The east-gate to the Albanian Alps Oct 6, 2020 | Blogs from Albanian Alps, Destinations in Komani LakeAfter an impressive journey of about 2.5 hours along Komani Lake, a ferry ride who starts in Komani and ends in Fierza, the opportunities offered and the destinations to reach are numerous and tempting. Road connections lead to the northern city of Albania, the city of Bajram Curri; or the possibility to cross the border with Kosovo just in 30 min, through the customs point of Qafe Prushi. Below we present some of the most popular or most requested destinations by foreign tourists. Valbona National Park! Valbona National Park with an area of 8000 ha, as part of the Albanian Alps bordering with Montenegro in the north and Kosovo in the east, offers a wide range of natural beauties to visit, such as steep peaks, ridges, and fjords, valleys, gorges, endless vegetation and flowers, smooth slopes, hone gorges, caves, and ravines, incomparable biodiversity, from wild goats, mountain eagles to feathers. Traveling by ferry through Komani Lake is like a ‘starter’ or ‘appetizer’ for everyone who has decided to take one of the following directions within Valbona National Park. Valbona Valley and Valbona Pass toward Thethi National Park Cerem – Doberdol trail and its connection with Kosovo or Montenegro. Gashi River – UNESCO site Jezerca – The highest peak in the Albanian Alps (2964mt) Curraj Eper valley! Curraj Eper is the icing on the cake for the whole beautiful area of Nikaj-Mertur, a mountain region between the Shala valley and the Valbona National Park. After the ferry stop in Fierza, taking the direction to Nikaj-Mertur, through the panoramic paved road Fierze-Lekbibaj along with the lake Fierze, you can continue walking or driving in the direction of Curraj Eper. From this valley, you can explore fantastic hiking trails, still unbeaten paths to foreigners, trails in the footsteps of those who have been used by the locals for centuries, who continue towards Thethi or towards Valbona, crossing mountain peaks over 2000 m altitude.
The journey through Koman Lake to Shala River Sep 7, 2020 | Destinations in Komani Lake The journey through Koman Lake to Shala River Shala River is one of the main attractions located near Komani Lake, only 1.5 hours by boat from the dam of Koman. The meeting point of Shala River with Komani Lake, on its last kilometers, creates some magnificent shores compared with Thailand’s nature The Shala River source is placed at Thethi National Park in the Albanian Alps and continues its flow through Shala valley, where it collects the waters of all the springs and brooks around the villages of the Shala and Shoshi valleys. The meeting point of Shala River with Komani Lake, on its last kilometers, creates some magnificent shores compared with Tayland nature. In recent years this is one of the most attractive river destinations in the Albanian Alps. This destination is part of Shoshi administrative unit, of Dukagjini, where is placed even Molla e Shoshit and Blini i Guri te Lekes. Shala River is an isolated place with high peaks around, the rushing flow of cristal clear water of Shala river offers to adventurers a panoramic view compared with Thailand and has been ranked as one of the most beautiful destinations in Albania. All the adventurers can enjoy the trip exploring the area by boat, hiking in the surrounding peaks with spectacular views, as well as diving into the cool water of Shala River, or camping. In recent years, three accommodation units have been set up in this place, Eagle Land Guesthouse, Bee Eco Guesthouse, and Blini Park guesthouse which also offer bar-restaurant service for tourist visiting this area. How to get to Shala River The Shala River can only be reached by boat from the Koman Dam. About 40 boats are operating during April – October season, departing every day in the time interval between 09.00-10.00h and return to Koman from Shala River around 15.00h. To reach this destination from each point of the country, you must return on the segment Bushat – Vau Dejes – Koman, Shkodra region, for 45 km of a trip that requires a drive of 1.5 hours. From Tirana and Shkodra there are also facilities like a fixed public transport line to Koman with minibusses of 14-19 seats that depart early morning. From Tirana, 04.50 am from Gazheli fuel; From Shkodra 06.30 am from any hotel or from the point of Hotel Rozafa. You can find typical local transfers around Albanian Alps here. 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
