3-day Komani Lake and Valbona Valley Trek (Selfguided)
Choose Balkans - 3 days
-
Regular days with
- 10 - 15 km per day
- 500 - 1000m ascent per day
- T2 Trails / no difficulty markings
Overview
> Conquer Maja e Rosit (2524m), one of the Balkan peaks> Explore the Valbona National Park
For those with a little less time to spare, this trek is for you. In three days, you will see the best of Valbona National Park. This trek combines the unspoilt wild nature of the Albanian Alps with local traditions, all in three days. This adventure starts in Tirana where you will be picked up by your driver and taken to the ferry that will take you across the spectacular Lake Komani. The next day you will climb Maja e Rosit (2524m). Along the way, you will stay in local guesthouses, meet other hikers and enjoy the local cuisine. At the end of your adventure, you will be dropped off back at your hotel in Tirana. Will you join us?
Route
What's the plan?Day 1: Tirana (Albania) - Lake Komani - Valbona (guesthouse)
The journey to Lake Komani starts early in the morning, you will be picked up at 5am. First stop is Vau i Dejës, a lake north of Tirana. On the way, you'll notice that the road is getting quieter and quieter, and the landscapes become more impressive. Once you arrive at the lake, hop on a local van to Komani Dam. The road is bumpy, but the views along the way provide a distraction.
At 9am, you board a ferry to cross Lake Komani. It is considered by many to be an unforgettable boat ride not to be missed. Around noon, you will arrive at the Fierza dam, where you will be picked up and driven to your guesthouse in Valbona. From your guesthouse, you can take a short walk on your own initiative to explore the area.

Day 2: Valbona - Maja e Rosit (2524m) - Valbona (guesthouse)
16.6 km | 6-7 hours | Difficulty: Medium | ↑ 1530m | Trail type: Loop
After a brief introduction to the Balkan peaks on day 1, this day gets a bit more intense. Maja e Rosit (2524m) is on the program for today, a 4-hour climb from Valbona. The view from Maja e Rosit offers spectacular views of Valbona Valley and the Accursed Mountains. At the summit, we enjoy a well-deserved lunch before descending again to Valbona.

Day 3: Valbona - Tirana
Waking up to such stunning views of the Albanian Alps will make you want to stay longer. After breakfast, you still have a few hours to explore the Valbona valley. Later in the afternoon, you will be transferred back to Tirana, the end of your adventure!
What's Included
Included:
√ Transport
At the start of the trek, you will be picked up from your accommodation in Tirana. All local transfers during the trek are also included.
√ Ferry ticket
The ferry for the crossing of Lake Komani is included.
√ Accommodation
During this 3-day trek, you will stay 2 nights in a guesthouse in Valbona.
√ Breakfast
Breakfast is included in the price of the tour. They will be provided at the accommodation where you spent the previous night.
√ Taxes
Tourist tax, road tax and petrol are included.
Excluded:
× Flight tickets and Visa
You will need to travel to Tirana on your own initiative.
× Guide
This trek is offered without a guide.
× Accommodation before and after the trek
You have to arrange your own accommodation before and after the trek.
× Single and double supplement
Accommodation is based on Triple/Quadruple room occupancy. If you want to stay in a single or double room, you have to pay a supplement.
× Meals, drinks and snacks
Meals during the trek are not included, except breakfast.
× Travel insurance
Your international travel insurance is your own responsibility.
× Personal expenses
Personal expenses such as souvenirs, drinks at the bar and other similar expenses are your own responsibility.
× Tips
Tipping is not compulsory in Albania or the Balkans, but as a token of good service you may tip.
Accommodation
AccommodationDuring this 3-day trek, you will spend two nights in a guesthouse in Valbona. Prices are calculated on triple or quadruple room occupancy. Double or single room occupancy is possible at extra cost. Triple/Quadruple room occupancy means you can share the room with others (which can be men or women).
Guesthouse Hani Kol Gjani in Valbona
The so-called guesthouses are provided by locals and offer hikers a simple place to sleep. They are often small but cosy accommodations where you get the chance to meet locals. Sheets, blankets and pillows are available at most guesthouses.

