Our journey towards the Albanian Alps begins at 06:00am from Tirana and our tour leader will pick you up from your hotel (in Tirana or Shkoder). As we drive along the way towards Northern Albania, you will be see beautiful landscapes; wild fields, rivers, Shkodra Lake and rugged untouched mountains. From Shkoder, we will experience local transport riding at around 7:30am. As we take the turn from the main road to Theth the area becomes more rural, with fewer cars but more amazing landscapes. Due to its favorable position this area is famous for cultivating medicinal herbs, and if you are lucky to travel in May – June you will see fields of lavender. On the way to the top, we will pass through a steep sneaky hillside reaching up to 1700 meters above sea level at Qafa e Thores. They say this is the spot for the best picture – a perfect view of the Albanian Alps.
We will have a short break for refreshments and start our hiking journey towards the Blue Eye at around midday. Blue Eye was formed by the erosion of the water from the melting snow of the Albanian Alps, the temperature being just around 5 degrees Celsius. Would you dare to dive in? The hike is about 1.5 hours one way, with a hiking distance of 6.2 km both ways and about 700 m of elevation. This trail is considered easy to moderate, requiring some experience in hiking. You will not be able to take your eyes off this stunning scene of nature with its bright blue and green colours. We will then head back to the village center and visit the Old Church and the “Lock in” Tower (symbol of Theth). The stories behind these buildings take up centuries full of history. After a day full of explorations, we will drive back to Shkoder or Tirana. This marks the end of this amazing hiking experience in the Albanian Alps.
* Please ensure you wear comfortable shoes, bring swimwear if you wish to dip into the Blue Eye and bring Lek or Euro for a lunch stop