# Albanian Alps circuit: Theth, Valbonë & Koman

https://www.wyld.quest/challenge/komani-valbona-theth

Packet: wyld-quest:komani-valbona-theth | Version: 2026-10-13.1 | State: review

One Shkodër-based circuit, two directions: a mountain crossing, Koman Lake ferry and road transfers, with optional Shala and Theth outings.

Suggested itinerary, not navigation or confirmed availability. Optional outings are separate routes.

## Ferry first

Primary itinerary.

Shkodër → Koman ferry terminal → Fierzë → Valbonë → Theth → Shkodër. Keep a full day for the mountain crossing.

### 1. Begin in Shkodër
Use Shkodër as the start and finish. Arrange luggage storage, the Koman transfer and your first valley stay before leaving.
Places: Shkodër

### 2. Through the lake, into Valbonë
Drive to the mapped Koman terminal, take the separately booked ferry to the Fierzë / Raja terminal, then transfer to Valbonë. Confirm your operator’s actual boarding point and date. Overnight in Valbonë.
Places: Shkodër → Koman ferry terminal → Fierzë / Raja ferry terminal → Valbonë

### 3. Cross the pass to Theth
Arrange the short road approach from your Valbonë accommodation to Fusha e Gjes. The mapped walking reference begins there, crosses Valbona Pass and finishes at the Theth bridge. The village approach is not included in the hiking distance. Overnight in Theth.
Places: Valbonë → Fusha e Gjes · walking start → Valbona Pass → Theth bridge · walking start

### 4. A valley day, then the road home
Allow time for Theth or a separate Grunas / Blue Eye outing. Return to Shkodër by road, not over the pass again. Confirm the transfer pickup with your host.
Places: Theth bridge · walking start → Shkodër

## Mountains first

Primary itinerary.

Shkodër → Theth → Valbonë → Fierzë ferry terminal → Koman → Shkodër. The lake is the return journey, not part of the hike.

### 1. The road to Theth
Travel from Shkodër into the valley and stay in Theth. The bridge marks the walking reference endpoint; your guesthouse and transfer pickup may be elsewhere in the village.
Places: Shkodër → Theth bridge · walking start

### 2. Give the valley some time
An optional extra night leaves room for Grunas or the Theth Blue Eye. Those outings are separate from the crossing and need their own access and walking plan.
Places: Theth bridge · walking start

### 3. Walk over the pass into Valbonë
Walk from the Theth bridge over Valbona Pass to Fusha e Gjes, then arrange the onward road approach to your Valbonë accommodation. Do not silently add the village approach to the mapped crossing distance. Overnight in Valbonë.
Places: Theth bridge · walking start → Valbona Pass → Fusha e Gjes · walking start → Valbonë

### 4. Come home by the lake
Transfer from Valbonë to the Fierzë / Raja ferry terminal, sail to Koman and continue by road to Shkodër. Check the return sailing rather than reversing the outward timetable. A Shala excursion is a separate booking.
Places: Valbonë → Fierzë / Raja ferry terminal → Koman ferry terminal → Shkodër

## Lumi i Shalës · optional boat outing

Optional excursion, separate from the core journey.

The mapped boat reference connects Koman terminal with a Shala landing. It is not the regular Koman–Fierzë ferry. Book a return excursion or the operator’s specifically advertised Koman–Shala–Fierzë product; do not assume a reverse through-service.

### 1. A separate day on the water
The mapped boat reference connects Koman terminal with a Shala landing. It is not the regular Koman–Fierzë ferry. Book a return excursion or the operator’s specifically advertised Koman–Shala–Fierzë product; do not assume a reverse through-service.
Places: Koman ferry terminal → Lumi i Shalës landing → Koman ferry terminal

## Grunas Waterfall

Optional excursion, separate from the core journey.

6.2 km return walking reference. Walk out and back to the same Theth bridge start. No return transport is included.

### 1. Grunas Waterfall
The mapped Grunas footbridge is tagged as poorly maintained. Ask locally about the current crossing; turn back if the bridge is damaged or unsafe. This reference ends on the mapped footpath about 23 m from the waterfall location, not in the water.
Places: Theth bridge · walking start → Grunas Waterfall → Theth bridge · walking start

## Blue Eye from Ndërlysaj

Optional excursion, separate from the core journey.

