Valbona - Theth Hiking Trail — Attraction in Tropojë Municipality

Awesome experience! I really recommend you do this hike when in Albanië. The hike itself is average in difficulty, most parts are easy but some are a bit steep. But the views make it all worth it!

Information: Walk from Valbona to Theth. This way you go on the easiest side up, while enjoying the most beautiful views. The Theth side down is more forest and more steep. It's about 13KM. The route is very well marked by red/white stripes. It's almost impossible to get lost. It will take you a day to complete the hike. We started at 9 am and arrived around 16 PM. At the parts close to cliffs you will find steel cables to hold on to. Use them wisely. Wear good shoes! Take water and food with you. There's no mini market in Valbona! So take your snacks with you from Skodar or arrange a lunch/food package with your guesthouse. There are also 3 little bar/restaurants across the hike. The second one has the best viewingpoint. This trail will only be open in summer. Depending on mother nature this will be around may/June. You might encounter locals with animals, please step aside and let them pass. Also respect the wildlife, don't scare them.

Recommandations: Use the company Berisha to go from Skodar by bus, boat and again bus to come to Valbona. Leave everything you don't want/need to carry at your hotel/guesthouse in Skodar. Stay a night in Valbona as close to the start as possible. if your guesthouse is not close to the start, ask if your host will drop you at the start or book a taxi. It can easily be an hour of walking to the start. Stay a night in Theth and go back by bus to Skodar next morning. Also using Berisha company. Roundtrip will cost about 20 euro a person. Book in advance through there website. Or stay 2 nights in Theth to go and see the blue eye and waterfall the next day and then take the bus to Skodar the second morning.

Please go and enjoy this hike with all the beautiful views, but also take all of your trash with you!

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A challenging but absolutely worth-it hike. Was dropped off at the start of the trail in Valbona (the incline from this side is shorter than the one from Theth). There is a small icy-cold stream you have to cross a short while after you've begun; some people hired 4x4s to take them across this, some walked very strategically across pebbles and we just took off our shoes and socks to walk across it (make sure to pack a small towel). There are red and white markings throughout the trail to ensure you're on the right track. The MAPS.ME app is also very beneficial - download the region's offline map.

The incline and decline can be steep at times; I personally couldn't have done it without good hiking shoes and poles. Some parts of the trail are extremely narrow (especially when descending into Theth from the Valbona Pass) so be careful and watch where you're going. Walking up to the point of the Valbona Pass is more dangerous than it looks (narrow with steep drops on both sides), take your time coming back down. Views are spectacular, weather at the start of October was perfect (17/18°c) and people are generally friendly. Take high calorie snacks (think flapjacks, shortbread, kurabie etc) if you haven't packed a lunch; there are a few cafes/stops along the path where you can buy drinks (Simoni Kafe has a toilet).

Our style of walking is slow/leisurely, wanting to take in the surroundings and sit in a few places to soak it in, so it took us 9hr 49m in total to complete. Keep in mind sunrise and sunset, pack headlamps if you need along with a small first aid kit including saline solution/alcohol wipes for any potential falls (we thankfully didn't need to use it but were able to help someone else). Most important of...

Beautiful point to point hike. Stunning views and good effort to views trade off. Did Theth to Valbona one day and then Valbona to Theth the next in August 2025. Moving time around 4hrs both ways and total time around 6hrs with stops. The path is not extremely well marked but there is often only one clear route to follow so hard to get lost. We did it in regular trainers, no poles with small backpacks. Going downhill on both sides has slippery parts due to dustiness and loose rocks in summer but we felt we were going the same speed as people with full hiking gear. There are two cafes selling cold and hot drinks and some food items with great views - both of these are on the Theth side.

Valbona to Theth. If you are only going to do one way, this is the easier hike. The climb is steep and sun soaked but short making it easier to do early in the hike. The way down is more gradual and mostly shaded by forest. You also get the cafes to take in the view and give your knees a break form the descent!

Theth to Valbona. This way is also fine and not much harder. The climb has 2 steeper sections and goes on for much longer but it is mostly through shaded forest. The way down feels quick but is harder due to the more aggressive slope on the Valbona side.

Going both ways. We did this because the road to Theth is much more developed and the town itself has slightly more going on. It is also better connected to continue your journey travelling Albania. We have decent fitness but are no means mountaineers and found doing the hike there and back over 2 days...