Short Hiking Tour in the Albanian Alps

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Price From

499€

Category

Hiking

Destinations

Albanian Alps

Difficulty

Duration

3 Days

Group Size

6 – 12

Trip Code

ALP05G

Why join this tour?

Enjoy hiking through untouched landscapes of the Albanian Alps National Park
Take a dip into the crystal water of the Blue Eye Source
Explore the traditions of a hidden corner of the Dinaric Alps
Enjoy a memorable ferry ride along the Koman Lake

The right tour for you?

This journey starts in the early morning of day 1. You need to be at the meeting location at the predetermined meeting time.
This is a hiking tour, so 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, 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.
This tour includes one alpine crossing, which you have to perform in order to continue with the program. There is no access to transport.
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 the alps is provided on a multi-share basis. Please check the “Inclusions” and “Useful Information” sections for more details. The meals in the alps 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.

Itinerary

Day 1: Hiking in the Theth National Park: T2, 7h, ↑600m, ↓600m, 16km

Our journey to the alps starts early in the morning, from a centrally located meeting point in Tirana. We will start the day with the hike to Ndërlysaj. The glacier mills of Ndërlysa offer a unique spectacle of nature: The water of the Black River squeezes through a narrow approach that has arisen over the millennia. We will hike to the “Blue Eye of Kaprre”, a spellbinding natural pool with amazingly blue water in a jungle-like environment. After a short break, we will hike back to Ndërlysa, where lunch is planned. Then, the hike continues towards the waterfall and gorge of Grunas. The canyon is 30m high and one meter wide, and the waterfall is a Nature Monument. Shortly before arriving in Theth, we will stop for a visit of the Isolation tower. During the visit you will become acquainted with the “Kanun” and its regulations. It is not just a set of laws, but a way of life, a totally new reality worth to be explored. Dinner and accommodation in the guesthouse in Theth.
The price includes:
• Lunch
• Dinner
• Accommodation in a guesthouse in Theth
*Please see “Inclusions” section!

Day 2: Hike to the village of Valbona: T2, 7h, ↑1100m, ↓900m, 17km

Today’s hiking starts right after breakfast from the guesthouse. The ascent is initially soft and runs through the woods, then becomes steeper and continues on scree to the Pass of Valbonë. From the height of 1812 meters above sea level, the view over the valleys of Valbonë and Theth is unique. The descent towards Valbonë is initially craggy, getting softer as we approach the valley. We will walk through the valley of Valbonë up to the village where dinner and accommodation in a guesthouse are provided.
The price includes:
• Breakfast
• Packed Lunch
• Dinner
• Accommodation in a guesthouse in Valbonë
*Please see “Inclusions” section!

Day 3: Hiking in the wild-romantic Valbona Valley: T2, 3h, ↑400m, ↓400m, 7km
The spectacular Koman lake

Those of you who would like to hike a bit more, will have an early breakfast today. Then, we will start hiking 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.
Then 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. If you have a flight leaving TIA Airport later than 23:00 on this day, we can drop you off directly at the airport.
Our journey ends at a centrally located drop off point in the capital.
The price includes:
• Breakfast
• Packed Lunch
*Please see “Inclusions” section!

Useful information

Meeting Time and Location:

This journey starts in the early morning of day 1. You need to be at the meeting location at the predetermined meeting time. The exact meeting time and location will be communicated to you after the booking is complete.

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.

This tour includes an alpine crossing (Day 2), which you have to perform in order to continue with the program.

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:

• Guesthouses on days 1 and 2 on a multi-share basis*
*An accommodation upgrade option is available for day 2

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 case of an upgrade, 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.

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:

During this tour you will have to carry your own luggage for the hikes on day 2.

Please pack carefully and lightly.

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.

Health and Safety:
We are committed to ensuring your safety and well-being during your travels. Here’s a summary of some important health and safety aspects for your upcoming visit to Albania:
• Travel Safety: (USA, UK, Germany, France, Switzerland, etc.) Many governments provide travel advice for Albania, which includes safety and security, insurance, entry requirements, and legal differences. Please visit your government foreign office for advice for more information.
• Water Quality: Please note that tap water in many parts of Albania may not be safe to drink due to aging infrastructure. We recommend opting for bottled water.
• Food Safety: While enjoying the local cuisine during your free meals, we advise you to follow standard food safety guidelines. This includes ensuring your food is thoroughly cooked and consuming only pasteurized dairy products.
• Illegal drugs: Penalties for drug-related crimes are severe. Possession of illegal drugs could result in a prison sentence of 5 to 10 years. The penalty for supplying drugs is up to 15 years in prison. Cannabis possession and consumption is not legal, and the same penalties as for all other drugs apply.
• Climate: Please be aware that Albania has a mediterranean climate. It can get very hot in the summers, and rain showers can be intense. Please be prepared for all weather conditions.
Please note that this is a general overview, and the specific health and safety issues can vary depending on the exact location within Albania and the activities undertaken. We always recommend checking the latest updates before travelling to Albania.

Inclusions

Included in the price:
• All trips according to the program schedule
• Transport in a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle
• Local transfer on day 3
• 2 nights’ accommodation in guesthouses
• Meals according to the program schedule
• Water during the meals and for the hikes
• 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

Equipment list

Essential Equipment:
Sufficiently large backpack for your belongings
Rain cover for backpack
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
Head lamp
Warm hat
Sunhat
Sunscreen
Sunglasses
Blister bandages
Any prescription medication you might need
Passport or ID

Recommended Equipment:
Water filter or alternative water purification system
Reusable container for packed lunch
Reusable straw
Hydration system
Slippers
Personal first aid kit
Insect repellent
Trekking Poles