This mountain village in northern Albania's Accursed Mountains has stone houses from the 1800s and leads to the Blue Eye spring through hiking trails.
Theth, a small village in northern Albania's Shkodra region, sits at 800 meters altitude in the Albanian Alps, surrounded by limestone peaks rising above 2,500 meters. The village consists of scattered stone houses where local farmers tend to their animals and run guesthouses for visitors. You can hike to the 30-meter Grunasi Waterfall, trek the 1,759-meter Valbona Pass, or swim in the turquoise waters of the Blue Eye spring - all while based in this mountain community where shepherds still guide their flocks through alpine meadows.
Getting to Theth
A paved mountain road connects Theth to Shkodra, making the village accessible by car from May through October. The drive takes about 3 hours from Tirana or 2 hours from Shkodra, climbing through mountain passes with steep drop-offs. Most visitors book transportation through their guesthouse hosts, who organize shared minivan rides from Shkodra. Snow and ice close the road from November through April.
When to Visit the Albanian Alps
Visit between July and October when trails are clear of snow and mountain weather is stable. The village closes down for winter at the end of October. July and August have the most reliable conditions for long hikes, with daytime temperatures around 20-25°C. These months work best for the 8-hour Valbona Pass trek, which requires an early morning start.
Staying in Mountain Guesthouses
Local families welcome visitors into their traditional stone houses, serving three meals daily in communal dining rooms. The hosts cook Albanian mountain dishes like fërgesë (pepper and cheese dish) and fresh bread, using ingredients from their gardens and farms. Most guesthouses have evening gathering spaces with wood stoves. Bring enough cash for your entire stay - the nearest ATM is in Shkodra.
Hiking Trails and Natural Landmarks
The Blue Eye spring trail climbs 500 meters over 2.5 hours through beech forest. The Grunasi Waterfall trail takes you on a 45-minute walk from the village center to where water drops 25 meters over limestone rocks. The Valbona Pass trail rises 1,000 meters in elevation over 8 hours, connecting Theth with Valbona village. A white stone church from the 1890s stands in an open meadow, framed by peaks that reach above 2,500 meters.
Daily Life and Activities
Farmers lead their sheep and cattle to high pastures each morning, returning at sunset. You can join guesthouse families to feed chickens and collect eggs, watch corn being ground at the 19th-century watermill, or visit the small ethnographic museum housed in a traditional tower house. The Mini Market Jezerca sells basic food items and supplies, but stock up on hiking essentials in Shkodra.
