If you love the mountains and are planning a trip to Albania, then a visit to Theth National Park is a must!
Located in the North of Albania, Theth National Park is tucked away deep in the Albanian Alps, surrounded by 2,000 metre (6,562 feet) mountain peaks. It’s a park that has drawn many people since 1966, when it became established as a National Park. A park which offers nothing but beauty and breathtaking scenery!
Here is everything you need to know about how to plan a visit to Theth National Park:
How To Get There
The best way to get the Theth National Park, is by your own vehicle. To get from Shkoder to Theth, it takes around two hours.
However, if hiring a car is something you’re not keen on doing, there are regular buses from the City of Shkoder, or private tours that you can book on to.
Here is one bus company you can use to get to Theth from Shkoder: https://albanianbus.com/wordpress/
Road Conditions
The main route to Theth National Park is the road from Shkoder. A road that was once a dirt track, has now been made into a paved, mountain road. Making the journey from Shkoder to Theth very accessible.
Best Time To Visit
Personally, I would say the best time to visit Theth National Park, is in the shoulder seasons: late May/early June, and September/October. Any earlier or later in the year, you may get snow. Also, during the winter months a lot of the places close down. Therefore, finding somewhere to stay might be difficult! During the peak summer months, it can get very hot, and the trails can become very busy!
Where To Stay
The best place to stay, is in the Village of Theth. There are a range of different guesthouses to choose from. But book early, especially if you are visiting in the peak season! With Theth is a popular place to visit, guesthouses get booked up pretty fast!
We stayed at Bujtina Miqesia Guesthouse, which we booked through Booking.com. It’s a beautiful guesthouse, with great hosts! They cook you a beautiful breakfast every morning, and at a small price, they will provide you with a traditional evening meal too!
Here is the link to the Bujtina Miqesia: https://www.booking.com/Share-C6fNVJ
Please note: a lot of the guesthouses will require you to pay for your night stay in cash only! Theth currently has no ATMs, so make sure you draw enough money out in Shkoder, before heading to the National Park!
Where To Eat
There isn’t a lot of choice of places to eat in Theth. The guesthouse you choose to stay in, may offer you food. If not, there is a delicious pizza restaurant, located in the heart of Theth called, Pizzeri Jezerca. If you want to grab some food on the go, there is a little village supermarket, next door to Pizzeri Jezerca. However, there are limited choices in what you can purchase, and can be pretty pricey too!
What To Do
One of the main reasons people come to visit Theth National Park, is to do one of the famous walking trails you see posted all over social media: Blue Eye, Grunas Falls, and Theth to Valbona Hike.
However, please don’t think this is all the park has to offer! If you have more time on your hands, there are many more trails to tick off too! Sadly on our visit, we didn’t have time to experience any of the lesser-known trails. At some point, we would like to go back and do some.
I have written separate guides to the Blue Eye and Grunas Fall, both with downloadable GPX files, and a step-by-step route guide to follow along the hike.
Blue Eye: Hiking Guide to Theth’s Blue Eye
Grunas Falls: Hiking Guide To Grunas Falls
If hiking isn’t your thing, don’t worry, you can still enjoy your time in Theth. You can take a visit to the beautiful Theth Church, visit the Lock-in Tower of Theth, visit the Ethnographic Museum of Dukagjini, or if you are feeling more adventurous, you could zipline down the valley!
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Further Reading
A guide to Grunas Falls: Hiking Guide To Grunas Falls
A guide to the famous Blue Eye: Hiking Guide to Theth’s Blue Eye
