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Day 1: Through the Canyon of Lake Koman, and into the Albanian Alps
Early in the morning we will depart on a scenic drive from Shkoder, to reach the docks in the dam of Koman. The homonymous lake beyond it, was artificially created in the 80’s after the construction of the third hydropower dam that interrupts the canyon of river Drin.
The spectacular boat ride through gorgeous landscape that will follow from there, is a not-to-miss highlight of Northern Albania!
Once reached the docks of Fierza, we will stop for a tasty lunch in a traditional restaurant nearby. The trip will continue by car through the narrow valley of Valbona – one of the most beautiful valleys of the Albanian Alps.
Our transfer ends in the charming village of Valbona – Rrogam, where we will be hosted in a comfortable local guesthouse. The location of the house is the ideal starting point for all kinds of hikes in the surrounding mountains. Free time to explore the village at own pace, while the steep and jagged limestone peaks above the village are embraced by the sunset light.
Day 2: The Mount Rosi Meadows
Our first hike will start from the guesthouse towards the secluded hamlet of Kukaj, with the aim to discover the small hidden valley above the two houses.
A winding shepherd’s trail through forest, will take us in the middle of green alpine meadows underneath the rocky dome of Mount Rosi, known by the locals as ‘Pllana’ or ‘Buni i Brahimit’. Here we can have a picnic lunch and admire the dramatic peaks of Grykat e Hapta across the valley, and Jezerca the highest peak of the Albanian Alps, towering above the steep couloirs of Paplluka mountain. We can also have a chat with the friendly shepherds who  often graze flocks of sheep and cows in the meadows in the summer months.
The walk can be extended further to reach the pass Qafa e Rosit (2000m) that marks the border with Montenegro, and gaze at the spectacular Accursed Mountains at sight.
On the way back we will stop for mountain ‘çaj’ at the wooden terrace of one of the houses, before returning to the guesthouse in Valbona for dinner and overnight.
The walk to the meadows and back lasts approximately six hours that can become eight with the Qafa e Rosit extension.
Day 3: The Valbona Pass
Today we hike on a ‘classic’ trail of the Albanian Alps that for centuries connected the glacier valleys of Valbona and Theth via the 1860m high Valbona Pass. The pass becomes possible to cross on foot from the end of May, when the snow melts enough to let people and animals through.
Indeed, we will use horses to carry the luggage to the next guesthouse, and start walking towards the end of the valley. Once past the last houses of Rrogam, the trail steepens up towards a plateau sided by rough slopes and a winding narrow trail that leads to the Valbona Pass.
On clear days the col is a superb panoramic spot from where to admire the jagged peaks of ‘Bjeshket e Namuna’ – the Accursed Mountains. We than start to descent towards the village of Thethi (850m), again passing through dense woods and grassy meadows where we will stop for picnic.
In the afternoon we will relax in Thethi, the best-preserved alpine village of Albania. We will stay overnight in one of the traditional houses and enjoy the extraordinary hospitality.
Day 4: Explore Thethi’s attractions
Thethi is the most known village of Northern Albania. The small village has been described by several well-known writers, that were impressed by its stunning and rather inaccessible location in the middle of vertical mountains. Still today, most of the houses or ‘kulla’ are built in grey stone and roofed with wooden planks. Traditions remain strong and authentic.
We will walk down from the house (850m) and visit the attractions of the village, including the Church, Kulla e Ngujimit (a tower house used in the past by men as a shelter against ongoing vendettas), the Waterfall of Thethi, and peer at the rocky narrows of the Grunasi Canyon from the wooden bridge of Grela. Near the canyon are found stone-walled terraces dating from the late bronze era, revealed only in 2007.  After the picnic lunch, we continue walking along the Shala river, until the serene hamlet of Nderlysa – our next overnight stop. The nearby turquoise pools of the Kaprea creek, are the perfect spot to relax amidst nature in the afternoon, before a tasty traditional dinner is served in the guesthouse.
Day 5: Through the remote Valley of Kaprea
Our last day starts on foot through the remote and wild valley of Kaprea. We will pass by the Blue Eye pond, filled by a small waterfall in the middle of lush vegetation, and then continue  uphill on our trail in forest in order to access the upper meadows that will lead to the pas of Thore – located at 1670m of elevation – where our trek ends.
The views on this walk are truly rewarding, and we will continue to enjoy the alpine landscape also during our picnic lunch in a panoramic spot at the pass.
Later, we will start driving through the equally stunning valley of Boga that will be our exit gate from the Albanian Alps, as we make way towards the Shkodra Lake and town.
Based  on your travel plans, you can either decide to stop your trip in Shkodra or in Tirana (with additional request).
- Round trip transport
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- Accommodation
- Breakfast & Dinner
- Lunch
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