Hiking in Albania absolutely blew my mind. It exceeded all of my expectations and more! Before touching town in one of my new favourite countries, I knew I wanted to hike the Valbona to Theth hike… but I didn’t realise how many other hiking trials Albania had to offer.
The mountains are majestic, the beaches are dazzling and the Albanian hospitality is un-matched.
Albania is a hiking-haven for those adventurers looking for something a little different. Although the Valbona to Theth hike is well-trodden, there are plenty of other trials that haven’t yet had their time in the spot light.
Harvey and I visited Albania in October and can’t recommend it enough. The Autumn colours completely transform the landscape to be a blanket of oranges, browns and reds.
Albania has a range of hikes – if you’re a pro, you’ll find many a mountain for you to climb (especially up the north) but there are also plenty of beginner friendly trails too.
Whatever your kinda hike, I’m sure here will be one in this list for you. So, strap up ya boots and let’s get into it.

Photo: @danielle_wyatt
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What to Know Before Hiking in Albania

The secret is slowly but surely getting out about hiking in Albania, it is a gem of the Balkans in terms of the mountainous terrain and EPIC views offered. This little country absolutely blew me away with its natural landscapes and majestic mountains.
Many of the country’s top hiking trails are in the north, just up from Shkoder. Well, the most famous hike is anyway – the Valbona to Theth track. However, there are also other incredible hiking trails along the southern coast including a couple near Himare in the Llogara Pass.
Most of the tracks have been well-trodden and are well sign-posted which is extremely helpful. However, there is a HUGE gap on All-Trials (my go-to hiking app) in terms of trials to follow. I usually like having the route GPS-tracked to make sure I’m heading in the right direction, but not in Albania. We had to raw-dog it and use the signs to guide us.

Photo: @danielle_wyatt
Albanian hospitality is top-notch, some of the best I’ve ever experienced. In the mountain towns of Theth and Valbona, you’ll find beautiful, locally run guesthouses that will look after you, feed you, get you clued up on the terrain, before sending you off into the mountains <3. Honestly, backpacking in Albania is a dream.
Albania Trail Safety
I’ve noted some of the most important tips for keeping yourself safe when hiking in Albania:
- Let someone know you’re going – Hiking 101, always let someone know where you’re going and how long you expect to be.
- Pack the right gear – What you need to take will depend on the season, the distance, etc. You’ll find more information on what to pack throughout and at the end of this article.
- Don’t leave home without a plan – Research the track you’re about to tackle so you know what to expect and how to prepare.
- Check the weather forecast – This step is crucial. You’ll want to know if it’s expected to piss down, snow or maybe even just be exceptionally hot so that you can prepare.
- Respect the wildlife – Although it’s extremely rare to see them, there are bears and wolves in Albania. You might want to brush up on what to do in the unlikely event that you come across one of these beasts.
- Leave plenty of time – This is especially important in winter when the days are shorter. Leave as early as possible and always take a good head torch, just in case.
- Take enough food and water – I can’t drill this one home enough. Take enough food and a shit load of water. I’ve hiked without enough water before, and in summer, it’s seriously dangerous.
- Get good travel insurance – a no-brainer. Even when we are super prepared, shit can still go wrong.
The Top 8 Best Albania Hikes
1. Valbona to Theth Hike
The Valbona to Theth hike is easily the most popular hike in the country. In fact, it was one of the main reasons we decided to head to Albania (the power of social media, eh?) It’s a bit of an adventure to get to and plan, but it’s a well-trodden path and the locals have the process pretty down-packed.
The hike itself takes you from Valbona to Theth (or visa versa) through the Albanian Alps.
I’d recommend staying in Shkoder before the hike, it’s a funky town with good vibes, delicious food and plenty of transport options to get you to the start of the hike. You can message your host before you arrive (or even just chat with them once you arrive) and they will no doubt be able to sort your ride.

Photo: @danielle_wyatt
Most of the Airbnb hosts/ hotels/ hostels in Shkoder will be able to store your baggage for a small fee while you’re off hiking. This is SUPER handy, as you don’t need a lot for the hike and as you’re walking from one town to the other, you have to take everything with you!!
We started the hike from Valbona, which I’d recommend! However, you can also start the hike from Theth. It’s completely up to you which way you go. The route to Valbona is a bit wild, a shuttle bus will take you on some extremely rugged roads (which I’m sure will be re-done one day), and you’ll jump on one of the most beautiful ferry rides of your life, before jumping in another shuttle bus to take you to your accommodation. It takes about 6-8 hours all up to get from Shkoder to Valbona.

