Theth Village and Blue Eye Hike Day Tour from Tirana

Theth National Park and the Albanian Alps

Theth is a remote valley village inside Theth National Park in the northern Albanian Alps, and it is the best-known destination for mountain travel in Albania. The park was created in 1966 and protects steep limestone peaks, beech forest, streams and traditional stone houses with slate roofs. A Theth day trip from Tirana is possible because the road is now paved for most of the way, though it remains slow and winding.

The scenery changes constantly on the climb, and the sight of the Alps rising from the valley floor is why so many travellers call Theth the highlight of northern Albania. Is Theth worth visiting in one day? For the mountains and the Blue Eye, yes, though it is a long day of about thirteen and a half hours, and some people prefer to stay overnight in the valley.

The Thore Pass and the drive from Shkoder

The route runs north to Shkoder, where you stop for coffee, and then climbs into the mountains through farmland and forest. At the Thore Pass, a high mountain saddle, the road opens to wide views of deep valleys and jagged peaks, and it is the main photo stop of the drive.

The road down into the valley is winding, so travellers prone to motion sickness should take tablets. The best time to visit Theth is from June to September, when the roads and trails are open and the weather is more stable. In winter, snow can close the pass.

The Blue Eye of Theth

The Blue Eye of Theth is a clear, cold spring set in forest at the base of the mountains, with water of a deep blue and green colour. The trail from the village to the spring takes about forty minutes each way through woodland and along the river, and the whole hike can take about two hours including time at the water.

You can swim in the pool if you are brave, but the water is icy. The hike is demanding, and people with knee, heart or breathing problems should think carefully before booking. Bring hiking shoes or sports shoes with good grip, a change of clothes and water, and keep with the group, because it follows a schedule.

Theth village, the church and the lock-in tower

Theth village is a cluster of stone houses spread across the valley, with a small stone church that dates to the late nineteenth century and remains at the centre of local life. Nearby stands the Lock-in Tower, in which, according to the traditional customary law of the region, men involved in a blood feud could take refuge.

Your guide explains the customs of the mountains and the stories behind the buildings. You have about an hour in the village, and there are simple restaurants at Nderlysaj and in the valley for lunch, which is not included. The tour returns to Shkoder, Lezhe or your pickup city in the evening.