikësh cycle, which recounts the heroic deeds of Gjeto Basho Mujo and his younger brother Halili in the frontier lands occupied by Austria-Hungary, the southern Slavs, and the Ottoman Empire. Similar to Homer’s epic poems, the tales are probably based on historical events (in this case dating from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries), which over time, have been the subject of fanciful embellishment. This is evident, for example, in the most recent songs, where Mujo appears as a sort of demi-god with the powers to summon to his aid the three ores (derived from the Greek ‘Horai,’ literally ‘Hours’). The Zanes are still present in northern Albanian folklore, appearing in various guises depending on the region. The zana of Nikaj was dark; that of Shala was said to be mail; one feature they all had in common was the fact they lived in the mountains or caves. The moon also played an essential role in everyday life. Sowing was timed to coincide with a waning moon, which was also the best period for cutting hair (if premature grayness was to be avoided). Full moons were a time for marriage since this was auspicious for starting a family. The Franciscan friar Shtjefën Gjeçovi (1874-1929) not only collected the epic verse of the mountains of Albania; he also codified the Kanun, which until that time existed only as an oral tradition, thereby rescuing these works for posterity. Contact us Would you like to visit this destination? We will find the perfect tour or create a custom tour so you can visit and enjoy this destination and more. Call now for the best offer English Speaking Phone 00355 69 60 15 771 Send us an email with your details Reserverations email info@thethi-guide.com FollowFollowFollowFollowFollow
The history and population in Theth Jun 4, 2014 | Blogs from Albanian AlpsThe first official mention of Theth is in a document of 1485 coming from Shkodra, when the village numbered seven houses. In the sixteenth century, during the Ottoman invasion, the ownership of the valley was transferred from the Sandjak of Shkodra to Peja. Today it belongs to the district of Shkodra. Most Theth families can be traced back to the legendary figure of Ded Nika, who is thought to have lived nine to twelve generations earlier. Collective memory sustains the belief that migration to Theth from the lower Shala valley took place around 300 to 350 years ago in order to avoid conversion to Islam. Although the individual hamlets of Theth do not belong exclusively to a single fis (clan or large family), each is dominated by one such family which owns the surrounding Alpine pastures. In most of these hamlets operated a communal mill. Durham described Theth as a bajrak of some 180 houses and also observed that it was almost free from the tradition of blood feud (known in the Albanian language as Gjakmarrja) which so blighted other parts of the Albanian highlands. Children for Thethi Year 1921 Road to Theth When the road to Theth opened in 1936, it heralded a new era for the entire region. Theth acquired its own electricity supply in 1966. The tourism complex (Campeggio), with its well-built hotel and numerous wooden bungalows dating from 1968, once afforded many Albanian families the opportunity to holiday in natural surroundings; since the unrest of 1991, however, it lies in ruins. Much is being done to revive tourism in the region, but this is currently restricted to eco-friendly bed & breakfast tourism in private accommodation. By 1991 Theth was made up of nine hamlets with a total of 280 houses and formed the geographic centre of the Dukagjin region. The population was estimated at that time to be around 7000 inhabitants. But the school had difficulty finding teachers on account of the remote location, and the lack of teaching staff was a major reason why families with children migrated to the towns and cities or moved abroad. This drift towards the cities has become a major problem since the political watershed, leading to the state of virtual depopulation we find today and the serious consequences this has brought with it. Nowadays only a few families spend the entire year in the valley. Most do not sell their houses, coming – if at all – to spend a few days or weeks during the summer holidays.
