5 Days Hiking in Albanian Alps
5 Days Hiking in Albanian Alps
The unspoiled Albanian Alps is a place where Goats Outnumber People and Nature Hasn’t Read the Memo on Modern Life. 5 Days Hiking in Albanian Alps is really worth it!
Day 1: Welcome to the Land of No Wi-Fi – Valbona Valley
Landing in the north of Albania feels like someone hit the “rewind” button on civilization. The road winds dramatically into Valbona Valley National Park, where the mountains don’t just whisper—they shout in limestone. The locals? A mix of warm smiles, free-range cows, and the occasional grandma who’ll out-hike you with a basket on her back.
Day one is for warming up (or limping, if you’re out of shape). Hikers settle into cozy guesthouses made of stone and wood, nestled beside icy rivers that babble louder than your group chat. Albanian raki (grape brandy) is served like water, which will either make you sleep like a rock or think you’re part of one.
Day 2: The Valbona to Theth Hike – Albania’s Own Himalayan Trial
Ah yes, the hike. The one everyone talks about, fears slightly, and photographs like it’s a National Geographic assignment. This 17-kilometer trail from Valbona to Theth is the star of the Alps—lush, steep, and just cocky enough to make you question your cardio routine.
It starts innocently, a nice stroll through forests, maybe a cute wildflower or two. Then BAM: incline. But the views? Ridiculously rewarding. Think soaring peaks, snow patches that haven’t melted since 1992, and silence so pure you might hear your knees creak.
There’s a tiny café at the top. Yes, a literal shack selling Turkish coffee and watermelon 6,000 feet up. Albania, you glorious mountain troll.
Day 3: Theth – Waterfalls, Ancient Towers, and a Local Named Dritan
After yesterday’s climb, Theth is your home base, a sleepy village where the mountains stand like grumpy old men and every house has a vegetable garden out front. This day’s menu: Grunas Waterfall, the Lock-in Tower (where blood-feud families once hid), and plenty of sheep-related roadblocks.
The paths here are more forgiving, the coffee still strong, and the hospitality is off the charts. People still wave from porches like it’s 1955. You might meet Dritan, a local who will tell you three ghost stories, five jokes, and invite you for tea with a mountain view that shames your phone wallpaper.
Day 4: Blue Eye of Theth – It’s a Hike, Not a Spa
Don’t be fooled by the name—The Blue Eye isn’t a luxury retreat. It’s a freezing cold, turquoise-colored pool bubbling from the mountain depths. Getting there is a scenic hike through forests and pastures with more goats than tourists. At the Eye, brave souls jump in. Others dip a toe, scream, and suddenly become very content just looking at it.
It’s photogenic, sure, but the joy comes from the journey. Also, the local lunch you devour afterward because hiking makes even cheese and cucumbers taste Michelin-starred.
Day 5: The Goodbye Hike and the Great Raki Hangover
The final day is bittersweet. Muscles are sore, hearts are full, and feet are…questionable. The trail back leads to Shkodër or a ferry across Komani Lake—either way, the Alps tip their peaks in farewell.
Most hikers leave promising to return. Not just for the views, but for the strange magic of the place. Albania’s Alps are wild, raw, and beautifully out of sync with the rest of the world. And honestly, isn’t that exactly what an adventure should be?
Pro tip: Always say yes to homemade bread and never underestimate an Albanian grandma on a mountain trail.