Photo: @danielle_wyatt
The hike itself is pretty damn amazing. It’s a popular track, so you will not be the only ones there but this was actually really fun for us! We got chatting to loads of other travellers and made a few friends along the way. It was by no means the most challenging hike I’ve ever done, but it was about 900m in elevation, and we hiked up and down over about 5 hours.
I’d recommend staying in Theth for a couple of nights (at least), to explore the town. There is more here than in Valbona. In fact, you can do a few more hikes in Theth National Park which I’ll dive into in more detail as you scroll through this list 🙂
Again, your guesthouse host should be able to organise your transport back to Shkoder which is only a few hour’s drive. You can either get a shuttle or a private taxi – however, I’d go for the shuttle, we got a car and our driver turned up in a beaten-up old car and was driving extremely dangerously!
We did this hike in October and it was BEAUTIFUL – the Autumn colours were on form and made the views look even more incredible. Plus, it was much quieter than in their peak season (over summer) which was a bonus.
Note: this track gets close from late Oct/ early Nov be sure to check if you’re planning to do the hike over this time.
- Length: 16km
- Duration: 5-6 hours
- Difficulty: Moderate/ Difficult
In Valbona, we stayed at Lazer Cardaku Guesthouse and would 100% recommend it. The rooms had heaters, the hospitality was 10/10 and the homemade meals were delicious. In Theth, we stayed at Guesthouse Flodisa. It was in a fab location, not too far to walk once you finish the hike and super close to the main shop in the town. The shower was lovely and hot after the walk! Plus, in Skhoder there are some of the best hostels in Albania before you set off on the hike.
2. Blue Eye, Theth
If you decide to stay in Theth a few extra days after the Valbona to Theth hike OR you’ve just made the trip to explore the Theth National Park – this hike is awesome. There are shuttle buses that run from the centre of Theth to the start of the Blue Eye hike that will charge you around $5 USD per person each way.
The hike down to the blue eye takes less than an hour from this point. You can also hike to the Blue Eye from town (I’ll get onto that next) but this is a great option for those with limited time, and to be honest, it is what most people do.

Photo: @danielle_wyatt
The Blue Eye itself is an insane sight to see, the colour is so incredibly blue. It’s honestly one of the most insane places I visited in Albania. If you’re brave, jump in the water! It was 4 degrees in the water… FREEZING. It was the coldest water I’ve ever been in and I lasted about 30 seconds before getting out.
There is a big cafe/ restaurant at the entrance, so you can grab a bite to eat before/ after doing the hike. In fact, there is even a small cafe right by the Blue Eye where you can have a bite to eat or a beer as you look over the Blue Eye.
- Length: 4.8km
- Duration: 2 hours
- Difficulty: Moderate
If your trip to Theth is centred around the Blue Eye (rather than the Valbona to Theth hike), I’d recommend staying closer to the Blue Eye. These Bungaja Chalets are a short walk from the start of the hike.
3. Grunas Canyon (to the Blue Eye), Theth
If you want a little more adventure than taking the shuttle, you can hike through the Grunas Canyon to the Blue Eye. This is a full-day adventure but it’s hugely rewarding – you’ll get to marvel at some bloody incredible views.
With sore limbs after doing the Valbona to Theth hike the day before, we set off on our next mission – hiking to the Blue Eye! We walked from the town, past the famous Kisha e Thethit church, to Theth Waterfall, along the Grunas Canyon and eventually to the famous Blue Eye.
All up, the hike took around 7 hours (including all the stops) but it was absolutely STUNNING. We climbed around 700m elevation across the whole hike, but overall it was a relatively flat terrain. Through the Canyon, you’ll get to walk alongside some of the clearest water I’ve ever seen.

