Theth, Albania: A Mini Guide
Things to Know Before Traveling to Theth
Theth is Amazing
I have to start by saying that we absolutely LOVED Theth. Between Theth and Himare I can't decide which was my favorite stop. But they are so different since Theth is mountains and Himare is beach so I don't feel I have to choose.
Anyway, Theth is just stunning from any angle. I do not feel that you can go wrong here with anything you do! You could come here for a hiking adventure, or just to relax, eat, and stroll around enjoying the incredible nature and peace.
The people in Theth are incredible and kind. We met some of the most welcoming kind people all over Albania and Theth was a truly highlight. Everyone is helpful, everyone is accommodating, we even had to hitchhike in a storm at one point and got a ride home from a super kind stranger. This place is just magic.
Currency
The LEK is the name of the currency in Albania. You must have cash to travel throughout Albania and you definitely need to have cash to travel in Theth. I recommend you bring USD or Euros with you to Albania and exchange them at many of the exchange shops they have almost everywhere. There are no ATM machines in Theth. Make sure to stop before heading into the mountains. The best place to exchange money or hit up an ATM before coming to Theth would be in Shkoder.
Weather
If you're familiar with traveling in mountain regions then you likely know that the weather can be unpredictable. You should always be prepared for anything. The best time to visit Theth for hiking is between June and September. You may still have snow or poor conditions even in early June or late September so July and August would be the BEST time. Even on the most beautiful of days or at the most beautiful times of year there can also be storms. Storms in the mountains can be a lot like tropical storms where they come in hard and pass quickly. But just be aware that you should expect anything when traveling to a mountain region such a Theth.
How to get to Theth
By Car
In my personal opinion if you're not a timid driver, the best way to get to Theth is by car. I feel this way for a number of reasons.
1. You can take the trip in and out literally whenever it suits you.
2. The views on the drive are stunning and you can stop to take photos and take in the scenes.
3. Parking is easy when you arrive in Theth and you can literally park anywhere.
4. It doesn't take that long. From Tirana it takes about 3 hours. From Shkoder it takes about 2.
5. It's comfortable, you have your own space and can bring anything you want, turn up the AC as high as you want, listen to your own jams, etc.
It is important to note that the road to Theth is long and winding. IT IS FULLY PAVED. You may read out of date blog posts that state that the road to Theth is a dirt road, and it used to be. But it was fully paved about a year ago and now you can drive into Theth with pretty much any vehicle. I don't drive manual transmission but I do believe it would be a bit of work and if you're not VERY familiar I would recommend going automatic. You must be aware that the road is narrow and is surprisingly a two way road. You may encounter farmers, donkeys, cows, goats, and other surprises along the route.
**** It is very important to note that once you begin on the mountain road to Theth there are NO gas stations. I HIGHLY advise you to get gas in Shkoder or right before heading into the mountains. The winding roads BURN fuel and you will not make it in and out of Theth if you're low on gas to start.
If you drive there are a few things that we passed along the way that we'd have stopped at if we had another chance. They looked so cute and fun!
Car/Van Hire
Do the loop
What I mean when I say "do the loop" is that there is a popular backpacking route into Theth and out of a town called Valbone. You get a ride into Theth from Shkoder, spend the night, hike to Valbone for a full day, then take a boat and bus from Valbone back to Shkoder. This has some advantages too. You can leave your belongings in Shkoder and just take what you need for your hiking days. There are many ways to arrange this and a lot of guesthouses in Theth, Shkoder, or Valbone will help you.
Where to Stay in Theth
This is where we stayed in Theth. We literally could not have been happier and I beyond recommend it!!!
If for some reason this doesn't look like your spot or it is all booked up... here are a few other spots that we saw, I read about, or thought looked wonderful too!
Things to Do/See
If you're not as adventurous of a hiker you could also drive to a restaurant/guesthouse that is closer to the blue eye. Then you only have to hike about 45 minutes to get there. The Blue Eye also has a small restaurant on site where you can get refreshments if needed.
If you do want to take the shortcut and drive part of the way Restorant Lulash Zelna is where you should park to make the rest of the trek! We wanted to grab lunch here on our way back but we got caught in a terrible storm. It looked like an amazing place to stop and grab a drink or lunch after the hike!
Another stunning hike is the Valbona Pass hike. We had planned to hike up to the pass and then return to Theth to drive out the following day. Unfortunately due to weather we were unable to do this hike. BUT if you have good weather it's supposed to be one of the best hikes there is! You could hike it up and back, or you could hike all the way to the town of Valbone and then get transportation back out from there.
This one definitely sounds like a more challenging hike and a bigger undertaking. It would take far longer than the other hikes mentioned and you may want to have true hiking boots for this one and make sure the time of year is right.
If you're looking into visiting Theth you've likely seen images of Theth Church. It is truly just as stunning in person and makes for a great little walk around at sunset or in the morning or afternoon after hiking.
If you need any supplies or snacks during your time in Theth there is also a small market that has some essentials.
Guides to Albania
If you liked this guide and you found it helpful... think about purchasing my full guide to a road trip of Albania!
You could also consider checking out my free hotel recommendations to Albania.
The home for unique & authentic travel