About Malesia e Madhe Sep 4, 2020 | Destinations, Malesi e MadheIn the early twentieth century Edith Durham, a young British explorer, was lured towards Malesia e Madhe, the land of the Great Mountains. Despite many difficulties, she was carried away by the charm of an ancient culture still alive: the land of the living past. To relive the same emotions of Durham, we invite travelers to the discovery of Kelmend, one of the most remote and isolated areas of Northern Albania. The adventure will expose them to unforgettable landscapes, uncontaminated nature, and the exploration of ancient traditions and customs. The unspoiled villages have many treasures to explore and culture to inspire and move. Peace and tranquility will be the outcome of exposure to family life. Family-run traditional guesthouses provide a warm welcome for guests with authentic cuisine for gourmets, uncontaminated nature for the naturalist, and mountains for the adventurous lovers of arduous climbing. Expert and capable guides will lead you through awe-inspiring terrain. All the above is embellished by the wit and hilarity of Kelmendas people making hospitality a sacred law, unchanged over the years, the same that at the beginning of last century led the young lade to fall in love with Northern Albania. Shkreli Natural Regional Park – The Entrance Gate to the Alps A region, part of Malesia e Madhe, located between Thethi National Park and Skadar Lake in Shkodra and Kelmend region in the northwest. It takes higher importance for the diversity of the territory, from the fields of sage and lavender close to Skadar Lake to the valleys of Boga and Razma for an alpine landscape. Another advantage is the near distance with Shkodra 20 km or Montenegro 25 km. The area of Shkreli is well known for the chestnut forest, which constitutes a protected heritage as a natural monument. A few agro-farms, restaurants, and guesthouses offer different exploring and entertainment activities for the visitors.
The Blue Eye of Theth Aug 29, 2020 | Destinations, Destinations in Theth Albania The Blue Eye of Theth The Blue Eye is the most frequented natural attraction in Theth. This amazing attraction is placed in the village of Kaprre, approximately 7 km away from the center of Thethi village. The Blue Eye is the most frequented natural attraction in Theth. This amazing attraction is placed in the village of Kaprre, approximately 7 km away from the center of Thethi village. The Blue Eye of Kaprre, part of Thethi National Park, is a well (Black Well) with a surface of about 100 m2 and about 4-5 m deep, which is formed by the Black River flow that descends from the upper Kaprrea. Located between rocky and green slopes, with its depth this well takes on the colors of blue and emerald depending on the season, forming a fascinating landscape for all visitors. The Black River source in Maja e Zeze and is fed mainly by melting snow and in Nderlysa it joins Shala River to flow into the Drin river/ Komani Lake. To reach this destination you have to calculate it totally by walking (3.5 hours walk one way) or combined with a transfer plus walking, 20 min transfers, and 40 min easy to moderate walking. The first 5 km from Thethi to Nderlysa is rural off-road along the river of Theth, Shala River. From Nderlysa to the Blue Eye it takes 40 minutes of walk, among which only the first half is more difficult to climb while the second part is easy walking in the middle of the beech forest to get surprised then by the blue eye. The path is marked with signs even though they are amortized but the path from Nderlysa is so steep and clear that you can not get lost. In Nderlysa, just cross the bridge and take the road to Kaprre to come out in front of you, one of the most wonderful views formed by the erosion of the rocks by the river, where have been created pink baths and waterfalls, called the Stone Groves in Nderlysa. Book in advance to ensure the availability of a professional guide, primarily. For a more specific request please ask us a quote Call now for the best offer English Speaking Phone 00355 69 60 15 771 FollowFollowFollowFollowFollow Send us an email with your details Reserverations email info@thethi-guide.com