Photo: @danielle_wyatt
Once you reach the Blue Eye track, it gets much busier. As we went in October, it wasn’t as busy as it would’ve been a few months earlier.
It’s like a full-sights tour of Theth – but you can adjust the hike to suit what you’d like to see. We veered off the track to check out the famous church, and the waterfall and ended up at the Blue Eye. However, you can also just walk the Grunas Canyon, which would be a bit shorter.
- Length: 25 km (to the Blue Eye, including stops at the church and the waterfall)
- Duration: 7-8 hours
- Difficulty: Moderate/ Difficult
- Elevation Gain: 670m
I’d recommend staying at Bujtina Tinari Theth if you’re heading to Theth to do this hike. This guesthouse will have you close enough to the centre of Theth but also closer to the start of the Grunas Canyon track.
4. Grunas Waterfall Trail, Theth

Photo: @danielle_wyatt
Ok, this is the last Theth one for now I promise! But this one is a great option if you want to do a shorter hike in Theth. The waterfall hike is about 2 hours from the centre of Theth and takes you through the town (you could stop at the church), along the river, through Grunas Canyon and up to the Grunas Waterfall.
You can’t really swim in this waterfall but it’s a beautiful place to chill out, listen to the falling water and enjoy a packed lunch. There is a small restaurant set up as you climb up the track to the waterfall if you want to stop here for some food instead of packing a lunch.
This hike has a small incline to get to the waterfall but overall is a fairly easy to moderate hike. Again, you’ll want to be close to the start of the Grunas Canyon for this one, so Bujtina Tinari Guesthouse is a good option 🙂
- Length: 6.5 km
- Duration: 2 hours
- Difficulty: Easy/ Moderate

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View on REI Read the Review5. Maja e Qores/ Qorra Peak, Llogara National Park
This was one of my favourite hikes in Albania. The Llogara Pass is a famous road with travellers as the road offers up some pretty magnificent views of mountains and coast. But, hidden behind the roads you’ll find some INCREDIBLE hiking trails in the National Park.
There are two peaks that you can climb from the same track, we opted for the slightly shorter one (Maja e Qores/ Qorra Peak) but it was still bloody decent. However, you can continue to climb up further from this peak to Maja e Çikës.
The climb is quite steep – it’s one of those hikes that is hard and fast. The hike took us 3.5 hours up and down and we climbed just over 1000m. That is A LOT of elevation to climb in a short period of time, so a good level of fitness is required for this hike.

Photo: @harveypike_
When you get to the “top” of this hike, you’ll see a turn-off to continue up to Maja e Çikës. This seems like it is the summit of Qorra Peak but it is not, you’ll have to keep climbing for another 15-20minutes. It turns quite “rock-climby” up here. Keep an eye out for the trial marking that will show you the best way to get up.
The views from the top were INSANE, you’ll want to bring a good camera with you to snap some cool shots. We hiked the track in October and it was freeeeezing at the top, we had our gloves and beanies on. These peaks can also get snow, so please check the forecast before you go and make sure you’re prepared for all weather.
- Length: 10.2 km
- Duration: 4-5 hours
- Difficulty: Difficult
- Elevation Gain: 1,040m
If you want to stay close to the hike, Eagle’s Nest is ideally located pretty close to the start of the hike. We stayed in Himare and drove to Llogara Pass, but it was nearly an hour.
6. Blue Eye, Sardana
Another Blue Eye?! Yep, there are two of these things in Albania and both are actually super different and worth checking out. The Blue Eye in the south of Albania is also a surreal blue colour, I’ve never seen water like it in my life. It comes from a fresh spring that you can see when you visit.
The hike at the Blue Eye has changed a lot over the years, it is now very touristy. The roads have been done so that there is a concrete path and road all the way there. You can opt to rent e-scooters and bikes to get down or go the old-fashioned way and take a walk.

Photo: @danielle_wyatt
It’s about 30-40 minutes to get down and once you get there, you marvel at the incredible blue waters and grab a bite to eat from the cafe. Although it’s become quite the tourist attraction, it’s still a pretty amazing natural spring to see and if you are travelling past I’d recommend checking it out.
- Length: 3 km
- Duration: 1 hour
- Difficulty: Easy
I’d recommend staying in Sarande (one of the best places to stay in Albania itself) if you want to visit the Blue Eye, it’s just a short drive from here. If you stay in Sarande, I’d recommend staying at Sea Horizon Suites.
7. Gjipe Beach, Himara
Another doable hike for most fitness levels is the walk down to Gjipe Beach. The track down is a bit uneven and rocky, but if you take a good pair of hiking shoes with you, it’s a pretty easy walk! It takes around 30 minutes to get down to the beach, where you can then relax, swim, stroll along the beach and even enjoy a bite to eat at the restaurants.

