Price From
hiking in the national park of valbona
975€
Category
Hiking
Destinations
Albanian Alps
Difficulty
T2
Duration
6 Days
Group Size
4 – 6
Trip Code
ALP03
Why join this tour?
- Small group hiking tour – industry-leading guest-to-guide ratio of not more than 6:1
- Travel along Valbona Valley surrounded by a landscape that could leave everyone breathless
- Enjoy hiking through untouched landscapes of the Albanian Alps National Park
- Get in contact with locals and enjoy Albanian hospitality
- Enjoy a ferry ride along Komani Lake winding its way between high cliffs and towering peaks
The right tour for you?
- This is a hiking tour, so a moderate level of fitness is required. We kindly ask you to read our daily trip descriptions which give detailed information about: terrain, technical difficulty, estimated walking times, and ascent/descent in meters.
- Please read the packing list carefully and bring all essential items with you, especially the right walking shoes.
- Being prepared to cope with the weather conditions is an important factor to consider before you travel. Be prepared for all elements – rain, wind, heat and cold.
- Most of the time there is no shade, so remember to bring a hat and sun protection
- This trip involves some long travel days. The vehicles are modern and air-conditioned.
- The accommodation in Valbona is planned on a multi-share basis and meals are served family style. Please inform us in advance if you have any dietary requirements.
- Packed meals are provided where it is impossible to have a meal at a restaurant or guesthouse.
- Please bring a day pack/bag to carry clothing, water, packed meals, a camera etc. for the day trips.
- We are strongly committed towards responsible and sustainable travel. We please you to follow our guidelines regarding sustainability.
Day 1: Arriving to Tirana
Welcome to Tirana. Your hotel is located in the downtown. There are plenty of attractions, cafes and bars to keep you busy. Founded in 1614, Tirana became the capital of Albania in 1920 and is the main cultural and industrial center of Albania. The city boulevards are marked with fascinating relics of the Ottoman, Italian and communist past.
If you arrive early, you can even take the cable car to the Dajti Mountain for panoramic views over the city.
In the evening, you can have a drink at one of the numerous cafes or trendy bars of the “Blloku” district. The most animated quarter of the city lies at the place where before the democratic changes it was not allowed for the public to enter as it was inhabited only by the higher leadership.
The price includes:
• Accommodation in a 4-Star hotel in Tirana
*Please see “Inclusions” section!
Day 2: Hiking in the wild-romantic Valbona Valley: T2, 3h, ↑400m, ↓400m, 7km
After breakfast, we will start with the transfer to Valbona. The road goes through the city of Gjakova in Kosovo, and re-enters Albania near Bajram Curri. Afterwards it runs through the valley, along the Valbona River, surrounded by wild and beautiful natural panorama and the rugged mountain peaks of the Albanian Alps, up to the village of Valbona.
In the afternoon is planned a short walk in the surroundings of Valbona.
Starting from the guesthouse, you will hike on a well-maintained trail to the hills above the valley. Today you will not gain a lot of altitude, but the views will be amazing none the less. After reaching the highest point of the trail, you will descend at first towards “Kukaj”, and then down to the guesthouse in the valley.
Dinner and accommodation in a guesthouse in Valbona.
The price includes:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
• Accommodation in a guesthouse in Valbona
*Please see “Inclusions” section!
Day 3: Hike in the surroundings of Valbona: T2, 4h, ↑750m, ↓750m, 12km
After breakfast, we will start hiking towards the hanging glacial valley of Kukaj. The trail runs through boulders and meadows, entering the beech forest. Passing by the houses of Kukaj, the path follows the right side of the valley until it reaches a meadow with a small shepherd’s hut.
There, a longer stop is planned, after which we will hike down to the guesthouse in the valley.
The price includes:
• Breakfast
• Packed Lunch
• Dinner
• Accommodation in a guesthouse in Valbona
*Please see “Inclusions” section!
Day 4: Ascend of the “Kunji i Rragamit” Peak: T2, 6h, ↑900m, ↓900m, 18km
The summit that we will ascend today offers some of the best views over the Valbona valley.
We will start from our guesthouse, hiking uphill in western direction into a dense forest. The last part of the hike goes through a steep meadow, until we reach the peak at 1868m above sea level.
After some time to enjoy lunch and to take in the views, we will hike down to the same guesthouse in the valley, where dinner and accommodation are planned.
The price includes:
• Breakfast
• Packed Lunch
• Dinner
• Accommodation in a guesthouse in Valbona
*Please see “Inclusions” section!
Day 5: The spectacular Koman lake
After a well-deserved lazy morning starts the transfer to Fierzë, where our ferry ride begins. The ferry ride across Lake Koman allows some spectacular scenery, not unlike a Norwegian fjord winding its way between high cliffs and towering peaks. We will leave the ferry in Koman, from where the trip continues by car to Tirana. You will have some free time to settle in your hotel or enjoy the capital city on your own. In the evening, the guide will pick you up to walk together to the restaurant, where the farewell dinner is planned.
