Walking Albania
Description
Summary
Description
Embark on an unforgettable 8-day journey through the breathtaking landscapes of Northern Albania. This multi-day tour offers a unique blend of cultural immersion, historical exploration, and outdoor adventure. From the ancient city of Shkodra, the 'Capital of North Albania', to the stunning alpine scenery of Valbona National Park, and the vibrant capital city of Tirana, this tour is a feast for the senses. Experience the thrill of hiking through the 'Accursed Mountains', explore the iconic highlands village of Theth, and enjoy a scenic ferry ride on the glassy blue waters of Lake Koman. With comfortable accommodations, delicious local cuisine, and a host of unforgettable experiences, this tour is the perfect way to discover the hidden gems of Northern Albania.
Included
A key facet of our responsible approach to tourism is that we encourage our groups to eat in local restaurants that prepare locally grown food. We give customers choice as to their meals and do not use rather bland and impersonal hotel restaurants or all- inclusive options
7 Breakfasts
4 Lunches
2 Dinners
vegetarian, vegan, meat
Bus
5 nights in hand-picked hotels.
2 nights in huts.
Due to the size of the accommodation in the National Park areas a single room is only available on certain nights on thistrip. On days five and six we stay at Pisha Villa in Thethi, this is a traditional Albanian family house and the rooms are simple but comfortable. There are modern bathroom facilities with showers, but not en-suite, towels will be provided. The number of rooms are limited and they
accommodate two to five people in each so you may be sharing with other members of the group for
these two nights. A private room at the Pisha Villa is available on request only, costing £80 please discuss with the sales team.
hotel: 5 night(s), hut: 2 night(s);
Tour Leaders are quite simply the glue that holds our tours together. They are chosen for their travel experience and people skills and are thoroughly trained by Explore, widely acknowledged as some of the best training in the industry. A Tour Leader's ultimate aim is to ensure everyone is well looked after and have a fantastic trip. They are there to ensure that the tour logistics run smoothly, that health and safety is adhered to and provide comprehensive briefings at the beginning and throughout the tour.
All accommodation, activities and meals that are shown in the itinerary are included in the total cost of your trip You will also receive a complimentary transfer to and from the airport if you arrive on day 1 of the trip and depart on the last day and have provided your international flight information.
Destinations
Shkoder
TiranaMap
Attractions
Valbona Valley National Park
Shkodra Castle
Dajti
Lezhë CastleDaily Itinerary
Day 1 – Day 1: Tirana to Shkodra
- Tirana
- Shkoder - Arrival day
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- Shkodra Castle
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We kick off our adventure at Tirana International Airport, where we meet our tour leader and head to our hotel in Shkodra. After settling in, we embark on a brief exploration of this ancient city, known as the 'Capital of North Albania'. We'll visit the impressive Rozafa Castle and take a leisurely stroll around the city's pedestrian area, adorned with elegant Venetian-era buildings.
Day 2 – Day 2: Shkodra to Valbona via Lake Koman
- Shkoder
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- Lezhë Castle
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We start the day with a drive from Shkodra to Lake Koman, where we board a ferry for a scenic two-hour journey through narrow waterways and stunning mountain peaks. Upon reaching Valbona, we take a refreshing riverside walk before settling into our mountain base for the next three nights.
Day 3 – Day 3: Hiking in Valbona National Park
Day 3: Hiking in Valbona National Park
- Valbona Valley National Park
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We spend the day hiking in the beautiful Valbona National Park. A short drive takes us to the trailhead near Drogobia village. We ascend through meadows and beechwood to the elevated pastures, where we enjoy a picnic lunch and stunning views of the Dragobia Gorge. After looping the pastures, we descend to the valley and return to our hotel.
Day 4 – Day 4: Hiking the Paplluga Massif
Day 4: Hiking the Paplluga Massif
- Valbona Valley National Park
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Today's hike takes us from our hotel to the slopes of the Paplluga massif. We traverse through beech and fir woods, reaching a plateau where we enjoy a picnic lunch at a local farmer's house. After lunch, we descend to the hamlet of Kukaj, where we refresh with a cup of herbal mountain tea before returning to our hotel.
Day 5 – Day 5: Valbona to Theth via Valbona Pass
- Theth
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- Valbona Valley National Park
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We start the day with a transfer to Rrogam, where we begin our hike to the Valbona Springs and then to the Valbona Pass. The breathtaking views from the heart of the Accursed Massif are a sight to behold. We then descend into the Theth valley and settle into Pisha Villa (or similar) for the next two nights.
Day 6 – Day 6: Exploring Theth and Nderlysa
- Theth
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We spend the day exploring the iconic village of Theth, visiting the stone-built catholic church and the blood feud lock-in tower. We then walk along the river to a small waterfall and continue to the Grunas Canyon and the hamlet of Nderlysa. After a delicious lunch, we have the option to relax or take a further walk to the natural swimming pools in Nderlysa.
Day 7 – Day 7: Theth to Tirana via Boga Valley
- Tirana
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We leave Theth and drive through the scenic Boga Valley, with an optional stop for a leisurely walk at the Thore Pass. We then head to the vibrant capital city of Tirana, where we take an orientation walk to get a feel for the city's cosmopolitan atmosphere. The rest of the day is free for you to explore at your leisure.
Day 8 – Day 8: Departure from Tirana
- Tirana - Departure day
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- Dajti
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Our unforgettable journey comes to an end after breakfast. You're free to depart at any time. If you have some extra time, we recommend taking the cable car up Mount Dajti for a panoramic view of the city or visiting some of the city's history-based museums.
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