In summary
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Sports
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Duration8 days
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LevelConfirmed
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DestinationEurope / Albania
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AgeFrom the age of 18
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CO₂-Emissions1048 kg CO2
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Type of stayIn a group
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Languages
French
Albanian
English
In a few words
For mountain lovers, the Albanian Alps, "the enchanted mountains," remain a well-kept secret. In this almost inaccessible region, you'll find a charming, unspoiled mountain landscape, rich in flora and fauna. This region is also traditionally known for its hospitality. Following in their footsteps and with the locals, we explore the picturesque Valbona Valley, from the Valbona Pass to the Theth Valley. Two small, isolated mountain villages will reveal all that Albania has to offer: Theth and Valbona are the starting points for our most beautiful hikes. Here, we experience the rural life of Northern Albania and meet warm-hearted locals. A destination that remains off the beaten track, for lovers of unspoiled nature.
The highlights
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A semi-itinerant trek in still little-known mountains
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The unspoiled beauty of the landscapes: Theth National Park, the Valbona Valley
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The encounters and the welcome in these Albanian mountains with such warm people
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Photos
Sport
Level
Hiking / Trekking
For those wishing to hike for up to 6 hours a day and/or cover an elevation gain of 600 to 800 meters, both on and off-trail. High-altitude sections are possible. You engage in a sporting activity once a week, hike regularly, and are in very good physical condition.
In figures
Autre
- Average duration/day: 5h
- Average daily elevation gain: 610 m
- Average daily descent: 630 m
- Maximum altitude: 1966 m
Management
During this stay, a supervisor will be present to guide and assist you.
Languages spoken:
French
Albanian
English
French
Albanian
English
Supervisor
Supervisor
Upon your arrival in Albania, in Tirana, you will be greeted by your French-speaking Albanian guide.
Program
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Albania (Tirana)
- Transportation 00h25
- Breakfast not included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner not included
Individual arrival at Tirana International Airport. Independent transfer to Tirana city center. Check-in at the hotel. Meet with your guide at the end of the day for a tour presentation and briefing. Dinner and evening in Tirana. *Airport-hotel transfer included if you booked your flights with us.Day 1 -
Tirana - Shkodra - Theth
- Transportation 04h30
- Activity Autre
- Duration of the activity 2h30
- Positive elevation gain 200 m
- Negative elevation 200 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Early departure from Tirana towards Shkodra, a stopover before reaching the far north of Albania. We enjoy a short break in Shkodra and then switch from our standard minibus to an off-road minibus, heading towards the alpine village of Theth. To reach this beautiful village nestled in the mountains, we must cross northern Albania, a three-hour journey on roads and dirt tracks. Upon arrival in Theth, after lunch, we begin exploring this village, which has preserved its traditions and customs over the centuries. We discover stunning natural surroundings and traditional wooden houses with tiled floors. We visit the church, the Kulla e Ngujimit (a tower house used in the past as a refuge from ongoing blood feuds), the Thethi waterfall, and the Grunasi canyon. Overnight in a guesthouse in Theth.Day 2 -
Theth - Blue Eye - Theth
- Activity Autre
- Duration of the activity 5h
- Positive elevation gain 300 m
- Negative elevation 300 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
We set off towards a place called "The Blue Eye," crossing the Shala Valley and following the river of the same name for much of the day. We take advantage of the opportunity to discover other natural wonders of the region. After seeing the magnificent Blue Eye, we return to the village of Theth.Day 3 -
Theth - Col de Peja (1900m) - Theth
- Activity Autre
- Duration of the activity 5h30
- Positive elevation gain 900 m
- Negative elevation 900 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
We set off early this morning towards the Peja Pass, crossing a shepherd's path of unparalleled beauty. This route was one of the most frequently used by Kosovars traveling to Peja in Kosovo and Shkodra in Albania. We follow in their footsteps. The sheepfolds and magnificent peaks and views enchant our day.Day 4 -
Theth - Col de Valbona - Valbona
- Activity Autre
- Duration of the activity 7h
- Positive elevation gain 800 m
- Negative elevation 900 m
- Maximum altitude 1966 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Hike to the Albanian Alps pass that has linked the region's two most famous valleys for centuries: the Valbona Valley (pass at 1966m above sea level) and the Theth Valley. We use donkeys/mules to carry luggage to the next accommodation. We take a path commonly used by the region's mountain people from spring until the first snows of winter, crossing several springs and passing through stunning landscapes (Jezerca Peak, Radohima). From there, we descend to the village of Valbona (800m).Day 5 -
Valbona - White Circle - Valbona
- Activity Autre
- Duration of the activity 5h
- Positive elevation gain 850 m
- Negative elevation 850 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
A day of hiking in the Valbona region. Our goal today is to reach the White Circle (a ring of mountain peaks that forms a white circle). With typical houses, sheepfolds, and stunning views, we hike through picture-postcard landscapes. We return to the village of Valbona in the afternoon.Day 6 -
Valbona - Lake Koman - Tirana
- Transportation 04h30
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Departure for Lake Koman followed by a ferry crossing. The two-hour journey offers an immersion in the wild and elusive nature of the North, reminiscent of the Norwegian fjords. Then, we travel to the country's capital. Tirana is known as the city of vibrant colors for its painted facades. To introduce you to Albanian history, we visit the National Museum. Afterward, we will have the opportunity to visit one of Albania's most beautiful places of worship, the Et'hem Bey Mosque in the center of Tirana. Following this, we will visit the Fine Arts Gallery, a Catholic cathedral, an Orthodox cathedral, and the former Bloc district, reserved during the communist era for the nomenklatura and now transformed into the heart of the capital's nightlife.Day 7 -
Tirana (end of the tour)
- Breakfast included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner not included
Your stay ends after breakfast. Depending on your return flight schedule, you will have your own transfer to the airport. *Hotel-airport transfer included if you booked your flights with us.Day 8
Note
This itinerary is provided as a guide only: depending on weather and operational conditions, your tour guide may modify this itinerary for your safety and that of the group.
