If you are planning a visit to Valbona Valley National Park, and want a good day’s hike to do, this is the tail to do! The Valbona-Theth Trail, is nothing but a breathtaking hike from start to finish!
The Valbona-Theth Trail is traditionally walked as a line walk. It starts in Valbona Valley National Park, and leads you over the mountain pass, and down into Theth National Park. The full route is around 10 miles (16km) long, and provides incredible views over the Albanian Alps.
If you are relying on public transport, and are willing to carry all your belongings in your backpack, then walking it as a line walk is perfect for you! However, if you have the difficulties we faced, where we had our hired car and belongings in a hotel in Valbona Valley National Park, walking it as a line walk, just wasn’t an option! Instead, we decided to walk part of the route, and turned back on ourselves. Enough to give us a great taster of what the trail has to offer!
Depending on how strong of a hiker you are, depending on how far along the trail you will want to go. We hiked to Simoni Kafe, and turned back here. There route to the cafe and back is just short of 7 miles (11 km). If you are feeling stronger, you can hike on to Valbona Peak, and turn back here. This would make the route there and back, around 9 miles (14km).
Just remember, if you are planning on only walking a section of the trail. The distance you have walked along the trail, you have to do the same amount back again.
Whichever route you decide to do, here are some tips:
When To Hike
The best time to hike the Valbona to Theth Trail, is during the summer months, between June and October. The route takes you up to 1,759 m (5,770 feet), over Valbona Peak. Therefore, the route is prone to bad weather, snow, and ice. However, if there has been a mild winter, you should have no problem walking the trail in May, like we did!
Where To Stay
Valbona – I recommend staying in the Valbona Resort and Spa Hotel. It’s a beautiful 5-star hotel, with lovely spa facilities. Perfect way to relax your tired muscles, after being on the trail all day.
Here is the link to Valbona Resort and Spa Hotel: https://www.booking.com/Share-EJOi6w
Theth – I recommend staying in the beautiful Bujtina Miqesia Guesthouse.
Here is the link to the Bujtina Miqesia: https://www.booking.com/Share-C6fNVJ
Food and Drink
There is nowhere to buy food along the route. Therefore, I recommend packing your own food, and plenty of it to keep you fueled up. However, if you want to nice cool drink along the way, Simoni Kafe sells cold drinks. Just remember to carry some cash on you! But also pack your own drinks too! Simoni Kafe is 3.5 miles into the route!
Parking/Start of Trailhead
The trailhead doesn’t start from the centre of Valbona. It’s a good walk away! The trail starts at Hotel Fusha e Gjese Rragam, where you will find a small car park.
The Route
Here is a step-by-step guide to the route we took, hiking to Simoni Kafe:
Follow this map, as you walk the route, and you shouldn’t get lost! Make sure your location is turned on and you should be able to see exactly where you are, on this map. Or if you prefer, download the GPX file and use it on your choice of route tracker.
1.
Starting at Hotel Fusha e Gjese Rragam, in the car park opposite. Take the path going off to your right-hand side, signposted Valbona-Theth Trail, and follow it along the valley, keeping an eye out for the red and white trail markers.
2.
Eventually, you will see another footpath going off to your right-hand side, signposted Valbona-Theth Trail. Take the footpath as it leads you up the mountainside, up Valbona Pass.
3.
Continue to follow the path, until you reach Simoni Kafe. Here is the turning back point.
If you are planning to continue, follow the same footpath, past Simoni Kafe, up to Valbona Peak. Here you can turn back, unless you are planning on heading all the way to Theth National Park. If you are, continue on the same path, following it as it leads you down into Theth National Park.
4.
If you are turning back from Simoni Kafe, retrace your steps back down the same path you walked up on. Follow the same path back to the starting point, at Hotel Fusha e Gjese Rragam.
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Further Reading
A guide to the famous Blue Eye: Hiking Guide to Theth’s Blue Eye