Photo: @danielle_wyatt
A few of the smaller beaches along the coast involve a short hike to reach them, but this one was one of my favourites. In October, the beach was lovely and quiet – there were plenty of beach chairs to hire and a few shack-style bars to grab a drink.
There is something so much more rewarding about a day trip to the beach when you have to hike to get down! Plus, it’s one of the best beaches in Albania, so there’s that too!
- Length: 3 km
- Duration: 1 hour
- Difficulty: Easy
If you want to stay close (ish) to Gjipe Beach, I’d recommend Himara. It was my favourite coastal town to stay in.
8. Maja Rosit, Valbona
Now, this hike is another one up north but I’ve saved it until last as I personally didn’t get the chance to hike it but I spoke to a few people while staying in Valbona who had. From what I heard, it’s top-tier and if I ever go back it is top of my list to climb.
It’s probably the most challenging hike on this list. With an elevation gain of 1,700m, over 10 hours it is not for the faint-hearted. You’ll want to make sure you take all the safety precautions with this one – take plenty of food and water, check the forecast, pack warm clothing and take a good head touch. Whilst Albania is a safe place to visit, you need to be careful whilst hiking these challenging routes.
The views across the mountains look insane and the satisfaction of reaching the summit after that type of challenge would be insane. It is much quieter than the Valbona to Theth track and much harder. You could look to stay in Valbona a couple of extra nights if you wanted to fit this one in as well as the Theth hike.
- Length: 19.5 km
- Duration: 9-10 hours
- Difficulty: Difficult
- Elevation Gain: 1,709 m
If you do this hike, I can’t recommend Lazer Cardaku Guesthouse enough. They had impeccable hospital, a beautiful shared lounge area with a fire to relax in AND they even dropped us off at the start of the hike for free. Legends.

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View on Osprey View on REIWhat to Bring on Your Hike in Albania
Hikes in Albania will enable you to witness some of the most beautiful landscapes on the planet. But being prepared is really important to make sure you have the best time possible.
A few of these hikes may require you to take specialist equipment (crampons, an ice axe, etc), especially in the winter months. But mostly, you’ll just need some reliable clothes and a good pair of hiking boots.

Photo: @danielle_wyatt
The reliable clothing that you need to prepare will depend on the season and weather when you embark on your hike. A good layer of thermals will be important for the cooler months to keep you well insulated. We had a few hikes that were SO cold at the summit, I wished I had taken a few more layers. The Smartwool Classic Thermal Merino is my go-to for an easy-to-carry extra layer.

Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork
- Price > $$$
- Weight > 17 oz.
- Grip > Cork

Petzl Actik Core Headlamp
- Price > $$
- Weight > 1.9 oz
- Lumens > 160

Merrell Moab 2 WP Low
- Price > $$
- Weight > 2 lbs 1 oz
- Waterproof > Yes

Osprey Daylite Plus
- Price > $$$
- Weight > 20 oz
- Capacity > 20L

GRAYL Geopress
- Price > $$$
- Weight > 16 oz
- Size > 24 oz

Osprey Aether AG70
- Price > $$$
- Weight > 5 lbs 3 oz
- Capacity > 70L

MSR Hubba Hubba NX 2P
- Price > $$$$
- Weight > 3.7 lbs
- Capacity > 2 person

Garmin GPSMAP 64sx Handheld GPS
- Price > $$
- Weight > 8.1 oz
- Battery Life > 16 hours
Don’t Forget Your Albania Travel Insurance
Make sure you get some good travel insurance, aka one that covers the activities you’re going to be doing; a whole lotta hiking!
ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing.
They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.
SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!
Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.
Final Thoughts on the Best Hikes in Albania
I hope these eight epic trials have inspired you to pack your bags and book your flights to Albania. As I’ve heard many a time, Albania is “up and coming” and I encourage you to jump on the bandwagon before it becomes too late (well, at least too busy).
During my travels, someone told me that Albania’s landscape is 70% mountains, so if that isn’t your sign to get over there, I don’t know what is. Whether you’re after a chill walk to the Blue Eye, Sardana or Gjipe Beach or you’re after something a bit more challenging like Maja e Qore – there is a trial for everyone to enjoy.
If you have done any other hikes in Albania, I’d LOVE to hear them. I know there are more out there that I’m yet to discover, so please let me know 🙂

Photo: @danielle_wyatt
- Check out the best places to stay in Albania before you arrive.
- Remember to grab yourself an international sim card for Europe to avoid any issues.
- Prepare for your trip with our backpacking packing list.
- Get ready for your next destination with our ultimate Balkans backpacking guide.
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