2 Days Tour of the Valbona Pass
2 Days Tour of the Valbona Pass
Because nothing says “relaxing getaway” like hiking over a dramatic mountain pass with a backpack full of snacks and questionable life choices. 2 Days Tour of the Valbona Pass is really worth it!
Day 1: From Shkodër to the Mountains – Boats, Buses, and “Wait, Where Are We?”
The Valbona Pass short tour kicks off in Shkodër, where caffeine is strong and plans are usually loose. Our traveler, let’s call him Alex (because every backpacker has a friend named Alex), started the journey with a 6:30 AM bus ride. He was told it would be “scenic.” What he wasn’t told was that it would also include a ferry across Lake Koman that looks like something from Game of Thrones—if Westeros had more goats.
The ferry ride is a glorious distraction. Alex snapped 147 photos of the same mountain from slightly different angles, ate a surprisingly stale croissant, and made awkward eye contact with a sheep tied to someone’s backpack.
Once the ferry docked, there was another minibus to Valbona. The drive, while bumpy, offered jaw-dropping views of the Albanian Alps—so dramatic that Alex began questioning all his previous vacations. Why hadn’t anyone told him Albania looked like this? Why did he ever go to that all-inclusive resort in Spain? Why didn’t he stretch before this trip?
By afternoon, he’d arrived in Valbona Valley—a place that looks like it was hand-painted by Bob Ross.
That Evening: Guesthouse Vibes and Raki Decisions
The guesthouse in Valbona was the kind of place where socks dry by the fire and everyone suddenly becomes best friends because there’s no Wi-Fi. Alex met two Germans, one French couple, and a guy from New Jersey who insisted on calling it “Val-BONE-a.” They shared stories, bread, and the local firewater: raki.
Alex had one too many shots and promised everyone he’d do the hike barefoot “just to feel nature.” They all laughed. He was not kidding.
Spoiler: he did not hike barefoot.
Day 2: The Big Hike – Sweat, Beauty, and Breathtaking Moments (Literally)
The Valbona Pass hike is about 10 kilometers with 1,000 meters of elevation gain. In human terms, that’s “moderately difficult” or “bring a walking stick unless you want to fall over like a baby deer.”
Alex started strong, fueled by eggs, bread, and mild fear of failure. The first few hours meandered through alpine meadows, quiet forests, and occasional cow encounters. But then the incline started—and so did the existential questions.
Why does this pass even exist? Who made it? Did they hate knees?
But just when he was ready to lie down and become one with the rocks, Alex reached the top.
The view? Unreal. A sweeping panorama of the Accursed Mountains, with jagged peaks and silent valleys stretching out like nature’s version of a mic drop. Everyone at the top did the same thing: stood silently for a moment, trying to absorb it all, then took 57 selfies.
Descent to Theth – Knees, Please Don’t Quit Now
The way down to Theth was scenic, slippery, and included the occasional “I’m fine!” after a mini-slide. By the time Alex arrived in the village, his legs were jelly, his water was gone, and his soul was full.
He ended the journey with a cold drink and one last look at the mountains. Then he said what everyone says at the end of this short but unforgettable tour:
“I’m doing this again. But maybe… next time with more snacks.”
