One of the most special crossings in the accursed mountains of Albania is the Valbone-Theth crossing, which has become a tradition already for every tourist from abroad and counted as one of the 4 or 5 MUST DO things in Albania.
Duration:
Depending on your physical strength it takes 4-5 hours to 8 hours to complete the walk from Valbona to Theth.
If you start walking from the village of Quku i Dunishes in the Valbona Valley and from hotels such as: Rilindja etc., you have to travel a total of about 21 – 23 km in total to Theth. Of these 21 km, about 6 km are on paved roads.
If you like to do less walking and if you start from hotels like Margjeka hotel in Valbona, then you may need about 14 km to complete your daily walk.
Even from these hotels there is the possibility of using a 4×4 for about 4 km in the village of Rragam. From the village then you have to walk only 12 km from 1000m to 1800m to Valbona Pass and then go down to 800 m to Theth village.
If you like to walk only 12 km starting from Rragam Village, then you should connect a minibus or a 4×4 car which can take you from Hotel Rilindja, Hotel Margjeka to Rragam Village.
So you can drive 6 km on asphalt road and about 4 km away from the road to Gjelaj, Rragam village before you start the walk (for 12 km) to the neck of Valbona and then to the village of Theth.
Along the trail
For less experienced climbers it is important to make sure they are on the right track as it may happen that you go the wrong way and follow the path that leads to Mount Jezerca.
Since this is a popular hiking trail you may encounter several alpine groups or individuals walking on the same trail, so do not be afraid to ask for directions.
Despite this, there are plenty of signs along the trail to help you reach your destination.
Coffee shops
There are at least 2 popular places you can stop for a coffee, food or refreshment.
Zefi Cafe is located on your way to Theth about 1 km below the Valbona Pass. While in hours from the passage to the cafe it takes about 1 hour.
Cafe Simoni is located near the water source of Valbona, so it is a good place to take a break while you are walking up to the Valbona Crossing.
(After relaxing and drinking water or cafe in Cafe Simoni, you climb the steep second part, another 200 m rise over 800 m to reach the base of the rock wall that separates the Valbona Valley from Thethi.
During this climb, the crossing itself is far to the left and you may wonder if you are going the right way. At the base of the rock a sharp turn to the left leads along a narrow horizontal ledge for 500 m and back to Qafë
On the far side of the neck you find isolated pines, and then gently descend into the dense beech forest. After approximately another hour a descent of 300 m over 1.6 km to reach the second cafe. Continue from the Zefi cafe shop for another 1.2 km of forest, after which there are 600 m of very beautiful grassy meadows, good for camping. Cross the meadows you have about another hour of what becomes irritating steep descent through the open beech forest, from which you get your first view of Theth).
Distance
Depending on where you start, it may take 12 to 23 km to complete the walk, starting at 800-850 m to 1800 m (Valbona Pass) and then up to 850 m.
Near Thethi there are many crossroads, but just keep going downhill and you will reach the river Thethi (800m) which you will turn left to reach the center of Thethi village.
