National Parks · ALBANIA NATIONAL PARK TOURS
Good albania national park tours fill up weeks ahead and the great ones go first. Below: the 8 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!”
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…”
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…”
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