Theth National Park – The Best Tips and Things To Do

Theth › Albania › Theth National Park – The Best Tips and Things To Do

Theth National Park in the Albanian Alps is no longer an insider tip, but it is a place of breathtaking beauty, surrounded by karst mountains over 2,000 metres high and beech forests.

This impressive mountain area is characterised by majestic peaks, crystal-clear rivers, deep gorges and idyllic mountain villages. And one of these mountain villages is Theth. Theth is only inhabited by a few people year-round, but has become an increasingly popular tourist destination during the warmer months.

Table Of Contents

Whether you are just taking a stroll through Theth with its historic church and the old Bloodfed Tower, hiking to Grunas Waterfall and Grunas Canyon, to the ice-cold turquoise Blue Eye Theth or even going on a trekking tour on the long-distance hiking trail ‘Peaks of the Balkans’, the highlights in and around the idyllic mountain village of Theth are numerous.

In my article, I willgive you the latest tips for Theth on things to do, accommodation, hikes, viewpoints and how to get there.

Best time to travel to Theth

The best time to travel to Theth is from mid-May to September/Oktober. Then the mountain road and the 1,680-metre-high Qafa e Thores pass are usually free of snow. More and more tourists are flocking to Theth, especially in the summer months. The small mountain village is overcrowded in July and August and temperatures can rise to 30 degrees and more. Hiking can then be very sweaty. For us, the best time to travel is June and September. Meadows are blooming in all colours, rivers and waterfalls are full of water and the highlights are not so overcrowded.

My Travel tips for Theth

It is not without reason that the long mountain village of Theth is an extremely popular and trendy travel destination in Albania. Theth, also known as Thethi, is situated at an altitude of 770 metres in a beautiful natural setting. The Lumi i Thethit river rushes through the valley basin, framed by mighty mountains and rugged rock faces in the Albanian Alps National Park. Hikers, climbers, nature lovers and photographers will all find plenty to keep them occupied in the valley of Theth.

There is only one road into Theth (coming from Shkoder), it’s a 3 hour drive with the first 2 hours being on paved roads but the final hour is just on a gravel road weaving around the mountains. If you have a 4×4 you might want to undertake the brave drive to Theth, however I would recommend taking a jeep.

Once you arrive in Theth, cross the first bridge over the Lumi i Thethit river and pass the tourist information office. The only supermarket here is a little further north. The 1 km long, dusty gravel road Rruga Fushe, prettied up with modern streetlamps, leads through Theth. Several side streets and paths branch off from it, where you can find small guest houses, tiny hotels, cosy restaurants and campsites.

The Kulla e Ngujimit tower of blood revenge is located near the rear bridge. If you cross the Theth River here and head south, you will reach Grunas Canyon and the village of Nderlysa, the starting point of the hiking tour to the Blue Eye, on a narrow asphalt road. The mountain village of Theth, set in spectacular mountain scenery, should definitely be on your to-do list for Albania.

My tips for the mountain village of Theth

• If you prefer to experience Theth at a quieter time, you should visit in May and June or Oktober. Then you still have a wide range of accommodation options and the campsites are not as full.
• For shopping in Theth, I recommend the Mini Market Jezerca (Google Maps) with a limited selection is open from 6 am to 10 pm. Be aware that prices are considerably higher.
• Don’t miss: Visit the church of Theth and the stone tower with museum. Hike to Grunas Waterfall and Canyon and swim in the turquoise shimmering Blue Eye.
• The brave can try the zipline over the Theth Valley.
• Delicious food is served at the Shpella restaurant (Google Maps) near the stone tower. Open daily from 9 am to 10 pm.
• You can withdraw cash at the ATM at the Mini Market Jezerca near the first bridge. But still, take enough cash with you, because only some accommodations accept credit cards.

Hotels & Guest Houses in Theth

Accommodation in Theth is mainly organized in guest houses and smaller hotels. During the high season (July and August), you should book your accommodation in advance.

