[Alina Ovesea]
2017-10-01 21:14:54
Albanian blue waters - an itinerary from Albanian Alps to Adriatic Sea
[natural] [ mountain , gorges , aquatic , natural wonders ]
english
17
3,900 ALL
133
Difficulty
Theme
blue waters
When to visit
I think September is the best time to visit, you can still go to the mountains and still take a bath in the amazing blue waters without the crowds.
Description
Albania is an amazing country, with amazing natural exhibits. The most striking thing that flowed me around the country was the blue waters. Either deep transparent blue or thick whitish-blue, or the mottled view of the sea with different depths. Also I have to mention that the hole county is a big mountain. Anywhere you will go you will be in the mountains, in the north, in the capital or at the sea, the edges will be everywhere. The north of the country, the Albanian Alps are the most amazing mountains of all. The tour focuses on natural wonders of Albania, but it takes you also to the capital (Tirana) and to the 3 UNESCO Heritage monuments in the country: Berat, Gjirokastra and Butrin. As warnings: - don't drive at night - be ware of possible animals crossing the road: goats, sheep, donkeys. In this itinerary in Albania I would not give up: Theti Village, Komani Lake ferry and Llogara Pass. Itinerary: Day 1,2 cross Romania and Serbia, arrive in Albania. Day 3: drive on SH 20 and 21 and Mountain Pass: Leqet e Hotit and Qafe e Terthores, arrive in Thethi Village. Day 4: visit Thethi surroundings to the Blue Eye Watefall. Day 5: go to Komani Ferry starting point. Day 6: Komani Lake arrive in Valbone. Day 7: visit Kruje and arrive in Tirana. Day 8: visit Tirana. Day 9: Berat. Day 10: Osumi Canyon. Day 11: Gjirokaster Castle. Day 12: arrive at the Adriatic sea and visit Butrint. Day 13, 14: enjoy the sea and cross the mountains on Llogara Pass. Day 15, 16, 17: return to Romania through Montenegro and Serbia.
Points
Bucharest
[starting point]
distance
950.4km
Duration
59:15 h
Hotel Craiovita
[accommodation] [hotel]
End of day 1 1
[end day]
Romanian Border
[information] [country border]
Iron Gates II
[landmark] [hydroelectric power station]
Serbian Border
[information] [country border]
view point/ panorama
[landmark] [view point/ panorama]
view point/ panorama
[landmark] [view point/ panorama]
Špiljani - Serbian Country Border
[information] [country border]
Dracenovac - Montenegro Country Border
[information] [country border]
Zeleni Raj
[accommodation] [hotel]
Description
we really don't recommend staying here. Maybe you can find a better place on the way
End of day 2 2
[end day]
Asphalted road
[information] [traffic]
Wooden Bridge
[landmark] [bridge]
SH 20 - the mountain road in the Albanian Alps
[landmark] [street / road]
Description
SH 20 is a newly asphalted mountain road. The views are amazing. It is included in the most dangerous roads because it was a one lane dirt road that was doable only with a 4x4 car or motorcycle. Now is a smooth and safe road. It has some steep portions, but nothing to worry about. The trip itself and the view are amazing. Also there is very little traffic because people don't know about it. It was hard to find on internet information about the road state, if it is asphalted, etc. But now I can confirm it is brand new and finished and i will take you to Hani i Hotit and national road 1 (SH1).
warnings
- don't drive at night - be ware of the animals on the road (sheep, donkeys) - beware of the falling rocks - the lanes are really narrow, so you have to slow down when you meet another car. - if it is winter, the road might get closed due to heavy snow
Blue river
[landmark] [river]
Leqet e Hotit
[landmark] [mountain pass]
View point of Leqet e Hotit
[landmark] [view point/ panorama]
SH 21 - road to Theth
[landmark] [street / road]
Description
The road is taking you in the hearth of the mountains
warnings
one lane for both directions. The road is asphalted in the beginning but in the end there are 16 km unpaved road. - don't g if it is raining or if it is snowing. - don't go unless you still have 2 hours of light. It is not a road you want to make by night.