6.4 km return walking reference. Arrange a road transfer from Theth to the mapped Ndërlysaj road junction, then walk out and back. The GPX contains only the walk; the road approach is separate.

### 1. Blue Eye from Ndërlysaj
The mapped walk includes two stream crossings and steep mountain-path sections. Ask locally about water levels and the usable crossing before setting out. Do not enter unsafe water. The reference ends on the footpath about 9 m from the Blue Eye location.
Places: Theth bridge · walking start → Ndërlysaj road junction · walking start → Blue Eye of Theth → Ndërlysaj road junction · walking start → Theth bridge · walking start

## Blue Eye on foot from Theth

Optional excursion, separate from the core journey.

21.2 km return walking reference. Walk out and back to the same Theth bridge start. No return transport is included.

### 1. Blue Eye on foot from Theth
The full walk includes six mapped stream crossings and two bridges tagged as poorly maintained. Check the current trail and crossings with a local host or guide. Do not use a damaged bridge or attempt unsafe water. This is a long return walk, not the short Ndërlysaj outing.
Places: Theth bridge · walking start → Ndërlysaj road junction · walking start → Blue Eye of Theth → Ndërlysaj road junction · walking start → Theth bridge · walking start

## Place evidence

- Shkodër: single_source. https://www.openstreetmap.org/node/274122533

- Valbonë: single_source (area pin, not an entrance). https://www.openstreetmap.org/node/728422498

- Valbona Pass: single_source. https://www.openstreetmap.org/node/502595625

- Theth bridge · walking start: single_source. https://www.openstreetmap.org/node/3715266296

- Fusha e Gjes · walking start: single_source. https://www.openstreetmap.org/node/7155068666

- Koman ferry terminal: single_source. https://www.openstreetmap.org/node/274294571

- Fierzë / Raja ferry terminal: single_source. https://www.openstreetmap.org/node/454639191

- Lumi i Shalës landing: single_source. https://www.openstreetmap.org/node/5579248680

- Grunas Waterfall: single_source. https://www.openstreetmap.org/node/4851692633

- Blue Eye of Theth: single_source. https://www.openstreetmap.org/node/5262739618

- Ndërlysaj road junction · walking start: single_source. https://www.openstreetmap.org/node/2490541012

## Stays and practical information

### Book the direction, not just “the ferry”
Check the operator’s current timetable, departure landing, transfer pickup and luggage arrangements for your date. Transport legs are never included in a walking-distance total.
Availability: unknown.
https://komanilakeferry.com/timetables-and-prices/

### Shala needs its own connection
The standard crossing and the Shala excursion are different products. A separately advertised Koman–Shala–Fierzë tour does not establish an equivalent reverse connection.
Availability: unknown.
https://komanilakeferry.com/tours/shala-river-tour/

### Check the pass before setting out
Ask locally about snow, weather and trail access. Choose the walking day around current conditions, not a fixed calendar promise.
Availability: unknown.


### Agree on your pickup points
Village pins help you get your bearings. Confirm the actual ferry landing, pickup and walking start with the operator.
Availability: unknown.


## Sources

- The operator publishes separate Koman and Fierzë departures and a seasonal timetable. Source: https://komanilakeferry.com/timetables-and-prices/. Checked: 2026-10-09. Supports this source-specific claim, not current availability or the entire itinerary.

- The operator lists a separate Shala River boat excursion. Source: https://komanilakeferry.com/tours/shala-river-tour/. Checked: 2026-10-09. Supports this source-specific claim, not current availability or the entire itinerary.

- Theth–Valbonë crossing: osm_network_reference. Source: https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/4726204. Checked: 2026-10-12T21:08:56.123Z. Retained provider geometry (343 vertices). Not a live access assessment, operator assignment or navigation warranty.

- Theth–Valbonë crossing: osm_network_reference. Source: https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/4726204. Checked: 2026-10-12T21:08:56.123Z. Retained provider geometry (650 vertices). Not a live access assessment, operator assignment or navigation warranty.

- Koman–Fierzë ferry: osm_reference. Source: https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/605913240. Checked: 2026-10-12T21:08:56.450Z. Retained provider geometry (244 vertices). Not a live access assessment, operator assignment or navigation warranty.