The price includes:
• Breakfast
• Packed Lunch
• Farewell dinner in Tirana
• Accommodation in a 4-Star hotel in Tirana
*Please see “Inclusions” section!
Day 6: Departure
After breakfast at your hotel, it is time to say goodbye to Albania.
The price includes:
• Breakfast
*Please see “Inclusions” section!
Performance level:
Our daily trip descriptions give detailed information about: terrain, technical difficulty, estimated walking times, ascent/descent in meters. We kindly ask you to read these very carefully and consider them while choosing your trip.
The given technical difficulty for each daily trip specifies in any case the maximum difficulty in the course of the corresponding trip. That does not necessarily mean that the whole day trip is technically that difficult.
Abbreviations:
↑ = Ascent in meters
↓ = Descent in meters
Walking time:
Estimated walking times are given for each day. These times do vary, however, according to the day’s weather conditions, and the fitness levels of the tour participants. These times do not include times taken for meals and breaks.
Accommodation:
During this tour you will be accommodated in carefully selected:
• Hotels on days 1 and 5 on a twin-share basis
• Guesthouses on days 2, 3 and 4 on a multi-share basis*
*An accommodation upgrade option is available for days 2, 3 and 4
The accommodation in hotels will be provided on a twin-share basis. The hotel rooms all have a private bathroom with a shower/bath and toilet. In rare occasions, the accommodation in hotels will be provided in triple rooms.
The accommodation in guesthouses will be provided on a multi-share basis. Bathrooms with a shower and toilet may be shared between multiple rooms. Please note that there may be occasions when you share a room with passengers travelling on different trips than your own.
In all cases, we pair up solo travelers with other travelers of the same gender as per the gender marker on each of their passports.
Solo travelers:
The tour is suitable for solo travelers.
Luggage transportation:
We take care of the luggage transportation between the accommodations.
Transfers:
All transfers described in the itinerary are included in the price and will be organized by us.
Extensions:
If you wish to extend your journey by a few days, we are at your disposal to further organize your tour according to your wishes. All related services and costs are not included in the tour price and as such will be additionally calculated.
If you wish to start or end your tour from/to a different location, we can pick you up or drop you off against additional charge, enabling your participation in the travel.
Sustainability:
We are strongly committed towards responsible and sustainable travel.
We please our guests to follow our guidelines regarding sustainability:
• Respect the local people, their culture and environment.
• Support locally owned businesses, restaurants and other services: Eat local food and drink local brands and brews.
• Shop from traditional artisans and for locally made products. Favor local products over imported items. This helps in keeping traditional crafts alive. Even a small amount could be extremely important to local producers.
• Always ask first before photographing or videoing people. Send them back copies of photos to help make it a two-way exchange.
• We strongly recommend bringing reusable water bottles. In places where tap water is potable, this eliminates the usage of single-use plastic bottles entirely.
• Bring a water filter. This way you can drink tap water even in places where it is otherwise unsafe to do so.
• We also recommend bringing a reusable straw, reusable camping flatware and a reusable container for packed lunch.
• For the packed meals, you will be provided with the ingredients and will pack the meals by yourself. Please do not pack more food than is necessary, in order to reduce food waste.
Feel free to ask any questions you might have. Our staff and guides are trained and able to advise you in detail about our approach towards sustainability.
Included in the price:
• All trips according to the program schedule
• Transport in a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle
• 2 nights’ accommodation in 4 Star hotels
• 3 nights’ accommodation in guesthouses
• Meals according to the program schedule
• Water during the meals and for the hikes
• Luggage transport between accommodations
• Accompaniment by an English-speaking guide during the entire journey
Not included in the price:
• Transfer from and to the airport
• Any type of insurance
• Any beverages
• Other services not mentioned in the included section above or in the itinerary
Essential Equipment:
• Daypack
• Rain cover for daypack
• Hiking boots (category B/C)
• Hiking trousers
• Sweater/Jacket
• Waterproof jacket and trousers
• T-shirts/shirts
• Spare socks
• Reusable water bottles (at least 2 liters in total)
• Comfortable shoes for traveling and sightseeing
• Warm hat
• Sunhat
• Sunscreen
• Sunglasses
• Blister bandages
• Any prescription medication you might need
• Personal Luggage
• Passport or ID
Recommended Equipment:
• Reusable container for packed lunch
• Reusable straw
• Hydration system
• Slippers
• Personal first aid kit
• Insect repellent
• Trekking Poles
Departure Dates:
Please click the date you are interested in from the list below:
DISCOVER
EXPERIENCE
ENJOY
Contact Us
Tel.: +3552756644
WhatsApp: +3552756644
St. Papa Gjon Pali II, No.11/1, 1010 Tirana, Albania