Accommodations may differ from the above due to availability. A beautiful location and delicious food are guaranteed at all times.
FAQ
FAQ
Best season
The best months to visit Albania are from mid-June to mid-September. The summer months are relatively warm due to its geographical location. Average temperatures in July, August and September are around 25 °C in the Riviera, while temperatures are lower in the Albanian Alps. The beaches are crowded during this period and you will meet most people on the trails. September, October and the first part of November are considered the most ideal period, there is no snow yet and the trails are a lot quieter. The weather conditions in these months are ideal for a brisk trek.
In winter (November, December, January, February and March), temperatures can drop considerably. You will encounter snow in the mountains, making northern Albania in particular very suitable for winter sports. The transition periods between winter and summer are very unstable. A day with temperatures of 25 °C is certainly not unusual, however, the next day can be 15 °C cooler. This applies mainly to the months of April, May, June and October. From mid-May to around the end of June, weather conditions are good for a nice trek and you won't meet as many other hikers on the route.
Training
The fitter you are, the more you will enjoy the trek. No doubt about that. If you are in good shape, this trek shouldn't be a problem for you. Remember that during these treks in Albania you will be walking many hours in the mountains for several days. If you are worried that it might be too much, you can always train in advance, walking a few hours a day and climbing some stairs.
Tipping
Tipping is not a must in Albania or the Balkans. However, if you got a good service from your guide and you want to thank him, it will always be much appreciated. How much to tip your guide is up to you. Our recommendation is to tip the tour guide/driver 5 – 10 Euros per day/person as it is an international practice to tip good service.
Single room occupancy
Single room occupancy is possible for EUR 30 extra per person per night. Please ask our trekking experts about the possibilities.
If you want to get more in-depth information you can check out the following blog posts from Bookatrekking.com about hiking in the Balkans:
Hiking Albania
Hiking in Croatia
Climb Triglav
Hiking in Montenegro
Packing List
Packing List
Balkans-Challenge accepted! But what should I actually take with me? That's a hard question to answer, because you don't want to compromise on quality but certainly don't want to carry too much weight as well. Perhaps this packing list will help you to prepare for the trek. Use these as a guideline, our trekking experts are happy to advise you if you have any questions.
Clothing:
- Hiking boots
- Hiking trousers
- Fleece/down jacket
- Rainwear (jacket, trousers, poncho, etc.)
- Hiking socks
- Hat or buff
- Gloves
- Swimwear (in the summer months)
Equipment:
- Backpack
- Sun protection (sunglasses, sunscreen, etc.)
- Headlamp
- Nightwear
- Travel towel
- Earplugs
Personal care:
- Water bottle and/or water bottle
- Plastic bag (for rubbish)
- Snacks
- Toiletries
- Painkillers
Indispensables:
- Passport/ID
- Travel and/or mountaineering insurance
- Cash money
- Chargers
- Camera for capturing memories
Choose Balkans
Choose Balkans & Bookatrekking.com
Choose Balkans has been Bookatrekking.com's preferred partner in Albania and the Balkans since 2019. Alban and his team are operating from their office in Tirana and they have excellent knowledge of the region. Arranging the local logistics, but also showing the hidden gems of their country is one of their specialities. They also have broad experience in Guided and Self-Guided hiking Trips in Albania and on the Peaks of The Balkans Trail.
If you book your tour through Bookatrekking.com, we will be glad to help you with making the right choice and advise you in the best way possible. Once the booking is made, we leave Choose Balkans to do where they are best. Arranging your accommodations, routes, and all other travel plans to make your hiking trip in Albania an unforgettable experience!
How to Book
How does it work?
On Bookatrekking.com you can find and compare the adventures of your dreams. Is this trekking adventure your match? In that case you can proceed to booking. At Bookatrekking.com you make a deposit of 20% of the total amount. You pay the remaining amount on location prior to the trek directly to the trekking company.
Bookatrekking.com uses only the safest payment methods. Once your booking has been received, your place is reserved, your place is safe and you can look forward to your chosen trekking.
After you have made your booking, you will receive an e-mail confirmation with all necessary information and the contact details of the trekking company. If you have any questions or if you want to clarify something, you can obtain information directly from the right person. Of course, you can also always ask us your question. Send us an e-mail on support@bookatrekking.com
The trekking company will also receive your details and can therefore always contact you and provide you with extra information.
Cancellation Policy
You wish you didn’t have to, but there is no other way: You find yourself having to cancel your plans. In this case, you lose your deposit, but since you haven’t paid the large sum yet, you at least save that. Please do let us know if you cannot make it. A no-show can be a small disaster for your trekking provider, who did its best to block your dates. View our complete cancellation policy here.
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