Accommodation
- Days 1 to 7
Most of our accommodations are 3* hotels according to local standards, small establishments or guesthouses, in double or triple rooms with private bathrooms.
Access
Departure
Tirana
Day 1
: 19h00
End of stay
Tirana
Day 8
- 10h00
Go to the starting point
The nearest airport isAéroport international de Tirana
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Price details
The price includes
- Accommodation in 3-star hotels in the cities of Shkodra and Tirana
- Guesthouse accommodation in the valleys of Theth and Valbona
- All meals from dinner on Day 2 to breakfast on Day 8
- Local transfers and luggage transport
- Entrance fees to the sites mentioned
- Guided by a French-speaking Albanian guide
The price does not include
- Round-trip flights Paris/Tirana
- Air taxes
- Airport/hotel/airport transfers (included if you book your flights with us)
- Drinks
- Tips
Options
- Flight booking + Airport transfers : CHF86.91 / person
- Single room supplement for the entire duration of your stay : CHF64.04 / person
- Additional night in Tirana in a double or twin room with breakfast : CHF54.89 / person
- Additional night in Tirana in a single room with breakfast : CHF73.18 / person
- Flex fare and insurance
Practical information
Specific formalities
Specifics
Before your departure, check with the embassy or consulate regarding the entry and stay requirements for your destination country. You can also find this information on the France Diplomatie website ( https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/dossiers-pays/ ).
In the case of flights with stopovers operated by different airlines, also check the entry requirements of the countries you are transiting through.
It is your responsibility to ensure that you are in compliance, particularly regarding the validity of your identity documents (
For example, some countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months after your return date. Consider visa requirements, necessary vaccinations, and health recommendations. And don't forget to take into account any customs restrictions and other potential requirements of your destination or transit country.
ℹ️ Information may change up to the departure date, remember to regularly check official websites.
⚠️ For this stay, no mandatory vaccinations are required, however some vaccines are recommended: Diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis, Hepatitis A and B, Pertussis (whose reappearance in adults, even in France, justifies vaccination for any trip).
In the case of flights with stopovers operated by different airlines, also check the entry requirements of the countries you are transiting through.
It is your responsibility to ensure that you are in compliance, particularly regarding the validity of your identity documents (
For example, some countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months after your return date. Consider visa requirements, necessary vaccinations, and health recommendations. And don't forget to take into account any customs restrictions and other potential requirements of your destination or transit country.
ℹ️ Information may change up to the departure date, remember to regularly check official websites.
⚠️ For this stay, no mandatory vaccinations are required, however some vaccines are recommended: Diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis, Hepatitis A and B, Pertussis (whose reappearance in adults, even in France, justifies vaccination for any trip).
Equipment
Equipment to bring
- Water bottle with a capacity of at least 1 liter
- Bath towel (towels are provided)
- Toiletry bag
- Flashlight or headlamp with spare batteries
- A multi-purpose pocket knife is preferable (to be packed in checked baggage on the plane).
- Plastic bags to ensure the watertightness of your belongings, cameras and dirty clothes.
- A pouch for your passport, travel insurance leaflet, currency, credit card and personal documents.
Note: You do not need a sleeping bag, sheets and blankets are provided.
Clothing to bring
Essential everyday kit:
- Sunscreen cream for face and lips
- Sunglasses
- Hat, cap or scarf for sun protection
- Mosquito repellent spray for skin
- Moistened wipes
Clothing, from head to toe:
- Lightweight walking shoes. Consider bringing hiking boots and a pair of poles if you are going at the beginning (or end) of the season, as snow patches may persist near the summits.
- A pair of sandals is essential for any trip; they are very comfortable to slip on during stops in towns, villages or in the evening, but they must be taken in addition to the closed shoes mentioned above.
- A pair of swimming shoes or sandals (rocks and sea urchins are common)
- Socks
- Wide-leg cotton trousers
- Shorts
- Lightweight shirts or cotton t-shirts
- Underwear
- A light fleece or light sweater for the evening.
- Swimsuit
- A warm hat or headband (especially in winter, temperatures can be very cold in these altitudes, there may even be snow!)
- Gore-tex type windproof jacket
- K-way type waterproof jacket
They traveled with us
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Decathlon Travel Partner
The Paulin team
4.4/5
(1440 reviews)
• 453 stays
For over 30 years, our local partner has been designing adventure walking trips around the world. Specializing in small-group treks, they cater to both casual hikers and seasoned trekkers seeking unspoiled natural environments and a return to the essentials. Their key strength? They own their own agencies in over 30 countries, guaranteeing complete trip creation from start to finish, without intermediaries. This direct, on-the-ground expertise ensures memorable active experiences and total freedom amidst breathtaking landscapes.
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