The mountain village has a number of charming guesthouses which are all around €40-50 a night. I stayed at the Marashi Guesthouse as it is located right near Theth church (which is a great spot for photos at sunrise and sunset), had good reviews and was also one of the cheaper guesthouses. Furthermore:

• A traditional stone house houses the Guesthouse Gjin Thana. The rooms are rustically furnished with wood and have fantastic mountain views.
• Clean rooms and good Albanian food are offered by the Bujtina Tinari Theth on the quiet village street. Bujtina means hostel in German.

Hotels in Theth:

• Central: Hotel Logu i Harushave
• Mountain view: Guesthouse Gjin Thana
• Affordable: Bujtina Tinari Theth

Camping in Theth

My favourite: I liked Camping Zorgji. The camp site is a bit bigger than the others and has a beautiful mountain view. The campers are located on two sides with some power boxes, 2 bathrooms with toilet and shower, an additional shower and two outdoor washbasins. Dishwashing sink, seating, restaurant. Anna, the daughter, comes by every evening to collect the fee.

• Address: Camping Zorgji, Rruga e Kishes, Theth
• Telephone: +355 68 2319610

Camping Guesthouse Rupa offers only sunny pitches without electricity. If you want electricity, you can pull an extension cord through the roof of a small house where there is a power outlet. There is only one shower and toilet in a room. Breakfast and dinner are available on request. Transfer to Shkoder and to the village of Nderlysa near the Blue Eye.

• Address: Camping Guesthouse Rupa, Rruga Fushe, Theth
• Telephone: +355 68 2003393

Theth – Things to Do

The beautiful mountain village of Theth in Albania, set amidst a fantastic Alpine backdrop, boasts numerous highlights, most of which can be explored by hiking. Even a simple stroll through Theth is immensely relaxing.

Visit The Church of Theth – Kisha e Thethit

The Catholic church of Theth, called Kisha e Thethit by the Albanians, is the symbol of Theth and delivers a postcard like image to the visitor. Built in 1892, the Catholic church is dedicated to Saint John. During the communist era, the Church of St. John was misused and partially destroyed. It was only in 2006 that the church of Theth was rebuilt in the traditional architectural style, stone on stone and with wooden shingles, with the help of donations.

Today it is the number one photo opportunity and top attraction in the mountain village. It is beautifully illuminated in the evening.

Kulla e Ngujimit – The Bloodfed Tower

On the southern edge of the village of Theth stands the solid stone tower Kulla e Pajtimit. It used to be a place of refuge for those who had broken the law, had fallen out with others or were threatened by blood feud. The guilty were protected in the so-called Tower of Blood until the village elders had settled the conflict between the families invloved. That is why the historic building was also called the Tower of Reconciliation. Today, this protected cultural monument is a museum and open to visitors.

Theth and the Albanian Alps are a true hiking paradise. Pristine, rugged karst mountains, craggy rock faces, colourful wildflower meadows, beech forests and highlights such as waterfalls, the Blue Eye, mountain passes and magnificent vantage points are waiting to be discovered.

Grunas Waterfall Hike

A beautiful hike leads to the waterfall of Grunas, also known as Theth waterfall. From the tourist information office, you first walk south along the gravel road parallel to the river through the village. The route descends along a stony path to the red iron bridge, which you cross.

After that, the route is initially leisurely along a narrow path through the deciduous forest, before the last stretch leads steeply over stones and rocks. You can leave the path again and again to admire the cascades. Wow – and then you are standing in front of the Grunas waterfall. In the middle of the forest, the water plunges from a height of 30 metres over a rocky, overgrown wall. You can bathe in the ice-cold water in the natural pool with rocks. Or just enjoy the sound of the rushing water in the green nature.

Tips for hikingto Grunas waterfall

• Start your hike early, since Grunas waterfall is a popular photo spot.
• One distance is about 3.5 kilometres from the tourist information office or the village bridge at the front. The difference in altitude is 250 metres.
• From Grunas Waterfall, you can hike to Grunas Canyon and onwards to the Blue Eye Theth.

