National Parks · ALBANIA NATIONAL PARK TOURS
Good albania national park tours fill up weeks ahead and the great ones go first. Below: the 15 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.
Cross from Corfu to Sarandë by boat, tour Albania’s southern coast by air-conditioned coach, and explore Butrint’s Greek and Roman ruins with a guide if selected. You’ll also get Sarandë free time, optional lunch, coastal views, and multilingual support from IonianCruises.
“We really enjoyed our day, although it was a really long day it was well worth it!”
Travel by small-group van from Tirana, Durres, Shkoder, or nearby towns to Theth. Stop at Qafe Thore, hike to the Blue Eye, swim in cold mountain water, visit Nderlysaj and Theth village, and hear local stories from guides such as Desi or Daniel.
“Truly an amazing day trip from Tirana. Enjoyed seeing the Albanian alps in real life. Although it was foggy and some rain, it didn’t stop us to explore this place. Big shoutout to Desi for patiently driving us from & to Tirana for a full day. It was a good size of 5 people and definitely worth the money. Highly recommend! :)”
Spend 13 hours traveling from Tirana, Durrës, or Shkodër into the Albanian Alps. With guides such as Daniel, Desi, Nolan, or Anest, you’ll visit Theth’s church and Reconciliation Tower, eat North Albanian food, and hike to the Blue Eye.
“It was fun and eventful trip. Guide did a great job and driver was amazing.”
Travel from Saranda with an English-speaking guide to Lekuresi Castle, the Blue Eye Spring, Butrint, and Ksamil. Expect history, forest, sea views, and a possible swim in six hours. Guides such as Elvis, Mara, Fedele, and Klajdi are praised for friendly, flexible service.
“The day trip was great, even though it rained most of the day—something none of us can control anyway! Our guide mentioned they usually get 300 days of sunshine a year, so I must have brought the rain with me from the UK! He picked me up from my hotel and drove us to all the different stops. Each place was fascinating to visit, and our guide was knowledgeable and friendly throughout. A great experience overall!”
Join GoRaft Vjosa Albania near Përmet for a 150-minute to 3-hour rafting trip on the wild Vjosa River. Guides such as Emil, Mikkel, Orges, and Genny lead you through rapids, calm swimming spots, and scenic river bends, with equipment, snacks, drinks, showers, and photos included.
“Emil is jast a perfect gay My husband will be back in the spring because of the river Faleminderit”
Spend 10 to 14 hours exploring Theth National Park, Qafa e Thores, the Blue Eye, Theth village, and Shkoder. You get air-conditioned transport, an English-speaking guide such as Kledis, Jeffrey, Ardit, or Engjell, a short hike, and entry to the Isolation Tower.
“Unforgettable Day in Theth Thanks to Kledis! Our trip to the Blue Eye in Theth was an absolute highlight of our time in Albania — all thanks to our incredible guide, Kledis. From the moment we met him, he was so kind, genuine, and attentive, making sure we felt comfortable and looked after every step of the way. Kledis was not only an excellent guide but also a wealth of knowledge. As we hiked through the breathtaking scenery, he shared fascinating stories and history about the region, which really helped us appreciate the culture and beauty of Theth on a deeper level. He went above and beyond, even driving us…”
Join Marjan or another local English-speaking guide for an 11-hour small-group trip from Shkodër to Theth. You will drive over Qafa Thores, hike to the Blue Eye and Grunasi Waterfall, eat lunch in a mountain village, and visit Theth’s church and Lock-in Tower.
“Marjan is such an amazing and caring guide&driver! I can really recommend booking this tour! The tour is so much more than just getting a lift to Theth/Blue Eye! The drive to theth takes some time, and the roads are very narrow. Marjan makes the drive pleasant by starting to descirbe the tour details and chatting with everyone, creating a comfortable base for connecting with others. His driving style was very calm and relaxing. I took the tour with my dad who is in his early 60s and not used to hiking, he struggeled quite a bit on the hike but Marjan was extremely patient and he agreed to proceed…”
From Saranda, join guides such as Elvis, Klide, or Kai for a packed six-hour outing to Lekuresi Castle, the Blue Eye, Butrint, and Ksamil. You get transport, a guide, water, and Blue Eye admission, but bring cash for Butrint, snacks, and beach time.