Designed viewpoint
[landmark] [view point/ panorama]
Qafe e Terthores
[landmark] [mountain pass]
Dangerous, single lane, unpaved road
[information] [safety notifications]
Description
The road from here it is an unpaved single lane road that requires a 4x4 car. We did it with a Volkswagen Golf, so it is possible to do it with a street car, but you have to be very careful at the road, at the rocks and at the crazy local drivers. If you are not sure, you can leave your car here and take a car that transports people to the village of Theth.
Albanian Alps
[landmark] [mountain peak]
Description
As you pass Qafe e Terthores you start to see the Albanian Alps in all their splendor. There magnificent mountains are called Prokletije, which means cursed. I don't know why people perceive them like this, but to me they are heavenly. The mountains are on Albania, Serbia, and Kosovo territory , but the highest peak is in Albania: Maja Jezerce at 2694 m.
Thethi Village
[landmark] [village]
Description
One of the most breathtaking places. You wake up in the morning with a 360 panorama and you can not decide where to look. The village is situates at 850 meters above sea level and is surrounded by the high peak of the Albanian Alps. I think the description of Edith Durham (who visited Thethi in 1908) captures the feeling you get: I think no place where human beings live has given me such an impression of majestic isolation from all the world. You feel surrounded by imposing nature and totally disconnected from civilization. The village dates back 300 years ago when Catholic Christians retreat here in order to preserve their faith from conversion to Islam. You can read more about this place on their page: https://thethi-guide.com/
Villa Gjeçaj Folk & Design
[accommodation] [guest house]
3900.0 ALL
Description
We loved this place. Is family run complex with great accommodation and great food. The design is interesting and appropriate for the region. The views from here are amazing. The family promotes tourism to Theth Valley with their website: http://thethi-guide.com/ You can find out more abou this place here: https://www.facebook.com/VillaGjecajTheth/
End of day 3 3
[end day]
Description
Make sure you get up early as you have a 26 km walk next day
Road to Blue Eye Theth
[transport] [walk]
[landmark] []
Water canal
[landmark] [bridge]
Wooden bridge over amazing blue water
[landmark] [bridge]
The Blue Eye Theth (Syri kaltër)
[landmark] [lake]
Description
One of the most amazing places you will see in this journey it is this lake formed by a small waterfall. The water is purely blue and very cold (you cannot stay 10 seconds with your feet in the water cold). This lake is formed by the Black River (weird ey?) formed only from the melting snow in the Albanian Alps. the lake is about 100 m2 and about 3 to 5 meters of depth. It is quite big, the pictures don't do it justice. To avoid confusions, there are 2 Blue Eyes in Albania: There is this Blue Eye of Theth - a lake formed by a waterfall, and there is the Blue Eye near Sarandë in Vlorë County, which is more accessible and more popular. The second one is a water spring (a different phenomena) and this tour will take you there.
Wood terrace
[landmark] [view point/ panorama]
Stone formation
[landmark] [rock formation]
Nanrreth River hiking
[landmark] [river]
View of the Grunas Waterfall
[landmark] [waterfall]
Description
On the right side you will see the Grunas Waterfall. Because it was late, we decided not to make this 30 minutes detour to the waterfall. But if you have the time, we recommend you to go. This waterfall is best in the spring when if gathers the water from melting snow
Kula
[landmark] [building]
guest house
[accommodation] [guest house]
End of day 4 4
[end day]
car
[transport] [car]
distance
74.6km
Duration
03:34 h
walk
[transport] [walk]
distance
1.6km
Duration
01:20 h
car
[transport] [car]
distance
53.1km
Duration
15:57 h
Koman Hydroelectric Power Station
[landmark] [hydroelectric power station]
Description
Koman Hydroelectric Power Station is a large hydroelectric power station built on the Drin River. The dam is 130m tall and was completed in 1985, but the reservoir was filled with water at full capacity in 1986. On Drin River there are 3 Power Station. First one is Vau i Dejës Hydroelectric Power Station back near Skhoder, the Koman Power Station is the second, and there is another one at Fierza Hydroelectric Power Station. A masterpiece of the communism regime.
