Theth national park is located on the northern side of Albania just 70 km from the famous city of Shkodra which is adjacent to Skadar lake that I blogged about previously. This park lies in the centre of the Albanians Alps and is surrounded with mesmerizing peaks creating an amazing backdrop view.
So, it is quite justified to say that Theth National Park combines the beauty of mountains with majestic rivers, stunning waterfalls with sprawling greenery of 26 square km. Of course, this park has some of the most astonishing peaks such as the peak of Radoines (2570m), Paplukës (2569m), and Arapit (2217m), etc.
In Theth, many things await you and this place isn't for the weak-hearted. The aquatic spectacles of the Shala river which is flowing along the whole from one side to another. The waterfall of Grunas is another spectacle that is 30m high and runs through Canyons to create a magical atmosphere. Another calm stream of black river descends from mountains above and creates another magical site which is the Blue eye of Theth, a must-visit natural pool.
Along with this green heaven, there is man-made architecture such as The Prison tower, Church of Theth, The Cave of Theth, and Lake of Peja Pass. Important to note here that you are going to bring cash! There is no ATM and Euros are accepted here.
Getting there is both easy and adventurous. There are two ways to get to Theth National Park from Shkoder.
From Shkodra to Theth park is almost 70km via an asphalt road and it would take two and a half hours to reach there. There are also mini-bus or jeep services and will take a similar time but it costs around £10 per person. It is the most comfortable way and you do get the views from your vehicle.
This is a very popular way to get in or out of the Theth National Park due to popular hike between Theth and Valbona. There are two ferries that cross Komani Lake each day at 9 am. You can book in advance on their website and it is recommended especially during the summer. You can book the transfer from Shkoder to ferry plus the transfer to your accommodation in Valbona along with your ferry reservation. I would highly recommend taking this route at least one way due to breathtaking views all along the way.
Theth National Park is a popular destination among visitors due to its stunning mountain vistas and serene environment. The best way to enjoy the scenery of the national park is to hike one of the many hiking trails.
The hike between Theth and Valbona is probably the best in the area and one that you shouldn't miss if you have the opportunity to do it. You can either start in Theth or Valbona. Some might think starting in Valbona makes it a little easier to avoid the steep uphill climb to Valbona from Theth. Theth has more accommodation options and a better place to relax if you want to stay longer in the national park. I have described above how you can reach Valbona from Shkoder.
This is another great hike and not a very difficult one. There is some elevation gain at the start and end of the hike but the middle part is very flat with beautiful mountain scenery around. For those who don't want to hike all the way to the Blue Eye, you can hire a 4x4 from Theth to Nderlysaj and hike the last part which will take approx. 30-40mins. It is a very popular day trip among tourists and you can probably share the costs with other tourists going to Blue eye. There is a small restaurant which sells snacks but the better option would be to take a break at Nderlysaj for lunch.
Theth National Park is full of guest houses and cost around 30-40€. I arrived there late and it was raining so I took the first one I saw, just across the bridge after entering Theth. They offered a nice breakfast and dinner (don't expect anything fancy).