Molla e Shoshit Village Aug 28, 2020 | Destinations, Destinations in Shala River Molla e Shoshit Village Hiking Trail From this place you can see Leka’s Stone (Leke Dukagjini) on the opposite slope in the vicinity, Svina and Berisha villages of Puka region by the lake of Koman, other villages of Shoshi, Shoshi Mountain, and even the peaks of Thethi’s mountains. Hiking trail to Molla e Shoshit For the more passionates of the hiking, the village Molla e Shoshi is one of the attractions you can visit while you are staying at Shala River, near Blini i Guri i Lekes. Molla e Shoshit is a small village located on a small plateau at an altitude of about 600 mt. above sea level, or a difference in the level of about 350 mt from the Shala River. Starting from one of the guesthouses located in Shala River, this itinerary takes 1.5 hours of hiking between forests and mountain slopes, enjoying and exploring the surrounding nature. God has blessed this place with rich flora and fauna. If you are lucky you may notice wild goats too. In the vicinity of the village, at its entrance, there is a water source, a natural spring where you can rest and refill with water. A walk in the small valley that characterizes the terrain of this village will make people go back in time, understand the difficulties of an isolated life that the inhabitants lived in the near past during communism. Molla e Shoshit village Shosh Apple, as it may be translated even though no relations with the fruit and this village, is now an uninhabited village. The 12 houses “Kulla style” which was populated until the early 1990s still stand today like abandoned towers. The inhabitants of this area are from the tribe of Shoshi, part of Dukagjini in the region of Shkodra. This isolated village, the only link to the national road network was a 3-hour pedestrian walk to the village of Ndreaj, the center of the Shosh administrative unit. Now with the new developments in Shala River, this village can be connected in a shorter time and provide easier access to the city and civilization. From this place you can see Guri i Lekes on the opposite slope in the vicinity, Svina and Berisha by the lake of Koman, other villages of Shoshi, Shoshi Mountain, and even the peaks of Thethi’s mountains. Book in advance to ensure the availability of a professional guide, primarily. For a more specific request please ask us a quote Call now for the best offer English Speaking Phone 00355 69 60 15 771 FollowFollowFollowFollowFollow Send us an email with your details Reserverations email info@thethi-guide.com
Shala River – Shosh – Theth Aug 28, 2020 | Destinations, Destinations in Shala River Shala River – Shosh – Theth Newest Hiking Trail The hiking trail from Shala River to Theth is the newest trail on a centuries-old path in Albania, which goes through the Shosh tribe peaks and other attractions like Leka’s Linden Stone to Lotaj, in one of the most panoramic mountain trails in Albania, in the region and beyond. Things to do around Shala River The hiking trail from Shala River to Theth is the newest trail on a centuries-old path in Albania, ready to be crossed by any tourist group starting from this July 2020. In July 2020 was marked the path that connects the Shala River, Leka’s Linden Stone with Theth, the path that traverses the two most emblematic Albanian tribes, Shala and Shoshi. For more than 12 km, six hours of moderate hiking from Leka’s Linden Stone to Lotaj near Binoshaj Guesthouse, one of the most panoramic mountain trails in Albania, in the region and beyond. From Lotaj village to Thethi valley the journey continues with a local transfer by 4WD or other local vehicles that have to pass on the old road that connects Theth with Shkodra, by the river Kir and is an unpaved road for about an hour. Nature and the landscapes Centuries-old towers, chestnut groves from wherever you aim, fruit and non-fruit trees are so high that they seem to capture the sky, endless vegetation, and flowers, calm slopes, gorges, caves and ravines, incomparable biodiversity, from wild goats, mountain eagle up to feathers. This trail passes between two unimaginable canyons that you can see only in “nature explorer”. Ranges, ridges, and fjords that seem to descend from the sky, the peak of the Shala River, and the “Stupe” Shoshi River, which flows all through Shoshi valley and divides it in the middle. Numerous tourist attractions, starting from the “Gate of Shala” to the place where these two rivers flow into Lake Koman, at the root of the legendary Komlem. This trail was marked voluntarily by Prof. Zef Gjeta, Master-Chef Sokol Prenga, an expert connoisseur of the Alps Mr. Ndoc Mulaj, and some representatives of local guesthouses from these destinations, who worked tirelessly for three days in a row, in the opening and marking of this centuries-old path that connected Blin e Guri i Lekës with Shoshi and Shala. Book in advance to ensure the availability of a professional guide, primarily. For a more specific request please ask us a quote Call now for the best offer English Speaking Phone 00355 69 60 15 771 FollowFollowFollowFollowFollow Send us an email with your details Reserverations email info@thethi-guide.com