“We had an absolute wonderful time sightseeing all these amazing places on one trip, our tour guide Klide was so informative & nothing was to much trouble, great driver too Would highly recommend this day trip, such great value for money 😊”
Travel from Tirana to Shkoder, Boge, Theth, and the Blue Eye with an English-speaking guide. Expect mountain viewpoints, a village walk, and a 2.5-kilometer hike to clear blue water. Guides such as Henri, Nolan, and Daniel are praised for care and local insight.
“Great day tour, my guide was Nolan who ensured the day was comfortable, we hiked to great spots to see the Blue eye pools, and also he helped me take a million photos as I was traveling solo. got lots of good information about Albania and Theth (he answered all my questions with information about the areas). Would recommend a visit here as it was beautiful to be hiking in the Albanian Alps! Hike is a moderate grade 3 hike, so with reasonable fitness levels should be done easily! :)”
You’ll travel from Tirana through Koman Lake to Valbona, hike the 18-kilometer Valbona Pass to Theth, visit Gurnas Waterfall and the Blue Eye, and return via Shkodër. A guide such as Jozef, Daniel, Gavin, or Redi leads the small group, with transport, meals, and guesthouse stays arranged.
“Had the most fantastic couple of days on this hiking trip with a great little group. Our guide Jozef was amazing, so much energy and humour, and the small group dynamic was lovely from the start. It’s an early morning pickup and a longish travel, but the scenery keeps you very occupied. We had great late lunch on arrival to the first guesthouse, and an afternoon walk for viewpoints in the valley. The huge advantage of going with the tour is how the logistics are all sorted and meals covered - only drinks not included. The climb from valbona to the top is moderately difficult, people of all ages taking…”
Join Guri Tours for a 12-hour SUV trip from Tirana, Durrës, Shkodër, Lezhë, or Shëngjin into the Albanian Alps. Expect mountain roads, Bogë, Qafa e Thores, Theth, and a demanding hike to the Blue Eye, with guides such as Marko or Emiljano.
“It was a great trip, me and my wife enjoyed a smooth drive and sightseeing. The guide was very polite, patient and friendly. He answered all our questions about the place we went to whenever we asked. He even bought us drinks on the way, thanks to that kind heart. We'll definitely contact you whenever we visit Albania.”
Travel from Tirana through Komani Lake, Valbona, and Thethi on a guided three-day mountain trip. You’ll take a 2.5-hour boat ride, hike Valbona Pass for about six to seven hours, visit Grunas Waterfall and the Blue Eye, and stay in simple local guesthouses with guides such as Bledi or Endri.
“The view during our trip is breathtakingly beautiful. Our trip to North Albania is very well organised and communication is easy going thanks to our guide Endri. He made us feel very welcome and comfortable. We were very impressed by his (history) knowledge of Albania and he knew how to keep us interested from beginning untill the end of our tour. Also our driver Albert knew how to handle the busy traffic with ease and he seemed to handle impossible and hectic traffic smoothly. He always stayed calm. We felt very safe with him as a driver. Accomodations were simple but everything we needed was provided for. And last but…”
This six-hour van tour links Butrint’s ancient theater and baptistery with Ksamil, the Blue Eye spring, and Lekuresi Castle. An English or Albanian guide leads the day. Arvi and Butrint guide Daphina have earned particular praise, though beach timing, food, and Blue Eye transport can vary.
“Terrible trip . We were packed into a small bus with no air con on a very hot day . No water was provided till we asked to stop for water . The first tour guide gave us very little info about The Blue Eye ( which was badly maintained and you have to pay for a small train to take you to the location or a long steep walk ) or Sarande. The guide was then switched with a grumpy man who asked what we wanted . There was only a stop for lunch which we brought when we asked as we had no food or breaks on the…”
You start in Përmet with a safety briefing and full river gear, then paddle the Vjosa through gentle and lively rapids. Guide Emil is known for clear instructions, local nature stories, and taking photos. Expect a swim stop, possible cliff jumping, and a private three-hour outing.
“Great fun with Emil in a amazing scenery. Perfectly safe (at this waterlevel) for even small kids and beginners. They do the WHOLE tour not only half of it as other companies - so be careful when you book ! Thanx for having us”
From Shkoder, you’ll travel with a private driver and English-speaking guide through the Albanian Alps to Theth. Expect Qafa e Thores views, the 1892 church, Reconciliation Tower, a traditional lunch, Grunas Waterfall, natural pools, and a 45-minute hike to the Blue Eye.
“We had a great time. Poliart was a very good tour guide and made sure we were safe during the hike. The hike itself was beautiful, the food delicious and in general, everything was great”
Pick a continent, a gate, or a kind of day.