2 days Tour to Theth National Park May 23, 2014 | Tours, Tours in Theth STARTING FROM €85/PERSON 2 days Tour to Theth National Park This is a private individual tour without a guide to the heart of Albanian Alps, Thethi National Park. Overview This tour was thought and offered by local people of Thethi, who will not provide you just a guide, but you will dive into this local lifestyle and have a unique experience from this remote wild area of Thethi National Park, part of the Albanian Alps. Wild because nature is still untouched, unexplored, and unbeaten paths. In two days you will have the possibility to relax, enjoy the beauty of the main destinations of Thethi, like the waterfall and canyon, the Blue Eye and Stone Groves, the church and the lock-in tower, the accommodation in traditional guesthouses called ‘Kulla’; have a dinner with local homemade and organic food and experience Albanian welcoming in person. Inclusions Dinner x1 Breakfast x1 Accommodation x 1 Private transportation Tirana hotel door to Thethi guesthouse door Local transfer to blue eye x 1 Exclusions Lunch Entry ticket to Lock-in tower (extra 2 eur/person) Gratuities Drinks Local guide (optional on extra charge 100 eur x 2 days) Everything else not mentioned above Departure & Return Departure Point: Tirana, from Hotel Door. Shkodra, from Hotel Door. Departure Time 07.30 AM – Tirana 08.00 AM – Shkodra Drop off: at the guesthouse door in Thethi. Return: At the last stop in Tirana, at Zogu i Zi square. Itinerary Day 1: Tirane – Shkodra – Thethi National Park The departure from Tirana is from 07:30 AM. After around 4 hours of drive, you will reach Thethi accommodation around 10:30 AM. Pass By: Qafe e Thores On the way to Thethi an optional stop could be at Qafe e Thores, at the highest point of the way to Thethi at 1700 m, where you can enjoy the view of the high peaks around. Stop at: Thethi Valley – Stone Groves – Blue Eye Accommodation around 10:30 AM. Drop off the luggage at the guesthouse. Meet and greet with the host and continue alone to the attractions as proposed in this tour itinerary. The Stone Groves of Nderlysa are some rock formations, rose color, created by the abundant flow of black river water descending from the village of Kaprre in Thethi valley, are the first attraction we will meet after 90 min easy walking in the middle of nature along Thethi’s river. After a short break here, the tour will proceed toward the Blue Eye, for 50 min moderate hiking. Blue Eye of Theth, placed in Kaprre, is a deep blue water hole in the middle of the woods furnished from the Black River. Until the Blue Eye is a hiking route and takes about 40 to 60 minutes of regular walking. This attraction is an unexpected beauty. Don’t forget to bring your swimming ware because you can swim at both attractions explained above. 1.5 hours way back at the guesthouse by walking. A local transfer is arranged by us. Duration: 6-7 hours of total walking time Difficulty: easy to moderate Dinner around 7.30 PM Day 2: Thethi Waterfall – Grunasi Canyon – Lock-in Tower – St. John Church After the breakfast in the guesthouse, starting at 09:00 AM, you may visit Grunasi Waterfall and Grunasi Canyon. On the way back from these attractions, you will relax in Thethi’s meadows and visit Saint John Church, and the Lock-in Tower (extra charge ticked). Return at the guesthouse at around 12.00 and be ready for the minivan pick up to Shkodra/Tirana. Room Check out – immediately after breakfast. Duration: 3 hours Difficulty: Easy Additional Info Confirmation will be received at time of booking Not wheelchair accessible Not recommended for travelers with back problems Not recommended for pregnant travelers No heart problems or other serious medical conditions Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund. This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate Cancellation Policy For a full refund, cancel at least 5 days in advance of the start date of the experience. Price Prices € 260.00/person – Starting from 2 people Prices € 220.00/person – group of 3 – 4 people Prices € 180.00/person – group of 5-6 people 1 2 days Tour to Theth National Park Nameyour full nameicon-user Last Nameicon-user Emaila valid emailemail Phoneicon-phone Dateof appointmentdate_range Number of personsno-icon Select a time:05:30 am06:00 am06:30 am Pickup Location0 / Commentsmore details0 / Total Price : [(155*field10)] € Book Tour keyboard_arrow_leftPrevious Nextkeyboard_arrow_right FormCraft - WordPress form builder Make a request Call now for the best offer English Speaking Phone 00355 69 60 15 771 Send us an email with your details Reserverations email info@thethi-guide.com See all the tours Follow us FollowFollowFollowFollowFollow Book in advance to ensure the availability of a professional guide, primarily. 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