Are you wanting to visit Shala River Albania? Chances are, you have seen the stunning Lumi i Shales on social media. In English, it’s called Shala River, so you might see it go by either name, but it’s the same place.
Lumi i Shales is a river deep in the heart of northern Albania. Because of the lush vegetation and jagged mountains, it reminds some of Asia.
The clear, mesmerizing blue waters are the main draw for tourists and have gained Shala River to be nicknamed the “Thailand of Albania.” If you’re in a hurry, check out the available tours and transport options for Shala River.
Why Visit Shala River?
There are a lot of amazing destinations in northern Albania, but many people don’t know about them yet.
Shala River is a great example of how beautiful, remote, and wild this region can be. Here are a few things to know about why you should visit Lumi i Shales!
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Convenience
Albania is still developing its infrastructure. When tourists come to visit, they feel this a lot with things like transport.
Visiting Shala River is one of the more convenient destinations because many tour companies arrange bus and boat transport together.
This means you don’t have to worry about matching up times or doing any research. If you’re coming from Tirana, you can arrange a trip to Lumi i Shales here.
You can speak with your hostel in Shkoder and see if they have tickets available – many of them do.
The Beauty Of Lumi i Shales
It’s easy to see from the photos why someone would want to visit Shala River, but it’s a little bit more than just the color of the water.
The canyon of Lumi i Shales is deep, so once you enter, it gets more narrow. You can feel the air temperature get lower since there’s more shade.
I visited in July, and the canyon was still lush with green vegetation, with trees clinging and growing on the sides. It’s so interesting to look at the canyon walls with the intricate way the stone has been carved away.
The green surroundings complement the turquoise waters nicely as you arrive at the area where boats do drop off and pick up.
Walking around, you’ll see handmade wooden bridges built for you to cross deeper parts of Shala River. With these, you can access guesthouses too.
Just be careful because they do have a weight limit – the signs say 10 people maximum.
The towering green peak rise up around you as you explore different parts of Lumi i Shales, giving the impression you’ve been transported to some type of oasis.
It is a stark contrast to the Albanian Riviera, which has a lot of dry mountains which remind me more of Middle East scenery.
Both are beautiful, but adding Lumi i Shales to your Albanian itinerary will give you a nice variety of scenery to enjoy.
Activities To Do
Lumi i Shales has more than you think. I figured it would be a place to swim for a few hours, but once I was there, I regretted not staying for 1 or 2 nights.
Some of the activities that you can do are, of course, swimming, but there’s also a zipline, kayak rentals, and a hiking trail (you will need to ask locals, they will know about it).
I brought my portable camping hammock to set up, and it was a game changer, especially if you don’t want to rent a sunbed. There’s also free camping, according to this Google Maps tag.
Best Lumi i Shales Tours
A lot of people choose to do a day trip to Shala River, which is a good option if you’re short on time. If you have a bit more flexibility, I would suggest staying for longer.
This overnight tour to Lumi i Shales is perfect for those wanting to spend more time there. This means you’ll get to enjoy nature in the evening and the next morning before the day trippers arrive (around 11 AM).
How Long To Stay At Shala River
As I mentioned before, once I arrived, I wished I had come to stay overnight. Part of this is because it’s beautiful, but also because it’s so remote.
Taking the day trip from Shkoder involved getting the bus at 6:30 AM and then arriving in Lumi i Shales around 10:45/11 AM.
Then our guide told us we needed to be back at the boat to leave at 2 PM. This means I spent 8 to 9 hours in transport to only be at Lumi i Shales for 3 hours.
Part of the trip is taking the boat from Koman Port to Shala River, which is beautiful but exhausting when you do it twice a day.
I do think it was worth doing it, but if I had to do it again, I wouldn’t make the day trip but instead the overnight trip.
Lumi i Shales Accommodation
There are some very cute guesthouses to stay at along the Shala River bed. One of the most recognized is the Bee Eco Guest House, though they only have two rooms to book.
Blini Park Guest House is another option with a large variety of rooms to book, though they do play loud music, so it might not be the most tranquil.
Livadhi Guesthouse is located further up the river, farther away from the boat dock but will offer more tranquility.