Blue Eye Hike

One of the most popular activities in Theth: the hike to the Blue Eye (in Albanian: Syri i Kalter). Not to be confused with the Blue Eye Saranda south of Gjirokaster. From the centre of Theth, it is 6 kilometres by road to the village of Nderlysa (also Nderlysaj).

Canyon on the way to the Blue Eye

For most tourists, the 2.5-kilometre hike to the Blue Eye begins at the parking in Nderlyse. The route then leads steadily uphill through the valley of the Lumi i Kaprreja river, surrounded by steep mountains. First you come to a wooden bridge and shrine. The following mostly sunny path, partly with scree and small rocks, runs between deciduous trees and junipers parallel to the river.

Swimming in the Blue Eye

The valley basin and the path are then narrowing. You can take a break at the Blue Eye Café and enjoy the splendid view of the valley. Now it is only a short distance to the Blue Eye. In the midst of idyllic nature lies a breathtaking natural pool, fed by a small waterfall, whose crystal-clear water shimmers in all shades of green and turquoise. The brave jump into the ice-cold water. Don’t forget your swimming gear! You have a great view of the hustle and bustle at the Blue Eye from the platforms of the restaurant above.

Tips for the hike to the Blue Eye

• If you don’t want to hike the whole way from Theth to the village of Nderlysa, you can take a taxi van to the parking (from 5 € per person one way).
• Alternatively, rent a taxi van. The driver will pick you up from your accommodation at the desired time, drive to the car park in Nderlysa, where you will start your hike to the Blue Eye, wait for you to arrive, and then take you back. Cost: from €30 for two people.
• The hike from the car park is 2.5 kilometres (one way) with an altitude difference of 150 metres.
• There are restaurants at the Lumi i Kaprreja river in Nderlysa, opposite the parking. You can buy drinks and snacks there just before and also at the Blue Eye.

Valbona Pass Hike

For those who don’t want to hike the whole Peaks of the Balkans Trail, there is an option to hike to the Valbona Pass (1,795 m), which is called Qafa e Valbones in Albanian. The mountain pass connects the Valley of Theth with the beautiful mountain Valley of Valbona. Hikers in particular appreciate the path to the Valbona Pass, which leads through untouched wilderness with jagged limestone mountains and is part of the long-distance hiking trail ‘Peaks of the Balkans’. At the pass, the majestic Mount Maja Valbones rises to 1,965 metres to the north.

The starting point of the almost 12-kilometre hike is Theth. It initially leads north in the valley, then east uphill and offers fantastic views of the mountains of the Albanian Alps National Park. A few sections even provide some shade in the beech forest. You should plan a whole day for the hike. From Valbona Pass, you can also continue hiking into Valbona Valley instead of returning to Theth.

The hike to the Valbona Pass should ideally be undertaken in pairs or in a group. If you are unsure or travelling alone in Albania, you can also join a 4-Day Tour of Theth, Valbona and Lake Koman. You will experience three highlights on your journey through the Albanian Alps with all arrangements pre booked.

Peaks of the Balkans Hike

A true gem for hikers and nature lovers is the long-distance hiking trail Peaks of the Balkans. The transnational trekking route passes through Albania, Montenegro and Kosovo.

The 192-kilometre-long, well-marked hiking trail ‘Peaks of the Balkans’ leads through the Albanian Alps National Park and the Prokletije National Park (Prokletije means Accursed or Cursed Mountains) at the southern end of the Dinaric Alps.

Theth is the most well-known starting point of the long-distance hiking trail ‘Peaks of the Balkans’. For the demanding round trip through the Western Balkans, 10 stages with a length of 14 to 27 kilometres are recommended. The level of difficulty is easy to moderate and should only be attempted by those who are in good physical condition and have hiking experience. So, jump into your hiking adventure ‘Peaks of the Balkans’ and enjoy the rugged wilderness!

Thethi Zipline

The new Thethi Zipline opened in 2024. It allows you to whizz through the air for 1,100 metres, crossing the picturesque Theth Valley and the river of the same name. The start is 1.5 kilometres above the village centre on the SH21 road to Koplik. Open daily from 8:30 am to 8 pm, the fun is affordable. The view of the majestic mountains is free of charge.