Rozafa Ferry & Accommodation
[accommodation] [hotel]
Description
This is a place where we don't recommend you to stay. You can spend the night in Shkodër and wake up early to catch the 9 am ferry. Be aware that before reaching this place you will have to go up and then enter the carved mountain so you can arrive above the hydro power.
End of day 5 5
[end day]
Berisha Ferry for Komani Lake
[transport] [ferry]
Komani Lake
[landmark] [lake]
Description
The trip on this lake take around 2 and a half hours, but there won't be any dull moments. Every turn will provide new and new surprises. This point is at the peak of this experience, where the view is incredible. A funny feeling about it is that is so winding that you can no see where you came from or where you are going. The rocks overlap in such a way that you can imagine coming from there. I can definitely say that this was the best experience and view from our 2 week Albanian tour. In reality this is a man made lake that flooded the area when the Koman Hydroelectric Power Station was build.
River from Theth
[landmark] [river]
Fjord of Komani Lake
[landmark] []
Description
This landscape it is compared with the Scandinavian Fjords due to the dramatic steep walls plunging into the blue water.
Fierzë (near the Fierza Hydroelectric Power Station)
[transport] [car]
distance
39.8km
Duration
01:26 h
Description
The trip goes form one power station to another. After such an amazing trip you hoe it doe not stop.
walk
[transport] [walk]
distance
3km
Duration
18:56 h
End of day 6 6
[end day]
car trip from Valbone to Tirana
[transport] [car]
distance
323.3km
Duration
08:26 h
Valbona / Valbonë Valley
[landmark] [valley]
One lane road
[information] [traffic]
Description
This is a one lane road. So be careful at every turn.
bridge
[landmark] [bridge]
National Highway
[landmark] [street / road]
The road is pretty bad.
[information] [traffic]
Description
You can continue your trip ahead to Tirana. We decided to make a detour in this high hills.
walk
[transport] [walk]
distance
1km
Duration
01:25 h
Castle Of Kruja
[landmark] [castle / citadel / fortress]
car
[transport] [car]
distance
33.4km
Duration
13:28 h
Royal Vila Hotel
[accommodation] [hotel]
End of day 7 7
[end day]
walk
[transport] [walk]
distance
4.8km
Duration
03:18 h
Tirana Free Tour
[landmark] [tour]
Description
The meeting point is at the Opera House. The tour starts everyday at 10:00 am and it will take you on a 2h trip along the controversial and weird history of Albanian Country. Our guide, Gaza, will take you to his brutal and honest memories of his childhood and youth. One of the most memorable thing he said is about his mom, in 1992 after the communism felt, that they had bananas imported in the country and they saw them for the first time. His mother didn't want to eat them because she didn't trust bananas. His stories will make you understand and relive those days of terror and fear. For more information check out their site: http://www.tiranafreetour.com/free-tour.html
Clock Tower Tirana
[landmark] [tower]
Justinian Fortress Wall
[landmark] [wall]
George W. Bush Street
[landmark] [street / road]
Catholic Cathedral Saint Paul
[landmark] [church / monastery]
Pyramid of Tirana
[landmark] [building]
bus
[transport] [bus]
distance
5.6km
Duration
00:29 h
[information] []
walk
[transport] [walk]
distance
2km
Duration
01:24 h
BUNK'ART bunker
[landmark] [museum]
Description
This was design to become the bunker for the leader and official member to retreat in case of bombing. From here the operations would have been coordinated. The dictator had a real obsession about being attacked and he developed all measure to prevent this from happening. There are around 170 000 bunkers build in Albania during that time, some simple but some complex as this one. Also there are some theories that they build the highways very winding so military planes could not land on them. Visiting this place that is now transformed into a museum helps you understand the extent of which the ruling communist party developed their conspiratorial ideas. Also it is an interesting places, as you don't see anything from the outside, and as you go in, your ming is blown away.
walk
[transport] [walk]
distance
0.8km
Duration
01:38 h
Panorama Hotel Restaurant
[food and beverages] [restaurant]
telegondola
[transport] [telegondola]
distance
4.3km
Duration
00:19 h