Another option is to stay away from the main area visited on Lumi i Shales. There are a few guesthouses along the way that you pass.
These will undoubtedly be more tranquil but still offer the opportunity to visit the popular riverbed area of Shala River when you’d like.
From these guest houses, you can easily kayak or go on a short boat ride. Though it’s named Riverside Koman Lake, it is actually located on Lumi i Shales.
This place has beautiful views of the river – as I passed it on my tour, I remember thinking how nice it would be to stay there.
That also goes for 5 Stinet – another guest house located a bit farther, directly on Komani Lake. There are 5 different cabins facing the lake to enjoy. The views are amazing.
What To Pack For Shala River
It is best to pack what you would normally take to the beach. Even though you’re heading deep into the mountains, the sun will still be strong.
Make sure to bring protection – a good hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen, of course.
Some people claim you can drink from Lumi i Shales, but with all of the recent tourism development, I would advise against it unless you have a well-reviewed water filter or Lifestraw water bottle.
Make sure to bring some good water shoes or sandals; my favorites are Chaco sandals and Teva sandals.
I also brought my ENO hammock, which was perfect for laying in after swimming!
What To Eat At Lumi i Shales
If you’re on a budget, I would recommend packing a picnic for lunch if you come on the day trip.
This is partly because you don’t have much time to enjoy if you spend even 30-45 minutes at a restaurant since 3 hours goes quickly.
I’d also recommend a picnic because the lunch I had wasn’t very good if I’m honest. The guest house my friends and I ate at had a set menu, so each of us paid 1400 lek (this didn’t include drinks).
It makes sense because it’s a remote location, so much of the food travels on the boat for a long way.
But on the other hand, it was very bland, and we received small portions, to the point that we left the restaurant still hungry.
Swimming and being in the sun makes you extra hungry, so it’s good to bring your own food to make sure you’re covered. Other guest houses might have been better food – we only tried one place.
I’m not trying to be a negative nancy; rather, I don’t want you to have high expectations for the food and then be let down. You go to Shala River for nature, not necessarily the food.
3 Important Things To Know For Shala River
By this point, most people realize that what you see on social media is not reality. I wanted to include some of these things you should know before visiting Lumi i Shales.
Trash Pollution In Koman Lake & Shala River
On the boat ride from Komani Ferry port, you are bound to see trash floating in the water… Who knows how much that is at the bottom – I’m sure it’s a lot.
Most of the time, that part is left out when you see videos about Koman Lake and Shala River, but it’s the unfortunate reality.
I think it’s better to warn you so your expectations can be set accordingly. This was my second time visiting (2nd time at Koman).
Even though I knew to expect it, it still made me quite sad to see such a wonderful place being harmed by pollution, especially since this type of pollution is easily avoidable too.
Water Color
Koman Lake and Shala River both have beautiful blue-colored water, the river especially. This can vary though, depending on different factors like the weather, time of day, etc.
The photos of Lumi i Shales do tend to be quite edited too. Shala River is very beautiful, but it did look different than many of the high-saturation images and videos I had seen. So this is just something to keep in mind!
PSsst don't forget to cover yourself with travel insurance, my favorite is SafetyWing ✔️
The Crowds
Many claim that Lumi i Shales is a hidden gem in Albania, but I have to say that it’s not unknown at all. There are lots of tourists that come on day trips (as I did).
At first, when I arrived a little before 11 AM, it didn’t seem like there were many people. I took a lot of photos and then went swimming.
As I was enjoying the water, boats, and boats of other visitors arrived, quickly filling up the river bank. This was early July; if you plan on visiting in July or August, you can expect a good amount of people there.
It’s still a great place to enjoy; I just wanted to warn you that it’s not the quiet, peaceful place that many photos make it out to be (at least during the day).
Shala River Albania FAQs
Here are some commonly asked questions about visiting Lumi i Shales. Hopefully, these will help you plan your visit!
Where is Lumi i Shales?
Lumi i Shales is located in Shkoder County of Northern Albania. Also known in English as Shala River, this beautiful destination is deep in the famous Albanian Alps.
