3-Day Hiking Tour: Valbona to Theth & Blue Eye from Tirana

Walk a centuries-old mountain path between two remote villages

A 3-day hiking tour from Tirana through the Valbona Valley and up to Theth, with a professional English-speaking guide, ferry crossing Lake Koman, and two nights in traditional guesthouses with shared rooms. The centerpiece is an 18-km trek on the historic trade route locals used for generations, passing through villages of stone houses and ending with a visit to the Blue Eye, a natural pool fed by mountain water. Pickup from Tirana is included. Hiking poles are available to rent.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Tirana to Valbona via Koman Lake

• Leave Tirana at 5:00 am
• Drive to Koman Lake
• Boat across Koman Lake at 9:00 am
• Drive from Fierza to Valbona
• Lunch break in Valbona
• Hike in Kukaj area

Day 2: Hike from Valbona to Theth

• Start hike from Valbona to Theth
• Pass old village with stone houses
• Stop for lunch at traditional café
• Arrive in Theth after 7-8 hours
• Dinner and overnight at guesthouse

Day 3: Theth to Tirana via Blue Eye and Shkoder

• Breakfast at guesthouse
• Walk to Gurnas Waterfall
• Visit Blue Eye natural pool
• Picnic lunch at Blue Eye
• Drive to Shkoder
• Free time in Shkoder
• Return to Tirana

The experience

You leave Tirana at 5 am on day one and drive toward Koman Lake, where a ferry carries you across the water to Fierza: the only modern link for people living in the surrounding mountains. From there, a 45-minute drive through Bajram Curri brings you to Valbona, where you'll have lunch and a short hike around Kukaj to see how the valley's remote communities live. That night you stay in a traditional guesthouse, shared or private room.

Day two is the main event: an 18-km trek from Valbona to Theth on the same path traders and locals walked for centuries. The hike takes about 7 to 8 hours, moving through the oldest part of the valley where stone houses more than a century old still stand. You pass long rocky valleys and green forests, stopping for lunch at a traditional café along the way. Bring extra snacks. By evening you reach Theth, a village known for its Lock-In Tower and the way it sits untouched by modern roads. Dinner and overnight at another guesthouse.

On the final day, a 45-minute walk from the village takes you to Gurnas Waterfall, then another stretch brings you to the Blue Eye itself: a natural pool 10 km from Theth's center, fed by mountain water so cold it stays at 5°C year-round. You'll have a picnic lunch there before returning to the guesthouse in the afternoon. The drive back to Tirana takes about 3 hours, passing through Shkoder, the largest city in Albania's north, where you'll have free time before the evening return to your starting point.

What’s included

• Professional English-speaking guide for the full 3 days.
• two nights in traditional family guesthouses with shared rooms, WiFi, towels and bed linens.
• all transportation between Tirana, Koman Lake, Valbona, Theth and Shkoder.
• ferry tickets across Lake Koman.
• lunch on days one and two, and a picnic lunch at the Blue Eye on day three.

Before you book

Days and timesFridayDeparts at 05:00Last departure this season: 31 Oct

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (18 to 85 years) · Under 18: can't be booked

GroupUp to 12 · max 5 per booking

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Go as Local

Is this one for you?This tour works best for small groups of hikers with moderate fitness who want to walk an actual trade route rather than a marked trail, and who are comfortable staying in family guesthouses without modern amenities. The 3-day length gives you time to acclimatize on day one and tackle the long trek on day two without rushing. If you have only 2 days or need a less strenuous pace, a different itinerary would suit you better.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How difficult is the hike from Valbona to Theth?

The Valbona-to-Theth trek is 18 kilometers and takes 7 to 8 hours of walking, covering long rocky valleys and green forest on a historic mountain path. A moderate level of physical fitness is required. The tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or pregnant travelers.

What are the guesthouses like on this tour?

You stay in traditional, family-based guesthouses where you're welcomed as a family guest rather than a customer. Shared rooms are included. Private rooms are available for an additional 30 euros per night. Both come with WiFi, towels and bed linens.

What is the Blue Eye and how do you get there?

The Blue Eye is a natural water pool 10 kilometers from Theth village, formed by rock erosion from mountain water. It's about 5 meters deep with icy water at 5°C. You reach it on day three with a walk from the guesthouse, have a picnic lunch there, and return in the afternoon.

Does the tour include meals?

Lunch is included on days one and two, and a picnic lunch at the Blue Eye on day three. Breakfast on the first day and lunch on the final day are not included. Drinks and beverages are not covered.

What's included in the price?

The tour includes a professional English-speaking guide for all three days; two nights in a traditional guesthouse with shared room; all transportation within the destination; and ferry tickets across Lake Koman. Pickup from Tirana is included. Hiking poles are available to rent for 10 euros.