- Lumi i Shalës boat outing: osm_reference. Source: https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/1143849916. Checked: 2026-10-12T21:08:57.773Z. Retained provider geometry (144 vertices). Not a live access assessment, operator assignment or navigation warranty.

- Road transfer: router_reference. Source: https://routing.openstreetmap.de/routed-car/route/v1/driving/19.5121437,42.0681371;19.8264521,42.1088001?overview=full&geometries=geojson&steps=true. Checked: 2026-10-12T21:11:17.351Z. Retained provider geometry (360 vertices). Not a live access assessment, operator assignment or navigation warranty.

- Road transfer: router_reference. Source: https://routing.openstreetmap.de/routed-car/route/v1/driving/19.8264521,42.1088001;19.5121437,42.0681371?overview=full&geometries=geojson&steps=true. Checked: 2026-10-12T21:11:18.897Z. Retained provider geometry (362 vertices). Not a live access assessment, operator assignment or navigation warranty.

- Road transfer: router_reference. Source: https://routing.openstreetmap.de/routed-car/route/v1/driving/20.0098341,42.2642226;19.8931762,42.4531368?overview=full&geometries=geojson&steps=true. Checked: 2026-10-12T21:11:20.330Z. Retained provider geometry (227 vertices). Not a live access assessment, operator assignment or navigation warranty.

- Road transfer: router_reference. Source: https://routing.openstreetmap.de/routed-car/route/v1/driving/19.8931762,42.4531368;20.0098341,42.2642226?overview=full&geometries=geojson&steps=true. Checked: 2026-10-12T21:11:21.763Z. Retained provider geometry (227 vertices). Not a live access assessment, operator assignment or navigation warranty.

- Road transfer: router_reference. Source: https://routing.openstreetmap.de/routed-car/route/v1/driving/19.8931762,42.4531368;19.8706916,42.4258372?overview=full&geometries=geojson&steps=true. Checked: 2026-10-12T21:11:23.079Z. Retained provider geometry (20 vertices). Not a live access assessment, operator assignment or navigation warranty.

- Road transfer: router_reference. Source: https://routing.openstreetmap.de/routed-car/route/v1/driving/19.8706916,42.4258372;19.8931762,42.4531368?overview=full&geometries=geojson&steps=true. Checked: 2026-10-12T21:11:24.395Z. Retained provider geometry (20 vertices). Not a live access assessment, operator assignment or navigation warranty.

- Road transfer: router_reference. Source: https://routing.openstreetmap.de/routed-car/route/v1/driving/19.7732748,42.3958886;19.5121437,42.0681371?overview=full&geometries=geojson&steps=true. Checked: 2026-10-12T21:11:25.944Z. Retained provider geometry (419 vertices). Not a live access assessment, operator assignment or navigation warranty.

- Road transfer: router_reference. Source: https://routing.openstreetmap.de/routed-car/route/v1/driving/19.5121437,42.0681371;19.7732748,42.3958886?overview=full&geometries=geojson&steps=true. Checked: 2026-10-12T21:11:27.495Z. Retained provider geometry (414 vertices). Not a live access assessment, operator assignment or navigation warranty.

- Mapped walking-network reference for grunas; not a current field survey or access guarantee. Source: https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/517507884. Checked: 2026-10-13T02:30:43.455Z. undefined

- Mapped walking-network reference for blue-eye-short; not a current field survey or access guarantee. Source: https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/1178108123. Checked: 2026-10-13T02:30:43.455Z. undefined

- Mapped walking-network reference for theth-nderlysaj; not a current field survey or access guarantee. Source: https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/241407552. Checked: 2026-10-13T02:30:43.455Z. undefined

- Mapped road reference for theth-nder-road; not a current field survey or access guarantee. Source: https://routing.openstreetmap.de/routed-car/route/v1/driving/19.7732748,42.3958886;19.7716182,42.3542563?overview=full&geometries=geojson&steps=true. Checked: 2026-10-13T02:30:43.455Z. undefined

- Mapped road reference for nder-theth-road; not a current field survey or access guarantee. Source: https://routing.openstreetmap.de/routed-car/route/v1/driving/19.7716182,42.3542563;19.7732748,42.3958886?overview=full&geometries=geojson&steps=true. Checked: 2026-10-13T02:30:43.455Z. undefined