Lumi i Shales originates in the mountain village of Theth from the Theth River and runs into the famous Komani Lake (which is actually a man-made reservoir).
How to get to Lumi i Shales?
Lumi i Shales is only accessible by boat. Many boats leave from Komani Port on Komani Lake. If you’re coming from Montenegro, Tirana, or Shkoder, the Komani Port will be where you need to go to.
Other boats to Shala River come from the Fierza Port. If you’re in Valbona or coming from Kosovo, Fierza will need to be your access point.
How do I get from Shkoder to Shala River?
To get from Shkoder to Shala River, you’ll need to take a minibus from Shkoder city center to the Koman Port on Komani Lake.
From there, you will need a boat heading directly for Lumi i Shales, not the normal ferry, which goes to the other end of the lake in Fierza.
You can arrange this trip with Travel North Albania. They do day trips to Shala River, but you can ask if you can make the trip overnight so you can return the following day.
Related: Awesome day trips from Tirana
How do I get from Tirana to Shala River?
To get from Tirana to Shala River, you’ll need to drive north out of the city on SH1 and then follow the signs for Shkoder.
Before reaching Shkoder, you will need to turn right on SH28 and head towards the Koman Port. The drive is roughly 3 hours and 136km.
The road to Komani Lake desperately needs repair – I wouldn’t recommend taking a rental car on it (unless it’s suited for bad roads).
You can also do a day trip to Shala River from Tirana, which is a great deal because it’s priced only a few dollars more than if you were to leave from Shkoder.
If you have an extra day, I’d highly recommend making an overnight trip to Lumi i Shales; it is a very beautiful area to explore (I wish I had stayed overnight).
What is the Lumi i Shales Water Temperature?
Lumi i Shales water temperature isn’t really recorded anywhere that I could find. I did see one online source saying the Theth River (the one that Shala River flows from) is 7 C (44.6 F).
If you’ve visited the Albanian Blue Eye, the temperature is 10 C, so that will give you an idea of what to expect at Shala River.
It might be slightly warmer towards the end of the summer, but I don’t think it will make much of a difference. It’s a fast-flowing stream, so the water doesn’t sit long enough to warm significantly.
I have to say it is very cold, though I enjoyed it. I grew up swimming in cold streams in the Appalachian mountains. Lumi i Shales feels very similar to that.
Even my Canadian friend who grew up swimming in cold waters couldn’t stay for very long in it.
Can you drink from Lumi i Shales?
Some people say that it’s safe to drink from Shala River, though I wouldn’t recommend it. At one point, I’m sure it was fine.
Now with the tourism development upstream in Theth and along Lumi i Shales, it might not be safe without using a Lifestraw or the Lifestraw water bottle.
Is Lumi i Shales good for families?
Yes, Shala River is great for families. There is a small bit of a ‘partying’ vibe because there is loud music in some places, and you can purchase alcoholic drinks.
It’s not wild by any means. The river section goes on for a good bit, so there is room to pick a quieter spot.
You should be able to find some shallow spots that kids can safely enjoy. The water temperature might not be suitable for young children though.
Does Shala River have phone service or wifi?
On the bus from Shkoder and the boat ride to Lumi i Shales, there are many places you will lose phone service completely.
Once at Shala River, you definitely won’t have service since it’s in a deep mountain valley. Some guest houses have wifi, and some don’t, so if that is important, you should check with them beforehand.
Since it is remote, the wifi might not be the strongest, and depending on storms, it could be temporarily unavailable.
I’d recommend that you handle any business or research before setting off on the trip. Make sure to download any music or offline maps that you might want before leaving.
Is Shala River worth visiting?
I would say Shala River is 100% worth visiting. It’s a beautiful destination that showcases a unique side of Albania that visitors usually don’t see.
Right now, it’s not that well known, so it’s a good time to visit. There is a lot of development happening, so in a few years, it will probably be much more crowded.
Final Thoughts On Lumi i Shales
I really hope this has helped you learn more about the beautiful Lumi i Shales and how to plan your trip accordingly. I enjoyed my time at Shala River, and I think you will as well.
If you need more inspiration, make sure to check out my guide to the historic and charming village of Kruja – a must-visit place in Albania.